Altenburg Airport is located only 7,5 km from the charming little town of Altenburg. It is a perfect point from where to discover the cultural heart of Germany.
Travel only 40 km to buzzing Leipzig and 80 km to historical Weimar and meet with all famous names in German history and culture.
There is a bus shuttle taking you from the airport to Altenburg train station in 15 minutes (3,50 Euro) or further to Leipzig train station (12.- €).
A taxi from the Airport into Altenburg will take 10 minutes (approx. 17.- €).
The train from Altenburg to Leipzig runs at least every hour and takes 35 minutes (7.- €).
From Leipzig trains run frequently to Dresden (1 hour) or Berlin (1 hour).
Trains to Erfurt via Jena and Weimar also run on an hourly schedule and take 1,45 hours (from 22.- Euros one way) Special rates with the - Thüringen Ticket - are available (from 19.- €/day within all routes in Thuringia).

Discover castles, parks and historical cities

Within less than an hour’s drive you find the most astonishing historical places: splendid Dresden with its royal treasures, the impressive “Wartburg” in Eisenach - Germany’s favourite castle, the medieval city of Erfurt with its half-timbered houses and large cathedral, the many former ducal residence towns such as Gotha and Weimar, the World War II prison castle Colditz and last but not least the lovingly restored Altenburg with its imposing castle, cobblestone streets and laid back atmosphere.

Treasures of Art were collected by Dukes and Kings over many centuries. You will find amazing collections of Art in Gotha Castle (yes, as in Saxe-Coburg-Gotha), in Weimar and especially in the Lindenau Art Museum in Altenburg which offers the biggest collection of Early Italian art outside Italy (so you won’t have to go to crowded Louvre or Florence). Ask for the “ThüringenCard” to enter everywhere on special rates.

Meet cultural giants of music and literature

The entire “Who is Who” of German classical music is connected with this region: Johann Sebastian Bach lived and worked in Eisenach, Arnstadt, Köthen and Leipzig, Halle is home to Georg F. Händel, as is Zwickau to Robert Schuhmann and Leipzig to Richard Wagner. Friedrich Mendelsohn-Bartholdy and Friedrich Liszt worked both in Weimar and Leipzig.

Get a glimpse into their lives on site and experience their wonderful music in one of the many festivals and concerts with famous orchestras and opera houses such as Gewandhausorchestra or Semper Opera.

There would be no German classical literature without Weimar, where you can still walk on the footsteps of literary giants like Johann W. v. Goethe and Friedrich Schiller visiting their private houses and favourite places.

And there would be no modern architecture either. The “Bauhaus” movement was founded by Walter Gropius in Weimar uniting artists and architects such as Paul Klee, Lionel Feininger and Wassily Kandinsky, who deeply inspired the idea of modern design as we know it today.

Tipps: Bachfest Leipzig and Bach Festival in Thuringia - Händelfestspiele Halle - Thuringian Summer Organ Concerts Altenburg - Art festival "pélégrinages" Weimar -Domfestspiele Erfurt

Get active and explore

Rent a bike and drive though rolling hills into neat little towns and villages, follow good riding trails along the rivers Saale, Elbe, Werra or Mulde or into the new lake-land south of Leipzig.(if you are up for a more thrilling adventure take a boat or a raft). Go hiking and never get bored as you will always encounter a scenic church in a village or a castle around the corner. Walk on the footsteps of the classical writers Goethe and Schiller or in the famous forests of Thuringia, the Harz or the Ore Mountains. If you prefer a mixture of nature and culture visit one of the royal parks next to the castles in Weimar, Gotha, and Altenburg or the Flower show in the EGA-Park in Erfurt.

There are Zoos in Leipzig, Erfurt and Altenburg. A wonderful planetarium, important natural science museums and a famous botanical garden await you in the Science city of Jena.

Dive into fun, nightlife and weekend chilling

Leipzig is the night life capital of the East. Have a fun Club Night @ Volkspalast, enjoy the atmosphere @ Moritzbastei- the biggest college bar around or explore the special feeling @ “Ferropolis-Irontown”. For all the dark souls out there: experience the annual Wave-Gotik-Treffen "Whitsun".

Weimar, Jena and Erfurt are also university cities with loads of foreign students and guaranteed wild nights out. Look out for events such as “Kulturarena” in Jena. Honky Tonk in Erfurt or "Elektroanschlag" in Altenburg Serve your inner shopaholic in one of the great malls or in old town shops, take an adventurous afternoon stroll through the Leipzig Zoo, take a fun train ride on a historical steam train or a roller-coaster in “Belantis” Theme Park.

Yearly favorites are the beer loaden Oktoberfests, the many town fairs with an irresistible smell of Bratwurst (perfect and cheap after a long night) and the romantic Christmas Markets.

Taste Thuringia and shop traditional handicrafts

Try some of the many regional beers, savoury sausages and rich home-made cakes. You will recognize Thuringia always by its smell, since there is a Bratwurst grill on every market place in the region - quick, cheap and yummy it is a favourite. Sunday roasts and potato dumplings, goat cheese and a variety of liqueurs provide a hearty meal in homey inns. The larger cities Erfurt, Leipzig or Weimar offer a variety of international restaurants. The value for money (main course from 6-18€, beer 0,4 l from 2,20 € ) is excellent.

Get yourself the original: Christmas trees and trimmings have been invented in the region and hand made glass balls or wood carvings can be bought all year round. Porcelain has been first produced in Saxony 300 years ago and famous manufactures exist in Meissen or Kahla offering authentic pieces of table art. Pottery, glass and playing cards are typical and wonderful souvenirs.

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