Hostels in Thuringia 
Looking for the best hostels in Thuringia? You are in the right place!
On this page, we have listed every city in Thuringia with backpacker hostels and budget-friendly stays. Hostelz.com makes it easy to find your ideal Thuringia hostel by comparing prices across major booking platforms. Save money while backpacking Thuringia and sleep comfortably on a budget.
All Backpacker Hostels in Thuringia
We have got you covered with a complete list of every hostel in Thuringia, across 6 cities! Not all cities have hostels, but many offer alternative budget options like guesthouses and affordable hotels. Use our filters to quickly find cities with hostels or other budget accommodations to simplify your trip planning.
All Thuringia hostels on a map
Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.
Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in Thuringia. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.
Our handwritten guide on Backpacking Thuringia
The “green heart” of Germany, Thuringia, is located in the centre of the European country, and is a region almost completely covered in dense, thick forest. Known best for its beautiful hiking trail Rennsteig, and popular winter resort Oberhof, Thuringia is also historically significant. It was one of three states in Germany where the Nazis first gained any real power, and was controlled by both the US and the Soviet Union at one point.
Thuringia is the centre in more ways than one, harking back to a simpler time in Germany, with travel that takes its time, and rural villages hidden in its forests and woods.
In modern day, however, the region is popular because of its sweeping, dramatic scenery, lush green gardens, and bounty of world heritage. There is an enormous amount to see in Thuringia, from the half-timbered houses of its estates, to the busy town centres. Although Thuringia is a popular place to visit with lots to do, it is actually Germany’s second least populous and smallest state.
For travellers looking for warm and homely accommodation at a low cost, many of the region’s cities offer comfortable hostels in central, exciting locations. Weimar, Thuringia’s most famous and popular city, stands out in both its intellectual history and its reasonable hostel prices. Big names such as Bach, Goethe and Schiller resided in Weimar, and it is both a spiritual and scientific hub to Germany.
However, if intellect and cultural significance are not your speed, you can head into the Thuringian Forest, where sleepy storybook beauty can be found in the forest, meadows and streams. This part of Thuringia is also covered in palaces and castles, such Wilhelmsburg Castle, built in the sixteenth century. The Renaissance architecture found in this area are calming to explore, as are the hiking trails. Although hostels are less frequent in this part of the region, if you visit in June then you will easily find guest houses happy to accommodate you.
You will also find beautiful landscapes in the Saale Valley. Hike through the valley, or take a more laborious route, and canoe down the winding river.
Although Thuringia is small, it is one of the more gorgeous and traditional regions of Germany. It has a lot to offer hostel travellers looking to experience a more authentic part of the country. Let a tour of Thuringia remind you of Germany’s historical significance, as well as its influence on the world.
Handwritten by local expert for Thuringia hostels Jakob Lombardi
Travel Tips for Thuringia - from the Community
Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking Thuringia. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Thuringia. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!
FAQ on Hostels in Thuringia
There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:
Finding Hostels and Prices
What hostel booking sites are best to use?
There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.
This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.
For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.
How much are hostels in Thuringia?
Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.
You can search for exacty hostel prices in Thuringia here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.
When to book hostels?
If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.
We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.
Safety and Packing
Are hostels in Thuringia safe?
Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.
What to pack when staying in hostels?
There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.
There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.