Top Rated Attractions in Erfurt

Located in the oldest part of the city, Theater im Palais has served as a center of performing arts with more than 100 performances held every year. With its repertoire ranging from comedy shows to intense dramas, this venue has staged some of the best of the performances by local as well as touring professional theater groups. Apart from the performances, this theater also host numerous workshops for children, thus focusing on nurturing the talent right from the early age. Theater im Palais is a perfect place to catch up on stellar performances by well-known theater artists/ groups. Prices may differ according the shows so call or visit their website for more information.

Regarded as one of the city’s fascinating attractions, the Erfurt Cathedral is identifiable by its steeples and carvings. Apart from that, it also holds the Maria Gloriosa, one of the world's largest free-swinging bells, the sculptures of the Wise and Foolish Virgins and the Wolfram candelabra, which is one of Germany’s oldest free-standing cast works.

Zitadelle Petersberg forms the crowning glory of Erfurt's past. This well-preserved fortress was built on a Benedictine monastery in 1665. It was built primarily to protect the German Electorate at the time from Protestant attacks. Further on, it served as a military outpost during the two world wars. Sections of the site were opened to the public from 1963 and in the 1990s, it underwent planned restoration. The main attraction remains the eerie labyrinth of passageways that lies beneath the fortress. Tourists flock to the site to explore the area and one can also hire the help of tour guides from the region.

Thanks to its stunning landscape and rich plant life, the Egapark in Erfurt is certainly worth a visit. This aesthetically appealing and well-planned garden attracts visitors from all over. Stretching over an area of 36 hectares, the park boasts of facilities such as observation tower, observatory, horticultural museum, flowerbed of 6000 square meters and many more. Moreover, this splendid park is also available for weddings, meetings and other events.

Established in 1959, Thüringer Zoopark Erfurt is on the foothills of Roter Berg on the northern side of the city. Encompassing 63 hectares (155.68 acres) of land, it is among the largest of its kind in the country. It houses more than 3500 animals from across the globe which includes 420 different species. Most of their enclosures imitate the natural habitats of wild beings. Check out the Berberlöwen, Lion Savannah, African Savannah, African Swamp, Monkey Jungle, Lemur Forest, Elephant House, Terrarium, White Rhino facility, Aviary, Deer Forest and other wildlife zones that are enthralling as well as educational. This zoo also features an aquarium that was opened before the menagerie and became a part of it in 2003. This zoopark also has three establishments for refreshments. Due to the huge size of this property, it might be difficult to cover the entire area, hence a second visit might be required.

Weimar between the 18th and 19th centuries became a center of cultural development, art and architecture in Germany. This period particularly flourished during Goethe's life from 1749-1832 and became a hub of development. Several notable personalities like Goethe, Schiller, Christoph Weiland and Johann Gottfried Herder contributed to the development of literature, philosophy and culture during the Classical Period. The architecture and cultural centers that were developed or used during this period include Goethe's Home and Garden House, Wittumspalais, Ettersburg Palace, Ettersburg Park and St. Peter and Paul amongst others. Thanks to the architectural embellishments, Classical Weimar was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.