Harz
3
Day Itinerary •
Germany
Three days in the Harz Mountains reveal the most extraordinary combination of medieval towns, steam railways, cave systems and mountain heritage in central Germany. The Brocken summit by narrow gauge steam train, the UNESCO half-timbered splendour of Quedlinburg, the stalactite caves at Rubeland, the dramatic Bodetal gorge and the extraordinary imperial palace at Goslar above the oldest working mine in the world are all within a single Harz circuit. This route climbs to the highest point in northern Germany by steam train, explores the finest Romanesque heritage in Germany at Quedlinburg, descends into the extraordinary cave systems of the Rubeland and walks the dramatic granite gorge of the Bodetal before finishing with the magnificent UNESCO imperial city of Goslar and the thousand-year-old Rammelsberg silver mine.
Best Time To Visit
May to October
Getting There
Train to Goslar from Hannover, 1 hour
Getting Around
Harzer Schmalspurbahn steam railway, car
Budget Per Day
Approx 75 to 210 EUR per person per day
Difficulity
Moderate, mountain walking
DAY 1
THE BROCKEN AND THE HARZ NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY
MORNING
THE BROCKEN SUMMIT BY STEAM RAILWAY, THE FINEST NARROW GAUGE IN GERMANY
The Brocken at 1,141 metres is the highest peak in northern Germany and the most extraordinary mountain in the Harz, its extraordinary summit plateau of cloud forest, the Brocken Spectre weather phenomenon and the extraordinary Stasi listening station ruins from the GDR period making it the finest summit in the north. The Harzer Schmalspurbahn narrow gauge steam railway from Wernigerode to the Brocken is the finest mountain railway in Germany. Return ticket approx 60 euros. Train/Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
WERNIGERODE, THE MOST COLOURFUL HALF-TIMBERED TOWN IN THE HARZ
Wernigerode is the most extraordinary half-timbered town in the Harz, its extraordinary market square of coloured timber-framed buildings, the remarkable smallest house in Germany at only 2.95 metres wide, the extraordinary Wernigerode Castle on its hill above the town and the magnificent St Sylvester church making it the finest base town in the northern Harz. The castle gives the finest view of the Brocken. Entry to castle approx 8 euros. Train/Travel: 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
QUEDLINBURG, THE UNESCO ROMANESQUE CAPITAL OF GERMANY
Quedlinburg is the most extraordinary Romanesque town in Germany, its extraordinary castle hill with the collegiate church of St Servatius containing the tomb of Henry I and the finest Romanesque crypt in northern Germany, its extraordinary medieval town below with over 1,300 half-timbered buildings spanning six centuries and its remarkable UNESCO World Heritage designation for the finest Romanesque heritage in the country. Entry to collegiate church approx 5 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Brocken Spectre phenomenon occurs when a climber on the Brocken in cloud sees their own shadow surrounded by a rainbow-like halo projected onto the cloud below them. The extraordinary optical effect, named after its most famous observation point, occurs most frequently on the Brocken at sunrise when the summit is above the cloud layer. Arriving on the summit before dawn by the first steam train and waiting for sunrise is the finest experience on the Harz mountain. Entirely free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe am Markt, Wernigerode Outstanding Harz breakfast on the finest market square in the northern Harz. Local honey and dark bread. | Lunch: Schlossrestaurant Wernigerode Outstanding Harz food in the castle restaurant above the town. Local game and Harz Rollmops. | Dinner: Zur Goldenen Sonne, Quedlinburg The finest traditional restaurant in Quedlinburg. Outstanding Harz venison and local Selketal trout.
DAY 2
THE HARZ VALLEYS AND CAVES
MORNING
THE RUBELAND STALACTITE CAVES AND THE EXTRAORDINARY HARZ UNDERWORLD
The Rubeland caves in the Bode valley are the most extraordinary show caves in northern Germany, their extraordinary stalactite formations including the remarkable Birnbaum Stalactite, the extraordinary cave bear skulls preserved in the limestone and the remarkable Hermannshohle cave with its rare cave olms in the underground lake making them the finest caves in the Harz. Entry approx 12 euros for both caves. Train/Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
THE BODETAL GORGE, THE MOST DRAMATIC VALLEY IN THE HARZ
The Bodetal gorge from Thale to Treseburg is the most extraordinary river valley in the Harz, its extraordinary 25km of the Bode river cutting through granite and greywacke rock walls up to 200 metres high, the remarkable Hexentanzplatz witches dance floor above Thale and the extraordinary Rosstrapppe granite plateau with the finest view in the eastern Harz making it the finest walking destination in the mountains. Cable car to Hexentanzplatz approx 12 euros return. Train/Travel: 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
THALE AND THE WALPURGIS NIGHT TRADITIONS
Thale is the most extraordinary small town in the eastern Harz, its extraordinary position at the mouth of the Bodetal gorge, the remarkable Walpurgis Night celebrations on 30 April when witches allegedly gathered on the Hexentanzplatz above the town and the extraordinary Body and Witch Museum giving it a character unlike any other Harz town. The Hexentanzplatz at sunset gives the finest view of the Brocken. Entry to museum approx 5 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Selketal valley south of Quedlinburg is the most extraordinary and least visited valley in the Harz, its extraordinary narrow-gauge railway chugging through ancient oak forest, the remarkable watermills at Maggerode and the extraordinary carved chalk formations of the Gegenstein rocks near Gernrode giving it a character entirely unlike the more visited Bodetal. The Selketal hiking trail from Gernrode to Alexisbad is 20km of extraordinary woodland walking. Entirely free via public footpath.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Gasthaus Hubertus, Rubeland Outstanding simple Harz breakfast before the cave tour. Local Harzer Roller cheese and dark bread. | Lunch: Waldgaststatte Bodetal Outstanding forest restaurant in the extraordinary gorge. Local Harz trout and venison. | Dinner: Hotel Hexentanzplatz, Thale Outstanding Harz dinner with extraordinary views over the Bodetal gorge to the Brocken.
DAY 3
SOUTHERN HARZ AND THE HISTORIC MINING TOWNS
MORNING
GOSLAR, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY IMPERIAL PALACE TOWN IN GERMANY
Goslar is the most extraordinary medieval imperial city in Germany, its extraordinary Kaiserpfalz imperial palace from 1132, the largest secular Romanesque building in Germany, its extraordinary Marktplatz with the finest Gothic town hall facade in the Harz, the remarkable Huldigungssaal ceremonial room and the extraordinary UNESCO-listed old town of 1,500 preserved half-timbered buildings making it the finest historic town in the Harz. Entry to Kaiserpfalz approx 8 euros. Train/Travel: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
THE RAMMELSBERG MINE, THE FINEST INDUSTRIAL UNESCO SITE IN GERMANY
The Rammelsberg silver and lead mine above Goslar was worked continuously for over 1,000 years from 968 AD until 1988, making it the longest continuously operating mine in the world and the most extraordinary industrial UNESCO World Heritage site in Germany. The extraordinary underground tours through medieval and modern mine workings, the remarkable ore processing machinery from five centuries and the extraordinary miners' church are all remarkable. Entry approx 16 euros. Train/Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
CLAUSTHAL-ZELLERFELD AND THE FINEST WOODEN CHURCH IN GERMANY
Clausthal-Zellerfeld is the most extraordinary mining town in the upper Harz, its extraordinary Market Church of the Holy Spirit, the largest wooden Protestant church in Germany with capacity for 2,000 worshippers, its remarkable Oberharzer Mining Museum and the extraordinary Sperberhai reservoir walk giving it a character unlike any other Harz town. The Unicorn Cave nearby is the finest stalactite cave in the southern Harz. Entry to church free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Oker Valley reservoir system above Goslar contains the most extraordinary engineering landscape in the Harz, its three interconnected dams of the Okertalsperre, Innerstetalsperre and Grantaler Talsperre creating a remarkable high-altitude reservoir walk of extraordinary wildness for so close to a major town. The 12km circuit around the Okertalsperre through extraordinary spruce forest is the finest reservoir walk in northern Germany. Entirely free from the Oker village car park.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Brauhaus Goslar Outstanding Goslar breakfast. The local Gose-style beer is produced in the extraordinary historic brewery. | Lunch: Rammelsberg mine restaurant Outstanding Harz food at the extraordinary UNESCO mine site. Local venison and Harz cheese. | Dinner: Aubergine, Goslar The finest restaurant in Goslar. Outstanding creative German cuisine using local Harz produce. Book ahead.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Wernigerode, Nights 1 to 2 Ringhotel Weisser Hirsch or Hotel Gothisches Haus. Approx 70 to 150 euros per night. Goslar, Night 3 Kaiserworth Hotel or Romantik Hotel. Approx 80 to 180 euros per night. Budget Harz valley guesthouses throughout from approx 40 to 70 euros per night.
Top Tips
1. Brocken by steam train: book the earliest departure from Wernigerode for clear summit views before clouds build.
2. Quedlinburg at dawn: the collegiate church hill at 7am before coaches arrive is extraordinary and free.
3. Rubeland caves: wear warm clothes. The underground temperature is 9 degrees year-round.
4. Hexentanzplatz cable car: check weather before going. The view to the Brocken is only possible in clear conditions.
5. Rammelsberg mine tour: the underground section is extraordinary. Book English tours ahead at rammelsberg.de.
6. Walpurgisnacht 30 April: the entire Harz celebrates with bonfires and witch costumes. Extraordinary atmosphere.
Total Budget
75 to 205 EUR/day