Street in Erfurt
Erfurt is the best-preserved medieval city in central Germany, the capital of Thuringia and a city where Martin Luther lived as a monk. Free to walk. The Kramerbrucke (Merchants’ Bridge) is the longest inhabited bridge in Europe, lined with houses and shops. The cathedral and the Severikirche stand side by side on a hill, reached by a massive stone stairway. Budget travelers take the cheap train from Berlin or Leipzig and find a German city that survived World War II largely intact.
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Erfurt Cathedral rises above Domplatz on a dramatic hilltop, reached by a broad 70-step staircase. Entry to the cathedral itself is free, and the 15th-century "Gloriosa" bell is one of the largest medieval free-swinging bells in the world.
Erfurt's Fischmarkt is a compact Renaissance square surrounded by ornate guild houses, each with a distinct painted facade. The square is free to enjoy and serves as the social heart of the old town with the neo-Gothic town hall on one side.
The Kramerbrucke (Merchants' Bridge) is the longest continuously inhabited bridge in Europe, a medieval bridge spanning the Gera River with 32 half-timbered houses on both sides containing shops, galleries, and cafes. Free to cross.
Standing right beside the cathedral on the same hilltop, St. Severus Church is a Gothic gem that most visitors walk right past.
Working out what Erfurt costs?
The whole of Erfurt