Weimar: The Complete Guide

Weimar, nestled in the heart of Germany’s Thuringia region, is a compact city brimming with cultural treasures. Begin your visit in the pedestrianized Altstadt, where elegant townhouses line cobblestone streets leading to stately squares. Pop into one of the many cafés around Theaterplatz for a morning coffee and pastry before wandering to the Bauhaus Museum or simply losing yourself among the galleries and boutique shops.

Beyond the historic core, Weimar’s green spaces offer a peaceful counterpoint to its artistic energy. Stroll through the sprawling Park on the Ilm—its winding paths, classical pavilions, and Goethe’s Garden House create a perfect setting for an afternoon picnic or quiet reflection beside the river. In warmer months, outdoor performances at the park’s open-air theatre draw enthusiastic crowds to experience local music and drama under the trees.

The surrounding Thuringian countryside beckons for easy day trips from Weimar. Rent a bike to pedal along scenic country lanes, passing half-timbered villages and rolling farmland dotted with apple orchards. If you prefer two wheels, the Ilm Valley cycle route connects nearby towns like Jena and Apolda—each offering its own markets, craft breweries, and hiking trails through dense forest. No matter your pace, Weimar in Thuringia serves as an ideal base for blending urban exploration with rural charm.

History of Weimar

Early Origins of Weimar

Weimar’s beginnings trace back to the 10th century, starting as a small settlement and later growing into a town by the 13th century. It developed slowly, benefiting from its location on trade routes and regional agricultural wealth. By the late Middle Ages, Weimar had established itself as a modest but stable community.

Weimar in the Renaissance and Baroque Period

During the 16th and 17th centuries, Weimar became the residence of the Dukes of Saxe-Weimar. The city began to grow in prestige, and cultural life flourished under the support of local rulers. Palaces and churches were built, laying the groundwork for its future status as a center of the arts.

Weimar during the Classical Period

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Weimar rose to cultural prominence as a hub of German Classicism. Figures like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller lived and worked here, turning the city into a magnet for artists and intellectuals. This era established Weimar as one of Europe’s most important cultural centers.

Weimar in the 19th Century

The 19th century saw continued growth in the arts, with Franz Liszt leading musical development during his time in the city. Weimar also became home to a rich literary and artistic tradition, with museums, theaters, and libraries expanding throughout the century. The city retained its elegant, cultured identity while modernizing gradually.

Weimar and the Weimar Republic

In 1919, Weimar briefly became the political heart of Germany as the constitution of the new German Republic was signed here, giving rise to the name “Weimar Republic.” This period marked both a symbolic high point and a time of political instability. While the city was proud of its constitutional legacy, it also witnessed the tensions of a young, fragile democracy.

Weimar in the 20th Century

The rise of the Nazi regime brought darker chapters to Weimar’s history, especially with the nearby Buchenwald concentration camp. After World War II, Weimar became part of East Germany and was later recognized for its cultural significance. Post-reunification, the city underwent careful restoration and emerged as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Modern-Day Weimar

Today, Weimar is a peaceful city known for its classical legacy and role in shaping German identity. Its architecture, museums, and historical sites attract visitors from around the world. The city continues to celebrate its cultural past while embracing education, creativity, and remembrance.

Visiting Weimar for the first time and wondering what are the top places to see in the city? In this complete guide, I share the best things to do in Weimar on the first visit. To help you plan your trip, I have also included an interactive map and practical tips for visiting!

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1. Weimar’s Goethe House

Nestled on Frauenplan, Goethe’s Birthplace offers an intimate glimpse into the life of Germany’s literary giant. The modest four-story townhouse retains its 18th-century charm, with period furnishings, family portraits, and Goethe’s personal study where he drafted early works. Audio guides enrich the experience, recounting anecdotes of his childhood and formative years spent within these walls.
Entry cost: €8 adults, €4 students and seniors
Opening times: Tue–Sun 10 am–6 pm

After touring the house, pause in the adjacent museum courtyard, where changing exhibitions explore Goethe’s impact on art, science, and theatre. A well-appointed bookstore stocks bilingual editions of his works, biographical studies, and themed souvenirs—ideal for deepening your appreciation of his enduring legacy.

2. Weimar’s Schiller House

Just a short stroll from Goethe’s home, the Schiller House preserves the former residence of Friedrich Schiller, another titan of German literature. The reconstructed apartment recreates the poet’s study, complete with a replica writing desk and authentic family heirlooms. Upstairs, a multimedia installation traces his dramatic collaborations with Goethe and the founding of Weimar Classicism.
Entry cost: €6 adults, €3 students and seniors
Opening times: Tue–Sun 10 am–6 pm

Outside, the picturesque Schlossgarten provides a tranquil setting for reflecting on Schiller’s verses. On weekends, guided reading sessions bring his poetry to life in the very rooms where he once pondered themes of freedom and human dignity.

3. Weimar’s Bauhaus Museum

Housed in a striking modernist building on Belvederer Allee, the Bauhaus Museum Weimar charts the school’s revolutionary approach to art, design, and architecture. The permanent collection features original furniture by Marcel Breuer, ceramics by Gerhard Marcks, and weavings by Anni Albers. Interactive displays demonstrate key Bauhaus principles, from form follows function to the integration of craft and technology.
Entry cost: €7 adults, €3.50 students and seniors
Opening times: Tue–Sun 10 am–6 pm

Temporary exhibitions showcase contemporary designers influenced by Bauhaus ideals, while a well-curated shop offers reproductions of iconic objects—perfect for those seeking a functional piece of design history.

4. Weimar’s Duchess Anna Amalia Library

A UNESCO-listed treasure, the Duchess Anna Amalia Library dazzles with its Rococo hall, where towering bookshelves curve under an ornate ceiling fresco. Visits are by guided tour only, ensuring preservation of the 16th-century volumes and priceless manuscripts that line the gallery. Highlights include a Gutenberg Bible leaf and original letters from Goethe and Schiller.
Entry cost: €10 adults, €5 students and seniors (tour included)
Opening times: Mon–Fri 10 am–5 pm (tours every hour)

Beyond the Rococo Hall, the modern reading rooms invite scholars to consult rare holdings by appointment. The adjacent café serves light refreshments, allowing visitors to linger in the gardens inspired by Goethe’s own designs.

5. Weimar’s Park on the Ilm and Goethe’s Garden House

Designed by Goethe himself, the Park on the Ilm is a masterpiece of English-style landscaping, with meandering paths, classical pavilions, and shaded groves. In the heart of the park stands Goethe’s Garden House, a simple timber-clad retreat where he entertained friends and penned poetry.
Entry cost (Garden House): €5 adults, €2.50 students and seniors
Opening times: Apr–Oct Wed–Sun 11 am–5 pm; park grounds always open

The park’s natural beauty changes dramatically with the seasons—spring’s cherry blossoms, summer’s emerald canopy, autumn’s golden hues, and winter’s frost-kissed lawns. Benches near the Ilm River offer idyllic spots for reading or sketching.

6. Weimar’s Belvedere Palace and Park

Perched on a gentle hill, Belvedere Palace showcases Baroque elegance amid terraced gardens and ornamental fountains. The palace’s art-filled rooms display period furniture, tapestries, and a collection of princely portraits. The surrounding park invites leisurely strolls along axial pathways and past secluded follies.
Entry cost: €9 adults, €4.50 students and seniors
Opening times: Apr–Oct 10 am–5 pm; Nov–Mar 11 am–4 pm

Seasonal highlights include summer concerts in the orangery and guided “Garden Glory” tours that reveal the palace’s horticultural history. A small café on the terrace offers panoramic views over Weimar’s rooftops.

7. Weimar’s Buchenwald Memorial

Just outside the city, the Buchenwald Memorial commemorates one of the largest concentration camps on German soil. The site’s poignant exhibitions detail prisoner experiences, resistance efforts, and the camp’s liberation. Outdoor paths lead past the reconstructed barracks, the international memorial, and the haunting “Gate of Death.”
Entry cost: Free (donations encouraged)
Opening times: Daily 8 am–6 pm

Guided tours (English and German) depart twice daily and are recommended for deeper context. The memorial’s quiet atmosphere fosters reflection on human rights and the resilience of those who suffered.

8. Weimar’s German National Theatre

Home to the Weimar Classicism movement, the Deutsches Nationaltheater stages opera, drama, and ballet in a grand historic hall. Guided backstage tours reveal the ornate auditorium, rehearsal studios, and costume workshops.
Entry cost (tour): €5 adults, €3 students and seniors
Opening times: Mon–Sat 10 am–5 pm; performances vary

Attending a performance—whether a Goethe drama or a modern opera—connects you to the artistic legacy that once drew Liszt and Liselotte of the Palatinate to Weimar’s stages. Check the seasonal schedule for English-supertitled productions.

9. Weimar’s Nietzsche Archive and House

Dedicated to the life and work of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, the Nietzsche Archive occupies a late-19th-century villa. Exhibits include original manuscripts, personal effects, and audio-visual installations exploring his influence on modern thought.
Entry cost: €5 adults, €2.50 students and seniors
Opening times: Wed–Sun 11 am–5 pm

The nearby Nietzsche House, his family’s former residence, offers themed rooms and a tranquil garden where Nietzsche sought inspiration. Occasional lectures and reading circles delve into his controversial ideas.

10. Weimar’s City Castle (Stadtschloss) and Art Collections

Weimar’s Stadtschloss combines Renaissance façades with Baroque interiors, housing the Kunstsammlungen collection of European paintings, porcelain, and court costumes. The grand imperial apartments showcase opulent décor and original furnishings.
Entry cost: €8 adults, €4 students and seniors
Opening times: Wed–Mon 11 am–5 pm; closed Tue

The castle’s temporary exhibition halls host contemporary art and thematic showcases, while the Schlossberg park behind the palace provides a peaceful retreat with city views.