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|motorways = [[A4 (Germany){{Autobahn|A4]],[[A9 (Germany)4}} {{Autobahn|A9]9}}|map = <map lat='50.942' lng='11.715' zoom='10' view='3'/>

'''Jena''' is a lively student city in Germany, in the region of [[Thuringia]]. It is a university city with around 100.000 inhabitants.

= Hitching Out Hitchhiking out =Hitching out of Jena is not a piece of cake but not impossible either. Basicly there are two motorways to start: The A9 heading Noth (Berlin)-South (Munich) and the A4 crossing from west (Frankfurt) to east (Dresden).

== A4: East-West==The A4 passes Hitching out of Jena straight at its eastern style southern edge: Lobedais not easy, but neither is it impossible. You can either start hitching directly here or take the train and a 3km walk to "Rasthof Teufelstal" (~20 km from Jena). If It really depends on what direction you want to start hitching straight from Jena go. Essentially there are several places two motorways from which to start, the A9 going north-south from [[Berlin]] to [[Munich]], and the A4 going east-west from [[Frankfurt]] to [[Dresden]].

=== Start in Jena ===The best place to do this is in the tunnel underneath the East towards [[Frankfurt-Dresden motorway, down the road from a hotel on a roundabout. If in doubt, then just get to the motorway]], which heads east to west south of the main town. There are two junctions. One has a construction site just along from it (it looks like they're building a bridge over), and the other doesn't. You want to be at the one that doesn't, unless you're going to Frankfurt, or east. If you find yourself at the wrong junction (there's a big petrol station and a McDonald's), then you need to head west out of the petrol station, parallel to the motorway. Walk along past the MediaMarkt, and turn left. You'll see a bridge over the road, and there's a housing estate opposite. Cross the bridge and head up the hill through the housing estate. Keep going up the hill until you see the main road. Turn right, and walk along the road. The tram forks off to the left, but you should carry on down the hill to a roundabout with a hotel on it. You should be able to see the bridge now. If your lift's going the wrong way, you can quite easily get out at the services, and (south at least), there is an underground tunnel connecting the two service stations about half a mile north of the service station itself.towards [[Dresden]] {{Autobahn|4}} ==

=== Trainride to Rasthof Teufelstal === If you are generally not that lucky thumbing down cars and you would like to start your jouney The A4 passes Jena straight at the Highwayits eastern style southern edge, Lobeda. You can either start hitching directly here or take the easiest option is to travel train and a 3 km walk to ''Rasthof Teufelstal which is located at the A4 approx. 15 '' (~20 km east of from Jena). From here it should be no problem If you want to ask people for lifts east or west. To get there either taake the local train start hitching straight from Jena West towards Gera and get off at "Papiermühle"there are several places to start. From here it There is a (scenic) 3 km hike first east along the valley and then south to the small village of Bollberg. From here you either cross the fields an ARAL gas station directly to at the Rasthof if heading west or cross the Highway (walk on-ramp towards Mörsdorf after Böllberg) and head east at the other side[[Dresden]].

== A9: Noth-South ==The A9 as a main north south magistrale passes Starting straight from Jena aprox. 25 km in is not very easy but not impossible either, all is starting from the easteastern style Lobeda. As it is probably difficult (though still an option) to use the above described For all following options to start on take the A4 and then change on the A9 you are probably better off aiming at the A9 straight away. You could either travel to the petrol station tram until "Hermsdorfer KreuzEmil Wölk Straße" straight on the highway, start at a petrol station in Eisenberg or hitch towards the A9 on local roadsLobeda.

=== From Jena = 1. Petrol Station ====If you are a die hard hitchhiker and want prefer the option to start hicthing in Jena ask folks at petrol stations you can hitch try the Aral station close to the Mc Donalds in the "Gewerbegebiet Lobeda Süd". To get here walk along local roads towards the A9. This makes sense a smany locals small footpath besides the Stadtrodaer Straße (especially if heading north at 5 min from the A9tram station) also take . Be aware that even though the local roads instead stations is quite busy, most of the A4 traffic seems to go to villages nearby so you may have to wait for a while until you get to the A9. You should aim at getting a lift as far as Eisenberg as here is (for example for 4h on a good petrol station really close to the A9Saturday afternoon).

Take a tram until "Jenzigweg" ==== 2. On-ramps ====For those trying their luck via thumb and thumb won cars sign, I would suggest waiting straight at the pedestrian traffic lights directly on the on-ramp in direction Frankfurt. Cars will stop at the bus red light (possibly induced by you ;-) ) and have time to think about picking you up. Hitching east (Gera, A9,...) your best option is the on-ramp opposite the Aral station . Even though the cars from Jena will not use it, there. This is easier if you have a sign stating "A9/Eisenerg"good place to stop here for cars in contrast to the route used by cars from Jena.

=== Hermsdorfer Kreuz= 3. Bus station ====It should be easy to get There is a lift at this busy service big bus station. The tricky bit is how to get ("Arbeitsamt") straight on the "Stadtrodaer Straße "so cars can stop here from Jenaeasily. Either take the local train from Everybody leaving Jena West towrds Gera and get off in Hermsdorf. From here take the 3-4 km/45 minute walk south through the whole village, past for the A4 will pass you and the left through the hiking trail towards the "Teufeltal" through the bushestraffic lights will cause cars to stop and think about picking you up. Or you take bus 200 (->Gera), 444 (->Stadtroda) or 427 (->Jena/Stadtroda) Its 2 minutes from the tram station in Hermsdorf (they go approx every 30 minutes) and get off "Emil Wölk Straße" directly at the bridge of "Erlanger Alle"Hermsdorf Fußweg Rasthofover "Stadtrodaer Straße". From here it is Make sure that you carry a 5 minute walk through the forst. Alternatively you can take bus 444 straight from Jena (or 427 from Stadtrode) towards Hermsdorf and get off here.sign!

=== Eisenberg ===Eisenberg lies ~25km east of Jena All these options may involve long waiting times (>1h) so, especially if you are not female, you should consider the other options described that get you straight at the A9.There is a good petrol station directly at to rest places on the highway in a commercial area which is a good start to ask for lifts. To get here by puplic transport take bus 431 from Jena and get of at "Gewerbegebiet, Petersberg b Eisenberg" (45 minutes).

= Overnight == Trainride to Rasthof Teufelstal === If you are generally not that lucky thumbing down cars and you would like to start your journey straight at the motorway, the easiest option is to travel to Rasthof Teufelstal which is located at the A4 approx. 15 km east of Jena. From here it should be no problem to ask people for lifts east or west. To get there either take the local train from Jena West towards Gera and get off at "Papiermühle". From here it is a (scenic) 3 km hike first east along the valley and then south to the small village of Bollberg. From here you either cross the fields directly to the Rasthof if heading west or cross the motorway (walk towards Mörsdorf after Böllberg) and head east at the other side for hitching east. == North to [[Berlin]], south to [[Munich]] {{Autobahn|9}} == The A9 as a main north south motorway passes Jena approx. 25 km east of the city. As it is probably difficult (though still an option) to use the above described options to start on the A4 and then change on the A9 you are probably better off aiming at the A9 straight away. You could either travel to the petrol station "Hermsdorfer Kreuz" straight on the motorway, start at a petrol station in Eisenberg or hitch towards the A9 on local roads. === Starting from Jena ===If you are a die hard hitchhiker and want to start hitching in Jena you can hitch along local roads towards the A9. This makes sense as many locals (especially if heading north at the A9) also take the local roads instead of the A4 to get to the A9. You should aim at getting a lift as far as Eisenberg as here is a good petrol station really close to the A9.  Take a tram until ''Jenzigweg'' and thumb down cars at the bus station there. This is easier if you have a sign stating ''A9/Eisenberg''. Most of the rides either get you to the A9 onramp, [[Leipzig]] or [[Berlin]]. === Hermsdorfer Kreuz ===It should be easy to get a lift at this busy service station. The tricky bit is how to get here from Jena. Either take the local train from Jena West towards [[Gera]] and get off in [[Hermsdorf]]. From here take the 3-4 km/45 minute walk south through the whole village, past the A4, and finally turning right into the bushes at the Busstop onto the hiking trail towards the ''Teufelstal''. Alternatively you can take bus 200 (direction [[Gera]]), 444 (direction Stadtroda) or 427 (direction Jena/Stadtroda) from the station in Hermsdorf (they go approx. every 30 minutes) and get off at ''Hermsdorf Fußweg Rasthof''. From here it is a 5 minute walk through the forest. Another option is to take bus 444 straight from Jena (or 427 from Stadtroda) towards Hermsdorf and get off at the same station. Unlucky hitchhikers who get stuck at Rasthof Teufelstal on the A4 but want to change to the A9 can also do the scenic hike from Teufelstal to Hermsdorfer Kreuz (~4km/1h) Just follow the hiking trail marked with a green stripe which passes south of the service station at Teufelsthal south into the valley and head east uphill at a small junction following the same marks. In case you find a helpful driver ask him/her if he could turn south at the A4/A9 junction (Hermsdorfer Kreuz) onto the A9 towards [[Munich|München]], drop you off at the service station, turn around at the ramp "Hermsdorf Süd" and get back onto the A4. This may take him 5-10 minutes. === From [[Eisenberg]] ===Eisenberg lies ~25km east of Jena straight at the A9.There is a good petrol station directly at the motorway in a commercial area which is a good start to ask for lifts. To get here by public transport take bus 431 from Jena and get off at ''Gewerbegebiet, Petersberg bei Eisenberg'' (45 minutes). You can also hitch along the Bundesstraße from Jena. = Hitching in =Ask you driver to get off at the off-ramp "Jena-Zentrum", afterwards turn towards "Zenrum" on "Stadtrodaer Straße" and to turn right on the first turn off (towards "Klinikum"). You will immediately reach the tram station "Platanenstraße" (3-5 minutes detour).   = Sleeping = There is a youth hostel in Jena, the cheapest bed is 18€ a night (Jan 2019). Be sure to get there nice and early, because there's nowhere elseno other cheap accommodation in the city. The tram heads there, you should ask somebody for directions. If you get really stuck, the McDonaldMcD's at the service station, although not 24h is open til until midnight, and opens again 7 the next morning. If you leave McDonaldMcD's at midnight, cross the road, and climb the stairs opposite the car dealership on the back of the warehouse, there's a sheltered area where you can stay camp for the night. It's not warm, but if you go into McDonaldMcD's the next morning, you can use the bathroom to brush your teeth and have a shavewash, and somebody behind the counter might recognise recognize you and sort you out with a cup of tea.Couchsurfing and Hospitality Club are also very active in Jena.The only shop open 24/7 in Jena is a "Backwerk" right at Löbdergraben in the city centre. __NOTOC__{{IsIn|Thuringia}} [[Category:Thuringia]][[Category:Germany]] [[de:Jena]]