Mobility
Electric vehicles (target by 2030)
Millions of passengers use local transport in Jena
Train stations
Percentage of cycle paths
Location
Jena is situated in the heart of Germany. Jena can be reached by car along Autobahns A4 and A9, and by train with the high-speed ICE train which runs a direct service mornings and evenings from Munich or Berlin, for example, or on regional trains. The nearest airport with international connections is in Leipzig (distance approx. 100 km). Jena can be reached from the international airport in Frankfurt am Main in 3.5 hours. Flights to Jena from the newly opened BER airport in Berlin take a little over 4 hours.
By car
If you would like to rent a permanent parking space in the residential areas of Jena, it is generally possible to apply for a resident parking permit at the Citizen Service Centre. Alternatively, some housing associations or private providers offer parking spaces for rent. You can charge your electric vehicle at the numerous public charging stations or as a tenant or homeowner via Stadtwerke Energie.
For errands in the city centre, Jena has a parking guidance system that shows the current availability of free parking spaces.
If you move to Jena from a country outside the EU, your driving licence will be valid for six months after you register your residency. After this, you will need to change to an international driving licence. Cars registered abroad need to be registered in Germany. You will need the vehicle registration document, the car insurance policy, proof of a completed general inspection and an official inspection plate to do this.
By bike
There is a network of good quality cycle paths in Jena. Cycling is very popular in Jena and is a very good means of getting around, for work as well as leisure.
People in Jena use their bikes for 15 per cent of their daily travel, on average. For comparison, 35 per cent of their daily travel is on foot. This is not a problem in a city where everything is within easy reach. Jena dimensions are 14.7 km north to south and 12.2 km east to west. Many companies now offer their employees e-bike leasing and provide a (covered) space to park bikes. E-bikes can be charged at several charging stations.
Bus and train
Jena’s local transport network is well-developed, with trams (Straßenbahn) and city buses which together have 18 different routes with 150 stops covering 143 km. In the city centre, the ÖPNV (public transport) stops are at most 300 metres apart. Buses and trams serve most areas of the city at night as well as during the day. A single ticket in Jena is €2.30 (adult) and €1.50 (concessionary fare). Public transport services in Jena offer many different season tickets, e.g. for commuters. Many companies in Jena subsidise the cost of a ‘Job Ticket’, or local travel pass, for their employees.
Car-sharing and electric scooter (e-scooter) rental
There are numerous car-sharing points and many different car-sharing providers in every city quarter of Jena. One of these is TeilAuto, which also operates an arrangement with the Mittelthüringen transport association covering Central Thuringia (VMT).
Jena local transport has been operating an electric scooter sharing scheme since 2020. You can explore Jena on these ‘Evita’ scooters for 20 cents a minute, and you can register and pay for it with an app on your phone.
MeinJena app
The MeinJena app from Stadtwerke Jena (the Jena city authority) brings together news updates about Jena, and information about mobility and local transport (including buying tickets), accommodation, what’s on and job vacancies. It also gives users free wifi in designated places in the Jena city centre. The app can be downloaded free of charge at www.meinjena.de.