The Welcome Point of the FSU Jena invites all visiting scientists and their families to a series of intercultural events to get to know Germany, Jena and each other.
If you want to join our mailing list, please contact gawi@uni-jena.de.
Public local and long-distance transport in Jena and Germany
Jena has buses and trams. There are three train stations from which you can reach many other German cities. Sometimes it is worth buying a weekly or monthly ticket if you regularly travel on certain routes.
Having a car in Jena
If you want to drive in Germany, you must first check whether your driving licence is also valid in Germany.
In Jena, there are also several car sharing providers.
Hiking and cycling tours in and around Jena
Jenas surrounding is ideal for walks and hikes. Most of the trails are well signposted and maps can be bought in bookshops or tourist information offices.
Jena has a rich cultural scene. You can often find events being advertised that break new ground. Here is a brief overview.
The city of Jenas website publishes an up-to-date event calendar with events in and around Jena (choose language in the upper left corner).
Music
Whether you want to listen, watch or actively get involved, take a look at Jenas orchestras, choirs, festivals, and dance groups. If you are staying in Jena for a while, the choirs and orchestras (e. g. the Freies Orchester) will be pleased with new participants. The university has an Academic Music Club, which includes two choirs and an orchestra. You can regularly listen to classical music at the Jena Philharmonie, jazz is the focus in autumn during the Jazz Mile, different programmes are on at the Volkshaus, Volksbad, and at Kassablanca.
Theatre
Theaterhaus Jena offers emerging, unconventional theatre on a small stage and lots of other events. You can also go to the theatre in Weimar, Erfurt, Gera, and Rudolstadt by train to experience further good productions!
Film
In addition to a large commercial cinema, there are two art house cinemas that offer interesting programmes.
Short film enthusiasts get their money's worth once a year at the Cellu lart festival.
Museums and exhibitions
Jena has nine museums at which temporary exhibitions frequently take place. The University also has numerous public museums and collections, and research-oriented and teaching collections worth visiting. Find more information here.
Lectures
At the University, there are public lectures almost every day.
Family
There are plenty of activities for families as Jena is a very young city. Sports clubs and music schools also offer courses for children.
A special open-air festival Kulturarena takes place in the city centre in July and August. Theatre, films, concerts and a Sunday programme for children alternate here every evening. Should you be in Jena in summer it is well worth it!
The University offers a wide range of sports courses for students and staff. You, too, can take part in courses at the University Sports Centre.
In addition, there are many other clubs you may want to join.
In summer, the outdoor pools in Jena invite you to swim. Apart from this, you may take the boat out on the river Saale.
There are different churches and religious communities in Jena that are open for prayer and community life.
You will find an overview here.
You can contact the Welcome Point or Family Office 'JUniFamilie' for all questions concerning you and your family.
There is also the Family Centre in Jena, which is also a point of contact for families. It organizes various family events, too.
The music and art school offers lessons and courses for young and old, including the parent-child music courses. There are concerts for the whole family and children to listen to in a relaxed atmosphere.
Radio and television licence fees
As in some other European countries, the State charges a contribution for financing public service broadcasters for using radio and television sets. This radio and TV licence fee ('Rundfunkbeitrag') must be paid for every home, regardless of how many people live there and what kind of radio or TV sets they have. The contribution covers all offers for all types of transmission. If you move to Germany or move houses within Germany, you have to register here.
Telephone and Internet
You will find general information on telephone and Internet here.
Germanys healthcare system is very well developed. There is a right to a free choice of doctor. However, you should make an appointment with doctors surgeries by telephone. It is normal that you have to wait a few days or even a week for one, especially in the case of specialists. In urgent cases, you are usually asked to go to the medical practice immediately or on the same day.
If you are ill, it is best to see a general practitioner near you first. These are usually general practitioners who may refer you to specialists, e.g. dermatologists and orthopaedists, or to a hospital. There are also paediatricians who specialize in the treatment of children and adolescents. Although general practitioners also treat children, it is recommended that children should be treated by a paediatrician.
Here you will find a list of doctors in Jena that speak English.
Do you have a toothache? You may go to one of the dentists on the list. Please note that most dental treatments are financed or partly financed by German health insurance companies.
The emergency services in Germany are divided into two areas.
Dial 112 for an ambulance and the fire service or 110 for the police.
Both numbers are free of charge and should also be accessible even with no network coverage.