In the heart of Germany, you’ll find two cities that together embody everything that makes a journey memorable: Jena, a modern university and innovation hub surrounded by green hills, and Weimar, one of Europe’s most important cultural cities, home to classical poets and great ideas. Today, both cities are also committed to sustainable tourism, where you can enjoy history and nature without guilt.
🌿 Jena – where innovation meets nature
Jena is known as Thuringia’s city of science, home to Carl Zeiss and the university, but also as a place where nature is always close by. The city is surrounded by limestone cliffs, vineyards, and the Saale River—perfect for sustainable outdoor experiences.
Experiences in Jena:
- Saale Valley: Hiking among vineyards, forests, and viewpoints 🚶
- Local Vineyards: Many small producers around Jena are now organic and offer tastings 🥂
- Jena Planetarium: The world’s oldest planetarium, where science meets fascination with the universe 🔭
Sustainable hotels in Jena:
- Scala Turm Hotel – known for its green operations and panoramic views over the city.
- Akademiehotel Jena – actively works with eco-friendly solutions and is popular among both researchers and travelers seeking sustainable accommodation.
🌿 Weimar – the city of classics with a modern green profile
Weimar radiates cultural history: Goethe and Schiller lived here, and the Bauhaus movement was born here. But Weimar is not just a living museum—the city also has a green soul and is working to make tourism more sustainable.
Experiences in Weimar:
📚 Goethe’s House & Schiller’s House: a dive into classical German literature.
🏛 Bauhaus Museum: the birthplace of modern design and sustainable ideas in architecture.
🌸 Weimar’s Parks: Park an der Ilm is a beautiful green area where you can stroll along the river and visit Goethe’s garden house.
Sustainable hotels in Weimar:
- Hotel Anna Amalia: family-run, with a focus on organic operations and local connections.
- Amalienhof Hotel Weimar: a charming, classically styled hotel that embraces sustainable initiatives and local food culture.
🚆 Green travel between the cities
Jena and Weimar are just 20 minutes apart by train, making it easy to combine them in one trip. Thuringia as a whole is also easy to explore in a climate-friendly way, with its focus on rail connections, cycling routes, and green accommodations.
✨ Why choose Jena and Weimar?
Because here you get the best of both worlds:
- Jena offers nature, innovation, and modern energy.
- Weimar offers classical culture, history, and architecture within green surroundings.
Together, they are a perfect pair for travelers seeking sustainability and experiences with depth.
