- Steam trains climb the Brocken, northern Germany's highest peak, from Wernigerode
- Goslar and Quedlinburg are UNESCO-listed towns at the foot of the hills
- Walpurgis Night on 30 April brings witch-themed festivals
- Good walking, from short gorge trails to the multi-day Harzer Hexenstieg
- Airports
- Hanover (HAJ), Berlin Brandenburg (BER), Leipzig/Halle (LEJ)
- Best time to go
- May-October; 30 April for Walpurgis Night; December for Christmas markets
- Type
- Region
The Harz is the highest range of hills in northern Germany, a compact block of forest, granite and reservoirs that rises abruptly from the plains. Its summit, the Brocken, is wrapped in legend: Goethe set the witches' sabbath in Faust here, and witches still turn up on souvenirs in every town. Around the edges sit some of Germany's best-preserved medieval towns.
The Harz straddles three states, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, and it is a favourite with German walkers and families. For the wider country, see our Germany guide.
Things to do
- The Brocken steam railway – narrow-gauge steam trains run from Wernigerode up to the Brocken summit at about 1,140m, part of a wider network of Harz narrow-gauge lines.
- Wernigerode – a colourful town of half-timbered houses with a fairy-tale castle on the hill above.
- Quedlinburg – a UNESCO-listed town with more than a thousand half-timbered buildings. See our Quedlinburg guide.
- Goslar – an imperial town with a medieval old town, an imperial palace and the Rammelsberg mine, all UNESCO-listed along with the Upper Harz water management system.
- The Bode Gorge – dramatic cliffs and a riverside path near Thale, with a cable car up to the Hexentanzplatz ("witches' dance floor").
- Rappbode Dam – a huge dam with a long pedestrian suspension bridge alongside it for thrill seekers.
- Harz National Park – spruce and beech forests, granite outcrops and a reintroduced lynx population.
- Caves and mines – show caves at Rübeland and former mines that tell the story of the region's silver and ore mining.
Where to stay
| Area | Why stay there |
|---|---|
| Wernigerode | Base for the Brocken railway and the national park |
| Quedlinburg | UNESCO old town in the eastern foothills |
| Goslar | Historic town in the north-west Harz |
| Braunlage or Schierke | Mountain villages for walking and winter sports |
| Thale | Bode Gorge and the Hexentanzplatz |
Getting there
Hanover is the closest airport with UK flights, roughly an hour to an hour and a half from Goslar by road or train. Berlin Brandenburg has more routes and is around three hours from Wernigerode by train. Leipzig/Halle suits the eastern Harz. Check current routes.
By rail from London, travel via Brussels and Cologne to Hanover, then take a regional train to Goslar or Wernigerode. Wernigerode, Goslar, Quedlinburg and Thale all have stations, but a car makes it much easier to combine several towns.
Best time to visit
May to October is best for walking and steam trains, with autumn colour in the beech woods in October. On 30 April, Walpurgis Night is celebrated with costumes, bonfires and events in towns such as Thale and Schierke. Winter can bring snow to the higher areas, and Goslar, Wernigerode and Quedlinburg hold popular Christmas markets.
The Brocken is often wrapped in fog and wind even when the valleys are sunny, so take a warm layer for the summit.
Top attractions in Harz
LandmarkBrandenburg Gate
Berlin's neoclassical city gate, crowned by the Quadriga, once trapped behind the Wall and now the symbol of a reunited…
LandmarkEast Side Gallery
The longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall, painted in 1990 by artists from around the world and now an open-air…
LandmarkNeuschwanstein Castle
King Ludwig II's fairy-tale castle on a crag in the Bavarian Alps, the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Harz on the map
Frequently asked questions
How do I get up the Brocken?
Take the narrow-gauge steam train from Wernigerode or Drei Annen Hohne, or walk up from Schierke or Torfhaus. Many people take the train up and walk down.
Is the Harz good for families?
Yes. Steam trains, caves, summer toboggan runs, short gorge walks and the witch legends all appeal to children.
Which town is the best base?
Wernigerode is the most convenient for the Brocken railway, while Quedlinburg and Goslar are the most atmospheric historic towns.
Written by
Emma City breaks & deals editor
Emma plans city breaks the way other people plan the weekly shop: on a budget, with a spreadsheet and a backup plan. She covers city guides and deal-hunting.
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