Meiningen gears up for massive Easter Sunday hike with traffic plans

Meiningen Welcomes Thousands of Hikers on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026

On Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, the town of Meiningen will become a magnet for thousands of hikers from across central Germany.

To ensure a smooth and safe journey, the city of Meiningen—together with Süd-Thüringen-Bahn, Erfurter Bahn, and Meininger Busbetriebe (MBB)—has prepared a comprehensive mobility plan. Visitors are asked to use the designated travel routes.

Live Updates on Event Day

• MDR THÜRINGEN – Das Radio
• WhatsApp Channel:Meiningen_erleben

Traveling by Train (Public Transport)

Meiningen is easily accessible by rail. On Easter Sunday, Süd-Thüringen-Bahn and Erfurter Bahn will increase capacity on all routes heading to the city.

An additional train service has been arranged by the city of Meiningen, Süd-Thüringen-Bahn, and the state of Thuringia. The Thuringian State Office for Construction and Transport (TLBV) commissioned the extra service to provide visitors with a comfortable and sustainable travel option.

• Special Train
• Departs Erfurt Central Station at 7:03 AM, stopping at Arnstadt, Zella-Mehlis, Suhl, and Grimmenthal before arriving in Meiningen at 8:19 AM. From the station, a 10-minute walk through the English Garden leads directly to the market square.
• Regular Train Services (Enhanced Capacity on Easter Sunday)
• RB 41: Eisenach ↔ Meiningen ↔ Sonneberg ↔ Neuhaus am Rennweg
• RB 44: Erfurt ↔ Meiningen
• RE 50: Erfurt ↔ Meiningen
• RB 40: Schweinfurt ↔ Meiningen

Important: Bicycles cannot be transported on trains on Easter Sunday.

Traveling by Car

• Parking Guidance & Signage
• All visitors are asked to follow official road signs directing them to Meiningen. Parking areas around the city are clearly marked with short codes (e.g., N2, O1, W3).
• We recommend selecting a parking lot in advance and following the corresponding signs. Access to parking areas opens at 7:30 AM.
• Meiningen-North (Park & Ride – P+R)Best for travelers arriving viaB19 from Wasungen.
• N1 – District Office (Landratsamt)
• N2 – Leipziger Straße (near Rewe, expert, Lidl, Netto)
• N3 – Heinrich-Heine-Park
• N4 – Thuringian Police Training Center
• Meiningen-East (Park & Ride – P+R)Best for travelers arriving viaA71, Meiningen-Nord exit.
• O1 – Open area on Zeppelinstraße (Rohrer Berg industrial zone)
• Meiningen-South (No Park & Ride/No Shuttle Buses)Best for travelers arriving fromMellrichstadt, Grabfeld, or Themar, or viaA71, Meiningen-Süd exit.
• S1 – Werrastraße (near Kaufland, Fressnapf, Kik, Thomas Philipps)
• Meiningen-West (Park & Ride – P+R)Best for travelers arriving viaL2621 from the Rhön/Fulda region.
• W1 – Dreißigacker (Nahrstedt)
• W2 – Dreißigacker (Adtran)
• W3 – Dreißigacker (Winkhaus)
• W4 – Dreißigacker (Lagerpark)
• Meiningen-Center (No Park & Ride/No Shuttle Buses)
• M1 – Volkshausplatz
• M2 – Bielstein
• Parking Fees & Shuttle Buses
• Parking ticket:€5 per vehicle (cash or card—contactless payment preferred)
• The ticket includes free shuttle bus rides for all passengers between P+R lots and Sachsenstraße, just steps from the market square.

Public restrooms and portable toilets are available at all parking areas.

• Accessible Parking
• Neu-Ulmer-Straße parking garage (designated disabled spaces)
• Volkshaus parking lot (flat, easily accessible)

Both locations are centrally located, close to the event areas.

• Electric Vehicle Charging
• Meiningen offers over 20 charging stations with more than 70 charging points.

Roads and Traffic

Please note: Expect heavy traffic around major events. Allow extra time and be sure to follow all instructions from event staff.

Driving Tips

Drivers can save on future visits to Meiningen by using the voucher on the back of their parking ticket. Take advantage of special offers from local institutions.

On April 5, the Meiningen Market Square will be the central hub. The Easter walk officially begins at 9:00 AM, with all hiking routes starting and ending there.

Those looking to avoid crowds or skip the initial climb can join the two main tours at alternative entry points.

Panoramic Hikes

• "Panoramic Tour via Drachenberg"(red markers; 10.8 km; 225 m elevation) Park at Parking Lot O1 (Zeppelinstraße open lot, Rohrer Berg industrial area) and join the route at the Rohrer Berg supply point (near the old airfield and wildlife rescue station).
• "Panoramic Tour via Dreißigacker"(blue markers; 14.4 km; 204 m elevation) Join the route at the Dreißigacker sports field supply point.

Road Closures & Traffic Restrictions on April 5

• Full closures from 7:00 AM:
• Downtown access via Georgstraße (near Sächsischer Hof), including Klostergasse, Schlossplatz, and Ernestinerstraße (between Schlossplatz and Schlossgasse), until ~4:00 PM. Note: Bus stops in Klostergasse and Mauergasse will be suspended on April 5, 2026. Additional no-parking zones apply in the restricted area.
• Sachsenstraße (near AOK) and Eleonorenstraße closed (except for buses, authorized vehicles, and residents with private parking until ~12:00 PM). Enforced by the fire department.
• Luisenstraße closes at ~4:00 PM.
• Temporary closures from 9:15–10:00 AM:
• Brief closures on Neu-Ulmer-Straße, the intersection of Ludwig-Chronegk-Straße/Elisabeth-Schumacher-Straße, Elisabeth-Schumacher-Straße, Berliner Straße (between Emmrichstraße and Am Steinernen Berg), and Wettiner Straße. Managed by police and fire services.

Arriving by Bus (Public Transport)

Regional MBB bus lines operate on a holiday schedule. Use the MBB route planner to optimize your trip.

Coach Buses

Guests will be dropped off and picked up on Sachsenstraße, near the market. Until departure, buses may park at the former bus terminal (stops 3, 4, 5, and 6 or the gravel lot) at Meiningen Station (Lindenallee).

Note: Other stops are reserved for MBB vehicles.

Motorhomes & RVs

Recommended parking: - Camping Rohrer Stirn (open from March 28, 2026) - Frankental motorhome site (below the campsite)

More options available [here].

Cycling to the Event

Biking is an eco-friendly choice, especially for short distances.

Bike parking available at: - Schloss Elisabethenburg - Tourist Information Center - Market Square - Eduard-Fritze-Straße - Luisenstraße - Eleonorenstraße (former post office) - Georgstraße