While Germany isn’t known for its amazing cherry blossoms season (unlike sakura season in Japan – these 25 spots in Tokyo especially), there are plenty of places to celebrate these delicate spring flowers. I’ve gathered the top 7 spots for Cherry blossoms in Jena fo your! It’s my home town and if I’m in town for the season, I make sure to hunt down as many flowering cherry trees as possible. Here’s where to go if you’re visiting for the day.
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Jena and hiking
Before we begin with these epic cherry blossom locations in Jena, let me point out that there are various wonderful nature hikes in the area. Spring is especially gorgeous as you can spot the many famous wild orchids around Jena. They bloom in May and June.
If you come in February, you can spot a sea of yellow winter aconites in the Rautal, a nearby forest.
Note: You should wear proper hiking boots on the trails in Jena because the paths can be small and rocky, or muddy after the rain. They are well taken care of but are still in nature. We don’t even out trails or anything like I’ve seen in some places abroad.
You can grab local hiking maps from the tourist information or order one online here*. Google Maps only has some trails marked (in satellite view). Alternatively, you can use the app Maps.Me, which is more reliable.
Important: Ticks are very common in these parts and many of them carry lyme disease.
This means you should take necessary precautions to not contract it. Wear long sleeved clothes (stuff pants legs into your socks), wear insect repellent like this one against ticks* and check your body after any hike. Also, I advise you having a tick card* or tick tweezers* in your luggage to remove ticks if you catch one.
If you do end up getting one and after removing it properly you still see unusual redness or a ring around the spot of the bite, pleas esee a local doctor or visit the hospital. Lyme disease should be taken seriously.
This needed to be said. But now onto more pleasant things, which are the cherry trees in Jena!
Where is Jena anyway?
Jena is the second largest city in the German state of Thuringia. It’s the centralmost state, right in the heart of the country and the city is known for its glass and optics. (Ever heard of Schott and Zeiss? Jep, glass from your glasses, oven plates, microscopes, etc most likely comes from my city!)
By train, Jena is 15 minutes away from Weimar and 30 minutes from Erfurt, the state capital. Leipzig is one hour away and for Berlin/Munich it’s 3-4 hours.
If you’re using long-distance buses, check out my Germany bus guide here. If you’re planning on using trains, read up on how to save some serious bucks and make the most out of train travel through Germany.
When should you expect cherry blossoms in central Germany?
Depending on the weather conditions in the respective year, the times vary slightly. But generally, you can expect cherry trees to bloom in late April. They last about one to two weeks, depending on rainfall.
Top 7 Cherry blossom locations in Jena
Jägerberg
My favourite place to celebrate German cherry blossoms – other than at the Japanese Garden in Bad Langensalza – is at the Jägerberg in Jena. I am biased of course, but it is definitely the best spot for enjoying both blossoming cherry trees and enjoying the view over Jena.
The small mountain is located at the Northern end of the city and you can park right next to the former cherry plantation or walk up from the bus/tram stop below. Right next to the parking spot are many rows of old and gnarly cherry trees and you can spot some more all around the area, further up and down the mountain.
I’ve been told that there are some more cherry trees at the end of the street Thomas-Müntzer-Straße, which you could stop at when you’re walking or driving here. I haven’t seen them yet myself, so I cannot confirm.
How to get there
It’s easiest by car. You can just drive up and park. Here are the coordinates:
- Address: Lagerfeuerstelle Jägerberg
- Geotag: 50°57’42.8″N 11°35’46.9″E
If you want to use public transport, best take the tram number 1 from the city centre to the final stop, which is called Zwätzen. (See the timetable here.)
Good to know: A local one-way ticket for buses and trams costs a little over 2€. You can get it at the machine on the tram itself. It’s possible to pay in cash or with your credit card. You can also get a day ticket, which is good if you use trams or buses for at least three times that day.
Lobdeburg
Fun fact: The city of Jena has multiple castles! And those are just a few of Jena’s sights. My favourite is the castle ruin Lobdeburg, from which you have a great view over the valley and all the way to castle Leuchtenburg, which is nearly 19k away. The latter also features its own castle Christmas market.
Just beneath the ruin, at the foot of the hill Lobdeberg you can find another former cherry tree plantation. Again, the trees are mostly left to their own devices and have grown quite old and crooked. I think it’s beautiful! In spring, everything is in bloom here, from the cherry trees to the bushes and meadows.
In the mornings you have excellent light as the trees are eastwards facing but you can still catch the Jena cherry trees in the afternoon. Just don’t wait too long or you’ll be in the shadows.
How to get there
Take the tram number 5 from the city centre to stop Klinikum. Walk up to the hospital and pass it. There are stairs leading to a park landscape. Walk straight ahead until you reach a bridge, which you’ll cross and walk up to the small pavilion.
Now enter the iron gate of the church and cemetery to your left. Walk through to the other end and you’ll see a small leafy path leading towards the hill. Follow it until you spot a barrier (for cars, you can continue walking) and shortly behind it you will see the cherry trees left and right of you.
You can also drive to Drackendorf and park somewhere around here. There are paths leading up close to the cherry trees as there are private gardens all around here. However, walking is best and not at all difficult. It’s not a hike.
- Geotag: 50°53’25.1″N 11°37’30.9″E
Summer Linden Tree
While you’re here, I recommend heading up to the castle Lobdeburg and turning away from the city, taking the trail towards the Sommerlinde. Translated it means summer linden tree, which is exactly what it is. The big linden tree at the end of the meadow on top of the mountain is a local fave hiking spot – for class outings, for Father’s Day tours and just idle hikes.
I saw that they’ve planted many rows of young cherry trees leading up to it, so they should be blooming in spring as well.
How to get there
If you want to drive, I recommend driving through Drackendorf via the street Alte Dorfstraße. Behind the car garages is a spot where you can park. Take the trail and follow the signs saying Sommerlinde to the tree. It takes less than half an hour and is about 1.2km.
Otherwise, just take the trail atop the hill from the castle northeast to and through the forest.
- Geotag: 50°53’58.9″N 11°37’44.3″E
Winzerla
A new spot for blossoming cherry trees in Jena one I “discovered” (after someone gave me a tip) is atop the district of Winzerla. You cannot even see it from outside as it’s hidden in the forest. But when you’re there, you wonder how you could miss it.
The view is spectacular! You can see as far as the Lobedburg and all the way to Jägerberg. Basically, you see most of the city. And I had no idea!
- Geotag: 50°53’47.2″N 11°33’49.3″E
How to get there
Take the tram number 1 to the final stop called Winzerla. Walk through the city garden towards the hills. It’s even easier if you take the bus 12 to Hugo-Schrade-Straße. You have to walk into the forest and then, at the crossing on the top, take the right. You will walk towards the old cherry plantation.
If you’re in the mood for a hike, you can go southwestwards to the mountain Mönchsberg and former quarry. (There’s a photogenic stone circle as well.) Or you head northeastern to the viewpoint from the Lämmerberg (Aussichtspunkt am Lämmerberg) and back down again.
- Geotag: 50°53’47.2″N 11°33’49.3″E
Autobahn Tunnel Park
One of the most embarrassing views of the city if you ask locals is that from the autobahn A4. You’ll see typical Soviet housing blocks. Many of them are just plain ugly. We built a tunnel and turned it into a green park to shield from the view somewhat (and also help make everything more green and quieter), but it’s still an eye sore.
Regardless, the park is now a popular place to hangout or go for a stroll for those living in the district. I go there often myself. Come spring time,t he bushes and trees are wonderfully blooming. Small cherry trees can be spotted at the ends of the tunnel. They are nothing big but still a pretty sight.
And you can see both the Leuchtenburg and Lobedburg castle from here.
How to get there
Take the tram number 4 or 1 to the stop Emil-Wölk-Straße. Walk past the supermarket Kaufland (you can’t miss it). it should be on your left. Plus, there are some pretty cherry trees there as well.
Keep walking straight. You can see a green hill in the distance. That’s where the park and its cherry trees start. There are many options to go from here. Just walk around the park, or head straight across and down again, following the trail past some big blue buildings and further downwards past red rocks. You can take the trail to your right, following the stream.
You will end up close to the next tram stop again, from where you can go back into the city. Just walk all the way upwards uphill you can see it. or keep following the river and into the next park. A big set of stairs will lead you back to your initial tram stop.
You could also walk all the way back into town from here, which takes less than two hours. 90 minutes if you’re a really fast walker.
- Geotag: 50°53’58.9″N 11°37’44.3″E
Botanic Garden
The botanic garden of Jena is always a pretty sight any time of the year. (In winter, the greenhouses and tropical landscapes bring much needed warmth and sights of green. Just beware of piranhas. Don’t touch the water.^^)
Sadly, we don’t have much cherry blossom action going on. However, there is a big weeping cherry tree opposite the state library and near the fence. You can also see it from outside. I still recommend going in and walking around the botanic garden. It’s small but cute and has a variety of pretty plants and flowers.
- Address: Botanischer Garten Jena, Fürstengraben 26, 07743 Jena
- Entrance: 4 EUR adults; 2,50 EUR reduced fee
Ziegenhainer Tal
This is another tip that I haven’t checked out myself yet but I’ve been told that there are beautiful cherry trees on the hill opposite the old castle tower called Fuchsturm.
How to get there
If you’re driving, you should head into the Ziegenhainer Tal and up the hill towards Fuchsturm. There are various parking spots available here. Just don’t drive through the forest yet. Note that if you want to go to the castle afterwards, you need to pay a small way fare at the gate. Or you could walk.
If you’re using public transport, take the local bus 16 from the city centre to the final stop called Ziegenhainer Tal. You can walk uphill, along the road from here. it’s also possible to walk here from the city centre. Just know that it’s all the way uphill and therefore not easy.
- Geotag: 50°55’07.5″N 11°37’47.3″E
More travel tips for central Germany
- The hidden sculpture garden in Plinz village
- Hiking around seas of yellow spring flowers in Jena
- What to expect in the city of Weimar
- Why you should do hay bathing in the Thuringian Forest
- A British-style castle on top of an alpine forest in the heart of Germany
- A German museum dedicated to delicious local dumplings
- The best hikes in the Vogtland region – through magical mountains and forests
- A social media detox in the quaint area of the Rhone
- The most fabulous castles in Germany
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