Thuringia (Thüringen) is a landlocked state at the geographic heart of Germany, often called the country's "Green Heart" for its dense forests and rolling hills. Home to Erfurt, Weimar, Jena, Gera, and Eisenach, Thuringia punches far above its size in cultural weight: it is the birthplace of the Reformation's Bible translation at Wartburg Castle, the cradle of German Classicism through Goethe and Schiller in Weimar, and the founding ground of the Bauhaus movement. Dense forests, half-timbered old towns, and a compact, affordable travel footprint make it one of central Germany's most rewarding regions to explore.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
authentic_thuringian
avoid
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Krämerbrücke
Artisan workshops and small shops on Europe's longest inhabited bridge — Thuringian blue-printed fabrics, hand-painted ceramics, Lauscha glass, jewelry, wood carvings, and Unstrut wine
Where: Altstadt, Erfurt
Hours: Shops generally Tue-Sat 10:00-18:00; hours vary by individual shop; several closed Sundays and Mondays
Anger
Erfurt's main pedestrian shopping promenade, with the Anger 1 department store, international high-street chains, and the historic Angermuseum at its head
Where: City center, Erfurt
Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00-20:00 (individual shop hours vary); closed Sundays
Erfurter Weihnachtsmarkt
Regional Christmas market beneath the floodlit Erfurt Cathedral and Severikirche, with wooden stalls selling Thuringian bratwurst, mulled wine (Glühwein), and handcrafted ornaments
Where: Domplatz, Erfurt
Hours: Late November-22 December, daily approx. 10:00-21:00 (varies by year)
Weimarer Weihnacht
Christmas market spanning the Marktplatz, Theaterplatz, Schillerstraße, and Herderplatz, with regional handicrafts, glassware, and traditional food stalls set against Weimar's classical architecture
Where: Marktplatz, Weimar
Hours: Late November-early January, daily approx. 10:00-20:00 (varies by year)
Geraer WeihnachtsMärchenMarkt
Fairy-tale-themed Christmas market winding from Gera's city museum through the Bachgasse and Johannisgasse pedestrian zone to the Marktplatz, with local crafts and seasonal food stalls
Where: Marktplatz, Gera
Hours: Late November-December, daily approx. 10:00-20:00 (varies by year)
Glaslädle / Glas-König Lauscha
Hand-blown glass Christmas ornaments and figurines made in the town where glass Christmas baubles were invented in the 19th century
Where: Lauscha, Thuringian Forest
Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00 (hours vary seasonally); closed Sundays
Krebs Glas Lauscha
Family-run glassworks producing hand-blown and hand-painted glass Christmas tree ornaments, sold both from the workshop and via an on-site shop
Where: Lauscha, Thuringian Forest
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00, Sat 10:00-14:00 (hours vary seasonally)
Töpferei Echtbürgel
Traditional Bürgel pottery (Bürgeler Geschirr), known for its cobalt-blue and cream glaze patterns dating back to the 16th century
Where: Bürgel, Saale-Holzland
Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00
Töpferei Reichmann
Family pottery workshop producing traditional Bürgel stoneware, jugs, and tableware using techniques passed down through generations
Where: Bürgel, Saale-Holzland
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00, Sat by appointment
Schillerstraße
Weimar's principal shopping street connecting Theaterplatz to the Marktplatz, lined with independent boutiques, bookshops, and cafés near Schiller's house
Where: City center, Weimar
Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00-18:30 (individual shop hours vary); closed Sundays