Harz
5
Day Itinerary •
Germany
Five days in the Harz Mountains gives you the full extraordinary depth of central Germany's finest upland landscape, from the legendary Brocken summit and the Romanesque treasures of Quedlinburg through the hidden medieval perfection of Stolberg and the extraordinary GDR panorama painting at Bad Frankenhausen to the Norwegian stave church at Hahnenklee and the preserved inner German border landscape. This route covers the complete Harz experience from the narrow gauge steam railway and the finest half-timbered towns in Germany through the cave systems and granite gorges of the central Harz to the southern border country with its extraordinary mining heritage, witch folklore and Cold War border memorials. Five days in the most underrated mountain landscape in Germany.
Best Time To Visit
May to October
Getting There
Train to Goslar from Hannover or Hannover Airport
Getting Around
Car essential, Harzer Schmalspurbahn for Brocken
Budget Per Day
Approx 75 to 215 EUR per person per day
Difficulity
Moderate, mountain and valley 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
THE EASTERN HARZ LANDSCAPE
MORNING
STOLBERG, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARILY PRESERVED SILVER MINING VILLAGE IN THE HARZ
Stolberg in the southern Harz is the most extraordinary and least visited medieval town in the region, its extraordinary terraced half-timbered houses climbing the valley sides above the Thyra stream in a landscape of quite remarkable perfection, the birthplace of Thomas Munzer who led the Peasants War of 1525 and the extraordinary Stolberg castle ruin on the hill above giving it the finest atmosphere of any small Harz town. Entry free. Train/Travel: 45 min drive
MIDDAY
THE KYFFHAEUSER MONUMENT AND THE BARBAROSSA LEGEND
The Kyffhaeuser monument south of the Harz is the most extraordinary Wilhelmine national monument in Germany, its extraordinary neo-Romanesque tower containing the largest equestrian statue in Germany depicting Kaiser Wilhelm I, the extraordinary Barbarossa cave legend of the sleeping emperor waiting to return and the remarkable view over the Thuringian basin making it the finest hidden monument in central Germany. Entry approx 8 euros. Train/Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
BAD FRANKENHAUSEN AND THE PANORAMA MUSEUM
The Panorama Museum at Bad Frankenhausen contains the most extraordinary single painting in Germany, a 14 by 123 metre circular panorama by Werner Tuebke depicting the Peasants War of 1525, commissioned by the GDR as its most ambitious artistic project. The extraordinary scale of the painting, its remarkable detail of 3,000 individual figures and the extraordinary rotunda building make it the finest single-work museum in Germany. Entry approx 8 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Harzer Hexenstieg walking trail from Osterode to Thale is the finest long-distance trail in the Harz mountains, its 100km route through extraordinary high moorland, ancient beech and spruce forest and the most dramatic granite formations in the region connecting the southern and northern Harz. The section over the Brocken plateau is the finest single day of the trail. The extraordinary witch and mining heritage signposted throughout gives the finest thematic trail in Germany. Entirely free via marked public footpath.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Gasthof zum Roten Hirsch, Stolberg Outstanding simple Harz breakfast in the most extraordinarily preserved village in the region. | Lunch: Kyffhaeuser Bergrestaurant Outstanding regional food at the monument restaurant. Local Thuringian Rostbratwurst and potato soup. | Dinner: Hotel Esperanto, Bad Frankenhausen Outstanding Thuringian dinner after the extraordinary panorama painting experience.
DAY 5
THE HARZ WITCHCRAFT HERITAGE AND SPA TOWNS
MORNING
BAD HARZBURG AND THE FINEST SPA TOWN IN THE NORTHERN HARZ
Bad Harzburg is the most extraordinary spa town in the northern Harz, its extraordinary Baumwipfelpfad treetop walk at 483 metres, the largest treetop path in Germany, its extraordinary Bad Harzburg salt springs and the remarkable cable car to the Burgberg giving the finest view of the Harz northern edge and the Saxony-Anhalt plains beyond. The spa and salt spring baths are the finest in the northern Harz. Treetop path approx 14 euros. Train/Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
HAHNENKLEE AND THE FINEST STAVE CHURCH OUTSIDE SCANDINAVIA
Hahnenklee-Bockswiese in the upper Harz is the most extraordinary winter sports resort in the mountains, its extraordinary stave church of St Luke modelled on the Borgund stave church in Norway and transplanted entirely in kit form to the Harz in 1907 making it the finest Scandinavian-style wooden church outside Scandinavia. The extraordinary interior and the Hahnenklee ski slopes and hiking trails are remarkable. Entry to church free. Train/Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
THE HARZ BORDER CROSSING AND THE INNER GERMAN BORDER MEMORIAL
The former inner German border between Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt is the most extraordinary Cold War landscape in Germany, its extraordinary watchtowers, the preserved death strip sections and the remarkable documentation centres at Marienborn and Helmstedt giving the finest account of the divided Germany available in the Harz region. The border memorial at Helmstedt-Marienborn is the finest in Lower Saxony. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Eckertbach waterfall near Goslar in the Oker valley, accessible by a 1-hour walk from the Romkerhalle car park through extraordinary mixed Harz forest, is the most dramatic hidden waterfall in the northern Harz, a 40-metre cascade over granite rocks in a gorge entirely free of visitors. The Romkerhaller waterfall visible from the valley road is the most famous in the northern Harz but the Eckertbach hidden above it is far finer. Entirely free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Kurhotel Bad Harzburg Outstanding spa hotel breakfast before the treetop walk. Local Harz honey and mineral water. | Lunch: Hahnenklee Bergrestaurant Outstanding mountain restaurant lunch above the extraordinary stave church village. | Dinner: Romantik Hotel Knappenberg, Clausthal The finest dinner in the upper Harz. Outstanding local game and Harz mountain cuisine.
Where To Stay
Wernigerode, Nights 1 to 2 Ringhotel Weisser Hirsch. Approx 70 to 150 euros per night. Goslar, Nights 3 to 4 Kaiserworth Hotel or Romantik Hotel. Approx 80 to 180 euros per night. Bad Harzburg, Night 5 Parkhotel Bad Harzburg. Approx 80 to 160 euros per night.
Top Tips
1. Stolberg: completely unknown to most tourists. The terraced half-timbered houses are extraordinary. Go midweek.
2. Panorama Museum Bad Frankenhausen: allow 2 hours minimum. The 123-metre circular painting is overwhelming.
3. Bad Harzburg treetop walk: go in the morning for the finest view across the Harz to the Brocken.
4. Hahnenklee stave church: the only Norwegian stave church outside Scandinavia. Entry free, donations appreciated.
5. Kyffhaeuser monument: combined with the Panorama Museum for the finest 20th-century cultural day in the Harz.
6. Harzer Schmalspurbahn day pass: covers all three Harz narrow gauge lines including the Brocken.
Total Budget
75 to 210 EUR/day