Jena is a university city with about 100,000 inhabitants (of which about 25,000 are university students), located in the central part of Germany, in the state of Thuringia, between Berlin (250 km), Frankfurt/Main (310 km), Leipzig (100 km), Dresden (190 km), and Munich (380 km). Jena is proud of having won the all-German competition to get the title "City of Science 2008". More information about Jena can be found at www.visit-jena.de.

The Astrophysical Institute (AIU; ) is situated very close to the town center and can be reached via the Schillergässchen. The entrance to the Schillergässchen is governed by a big red building: the theater. Entering the Schillergässchen from that direction (i.e. from north), you can find the AIU's main building on the right hand side, right opposite to the Theater Café. The theory group and the laboratory group are working another 60 m down the alley, again on the right. In between the two buildings, a small public observatory is located.

V	Astrophysical Institute and University Observatory	www.astro.uni-jena.de	(AIU) Street address: Schillergässchen 2–3, 07745 Jena.
W	Physics Department	www.physik.uni-jena.de	Main building of the Department for Physics and Astronomy. Street address: Max-Wien-Platz 1, 07743 Jena.
X	Jena West		Train station Arrival from Weimar and Frankfurt. Take the busline 10, 11 or 15, or walk (approximately 10 min) to the city centre.
Y	Jena Paradies		Train station Arrival from Berlin, Leipzig, and Munich. The central bus station (regional and long-distance busses, no local busses though) is located right across the street. Only 5 min of walk to the centre.
Z	The JenTower		The town's most prominent landmark.

The presented list of hotels is (mostly) confined to such within or near the town center. Some of the hotels offer special university rates. For details on individual hotels, click on the list (left column) or on the markers on the map. A more complete list of accommodation options can be found here (deutsche Version: hier).

A	Im Sack	www.haus-im-sack.de	single room: 65€ (standard rate)
B	Zur Noll	www.zur-noll.de	single room: 70€
C	Schwarzer Bär	www.schwarzer-baer-jena.de	single room: from 45€ (lowest category)
D	Zur Schweiz	www.zur-schweiz.de	single room: 58/63€ (standard rate)
E	Thüringer Hof	www.thueringerhof-jena.de	single room: 55€
F	Ibis	www.accorhotels.com	single room: 75€
G	Pension H+R	innenstadtpension-jena.npage.de	single room: 46€ (standard rate)
H	Steigenberger Esplanade	www.jena.steigenberger.de	single room: 75€ (incl. breakfast) double room: 95€ (incl. breakfast)
I	VielHarmonie	www.hotel-vielharmonie.de	single room: 67.50€
J	Hostel Alpha One	www.hostel-jena.de	single room: 35€ (standard rate)
K	Best Western	www.bestwesternjena.de	connection to town center via tram lines 2 and 34 (stop "Winzerla", www.nahverkehr-jena.de) single room: 75€
L	Steigenberger MAXX	www.steigenberger.com/maxx-jena	connection to town center via tram lines 1, 4, 34, and 35 (stop "Lobeda-West", www.nahverkehr-jena.de)

By bus:

Long-distance busses are typically the cheapest means of transport. However, they reach Jena only a few times a day. Currently, BerlinLinienBus and Flixbus/MeinFernBus/Postbus operate connections to and from Jena. The central bus station (ZOB) is located close to the long-distance train station, Jena Paradies .

By train:

You can check available connections with Deutsche Bahn (English version). For details on specific connections from the airports, see below.
It is advisable to make a seat reservation if you travel with an ICE, especially on Fridays and Sundays. If you travel with an ICE and you have reserved a seat, you can find a scheme (Wagenstandanzeiger) with the passenger cars' stopping positions at each platform. Deutsche Bahn offers cheaper tickets for people who book very early (called Sparangebote). However, these tickets are valid only for one specific connection. Regional trains may be operated by companies other than Deutsche Bahn (e.g. Abellio, Erfurter Bahn, or even NASA if you plan a day trip to Saxony-Anhalt...), but normal tickets are valid regardless of the operator.

By train from Frankfurt Airport:

The trains (ICE) from Frankfurt go every hour (until 9 p.m.) and take about three and a half hours. The official name of the station for departure is Frankfurt(M) Flughafen Fernbf. If you arrive at terminal 2, you will have to take a free shuttle bus at the airport to get there. The train does not go directly to Jena. You have to change to a regional train in Erfurt. Half an hour later, you reach Jena West . The earliest connection reaches the airport around 8 a.m.

By train from Munich Airport:

You first have to take the city train (S 8) to the central station (München Hbf). Then, you have to go from the underground platforms for city trains and trams to the platforms for long-range trains. There, an ICE departs at least once an hour reaching Jena Paradies about four and a half to five hours later. For some connection you have to change the ICE in Nürnberg. The latest non-overnight connection departs around 6:30 p.m. from Munich airport. You can reach the airport from 11 a.m.

By train from Berlin Airport:

Regardless of the airport (Schönefeld (SXF) or Tegel (TXL)) at which you arrive, you first have to go to the main train station (Berlin Hbf). Therefore, from Schönefeld you take the city train (S 9, then change to S 41) or a regional train. From Tegel you take the bus (TXL). An InterCity (IC) then directly reaches Jena Paradies , departing from the main station's lowest level, typically track 1 or 2. This part of your travel will last about two hours. The latest connection from either of the two airports departs around 9 p.m. The earliest connection reaches Berlin around 8:30 a.m.

By train from Leipzig/Halle Airport:

Typically you take the city train (S5 or S5X) to Leipzig main station (Leipzig Hbf). From there, ICEs (towards Munich, until 6:30 p.m.) or regional trains (towards Saalfeld, until 10:30 p.m.) take you directly to Jena Paradies . However some connections may be less direct, requiring train changes in Gera, Weißenfels, or Naumburg. You can reach the airport from 7 a.m.