Erfurt --(15-20 min regional train)--> Gotha --(15-20 min regional train)--> Erfurt
Gotha makes a good alternative for anyone who has already done Weimar on a previous trip, or who simply wants a shorter, quieter day out with less ground to cover. The regional train from Erfurt Hauptbahnhof takes around fifteen to twenty minutes, among the shortest journeys of any of the day trips from Erfurt, which makes it an easy option even on legs that still feel the marathon.
September in Gotha follows the same mild, unhurried regional pattern as Erfurt itself, comfortable for a half-day or full day of gentle walking with a light layer for the train.
The town's centrepiece is Friedenstein Palace, a large baroque palace set on raised ground above the old town, with formal gardens and grounds that make for easy, mostly level walking once inside the palace grounds themselves, whatever effort the approach from the station takes. The palace houses museum collections covering regional history and decorative arts, with entry prices and opening hours that vary by season, so checking current details before travelling is worth the few minutes it takes. Gotha's old town below the palace is compact and quiet by comparison with Weimar's, with a market square and a scatter of half-timbered buildings that suit slow, low-effort wandering rather than a packed itinerary.
The approach to the palace itself involves a short, gentle rise from the old town rather than a genuine climb, manageable on tired legs at a slow pace, and the gardens that spread out behind and below the building are large enough for a proper unhurried loop without doubling back on the same path twice. Formal hedges and open lawns give way to shadier tree-lined paths towards the edges of the grounds, a reasonable spot to sit for a while if the plan is to rest more than walk. Because the grounds are broad rather than steep, this is one of the more forgiving palace visits available on a short trip from Erfurt.
Because Gotha offers less ground to cover than Weimar, it works well as a shorter half-day trip paired with an easy morning or afternoon back in Erfurt, rather than a full day away, though there is enough here to fill a full day comfortably for anyone who prefers a quieter pace over ticking off more sights. Cafes around the market square and near the palace grounds offer a reasonable spread of lunch options, generally quieter and less crowded than equivalent spots in Weimar, a genuine advantage the day after a big race when a calm table matters more than a full sightseeing schedule.
Gotha also makes sense as a half-day add-on rather than a stand-alone trip: pair a morning at the palace with an afternoon spent resting back in Erfurt, or reverse the order and use the morning at home to sleep in before a gentler, later start on the regional train. Either way, the short journey time means the day does not need to be planned around a single fixed schedule, which is one less thing to think about when the body is still asking for rest more than activity.
Getting home: Gotha is a day trip. Return to Erfurt on the same regional line, running frequently enough through the day that advance booking is not necessary, though it is worth checking the current timetable before setting out, since weekend and weekday services can differ slightly.