Traffic

Jena has a well-developed network of cycle paths that make many destinations in the city quickly and easily accessible. Two important long-distance cycle routes, the Saale Cycle Path and the Thuringian City Chain Cycle Route, also intersect here.

Jena is therefore an ideal starting point for beautiful and varied cycle tours through Thuringia or even Germany.

Children aged 10 and over and adults must always cycle on the road. Younger children may use the footpath. If there is a combined pedestrian/cycle path, cyclists of all ages use the red cycle path.

The road traffic regulations also apply to cyclists as far as possible. There are special regulations regarding the carriage of children and adults. The law also regulates what is required for a roadworthy bicycle.

You will find numerous stores in Jena where you can buy or hire a bicycle. There you will also get help in the event of damage and addresses of repair workshops.

Links

• Cycle route planner Thuringia
• Rules for cyclists
• Traffic rules in various languages (PDF)

The local public transport operator is Jenaer Nahverkehr. Information on bus and streetcar routes and timetables is available at the respective stops or online. There you will also find an overview of current fares.

Streetcar and bus drivers do not sell tickets. At some, but not all stops, there are vending machines where you can buy tickets. Here you can pay in cash with bills and coins, but also with a debit card. You do not have to redeem these tickets immediately. If you then want to use the tickets, you must have them validated directly at machines on the bus or streetcar.

You can buy tickets directly from a machine in the vehicle. These are already validated and are valid immediately and only for the specified duration or under the specified conditions. You will need coins or a cash card for this purchase.

You also have the option of purchasing individual tickets online or via app. You must be able to show your valid ticket on request, otherwise you may be fined.

You can also obtain tickets for the entire local transport system from the Jenaer Nahverkehr service center. This is also where you should go if you are entitled to buy discounted tickets or if you want to buy tickets for the duration of a month or year.

Pupils and trainees pay lower fares. Discounted tickets are also available for eligible citizens of the city of Jena if they are holders of the Jenabonus Card.

This card also entitles you to other discounts, e.g. you only pay reduced admission to some cultural and sporting events. For more information on the Jenabonus Card, please contact the Jena Citizen and Family Service.

Link

• New in Germany: On the move by bus and train

To drive on Jena's roads yourself, you need a valid driver's license and a good knowledge of the road traffic regulations. If you want to obtain your driver's license in Germany, you must be resident in the Federal Republic of Germany and live here for at least 185 days a year.

If you received your regular driving license from one of the EU or EEA member states, it is valid indefinitely in all other member states. You can have it transferred, but you do not have to.

If you have another foreign driving license and settle in Germany, you may only drive with it for the first 6 months after entering the country. After that, you will need a German driver's license.

At the driving license office, the driving license is recognized and rewritten differently depending on the country of origin. In order for a driving license from a so-called third country to be converted, the holder must take a theoretical and practical test at a driving school.

The driving school requires a residence permit or a certificate of residence or toleration. This must include personal details and a photograph.

The theoretical driving test can also be taken in one of the approved foreign languages upon request.

For all driving license matters in Jena, please contact the city's citizens' service.

Links

• Validity of foreign driving licenses in Germany
• Road traffic regulations
• German Road Safety

Buying a vehicle

If you want to buy a car in Jena, you will find numerous commercial and private dealers here. Car dealerships often offer vehicle servicing by their own workshops. There are also independent garages that you can visit in the event of damage.

Various car rental companies are an alternative to buying a car. In addition, private individuals often offer carpooling opportunities or share their cars via online portals. You can also use the services of several cab companies in Jena. The cab fare regulations provide information about the expected travel costs.

If you would like to transfer a vehicle to Jena, please inform yourself carefully in advance at the Citizen and Family Service.

Registration of foreign vehicles

If you wish to bring your vehicle registered abroad to Germany, you can do so temporarily without re-registering it. Temporary participation in road traffic in Germany is possible if a valid registration certificate has been issued by your country of origin and no regular location is established in Germany.

After one year, your vehicle will then also be subject to compulsory registration in Germany.

For more information on registering your foreign vehicle in Jena, please contact the Citizen Services team.

Jenaer Nahverkehr is a member of the Verkehrsverbund Mittelthüringen (VMT), an association of public transport companies. With just one ticket you can use city and regional buses, streetcars and local trains of the railroads in the entire VMT area.

There are 4 railroad stations in Jena for your rail connections. Of these, 3 stations are located in the city center. Deutsche Bahn provides information on routes, timetables and tickets for regional and national train connections. If you use the Deutschland-Ticket, you can use all regional and local public transport buses and trains. It is not valid for long-distance travel, e.g. for ICE, IC, EC, ECE, RE lines of DB Fernverkehr AG, private providers (such as Flixtrain, Flixbus) and for 1st class travel.

You can also easily reach the nearest airports in Erfurt or Leipzig/Halle by train. You can also reach your destination easily and cheaply by long-distance bus on other routes in Germany.