Erfurt's historic centre is compact enough to cover on foot in a day. The Cathedral and the Severikirche, rising together from a broad flight of steps above the Domplatz, are the defining image of the city. The Krämerbrücke, a medieval bridge lined with half-timbered houses, is the most photographed sight — and still lived and worked in, which makes it more interesting than a preserved relic.
The old town rewards wandering without a fixed plan. Between the Domplatz and the bridge you will find a network of lanes, small squares, and baroque shopfronts that survived the war largely intact. The Old Synagogue, one of the best-preserved medieval synagogues in Europe, is easily the most remarkable historical discovery in the city. The St Augustine's Monastery, where Martin Luther studied and was ordained, is now both a museum and a working hotel.