Erfurt is the capital of Thuringia in the middle of Germany and one of the few German cities to come through the Second World War largely intact. Its medieval fabric is therefore continuous: the Kramerbrucke, standing since 1325, is the longest bridge in Europe still lined with inhabited houses. The city's medieval Jewish heritage, the Old Synagogue together with the mikveh and the Stone House, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2023. Martin Luther lived as a monk in the Augustinian monastery here between 1505 and 1511.
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See flights to Erfurt →When to visit Erfurt
May to September is the easiest stretch, with daytime temperatures between 18C and 25C when the shops on the bridge and the gardens are fully open. The Christmas market on Domplatz in December is among the best known in Germany and carries the winter season on its own. January to March is cold and grey, with temperatures around freezing.
Things to do in Erfurt
Kramerbrucke
The stone bridge over the Gera was completed in 1325 and carries 32 houses, making it the longest inhabited bridge in Europe. Craft workshops occupy the ground floors, and the tower of the Agidienkirche at one end can be climbed for a view down the length of it.
Erfurt Cathedral
The cathedral dominating Domplatz rises over a foundation of the 8th century, and its present Gothic form was finished in the 14th. The Gloriosa bell of 1497 in its tower is one of the largest medieval bells still rung, and the stained glass inside dates from the 14th century.
Old Synagogue
Begun in the late 11th century, the synagogue is among the oldest and most complete medieval synagogues surviving in Europe and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2023. Its cellar displays the Erfurt Treasure, buried in 1349, which includes over 3,000 silver coins and a Jewish wedding ring.
Petersberg Citadel
Begun in 1665 on the hill above the centre, the citadel is one of the largest baroque urban fortresses left standing in central Europe. The listening galleries beneath the ramparts are open to visitors, and the hill now doubles as a park overlooking the city.
Predigerkirche
Built by the Dominican order in the 13th century, this is the church where the mystic Meister Eckhart served as prior. Together with the adjoining friary buildings it counts among the most complete medieval Dominican complexes left standing in Germany, and the church is now used by the Protestant congregation.
egapark Erfurt
Laid out around Cyriaksburg castle, this garden of about 36 hectares is one of the largest in Germany and has been open since 1961. It holds tropical glasshouses, one of the country's largest ornamental flower beds, and a museum of horticulture inside the castle.
Flights from Turkey to Erfurt
Direct flights to Erfurt from Turkey depart from Antalya, take about 3 hours 5 minutes, and are operated by Freebird Airlines, Pegasus, Corendon Airlines and SunExpress. From Istanbul and other departure points the trip requires a connection through Frankfurt, Munich or Berlin, and the total with the layover runs between 6 and 8 hours. Erfurt also sits on the high speed rail network, about two and a half hours from both Berlin and Frankfurt by train.
Erfurt FAQ
How many days do you need in Erfurt?
Two days cover the old town, the cathedral and the UNESCO listed Jewish heritage sites. Weimar and Eisenach are each under an hour away by train, and adding both makes four days a fuller Thuringia trip.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Erfurt-Weimar Airport is about 6 kilometres from the centre, 20 minutes by tram. The airport is small with few departures, so some travellers fly into Leipzig or Frankfurt and continue by train.
Do you need a visa for Germany?
Germany is in the Schengen area and a Turkish passport needs a Schengen visa obtained in advance. Appointments get harder to find in summer, so it is safer to start the application at least two months before travel.
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