Getting here
How to get to Hainich National Park
The national park is easily accessible by all modes of transportation.
You can get an overview of the national park’s location on our map. The hiking parking lots are well-marked on site.
Travel by bus and train
The "Fahrtziel Natur" initiative is jointly supported by the three major environmental organizations—BUND, NABU, and VCD—as well as Deutsche Bahn. The initiative’s partners include 22 areas of outstanding natural beauty, among them the Hainich National Park. Together, they are committed to promoting environmentally friendly travel through local natural landscapes.
The Wartburg Hainich World Heritage Region is seamlessly connected to Deutsche Bahn’s regional and long-distance rail network. The stations in Eisenach, Bad Langensalza, and Mühlhausen are easily accessible from all over Germany. Eisenach is served by several ICE and IC lines running every 1 to 2 hours. For more information and timetable details, please visit the DB Travel Centers or go to www.bahn.de.
The dense network of public transportation routes allows visitors to travel quickly and comfortably. For example, the Hainichbus (Route 150) connects Eisenach with Bad Langensalza daily. The National Park Bus (Line 154) operates on weekdays as an on-demand bus between Mühlhausen, the towns on the eastern edge of the national park, and Thiemsburg. On weekends, it is not an on-demand service; instead, the bus stops at all stations without prior reservation. The Cultural Experience Bus (Line 160) connects Eisenach with Mühlhausen via the towns on the western side of the National Park.
Further information on how to get there is also available on the website of the Wartburg Hainich World Heritage Region.
Travel for free with the Bad Langensalza visitor's card
Starting in January 2026, overnight guests in Bad Langensalza can ride city bus routes and the Hainichbus (routes 150 & 726) for free.
The buses take you directly from Bad Langensalza to the Thiemsburg bus stop—the ideal starting point for the treetop trail and numerous hikes in Hainich National Park.
This way, you can explore the primeval forest in the heart of Germany comfortably, stress-free, and in an eco-friendly way.
For more information on the guest and spa card, visit www.badlangensalza.de.
Eco-Pass
With the Eco-Ticket, passengers can travel from Bad Langensalza or Eisenach to Hainich National Park. It includes round-trip transportation and admission to the Treetop Walk. Passengers traveling from Eisenach can make a stop in Hütscheroda, the wildcat village, before continuing on to the Treetop Walk on the next bus. Click here for pricing information.
World Heritage Ticket
The World Heritage Ticket is valid for three days. It includes transportation from Bad Langensalza and Eisenach, as well as admission to the National Park Center, the Tree Top Walk, the Hütscheroda Wildcat Village, and Wartburg Castle. Click here for pricing information.