☰Oberhof

Oberhof is a small resort town rather than a nightlife destination. The après-ski scene is modest but warm — hotel bars are the main gathering point after a day on the slopes, and in summer a coffee and cake stop fits naturally into an afternoon walk. Thuringian beer and local schnapps are the drinks of choice.

Rother Wanderführer Thüringer Wald (Rother) — the standard German hiking guide to the Thuringian Forest, with routes covering the Rennsteig ridge, Schneekopf, and the hills around Oberhof. Practical and well-mapped.

KOMPASS Wanderführer Thüringer Wald, Rennsteig (Kompass) — another reliable trail guide covering the same region, with 1:50,000 maps and detailed route descriptions. Good for planning multi-day Rennsteig walks.

Goethe's Italian Journey (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe) — Goethe walked the Rennsteig and spent years in the Thuringian Forest; his wider travel writing gives a sense of the man who made these hills famous. The Ilmenau area, close to Oberhof, was his regular hiking ground.

Biathlon: The Complete Guide to the Sport — biathlon is Germany's most-watched winter sport and Oberhof is its spiritual home. Background reading on the discipline makes the World Cup races here considerably more engaging to watch.

Eisenach (50km northwest) — one of Thuringia's most rewarding towns. The Wartburg Castle looming above it is where Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German while in hiding; it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most significant buildings in German history. The town itself is pleasant and Bach was born here.

Erfurt (60km north) — Thuringia's state capital and a beautifully preserved medieval city. The cathedral square, the Krämerbrücke (a bridge lined entirely with inhabited medieval buildings), and the old town make it one of the most satisfying cities in central Germany for a day out.

Ilmenau (20km east) — a small university town that served as Goethe's base for his many walks through the Thuringian Forest. The Goethe hiking trail connects Ilmenau with the wider ridge network. A good starting point for forest walks if you want a change of base.

Suhl (20km southwest) — the regional centre for southern Thuringia. The Weapons Museum (Waffenmuseum) charts the town's centuries-long tradition as an arms-manufacturing centre. It is also the practical transport hub for buses and trains connecting the area to the wider German network.

Oberhof is a mountain resort town and the food matches the setting: hearty, warming Thuringian cooking built for people who have spent the day in the cold or on the trails. The Thüringer Rostbratwurst — the region's famous grilled sausage — is the local staple, alongside Sauerbraten, potato dumplings, and solid German comfort food. Options are mostly concentrated in the hotel zone and along the main road.

Oberhof itself is small and easily covered on foot. The town centre, hotel zone, and main ski arena are all within walking distance of each other.

In winter, ski lifts and a gondola connect the town to the slopes, making it easy to get to and from the pistes without a car.

In summer, shuttle buses run to the Rennsteiggarten and the Schneekopf trailhead, saving the uphill walk if you prefer. The Rennsteig ridge trail is accessible directly on foot from the town.

A car is useful if you want to explore the wider Thuringian Forest — villages, trails, and viewpoints are spread out across the hills and not always well served by public transport.

By car: The A71 autobahn is the main approach. Take the Oberhof exit and follow signs into the resort — it is well signed from both Erfurt (around 60km to the north) and Eisenach (around 50km to the northwest). Parking in the resort fills up fast on winter race weekends.

By train: The nearest stations are Zella-Mehlis and Oberhof (Thür). The Rennsteigtunnel rail link connecting Erfurt and Schweinfurt passes through the area but the service pattern is complex — check current timetables before relying on it.

By bus: Regional buses connect Oberhof with Zella-Mehlis and Suhl. The bus is a realistic option from Suhl, which has good rail connections to Erfurt and the wider German network.

Oberhof divides neatly into two seasons. In winter, the town is all about snow: biathlon and cross-country skiing at World Cup level, downhill skiing and snowboarding on the slopes, an ice canal toboggan run open to anyone, and the buzz of international sports events. In summer, the pace shifts entirely — the Rennsteiggarten botanical garden opens, hiking trails take over from ski runs, and the Rennsteig ridge offers long walks through forested ridges. The Rennsteig-Lauf in May bridges the two seasons: a mass-participation cross-country running race along the Rennsteig that draws thousands of runners.

Oberhof has two clear seasons and the choice is simple: come in winter for snow sports, or in summer for hiking and the botanical garden.

January through March is the core winter sports season. Snow is reliable at 800 metres and the biathlon and cross-country skiing World Cup events — some of the biggest on the international calendar — draw large crowds. Book well ahead if your visit coincides with a race weekend.

May through October is the summer season. The Rennsteiggarten opens in May, the Rennsteig-Lauf mass-participation running race takes place in May, and the Schneekopf and Rennsteig ridge trails are at their best from June through September. The blossoms festival at Rennsteiggarten falls on the last weekend in June; the harvest festival comes in September. Summer weekends are popular with German domestic tourists.

April and November are shoulder months: quieter, with fewer facilities open, but cheaper and uncrowded. Weather in April can still be cold and wintry at this altitude.