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Harz
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Explore the Harz mountains of Germany for Brocken walks, medieval timber-framed towns, historic mines, forests and steam railways.

The Harz is one of Germany’s most distinctive upland regions, rising where Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia meet. Its wooded hills, high plateaux, deep valleys and reservoirs extend around the Brocken, northern Germany’s highest mountain at 1,141 metres. The landscape changes noticeably across the range: the high Harz is cool, spruce-covered and often misty, while lower valleys open into orchards, limestone country and historic settlements. Harz National Park protects extensive upland habitats in the central and eastern mountains and provides a setting for walking, wildlife observation and quiet roadside viewpoints.
Read more about Harz
Historic towns around the Harz preserve several different chapters of German history. Goslar, on the north-western edge, developed through silver and other metal mining and became an important imperial centre; its old town and former Rammelsberg mine form a UNESCO World Heritage site. Wernigerode is known for its colourful timber-framed buildings and hilltop castle, while Quedlinburg, at the northern foothills, contains an exceptionally extensive medieval townscape. In the southern and eastern Harz, Stolberg retains a compact historic centre of half-timbered houses, and towns such as Bad Lauterberg and Braunlage reflect the region’s long tradition of spa and mountain tourism.
Mining shaped the Harz for centuries. Beneath the forests lie ore deposits that supported silver, copper, lead and other industries, leaving a remarkable network of shafts, water channels, reservoirs and processing sites. The Upper Harz Water Management System, a historic engineering landscape associated with mining, is part of the Rammelsberg and Goslar World Heritage property. Museums, visitor mines and preserved industrial landscapes explain how water power and skilled labour made difficult mountain terrain economically valuable.
The Harz is also a region of railways and legends. The Harz Narrow Gauge Railways climb through forests towards the Brocken, with steam-hauled services forming one of the area’s best-known travel experiences, although walking and cycling offer quieter ways to explore. Folklore surrounding witches, Walpurgis Night and the Brocken remains visible in local interpretation and seasonal events, but the region’s contemporary identity is broader: it includes conservation, outdoor recreation, heritage towns, family attractions and a substantial local food culture based on hearty northern German cooking.
Travel works best when planned around a particular part of the range rather than treated as a single compact destination. Goslar and the northern foothills differ from the high-country resorts around Braunlage, while the eastern Harz combines forest walks with towns such as Wernigerode, Quedlinburg and Stolberg. Weather can change quickly on exposed summits, and public transport is more practical in the principal towns and railway corridors than in remote valleys, making a careful choice of base important.

When is the best time to visit Harz?

Best: June–August · 20–22°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January260
February255
March665
April1155
May1665
June (best)2080
July (best)2285
August (best)2180
September1870
October1465
November770
December375

Getting to and around Harz

How to get there

The Harz has no single international gateway, so visitors usually approach it from major railway cities outside or around the region. Hanover, Leipzig and Erfurt provide useful long-distance connections, while Göttingen, Hildesheim and Halle can serve particular parts of the range. Regional trains reach towns including Goslar, Wernigerode, Quedlinburg, Nordhausen and Bad Harzburg, although routes and connections differ between the three federal states. By road, the A7, A14 and A38 provide access to different edges of the Harz, followed by regional roads into the mountains. The nearest airports are outside the Harz, so a train or hire car is normally needed for the final journey.

Transportation

Rail and bus services connect the larger towns and several mountain resorts, but services are less frequent in remote valleys and smaller villages. The Harz Narrow Gauge Railways link important eastern and central Harz destinations, including routes towards the Brocken, and are both practical for some journeys and a heritage attraction in their own right. A car is useful for combining scattered trailheads, mines, viewpoints and villages, though roads can be narrow and wintry conditions require care. Walking is central to the region’s appeal, with an extensive marked trail network; cyclists should expect steep gradients and changing surfaces. Check maps and local transport information before setting out.

Destinations in Harz

Resorts, valleys and scenic spots worth a trip of their own.

Best attractions in Harz

The Harz combines mountain scenery with an unusually dense concentration of heritage attractions. Harz National Park offers marked trails through upland forest and heath, with the Brocken as its best-known destination, while the surrounding valleys provide walking, cycling and reservoir landscapes. The Harz Narrow Gauge Railways connect several eastern and central settlements with steam-hauled journeys towards the high country. Mining heritage is represented by museums, visitor mines, historic waterworks and the Rammelsberg complex near Goslar. Historic town visits can be built around Goslar, Wernigerode, Quedlinburg and Stolberg, each with a different architectural character. Families may find cable cars, summer activity facilities and interpretation centres in larger resorts, while caves and geological features occur in parts of the southern Harz. The region’s appeal lies in combining outdoor routes with carefully preserved evidence of mining, trade, religion and princely administration rather than relying on one concentrated attraction.

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Best landmarks in Harz

The Brocken is the Harz’s defining natural landmark, its rounded summit and exposed highland weather giving it a powerful presence in regional geography and history. Goslar’s Imperial Palace and the historic town around it express the area’s medieval political importance, while the Rammelsberg mine records the industrial wealth beneath the mountains. In Wernigerode, the castle above the town forms a prominent skyline landmark and complements the dense timber-framed centre below. Quedlinburg’s collegiate church and castle hill overlook one of Germany’s most important surviving medieval townscapes. The Stolberg valley is marked by its compact arrangement of half-timbered houses and the Renaissance Stolberg Castle. Across the Upper Harz, ponds, dams and water channels are landmarks of mining engineering as well as working landscape features, demonstrating how people redirected mountain water to power extraction over many centuries.

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Explore Harz on the map

Plan your trip on one map. See where the top cities, national parks and sights are, and book hotels and experiences in a few clicks.

Best restaurants in Harz

Harz dining is grounded in filling central German food, with menus shaped by mountain farming, forestry and regional hospitality rather than a single codified cuisine. Harzer cheese, a low-fat sour-milk cheese traditionally associated with the wider Harz, appears in some regional shops and simple meals. Traditional inns serve potatoes, seasonal vegetables, soups, sausages and game where available, while trout and other freshwater dishes can appear near reservoirs and mountain streams. Goslar, Wernigerode and Quedlinburg offer the broadest range of cafés, bakeries, modern restaurants and international choices; smaller resorts tend towards guesthouse dining, rustic restaurants and hotel kitchens. Local beer is common, and menus often change with the season. Farmers’ shops and markets are useful for regional cheese, preserves, honey, baked goods and smoked products, though market schedules vary between towns.

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Best bars in Harz

Evenings in the Harz are generally centred on traditional pubs, hotel bars, brewery-style restaurants and cafés rather than a large nightclub circuit. Goslar, Wernigerode and Quedlinburg have the widest choice of places for a drink after visiting historic centres, with some live music and cultural programming depending on the season. Mountain resorts such as Braunlage, Schierke and Bad Lauterberg offer relaxed après-walk settings, including bars attached to hotels or restaurants, but their activity can be seasonal. Smaller villages often become quiet once restaurants close. Local beer, spirits and non-alcoholic drinks are widely available, while nightlife around Walpurgis Night can be livelier in selected towns. Check local listings for current events rather than assuming regular club schedules.

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Best nightclubs in Harz

Evenings in the Harz are generally centred on traditional pubs, hotel bars, brewery-style restaurants and cafés rather than a large nightclub circuit. Goslar, Wernigerode and Quedlinburg have the widest choice of places for a drink after visiting historic centres, with some live music and cultural programming depending on the season. Mountain resorts such as Braunlage, Schierke and Bad Lauterberg offer relaxed après-walk settings, including bars attached to hotels or restaurants, but their activity can be seasonal. Smaller villages often become quiet once restaurants close. Local beer, spirits and non-alcoholic drinks are widely available, while nightlife around Walpurgis Night can be livelier in selected towns. Check local listings for current events rather than assuming regular club schedules.

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Best shops in Harz

Shopping in the Harz is strongest in its historic towns, where restored high streets combine everyday German retailers with independent bookshops, galleries, craft outlets, cafés and traditional food shops. Goslar and Quedlinburg offer the broadest selection, while Wernigerode’s centre is well suited to browsing timber-framed streets for regional gifts and artisan goods. Smaller resorts and villages focus more on practical outdoor equipment, local produce and souvenirs than on extensive retail. Look for Harz cheese, honey, preserves, herbal products, smoked foods and locally made confectionery, alongside carved wooden goods, ceramics, textiles and artwork inspired by the mountains. Mining-themed objects and railway souvenirs are common around heritage sites, while Christmas markets and seasonal town markets bring additional craft stalls at particular times of year. Check market dates locally, as they vary by municipality and season.

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Harz essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the euro (EUR), as throughout Germany. Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in hotels, transport offices, museums and many restaurants, especially in larger towns. Smaller cafés, rural inns, parking facilities and village shops may still prefer cash or have minimum card payments, so carrying some euros is sensible. ATMs are available in principal settlements but are less common in remote mountain areas. Visitors should check whether a card machine accepts their payment network before ordering in small establishments.
Safety
The Harz is generally suitable for independent travel, but mountain conditions create practical risks. Paths can be slippery, exposed or obstructed by snow, ice and fallen trees, and mist can reduce visibility around high ground such as the Brocken. Wear suitable footwear, carry water and allow daylight for longer walks. Follow temporary closures and stay on marked routes in protected areas. Drivers should expect narrow bends, cyclists and changing winter conditions, while outdoor visitors should take care near reservoirs, steep slopes and disused mining structures. Normal precautions against theft remain appropriate in stations, car parks and busy historic centres.
Emergency Situations
In an immediate emergency, call 112 for fire, ambulance or mountain rescue assistance, and 110 for the police; these numbers apply throughout Germany. Give the exact trail, road, landmark or map location, as mobile reception can be inconsistent in wooded valleys. If there is no immediate danger but medical advice is needed outside normal surgery hours, Germany’s nationwide medical service can be reached on 116117. Do not enter abandoned mine workings or restricted forest areas, and follow instructions from park staff, railway personnel and emergency services.
Do's and Don'ts
Keep to marked paths and close gates when walking through grazing country, and follow the rules of Harz National Park and other protected landscapes. Do not collect plants, disturb wildlife or light fires outside authorised areas. In villages and historic towns, park considerately and keep noise low, particularly around residential streets and guesthouses. German public transport etiquette includes queuing, allowing passengers to leave before boarding and validating or holding the correct ticket where required. Tipping in restaurants is customary but discretionary, usually by rounding up or adding a modest amount. At churches, museums and historic houses, follow photography restrictions and local instructions.
Local Tips
The Harz covers a broad mountain area, so grouping nearby places into day trips is more efficient than crossing the range repeatedly. Goslar and Quedlinburg are especially useful for heritage-focused itineraries, while Wernigerode and Schierke provide convenient access to the Brocken and eastern national-park landscapes. Weather forecasts for valley towns may not reflect summit conditions. Many restaurants serve substantial meals suited to cold weather, and opening patterns can be seasonal in small resorts. Consider visiting popular viewpoints early or using quieter valley trails when the Brocken railway and main town centres are busy.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHallo[Ha-lo]
GoodbyeAuf Wiedersehen[Owf Veeder-zane]
YesJa[Yah]
NoNein[Nine]
Please/You're welcomeBitte[Bi-te]
Thank youDanke[Dahn-ke]
Excuse me/SorryEntschuldigung[Ent-shool-dee-gung]
How are you?Wie geht's?[Vee gates?]
Fine. And you?Gut. Und dir?[Gooot. Oond deer?]
Do you speak English?Sprechen Sie Englisch?[Shpre-chen Zee Eng-lish?]
I don't understandIch verstehe nicht[Ikh fer-shtay-eh nikht]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseIch hätte gerne die Speisekarte, bitte[Ikh heh-teh geh-ner dee Spy-ze-kar-teh, bi-te]
I don't eat meatIch esse kein Fleisch[Ikh es-se kайн FLYSH]
Cheers!Prost![Prohst]
I would like to pay, pleaseIch möchte bezahlen, bitte[Ikh mer-chte be-zah-len, bi-te]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Hilfe![Hil-fe]
Go away!Geh weg![Gay vek]
Call the Police!Rufen Sie die Polizei![Roo-fen Zee dee Po-lee-tsai]
Call a doctor!Rufen Sie einen Arzt![Roo-fen Zee eye-nen Artzt]
I'm lostIch habe mich verlaufen[Ikh ha-bee mikh fer-lau-fen]
I'm illIch bin krank[Ikh bin krangk]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Ich möchte ... kaufen[Ikh mer-chte ... kau-fen]
I'm just lookingIch schaue nur[Ikh shau-eh noor]
How much is it?Wie viel kostet es?[Vee feel kost-et es?]
That's too expensiveDas ist zu teuer[Das ist tsoo toy-er]
Can you lower the price?Könnten Sie den Preis senken?[Kern-ten Zee den Prize sen-ken?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Wie spät ist es?[Vee shpaht ist es?]
It's one o'clockEs ist ein Uhr[Es ist ine Oor]
Half past (10)Halb nach (10)[Halb nahkh (10)]
MorningMorgen[Mor-gen]
AfternoonNachmittag[Nahkh-mit-tahg]
EveningAbend[Ah-bent]
YesterdayGestern[Ges-tern]
TodayHeute[Hoy-te]
TomorrowMorgen[Mor-gen]
1Eins[Eyns]
2Zwei[Zvy]
3Drei[Dry]
4Vier[Veer]
5Fünf[Finf]
6Sechs[Zex]
7Sieben[Zee-ben]
8Acht[Acht]
9Neun[Noyn]
10Zehn[Tsen]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Wo ist ein/der ...?[Vo ist ine/der ...?]
What's the address?Wie lautet die Adresse?[Vee lowt-et dee Ah-dres-se?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Könnten Sie mir (auf der Karte) zeigen?[Kern-ten Zee meer (owf der Kar-te) tsigh-en?]
When's the next (bus)?Wann kommt der nächste (Bus)?[Vahn kommt der nay-sh-te (Boos)?]
A ticket (to ....)Ein Ticket (nach ...)[Ayn Ti-ket (nahkh ...)]

History of Harz

Early Settlement and Sacred Landscapes

People used the Harz and its surrounding foothills long before written records, exploiting forests, pasture, water and accessible mineral deposits. Archaeological evidence from the wider region includes prehistoric settlements, burial sites and traces of early metalworking, while later communities established routes through the valleys and around the mountain margins. The uplands were not an untouched wilderness: woodland clearance, grazing and small-scale extraction gradually shaped the landscape. Many later settlements grew where roads, streams and mineral resources met, creating the geographical foundations for the mining towns and market centres that followed.

Ottonian and Imperial Harz, Tenth to Eleventh Centuries

During the Ottonian and Salian periods, the Harz became an important centre of royal authority within the medieval German kingdom. Goslar developed near the rich Rammelsberg ore deposit and was associated with imperial residences, assemblies and the Imperial Palace. Quedlinburg also gained significance through its royal foundation and religious institutions. Control of mineral wealth, forests and strategic routes gave the region political importance beyond its mountainous setting. The surviving palaces, churches and town plans around the Harz reflect the close relationship between resource extraction, royal power and religious foundations.

Medieval Mining and Town Formation

From the Middle Ages, mining became the decisive economic force in much of the Harz. Silver, copper, lead and other ores attracted investment, technical expertise and migrant labour, while towns expanded around mines, smelters and trading routes. Water management became essential: ponds, channels and drainage works stored and directed water to power machinery and remove it from underground workings. The Upper Harz mining districts developed particularly complex systems. Their surviving shafts, waterworks, administrative buildings and historic townscapes explain why the Harz is among Germany’s most important industrial and mining heritage regions.

Reformation and Territorial Division

The sixteenth century brought religious and political change to the Harz, as many towns and territories adopted Protestant ideas while Catholic institutions remained influential in other areas. The mountains were divided among several princely states and ecclesiastical territories rather than governed as one unit. Mining continued to finance local rulers and communities, but the industry was subject to fluctuating metal prices, technical challenges and environmental pressures. The resulting mixture of confessions, jurisdictions and economic interests helped produce the varied architectural and cultural character visible between the northern, eastern and southern Harz.

Mining Expansion and Industrial Engineering

Mining intensified during the early modern and nineteenth-century periods, supported by improved drainage, pumping and transport. The Harz’s historic water management systems were expanded and adapted to serve mines more efficiently, while new roads and railways connected mountain settlements with industrial markets. Goslar, Clausthal-Zellerfeld and other centres acquired institutions, workshops and housing associated with mining administration and technical education. Although many mines eventually became uneconomic, their landscape legacy remains visible in spoil heaps, shafts, reservoirs, museums and engineered waterways.

The Rise of Mountain Tourism

From the nineteenth century, improved rail and road connections turned the Harz into a major destination for walkers, spa visitors and summer holidaymakers. Resorts such as Braunlage, Bad Harzburg and Bad Lauterberg developed accommodation and recreational infrastructure, while the Brocken became a celebrated destination for excursions and landscape views. Narrow-gauge railways helped link remote mountain settlements and continue to serve as a cultural feature of the region. Tourism did not replace the older mining identity but added a new economy based on scenery, health, outdoor activity and historic towns.

The Harz During German Division

After 1945, the Harz was divided between the British and Soviet occupation zones and later between West and East Germany. The Inner German border crossed the mountain region, restricting movement and separating communities, transport links and parts of the traditional tourist landscape. The Brocken became a highly controlled military and communications site in East Germany, inaccessible to ordinary visitors. Following reunification in 1990, border barriers were removed, routes reopened and conservation initiatives expanded, creating the cross-state Harz National Park and restoring access to places previously closed for decades.

Harz in Photos

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Harz, Germany

Discover Harz like never before with Evendo, the 100% free app-based travel guide. Explore attractions, landmarks, restaurants, tours, and more effortlessly.

  • Detailed information on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities
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More about the Evendo app

Unlock the full potential of your trip to Harz, Germany with Evendo. This free app offers comprehensive guides to attractions, landmarks, shops, restaurants, and more, ensuring you have an unforgettable experience.

  • History of Harz and travel essentials
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Planning a trip to Harz, Germany? Make the most out of your visit with Evendo, the ultimate app-based travel guide. Harz is a region rich in history, scenic landscapes, and cultural landmarks. With Evendo, you'll have detailed information on all the best attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities at your fingertips.

Visit the renowned Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz mountains, and discover its mystical allure. Dive into history at the Wernigerode Castle or take a tour of the Rammelsberg Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Evendo not only provides you with rich descriptions and images of these landmarks but also offers local tips and maps to enhance your visit.

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With Evendo, booking your stay is seamless. Choose from a variety of hotels, from luxury accommodations to cozy guesthouses. Looking for unique experiences? Evendo has curated tours and activities that let you explore Harz like a local. Whether it's a guided hike through the Harz National Park or a cultural tour of Quedlinburg, the app makes it easy to book your adventure.

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