This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Erfurt.
Erfurt was founded in the middle of the seventh century and it was mainly an autonomous city during the Medieval Ages. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, it became part of Prussia. After the World War II, the city became part of the German Democratic Republic and that slowed down its development despite that it was an important industrial city during the Communist regime. After the Reunification in the late twentieth century, there has been visible movement of locals to other bigger German cities.
Erfurt University -- whose best-known student was Martin Luther -- was founded in the fourteenth century, closed in the nineteenth century, and reopened in the late twentieth century. This makes it the third-oldest university in Germany. Unfortunately, the old building was destroyed in the mid-twentieth century, but a reconstruction was again erected in the nineties.
In Erfurt, there are numerous museums with different collection priorities. The Erfurt City Museum with a functioning historic water mill; the Angermuseum with works of the expressionist Erich Heckel; and the Natural History Museum, built in the twenties, are only a few of them. The Old Synagogue in Erfurt is a former synagogue and with an age of over nine hundred years (it was reportedly built in the eleventh century), it is the oldest synagogue in Europe. The Erfurt Cathedral, the oldest and most important church in Erfurt, and the St. Severus Church are among the other tourist attractions.
Erfurt hostels are not very far from the city center and the train station and they can be easily reached by public transportation or even on foot. Hostels in Erfurt are not many and they are generally quite small, and sometimes it is hard to find a bed as all of them are booked out. Erfurt hostels have moderate prices and offer normal conditions for your money. There are no Erfurt hostels that stand out in terms of conditions and price; all of them are pretty much at the same level.
Written by local enthusiast for Erfurt hostels
George Traveller
