Museums, galleries and exhibitions of different kinds augment the wide range of cultural life in the city. 

The former municipal hospital (1547) houses the Museum of Thuringian Folklore, an interesting presentation of the 18th and 19th centuries' everyday life in Thuringia as well as original tools and workshops of traditional Thuringian craftsmanship. 

You will find changing exhibitions at the Gallery at the Fischmarkt (Kunsthalle am Fischmarkt) in the historical building "Haus zum roten Ochsen" (1562). The frieze on the facade above the ground floor windows represent the days of the week and the Greek muses.

The former Municipal Trade Weighing and Packing House (1706-1717) is today's Angermuseum. There are permanent exhibitions of the most important collection of Thuringian porcelain and Thuringian china manufactures since 1760 as well as paintings of German artists like Caspar David Friedrich, Carl Spitzweg and Friedrich Nerly, sandstone Madonnas and panel paintings from Erfurt churches. (until 2009 closed)

A magnificent example of German church architecture of the mendicant order (14th/15th centuries) is the Barfüsserkirche with the oldest remaining glass paintings in Erfurt (ca. 1235), two altars and ledger of Cinna von Vargula (1371).

The Museum of City History shows a permanent exhibition on the development of earliest history until the period of its dependence on the rulers of Mainz, France and Prussia in 1814. Thuringian geology can be seen at the Museum of Natural History, a former woad (plant used for blue die) store house built in 1577.

St. Peter's Church serves today an exhibition hall for international modern arts, paintings, graphics, etc. The Margaretha-Reichert-House is a workshop and home of Margaretha Reichert, master of textile work and weaving in Bauhaus design period.

In 1994, the tradition of the Festival on the Cathedral Steps was revived. During this beloved spectacular colorful cultural event, which occurs every summer, open-air theater performances are held on the 70 steps leading from the Cathedral Square to the St. Mary's Cathedral.