Outdoor PitstopWalking route · Ilmenau · Updated on 14 November 2026
Goethewanderweg walk
Goethewanderweg is a walk of 18.9 km from Ilmenau. Along the way you'll find 63 benches and 3 public toilets.
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The route step by step
From start to finish, with what you pass along the way and the distance in between.
- 18.9 km
- ± 5:20 h
- ↑ 676 m · ↓ 559 m
- Hard
- From A to B
- Regional route
Start in Ilmenau
0 kmAt the start: Burg Ilmenau, Sitzender Goethe and public toilet.
210 m · 4 benches
Goethebrunnen
210 mPublic toilet
7.6 km · 32 benches
Public toilet
7.8 km2.5 km · 4 benches
Goethehäuschen
10.4 kmAttraction
267 m · 3 benches
Kickelhahnturm
10.6 kmViewpoint
8.2 km · 20 benches
Finish
18.9 kmAt the finish: Goethemuseum.
Longest stretch without a toilet: 11 kmBetween 7.8 km and 18.9 km there is no public toilet within 100 m of the route.
The route with the pitstops and sights within 100 m of it.
6 sights along the way
In the order you pass them. With the Outdoor Pitstop app you hear their story on the spot.
Archaeological site · after 0 m
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Photo: Christian Spannagel · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0View the photo on Wikimedia CommonsAttraction · after 17 m
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Photo: Michael Sander · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia CommonsAttraction · after 236 m
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Photo: Daniel Beyer · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia CommonsAttraction · after 10.4 km
Viewpoint · after 10.6 km
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Photo: Thomas doerfer · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia CommonsMuseum · after 18.9 km
Elevation and terrain
- Up
- ↑ 676 m
- Down
- ↓ 559 m
- Highest point
- 858 m
- Lowest point
- 509 m
- 5-10% slope · 6.2 km
- 10-15% slope · 3.5 km
- 15-20% slope · 663 m
- 20% slope or steeper · 379 m
- 1 flight of stairs
Elevation from Copernicus GLO-30 (European Union and ESA), smoothed.
produced using Copernicus WorldDEM-30 © DLR e.V. 2010-2014 and © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH 2014-2018 provided under COPERNICUS by the European Union and ESA; all rights reserved
Way types
18.9 km in total- Track: 11.2 km
- Path: 5 km
- Street: 2.1 km
- Stairs: 1 flight of stairs
- Road: 150 m
- Busy road: 75 m
Surfaces
18.9 km in total- Unpaved: 11.4 km
- Gravel: 3.5 km
- Asphalt: 1.5 km
- Natural: 1.5 km
- Paved: 901 m
- Unknown: 25 m
About the walking route Goethewanderweg
Updated on 14 November 2026, with data from OpenStreetMap, the AHN and Copernicus.
Where do you walk?
Goethewanderweg is a walking route of 18.9 km that starts in Ilmenau. It does not end where it starts. Along the way you pass Burg Ilmenau (after 0 m), Sitzender Goethe (after 17 m) and Goethebrunnen (after 236 m).
How hard is the route?
You climb 676 m in total and descend 559 m. There is 1 flight of steps along the way. Allow ± 5:20 h, without breaks. The level is hard.
What paths do you walk on?
The longest part is track (11.2 km), path (5 km) and street (2.1 km). Of the surface, 11.4 km unpaved and 3.5 km gravel. For 25 m the surface is not known.
Pitstops along the way
Within 100 metres of the route there are 63 benches and 3 public toilets. The longest stretch without a toilet is 11 km. The Outdoor Pitstop app navigates you there.
Walks nearby
6Sights nearby
Within 10 km of the route, best known first.
- 1
MemorialMemorial · 135 m from the route - 2
BergmannskapelleMuseum · 142 m from the route - 3
MemorialMemorial · 153 m from the route - 4
LutherkandelaberMemorial · 176 m from the route - 5
Karl ZinkMemorial · 184 m from the route - 6
ZiegenbrunnenAttraction · 271 m from the route - 7
Huldreich HeusserMemorial · 283 m from the route - 8
MemorialMemorial · 1.3 km from the route - 9
Carl-Eduard-WarteObservation tower · 1.5 km from the route - 10
MemorialMemorial · 1.6 km from the route - 11
CastleCastle · 1.8 km from the route - 12
Gefallene des ersten und zweiten Weltkrieges aus OberpörlitzMemorial · 1.8 km from the route - 13
Gefallene des ersten und zweiten Weltkrieges aus UnterpörlitzMemorial · 2.1 km from the route - 14
Schaubergwerk Volle RoseAttraction · 2.4 km from the route - 15
Deutsches ThermometermuseumMuseum · 3.3 km from the route - 16
Bunkermuseum FrauenwaldMuseum · 3.3 km from the route - 17
MemorialMemorial · 3.6 km from the route - 18
Johann-Jakob-Wilhelm-Heinse-DenkmalMemorial · 4.2 km from the route - 19
Zu den Frauen auf dem WaldMemorial · 4.3 km from the route - 20
Heinse-HausMuseum · 4.6 km from the route - 21
MemorialMemorial · 5 km from the route - 22
Ruine RaubschlossCastle · 5.1 km from the route - 23
Denkmal für die Gefallenen des Ersten und Zweiten Weltkrieges aus HeydaMemorial · 5.4 km from the route - 24
KriegsdenkmalMemorial · 5.9 km from the route - 25
Aussichtsturm auf dem SchneekopfObservation tower · 6 km from the route
Explore more
Frequently asked questions
How long is Goethewanderweg?
Goethewanderweg is 18.9 km long. Allow ± 5:20 h of walking: 4.5 km an hour and 10 minutes more per 100 metres of climbing, without breaks.
Is this route a circular walk?
No, the route starts and ends at different spots.
Where does this route start?
The route starts in Ilmenau.
How hard is this route?
Hard, with 676 m of climbing.
Are there toilets along this route?
Yes, there are 3 public toilets within 100 m of the route. The longest stretch without a toilet is 11 km.
Can you fill up with water along this route?
No, there is no water point within 100 m of the route. Bring enough water.
What is there to see along this route?
Along the way you pass Burg Ilmenau, Sitzender Goethe and Goethebrunnen.
Can I download this route as a GPX file?
Yes. Sign in with your Outdoor Pitstop account and choose Download GPX at the top of this page: 10 routes a month for free, unlimited with Pro.
Starting point
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Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors
