egapark Erfurt

The egapark sits where Erfurt once kept its cannons: on the Cyriaksberg hill in the south-west of the city, around the former Cyriaksburg citadel. Today 36 hectares of themed gardens, seasonal flower beds and tropical plants grow here. In East German times the park hosted the International Horticultural Exhibition, and in 2021 it was the main site of Germany's Federal Garden Show. With more than 500,000 visitors a year it is one of Thuringia's most popular days out.

History: from fortress to flower show

After Erfurt lost its fortress status in 1873, a local improvement society laid out the first paths and viewpoints from 1885. The city bought the hill from the Prussian state in 1924 and opened a public park in 1928. The big step came after the war: the 1950 show "Erfurt blüht" drew 551,000 people, and on 28 April 1961 the first International Horticultural Exhibition of the socialist countries (iga) opened, designed by landscape architect Reinhold Lingner. The park has been a listed monument of 1960s garden design since 1992. The Danakil desert and rainforest house was added for the 2021 Federal Garden Show.

What to see

• Central flower bed: A bed 370 metres long and over 6,000 m² in size runs along the main axis, the largest ornamental flower bed in Europe. Around 150,000 plants are set in patterns twice a season.
• Danakil: Named after the Danakil Desert in East Africa, this glasshouse takes you along the path of water from a desert section with terrariums into a tropical rainforest. Entry is included in the park ticket.
• Viewing tower: A gun tower of the citadel built in 1528, topped with a steel spire in 1999. A spiral staircase of 61 steps leads to a platform with views across the city to the cathedral. A maximum of 50 people are allowed up at once.
• German Horticulture Museum: Housed in the fortress barracks of 1824–1826, with a tunnel leading to a 40-metre fortress well.
• Themed gardens: Japanese garden, Karl Foerster perennial garden, a rose garden with about 500 varieties, an iris garden and Thuringia's largest playground.

Good to know

Erfurt calls itself the "flower city" for a reason: seed growing had a long tradition here, and the great bed was meant to show off that strength in 1961. The northern gun tower has housed a public observatory since 1950.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

Main season (3 April to 18 October 2026): Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 until sunset, last entry 18:00; Mondays only on public holidays and in July and August. Shoulder season (20 to 31 October 2026): Tuesday to Sunday 9:00–18:00. Winter season (from 1 November): Tuesday to Sunday 10:00–16:00. An adult day ticket costs €17 in the main season, €10 in the shoulder season and €6.50 in winter; children aged 4 to 17 pay €5, €3.50 or €2.50. Dogs are not allowed, except assistance dogs.

Getting there

The main entrance is at Gothaer Straße 38. Tram line 2 takes about 14 minutes from the main station. Drivers can use the car park opposite the main entrance or the trade fair car parks next door.

Tripto tip

Allow three to five hours, or a full day with the Danakil, museum and playground. Winter is the cheapest and quietest time for the Danakil, though the great flower bed is bare. In December, combine your visit with the Christmas market on Domplatz, just a 15-minute tram ride away.