Hainich National Park

Hainich National Park in Thuringia, between Eisenach, Mühlhausen and Bad Langensalza, protects one of the largest unmanaged deciduous forests in Germany and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its star attraction is the treetop walkway at Thiemsburg, where you stroll through the canopy of an emerging primeval beech forest. Add wildcats, spring wildflowers and quiet trails, and it makes a rewarding day trip from Eisenach or Erfurt.

Why it is special

For decades, much of the Hainich was a military training ground used by Soviet forces, the East German army and finally the Bundeswehr. Civilians were kept out and logging largely stopped, which allowed the forest to grow wild. Thuringia declared the national park on December 31, 1997.

The park covers about 29 square miles (75 km²) in the south of the Hainich ridge, Germany's largest continuous deciduous forest. Around three quarters of the park is now left entirely to nature. In 2011, UNESCO added the Hainich to the World Heritage Site "Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe," a recognition that underlines how rare old beech forests have become.

Top things to do

• Treetop walkway (Baumkronenpfad): Opened in 2005 as only the second of its kind in Germany, it now loops for 540 meters (about 1,770 feet) through the canopy, rising gradually from 10 to 24 meters above the ground. A 44-meter (144-foot) tower in the middle offers wide views over the forest. An elevator makes the walkway accessible for wheelchairs and strollers; the tower itself has stairs only.
• National Park Center: The "Hainichwelt" exhibition, an underground "root cave" and a free adventure playground complement the walkway.
• Wildcat Village Hütscheroda: Watch rare European wildcats, plus two lynx, in a naturalistic enclosure on the western edge of the park.
• Hiking: 20 marked loop trails cross the park, four of them starting at the Thiemsburg parking lot. Dogs are allowed on leash in the park but not on the walkway; lockable dog boxes are provided.

Tickets and opening hours

The national park itself is free to enter. The treetop walkway and center (as of October 2026) are open daily 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from April to October, with shorter hours (mostly 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) from November to March, and only Thursday to Sunday in December and January. They are closed December 24, December 31 and January 1. The operator lists adult admission at €13.50, children 7 to 17 at €6.50 and families at €35, with a €0.50 surcharge announced from October 5, 2026, so check the current price online. Plan two to three hours for the walkway and exhibits. Storms or ice can close the walkway at short notice.

A combined World Heritage Ticket covers the Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, the wildcat village, the treetop walkway and three days on the Hainich bus.

How to get there

Eisenach is on Deutsche Bahn's ICE and IC network, roughly 2 hours by train from Frankfurt, while regional trains serve Bad Langensalza and Mühlhausen. Hainich bus line 150 runs daily between Eisenach and Bad Langensalza and stops right at Thiemsburg. By car, use the address Thiemsburg 1, 99991 Unstrut-Hainich; there is a large parking lot.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially in April and May, when spring flowers carpet the forest floor before the canopy closes, or in October, when the beeches turn gold. It pairs perfectly with a visit to the Wartburg, making for a full UNESCO weekend in western Thuringia.

Nearby

• Wartburg Castle, Eisenach: UNESCO site where Martin Luther translated the New Testament.
• Bad Langensalza: spa town with a Japanese garden.
• Mühlhausen: medieval old town with intact city walls.