Internationales Jugendgästehaus

The rooms feel stuck in DDR times, with nothing renovated and everything looking dated. The toilets are deeply unpleasant and smell awful, and there’s a terrible stench in the stairwell too.

There’s a huge parking area right outside, and the property is close to Hochschule but away from the city. It’s an affordable place in a quiet area, with lovely views: some windows face the mountains, while rooms on the other side look over Jena and the valley. The rooms are clean and well kept, the beds are good quality, and the mattress was comfortable. Large windows have curtains, and private bathrooms are available. I’m not sure whether it’s wheelchair friendly.

The guesthouse is quite isolated, which is the main drawback, so I’d recommend it for a short stay. I spent ten days there and found the room lovely, clean, and peaceful. The staff were nice, and the English-speaking man at reception was especially welcoming. When I arrived, he helped with my heavy luggage and ordering food online. Breakfast was decent too.

It can work as a first stop while you look for somewhere better. Just don’t expect a luxury hotel or spa: this used to be a student dorm and still partly is. Some rooms have their own WC and shower, while others don’t. Each floor has one shared toilet and a bathroom with 5-6 showers. I assume there’s a girls’ toilet somewhere as well. There’s a kitchen with a stove, microwave, and fridge, plus laundry for 3 euros. WLAN is very fast. Breakfast costs an extra 5 euros and was okay, though on a few days they served leftovers again. If you book in person, the price should be a little lower than through Booking and similar sites.