Jena is a city in Thuringia, Germany. Thuringia is a country-state nearly in the middle of Germany, also called the green heart of Germany because of the forest, Thueringer Wald. The capital of Thuringia is Erfurt and Jena is near Erfurt, about an hour by road. Jena is a university city on the river Saale. Jena is the second largest city in Thuringia, with a population of close to 105,000 citizens, on an area of 114 sq km.
How to Get There:
International visitors to Jena normally arrive from Frankfurt, Berlin or Munich airports, all of which have convenient train connections to Jena. Domestic and private aircraft traffic are served by the nearest airports to Jena, Leipzig-Altenburg Airport and Erfurt Airport. Two major German motorways (A4 and A9) lead to Jena. From the north (Scandinavia, Hamburg, Berlin, Leipzig), take the A9 motorway to Eisenberg exit and then the B7 federal road to Jena.
From the south (Southern Europe, Munich, Nuremberg) take the same motorway in
the opposite direction, change to motorway A4 at Hermsdorfer Kreuz direction Frankfurt and use exit Jena Lobeda. Jena has two major railway stations, Jena Paradies and the smaller Jena Westbahnhof. Use Jena Paradies, the city's major railway station with direct Intercity services
from and to Berlin, Leipzig, Nuremberg and Munich. Intercity trains on this route call at
Jena every two hours during the day. From eastern or western parts of the country, use Intercity trains between Frankfurt/Main and Dresden which call at Erfurt or Weimar. From Erfurt or Weimar there are frequent connecting services to Jena Westbahnhof. Jena itself is served by an extensive road and tram network.
What to See:
The 13th century Town Hall "Rathaus", the Gothic St. Michael's Church, the Botanischer Garten Jena (1580), the Zeiss optics plant, the Dornburg Castles and the Kapellendorf Moated Castle. There are eight museums that can be visited.
Where to Eat:
Jena has 77 restaurants. Stilbruch, Zur Noll Hotel & Restaurant, Roter Hirsch, Fritz Mitte, Restaurant Poseidon, Quergasse No. 1, Lo Studente, Cafe Immergrun and Wartburg are best rated.
Events: The Kulturarena is an annual music festival held in front of the theatre. The theatre houses the Jenaer Philharmonie, the largest independent symphony orchestra in Thuringia. The Christmas Market is well known.
Hotels:
There are 15 3-4 star high priced hotels in Jena. Accommodation in lower grade hotels and B&B establishments range considerably, depending on location and features. Favoured hotels are Schwarzer Bär Jena, Best Western Hotel Jena, Steigenberger Esplanade Jena, MAXX Hotel Jena, Jembo Park Hotel, Hotel 2 Länder and more. Haus vor dem Orchideental and the Internationales Jugendgastehaus are the two top rated B&Bs.
