Unlike many tourist hotspots, Jena (YEH-nah) is enjoyed more by its
locals than by visitors. In any market and on every strasse, crowds of university students
and residents make tourists the minority, and without a gift shop or pair of lederhosen in
sight, Jena gives the traveler a chance to experience life as a real Deutschland-er. That
said, we like our towns out of the ordinary, and Jena’s illustrious and proud history as
the founder of the optical industry (oh come on now, you’re impressed!), celebrated at
every street corner with eyeglass shops, puts it squarely in the category of absurd. Even
more central to Jena is its university. Once the premier college in all of Germany, the
Universität still gives Jena a vibrant student population that fuels some of the best
nightlife and inexpensive eats around.