Day Trip to Erfurt from Berlin: What to do in Erfurt in One Day

Berlin is a wonderful city to visit, but it also makes a great base for taking day trips from Berlin and exploring other parts of eastern Germany. So why not plan a day trip from Berlin to Erfurt and explore a lesser known German city!

It’s a charming city that you can get to in about two hours from Berlin. Here’s how to plan a day trip to Erfurt plus things to do in Erfurt in one day.

Why should you take a day trip from Berlin to Erfurt

Erfurt is not as well known as cities like Dresden or Hamburg, but that’s part of the appeal. This gorgeous city is filled with beautiful architecture, interesting history, and lots of natural, cultural and historical attractions.

Erfurt luckily didn’t suffer much damage during World War II, so the city’s medieval center is still well preserved. It was an important trading city in the Middle Ages due to its location in the center of Europe.

Today it is a hidden gem that most people outside of Germany have never heard of since it gets overshadowed by more famous cities. But take a stroll through the old town and admire the sights, and you’ll start to wonder why more people haven’t visited this wonderful place.

How to Get from Berlin to Erfurt by Train

To get from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Erfurt Hauptbahnhof, you can easily take the Deutsche Bahn train. There are direct trains roughly twice an hour, some that take about 1 hour 40 minutes and some that take about two hours.

Most trains going to Erfurt also stop in Berlin Gesundbrunnen and/or Berlin Südkreuz. Check which train station is closest to where you’re staying in Berlin to see which one makes the most sense.

>>Check prices and train schedules on the Deutsche Bahn website.

Another option is FlixTrain. This is a train service run by FlixBus, a popular bus company in Europe. Their train takes about 1 hour 55 minutes to get to Erfurt from Berlin.

They don’t run as frequently, but they are often cheaper than Deutsche Bahn, so check FlixTrain for prices and times.

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Things to do in Erfurt in One Day

From historical churches to an imposing citadel, from a charming merchant bridge to tasty sausages, there’s more than enough things to do in Erfurt in one day.

Head to Domplatz

This large market square is home to a number of Erfurt’s top attractions, including the cathedral and St. Augustine’s Monastery.

More than just its historic buildings and architecture, however, the square today plays host to various events and festivals throughout the year. It’s a good place to get your bearings before exploring further into the city.

Get festive at the Erfurter Weihnachtsmarkt

One of the many festivals that takes place at Domplatz is the Weihnachtsmarkt, Erfurt’s very own Christmas market. Here you’ll find festive rides for children, snacks to sample, and various gifts – all with a cathedral backdrop.

If you’re visiting in late November or December, this is worth a visit.

Marvel at Erfurt Cathedral and St. Augustine’s Monastery

Called Dom St. Marien in German, the cathedral is an icon of Erfurt. Together with St. Augustine’s Monastery, they date back to the 13th century. Both were built by Augustinian friars.

The monastery is most famous for being home to the great reformer Martin Luther. Come at night to catch sight of the cathedral dramatically illuminated.

Stop by St. Severi church

Built around 1300, this Gothic style church uniquely features five aisles and triple towers for an impressive sight both inside and out. Combined with its neighbor, Erfurt Cathedral, the two churches sit atop a 70-step monument staircase.

Wander around the Angermuseum

No, this isn’t a museum dedicated to the emotion of anger. It’s actually a municipal museum that was built to house Erfurt’s public weighing scales; merchants who traveled to the city would bring their wares to be weighed for customs duties.

Today this historic building plays host to various arts and crafts, 18th-century German paintings, furnishings, glassware, and more.

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Check out the art at Kunsthalle Erfurt

For some arty goodness in Erfurt, look no further than the Kunsthalle Erfurt. Set in a historic Renaissance style building, this gallery opened its doors in 1979 and plays host to contemporary art that provokes conversation and dialogue.

Rather than having a permanent collection, it’s a platform for young artists to exhibit their work.

Browse the Fischmarkt

The Kunsthalle Erfurt is just one part of the Fischmarkt – a large town square dating back to the 13th century, with heritage buildings lining its sides. First mentioned in 1293, the Fischmarkt actually was home to various different markets over the years, but it has always been the social center of the city.

This pedestrianized plaza also boasts a few narrow alleys that run from the main square that are interesting to explore.

Stroll across the Merchants’ Bridge

Known in German as the krämerbrücke, this is one medieval bridge with a difference. Lining its cobbled street on both sides there are half-timbered shops and houses that have stood there for centuries.

In fact, this bridge has been continuously inhabited for over 500 years.

Dine over the Gera River

Erfurt’s riverside is an attractive spot to enjoy a leisurely lunch, and when summer rolls around the terraces and decks overhanging the shallow Gera River fill up with hungry customers.

Pier 37 serves up schnitzel at its waterside setting, while La Gondola offers Italian fare to go with its waterfront scenery.

Climb up the Ägidienkirche for city views

Another of Erfurt’s landmarks, the Ägidienkirche is a medieval church thought to have been originally founded by Frisian traders in the 8th century. The current building was constructed in the Gothic style in 1368, but it features later Renaissance style interiors.

One of the best things about the church is its tower where visitors can climb its wood-and-stone staircase for pretty views across the rooftops.

Pay a visit to the Old Synagogue

Erfurt boasts one of the best-preserved medieval synagogues in the whole of Europe – in fact, the oldest parts of the Old Synagogue date back to the 11th century. It features impressive Romanesque and Gothic style windows.

More than a historic building, it’s an important place that has been touted as a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Chill out in Egapark

For when you just need some downtime in Erfurt, Egapark provides a space to enjoy a slice of nature in the city.

Sometimes called one of Germany’s most beautiful parks, Egapark was redeveloped in the 1960s and boasts natural trails, a Japanese garden, and a butterfly house among other things.

Eat Thuringian sausage

If you consider yourself a foodie then you’ll want to try one of Erfurt’s gastronomic specialties. The most famous is Thuringian sausage.

Named for the state in which Erfurt is situated, the sausage is made with pork and veal mixed with a local mix of herb and spices, cooked over charcoal. It’s easy to find almost anywhere in the city.

Discover Erfurt’s Bauhaus heritage

The early 20th-century Bauhaus movement was important for architecture across Germany, but particularly in Erfurt – the first Bauhaus art and design school was founded in Weimar, 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from Erfurt.

Numerous buildings were commissioned in the Bauhaus style in the city center, which today add to Erfurt’s rich cityscape. You can learn more about this cool architecture on a walking tour of Bauhaus buildings in Erfurt.

Learn about Erfurt’s greenery at Deutsches Gartenbaumuseum

Situated in Egarpark, the German Horticultural Museum is dedicated to all things plant life. Claiming to be the only of its kind in Europe, it’s situated in an old fortress, the Cyriaksburg Citadel.

Come here to learn about the history of horticulture not just in Germany but across the world.

Book a table at Zum Goldenen Schwan

Once hunger calls after exploring the city, make sure you take a visit to Zum Goldenen Schwan (“The Golden Swan”). The restaurant is actually an historic inn set across three buildings, the oldest of which actually dates back to the 1200s.

The lintel on the cellar, however, dates to 1186. Either way, it lays claim to being the one of the oldest restaurants in town.

Explore Petersberg Citadel

Built atop Petersberg Hill, this large historic fortress is actually one of the largest and best preserved in Europe.

Dating back to 1665, the fort has been used by various forces during its centuries of existence, including Swedish, Prussian, Napoleonic, and Nazi. However, its history goes back even further – it was originally a 12th-century Benedictine monastery.

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