Stausee Hohenfelden — Strandbad Hohenfelden

Strandbad Hohenfelden lies on the northern shore of the Stausee Hohenfelden, a reservoir about 20 kilometres southwest of Erfurt that doubles as one of central Thuringia's most popular family lidos. Unlike many of the region's reservoir beaches, this one has an actual sandy strip maintained along the water's edge, giving it a genuine lido feel rather than a rough natural shoreline. The water is calm and shallow close to shore, warming up through the summer, and the reservoir's modest size means there is little wind chop, so it suits families with young children and casual swimmers more than serious open-water swimmers. Amenities include changing rooms, showers, a kiosk selling food and drinks, pedal-boat and stand-up-paddleboard hire, and a playground set back from the beach for children. A grass sunbathing area runs along the shoreline, and the wider reservoir is ringed by a walking and cycling path that connects to the nearby Hohenfelden open-air museum. The beach gets busy on warm weekends given its proximity to Erfurt, so arriving in the morning helps secure a good spot on the grass or sand. Parking is available near the lido entrance but fills quickly in peak season. Regional buses run from Erfurt to Hohenfelden, making this one of the more accessible reservoir beaches in Thuringia for visitors without a car, though the journey by car takes only about 25 minutes and remains the simplest option. Food options are limited to the on-site kiosk, so visitors planning a full day may want to bring a picnic.