Discover Jena: Gardens, Forest and Culture

Jena combines botanical diversity with paths through the city forest and a cultural program spanning art and a summer festival. The attractions differ considerably: the Botanical Garden focuses on plant life, the Schlauer Ux Forest Trail leads past discovery stations, while the SaaleHorizontale sets a different scale as a long-distance hiking route. This selection offers a practical starting point for planning your stay and looking for accommodation in Jena.

Botanical Garden and Plant Diversity

The Botanical Garden of the University of Jena covers 4.5 hectares and includes around 10,000 plant species. It has five greenhouses: the Succulent House, Cold House, Tropical House, Evolution House and Victoria House. Water lilies are among the plants that grow in the garden. The size of the collection and the different greenhouses offer several ways to explore the botanical attractions, which you can take into account when planning your trip.

Discoveries in the City Forest and Long Hiking Trails

The approximately four-kilometer circular Schlauer Ux Forest Trail, with little elevation gain, runs through Jena’s city forest. It begins near the forum natura nature discovery center, passes the Forstturm and goes by the Bismarckturm and the Sternlinde. At 20 stations, children and other hikers can discover animals, trees and plants. The trail is suitable for families, kindergarten groups and school classes. The stations give the route a clear discovery-focused character and help make the experience of nature more tangible.

The SaaleHorizontale offers a different experience: it is 91 kilometers long, follows narrow paths through steep shell-limestone slopes, and offers spectacular views of the landscape of the Middle Saale Valley, with its villages, castles and palaces. It is considered an outstanding outdoor attraction in Jena. The contrast is clear: an approximately four-kilometer loop with little elevation gain and stations, versus a much longer route through steep terrain—a tangible difference when choosing nature and hiking activities.

Art and Summer Festival

The cultural attractions also have different focuses. Temporary exhibitions at the Jena Art Collection are devoted to Classical Modernism and significant movements in contemporary art. Since 1992, the Kulturarena has been a summer visitor attraction every year, drawing tens of thousands of visitors. In Jena, art exhibitions and a recurring summer festival thus complement the outdoor attractions. If you make these themes central to your stay, they can also help guide your search for accommodation in Jena.

Culture in the Wider Saale-Holzland Destination

In the wider Saale-Holzland destination, the Dornburg Palaces form an ensemble of three palaces from different architectural periods. The Bauhaus Workshop Museum Dornburg is housed in the former Bauhaus ceramics workshop in the Marstall building at the Dornburg palace complex. In Bürgel, the permanent exhibition at the Ceramics Museum illustrates the history of Bürgel pottery from its beginnings in the mid-17th century to the present day. An audio guide leads visitors to 22 stops in Bürgel and Thalbürgel; check its availability before your trip. Schkölen Water Castle is a castle complex with a museum and changing exhibitions.

Choose a Focus for Your Stay

If the Jena attractions mentioned here are the focus of your trip, look specifically for accommodation in Jena. The cultural destinations in the wider Saale-Holzland area offer a separate regional focus.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Waltersdorf, Großlöbichau, Rothenstein, Serba, Tröbnitz, Dornburg-Camburg, Großbockedra, Gösen

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Saale-Holzland.