Big Science with Small Telescopes

Leipzig is the closest airport to Jena. The only problem is that there are not a lot of direct flights. For example, Lufthansa flies to Leipzig, but there is always a stopover in Frankfurt. So, it is sometimes faster to just board a train from Frankfurt. Air France has a direct flight from Paris to Leipzig. If you are not renting a car you have to take a train to Jena. This means traveling from the Leipzig airport to the central station, changing trains, and then on to Jena Paradies. In all this can take as little as 1.25 hrs, or as much as 2 hours depending on what connnection you take.

Leipzig/Altenburg

An alternative is to fly Ryan Air to Altenburg. This can be an adventure. It is a very small airport, only Ryan Air flys in. Altenburg is sort of near Leipzig (53 km). You can take the bus line 250 or a taxi to the Altenburg train station where a direct train departs to Jena West (direction Erfurt or Goettingen). The train takes about 80 min. Alternatively you can take the bus to Leipzig main station where you can take an ICE to Jena Paradies (1 hour)

More information can be found at the airport website Altenburg Airport.

Frankfurt Airport

Most TLS staff usually fly out of this airport. After you arrive you will have to take the train to Jena. Follow the signs "Long Distance Trains" to the tracks. Depending on which terminal you arrive you might have to take a tram (a few minutes) to the terminal where the train station is. There should be counters where you can buy tickets. The best connection is one that goes through Weimar without any changes. For most others you have to change in the Frankfurt central station. In all cases you will have to change in Weimar since the fast train (ICE) only goes to Weimar. You have to take a regional train to Jena. Note there are two train stations in Jena: Jena West and Jena Paradies, that are separated by about a 15-20 min. All trains north-south stop in Jena Paradies, East-West in Jena West. (This means that if you are making a connection from N-S to E-W you have to walk or take a taxi to the other train station.) For a good connection the train takes about 3 hours.

Munich Airport

If you fly into Munich you will have to take the S-Bahn from the airport to the central station. This takes about 45 min. You then change to an ICE fast train. Most of these are direct to Jena without changing, stopping in Jena Paradies.

Berlin Airport

You have to take the train to the central station and then a direct train for about a 2.25 hours ride to Jena Paridies

By Car:

Jena is located near the A4 autobahn approximately 20 km west of the A9 autobahn. Travel times are approximately 4 hours from Munich, 2.5 hours from Berlin, and 3 hours from Frankfurt.

Use the directions facility of Google Maps.

A good description how to reach Jena can be found on the

Homepage of Jena (also available in German).

By Train:

Whether you are flying or not, you will most likely have to take a train. The Deutsch Bahn (DB) has a website where you can check schedules and book tickets on line: www.bahn.de You should be able to pay online with a credit card and print the ticket out at home or work. Otherwise you will have to get your ticket at a counter. (You may still be able to buy a ticket on the train, but it costs more). At the top of the web page there is link where you can chose the language. Note: If you are flying into an airport (e.g. Frankfurt) be sure to list the airport (Flughafen) as your start/stop point and not the central station. All trains from the airport stop first at the central station. If you enter the airport as your starting point your ticket includes any local S-Bahn you have to take to the central station (like in Munich). Not always true if you are only booked from the central station. If you are traveling from Paris the train is a good option. To Jena the best connection is about 7.25 hours, which when you consider train to Frankfurt and air travel overhead it is not much more time than flying. If you book well in advance you can get special fares ("Saving Fares") and travel first class for about half the normal price of second class and work comfortably on the train (most ICEs have powerplugs). Note there are two train stations in Jena (see description under "Frankfurt Airport").

Check the timetable of the trains German railway.

Bus transfer will be arranged from Jena to the conference site.

This website was created with kind support of
Ingo Kreykenbohm, Dr. Remeis Sternwarte Bamberg.