Located in Thuringia, Germany – Gotha is the fifth-largest city in Thuringia and has a population of about 46,000 people.
Gotham is located 20 kilometers west of Erfurt and 25 km east of Eisenach.
Gotham is popularly known for being home to Schloss Friedenstein, the largest early modern-day palace in Germany.
There are so many, wonderful, unique, and historic landmarks, to discover in Gotha.
So in this Gotha travel guide, we are going to discuss in detail what to do in Gotha, from the most popular spots in the city to tours that will help you see it all with ease and at once!
Did we miss any of the best places to visit in Gotha?
If you know of any unique attraction that we did not mention, then let us know in the comment section
Let’s go!
1. Visit The Friedenstein Castle
Located just 1.3 kilometers away from Schloss Park is the Friendenstein Castle.
The Friendenstein Castle is one of the most popular attractions in Gotha, German.
The construction of this castle started in 1643 and was completed in 1654, and it was built by Duke Ernst I of Saxe-Gotha.
This castle is popularly known to be the oldest baroque palace in Germany.
If you want to experience baroque art without any cheesy approach and staging frills, then you should definitely check this place out.
This castle has three different museums inside it and the entry ticket which costs 12 Euros covers everything
The theater is also part of the castle, as well as the ‘Herzogliches Museum’ across the street.
If you end up visiting this castle, set aside at least three hours to cover all that can be seen.
There is also onsite parking available and if you get hungry, you can buy drinks or snacks at the snack bar that is located in front of the castle.
The Castle is open from 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday to Sunday, they don’t open on Mondays.
One of my favorite parts of this castle is the Ekhof Theatre.
The theatre is the oldest baroque theater in the world, and it features a revolving stage, and nowadays, it is used to host operas, plays, and live performances.
Since most of the descriptions are written in German, I suggest you buy the audio guide, it is totally worth it.
2. Check Out The Herzogliches Museum
Another tourist attraction in Gotha that is worth a visit is the Herzogliches Museum.
The museum is located just a few minutes away from Schloss Friedenstein.
The Herzorgliches Museum is also known as the Ducal Museum because the museum is housed in a former ducal palace, that was built in the 17th century.
This art museum has a wide collection of different artworks from the 16th to the 19th century.
The art collection contains, paintings, sculptures, tapestries, porcelain, silverware, and so many artifacts.
Some of the artworks you will find in this museum belongs to Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, one of the most powerful rulers in Germany in the 17th and 18th century.
This is probably the most beautiful art museum in Thuringia.
One of the things I personally like about this place is the educative and entertaining exhibitions they run from time to time.
As of May 15th, 2023, they are currently running about the Freemasons.
If you love artworks, then make sure you add this place to your must-see list.
3. Explore the Tierpark Gotha Zoo
If you are someone who is a huge fan of nature and animals, then you should definitely check out the Gotha Zoo.
The Gotha is located 1.9 kilometers (a 5 minutes drive) away from the Hotel am Tierpark Gotha
The Tiepark covers approximately 6 hectares, and inside this land, you will find a wide variety of animals from different parts of the world.
As of May 2023, some part of the zoo is currently being renovated because some of the structures are getting old.
If you’re visiting this place with your kids, you can take them to the petting zoo, a part of the zoo where they can interact with friendly animals under supervision
The entry fee is 8 euros and 20 euros for a family.
4. Check out the City Museum
The city museum which is also known as the Gotha castle museum is one gem every tourist should check out.
The museum is located inside The Schloss Castle, so if you bought an entry ticket to see the Schloss, you can check out this museum for free.
Taking photos is prohibited unless you purchase a €5 pass in the north wing, where the principal living rooms are located.
If you plan to visit this museum, then purchase an English guidebook called “Tour Castle Friedenstein” for €3 at the museum shop.
5. Go On A Leisure Walk At The Mönch Park
The Mönch Park is located just a few meters away from the Mönchhof castle.
Once you enter Mönch Park, you’ll be greeted by a serene atmosphere and well-lawned green land filled with beautiful trees and colorful flower gardens
The park’s beautiful lawns also make this place a wonderful location for picnics and outdoor activities like cycling.
You will also find a lot of benches where you can sit down.
Everything is usually clean and if you visit this place during the winter you can play ice hockey on the frozen lakes.
Although this park is very beautiful, it is not that big, but at least it has a playground where children can have fun.
So if you’re looking for a place where you can relax, stroll or have fun with your kids, then you definitely visit this park.
6. Visit The Muller Tempel
The Muller Tempel is located just a few minutes away from Gaststätte Berggarten, a popular drink restaurant in Gotha.
When you climb to the highest point of Muller Tempel, you will have a very nice view of Gotha and its surrounding area.
If you visit this place during Winter, you can go sledding here since there’s usually enough snow here.
7. Try Some Local Dishes At Kastner Gasthaus Restaurant
One of the things I love to do whenever I visit a new city or town is to try out their local dishes.
Trying out the local dishes of any city you visit is an underrated way to the region’s heritage and culture.
Some of the local Gotha dishes I suggest you try out are:
Thuringian Rostbratwurst: A fried or grilled sausage that is made from finely minced pork is seasoned with different spices, including marjoram, caraway, and garlic.
If you are a meat lover, then you definitely grab one of these sausages.
Thuringian Potato Soup: The main constituents of this soup are mashed potatoes, vegetables, and diced bacon or sausage for added richness.
The soup is seasoned with herbs and spices, creating a delicious blend of flavors.
This soup is mainly served during the winter months since it helps in keeping the body warm
Eierschecke: The third dish I suggest you check out is Eierschecke.
Eierschecke is made from a combination of different layers of cake, custard, and quark.
The bottom part is made from a shortcrust pastry, then it is put into an oven until it is baked to perfection.
8. Learn How To Shoot At BDMP Shooting Range
If you’re looking to engage in an extreme activity, then you should definitely visit the BDMP shooting range.
This shooting range has everything a sports shooter needs.
It has different types of top stands, 3 x 50m, 2 x 100m, 1 x 300m.
It also has a 300 to 100 meters range with electronic recording of hits.
This place is located on the outskirts of Gotha, so you will need to drive for a while before you get here.
9. Swim At Stadtbad, Gotha
Another activity on our list of things to do in Gotha is to relax or swim in the Stadtbad.
The Stadtbad is a public swimming pool that is very popular among tourists and local residents.
Stadtbad features a sports pool, children swimming pool, and an Art Nouveau bathing area.
One of the places I like is the smaller pool with a hot water jacuzzi is the best.
There is also a sauna available.
Entry ticket fee ranges from 3 Euros to 10 Euros depending on the season.
If you are looking for a place for good family outings, then add this place to your list.
10. Attend a Concert At Stadthalle, Gotha
Stadthalle is the most popular event venue in Gotha, this is because very week intriguing and fascinating concerts are hosted here.
If you’re in Gotha and you want to attend a live performance, then you should definitely check this place out.
There is a large parking lot in front of the building where you can park your car free of charge, there is also a bar where you can grab a drink if you feel like it.
Depending on the event, entry tickets can range from 3 euros to 15 euros per adult.
Overall, this place is definitely worth the hype and I will rate it a 9.5/10.
11. Watch A Movie At The Cineplex Cinema
If the evening is quickly approaching, and you are feeling bored or don’t have any plans for the night, then you should definitely visit the Cineplex Cinema.
The Cinema is one of the most popular attractions in Gotha.
This Cinema has everything you will want in a modern-day cinema.
The building is spacious, the seats are very comfortable, the sound is superb and the sitting is so great that you can see the screen regardless of where you sit.
There is also a free onsite parking space available.
And just like every modern-day cinema, there is a snack bar where you can buy a drink or popcorn.
12. Roller Skate At Bretterbude Roller Skating Park
If you are a roller skating enthusiast and are looking for where you can skate comfortably, then I suggest you visit Bretterbude.
This place is heaven on earth for skateboarders!
The floors are made of wood, which means you don’t get a bruise if you fall down.
The team and atmosphere here are full of optimism, creativity, and love.
If you are looking for things to do in Gotha with kids, then you should definitely take them to this place, they will love it.
Where To Stay In Gotha
There are a lot of places where you can stay in Gotha.
You can stay in a hotel good hotel like Tiepark Hotel or Schlosspark Hotel
Some factors like budget and location might affect where you will stay.
However, regardless of your price or location, there is always something for you.
With the help of Booking.com, a website that compares all the internet’s hotel deals, you can find different hotels in Gotha that will meet your needs.
If you don’t like the idea of staying in a hotel and want to stay in a rental you can book a rental on Vrbo.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are so many fun things to do in Gotha, from visiting museums to sightseeing to going on outdoor adventures.
The activities we listed above, are the ones we believe will make your visit a fun and memorable one.
Happy adventuring!