The Harz Mountains rise in the middle of Germany, in a region where timber-framed towns, castles and deep valleys lie close together. Here, you can take the steam train up the Brocken, walk on cobblestones between houses that are several hundred years old and hike along the River Bode through a narrow gorge.
The towns are spread across the region, and each one suits its own kind of holiday. The base you choose decides how much time you’ll spend in the car. Here are my five best towns to stay in the Harz, with hotels in several price ranges.
Contents
The Best Towns in the Harz Mountains
- Wernigerode - best town for first-time visitors and the trip up the Brocken
- Quedlinburg - best town for timber-framed houses and history
- Goslar - best town for culture and excursions in the western Harz
- Thale - best town for hiking in the Bodetal
- Braunlage - best town for winter holidays and active families
Below, I’ll take you through the towns one by one, with a map, practical facts and three hotels in each, from the most expensive to the cheapest, so you can see what suits your trip.
1. Wernigerode - best town for first-time visitors and the trip up the Brocken 🚂
- 📍 Distance from the centre: You’ll be staying in the town itself. From the town hall on the Marktplatz, it’s just under 800 metres to both the castle and the railway station.
- 🚂 Transport: Regional trains run to Wernigerode Hauptbahnhof, and the steam trains towards the Brocken leave from the HSB station right next door.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Hannover Airport is around 100 km away as the crow flies. Allow around an hour and a half by car.
- 💰 Price range: €€ to €€€. This is where you’ll find the biggest choice of hotels in the Harz, but weekends in high season book up quickly.
- 👮 Safety: A safe town. Mainly keep an eye out in the crowds around the Marktplatz and on the platform when the steam train is about to leave.
Wernigerode is my first choice if it’s your first trip to the Harz. The town has a colourful Marktplatz with a timber-framed town hall, a castle on the hill above the houses and a station where the narrow-gauge steam trains begin their journey towards the mountains.
The steam train is the reason many people choose Wernigerode in particular. Harzer Schmalspurbahnen runs steam locomotives up the Brockenbahn to Brockenbahnhof at 1,125 metres, and the station in Wernigerode is right next to the main railway station. On the way, the train runs through Nationalpark Harz. So you can get up, walk down to the train and be at the top of the Harz without touching the car.
See hotels in Wernigerode here.
Schloss Wernigerode is the town’s other big attraction. According to the castle’s own website, you’ll pass through almost 40 rooms on two routes, and it takes around 20 minutes to walk up from the Altstadt/Schloss car park. If you’re staying by the Marktplatz, the castle is just as close as the station.
I’d stay inside the town walls or close to them. That way, you can walk to restaurants in the evening and catch the train in the morning without thinking about parking. Hotels further up the valley towards Hasserode are often cheaper, but then the car or the bus becomes part of every day.
The downside is that Wernigerode is popular. During the day, coach groups and day-trippers fill the streets, and in the busiest periods the best hotels are sold out long in advance. Book early if you want to stay in the middle of town. On the other hand, it gets much quieter once the last coaches have left, and then you’ll have the lit-up streets and the Marktplatz almost to yourself in the evening.
Places to Stay in Wernigerode
A-ROSA Gothisches Haus - spa hotel right on the Marktplatz
A-ROSA Gothisches Haus is my pick if you want a great location and a good spa in one. The hotel is on the Marktplatz right by the town hall and has a spa area with a sauna, a steam room and a hot tub, plus a gym, a restaurant and a bar.
The standard rooms are 18 to 20 m², so it’s not the place if you want a big room. Guests also mention that the furniture feels a little worn in places and that there’s no kettle in the rooms.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The staff are fantastic. The breakfast is plentiful and delicious!”
See photos and book A-ROSA Gothisches Haus here.
Boutiquehotel Schloßpalais - indoor pool and views towards the castle
Schloßpalais is just under 300 metres from the Marktplatz, so both the town and the road up to the castle are close at hand. The hotel has a heated indoor pool, a sauna and a steam room, and some rooms have a balcony or a view towards Schloss Wernigerode.
I’d choose it for a couple who’d like to go for a swim after a day in the mountains. There’s parking on site, but don’t expect coffee and tea in the room.
Here’s what one guest highlights on Booking.com: “Beautifully maintained place, cosy rooms, delicious breakfast.”
See photos and book Boutiquehotel Schloßpalais here.
Hotel Alte Brennerei - good-value hotel with a restaurant near the station
Alte Brennerei is my budget choice in Wernigerode. The hotel is on Breite Straße in the Old Town, just under 400 metres from the station where the steam train leaves and around 650 metres from the Marktplatz. The restaurant specialises in schnitzel and regional dishes, and there’s a beer garden in summer.
The single rooms are small, and parking is limited and has to be reserved, so let the hotel know if you’re coming by car.
One guest says on Booking.com: “Excellent breakfast, very good selection.”
See photos and book Hotel Alte Brennerei here.
2. Quedlinburg - best town for timber-framed houses and history 🏘️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: You’ll be staying right in the middle of town. From the Marktplatz, it’s less than 500 metres up to the Stiftskirche on the castle hill.
- 🚆 Transport: Trains run to Quedlinburg station, just under a kilometre from the Marktplatz. Thale and the Bodetal are around 9 km away.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Leipzig/Halle Airport is the nearest. Allow one to one and a half hours by car.
- 💰 Price range: €€ to €€€. Lots of small hotels and holiday apartments in old houses.
- 👮 Safety: Quiet and safe. The uneven cobblestones are the biggest danger, so wear good shoes, especially when it rains.
Quedlinburg is the town I’d choose if you’re mainly coming to see timber-framed houses. The streets are narrow, the houses crooked and colourful, and it’s a town you’ll get the most out of by wandering around without a plan, both early in the morning and after dark.
The town is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as Collegiate Church, Castle and Old Town of Quedlinburg. UNESCO highlights the large number of high-quality timber-framed houses and calls the Stiftskirche St. Servatius one of the masterpieces of Romanesque architecture. The church stands on the castle hill just above the Old Town.
See hotels in Quedlinburg here.
Once the day-trippers have gone, Quedlinburg gets very quiet. That’s exactly why I’d spend the night here rather than visit the town on a short excursion from somewhere else in the Harz. In the evening, you’ll have the Marktplatz and the surrounding streets almost to yourself, and many hotels are in houses that are part of the experience in themselves.
On the other hand, it’s a less good choice if you want to do a lot of hiking. The town is on the edge of the Harz, so you’ll need a car or a bus to get out to the mountains, and the Bodetal by Thale is the nearest big nature area. If you’re coming from Berlin, Quedlinburg is also one of the towns in the Harz you’ll reach fastest.
Many older houses have steep stairs and no lift. If you have heavy luggage or bad knees, check where the room is before booking, and don’t hesitate to ask the hotel directly. If your trip continues to the German capital, you can read my guide to where to stay in Berlin.
Places to Stay in Quedlinburg
Schlosshotel zum Markgrafen - castle hotel with towers near the Marktplatz
Zum Markgrafen is my luxury choice in Quedlinburg. The hotel is in a building with towers around 250 metres from the Marktplatz and has a sauna, a gym and parking for guests. The rooms are individually decorated, and some have a whirlpool bath.
There’s no lift, and many rooms are on the top floors. The standard room is only 15 m², so I’d choose a deluxe room or a junior suite.
One guest describes their room on Booking.com: “Our room was large and charmingly decorated.”
See photos and book Schlosshotel zum Markgrafen here.
Hotel Zum Bär - family-run hotel right on the Marktplatz
Zum Bär is right on the Marktplatz in two timber-framed houses, and the restaurant serves traditional German food. There’s a breakfast buffet, and you can leave the car in the hotel’s car park just behind the building.
I’d choose it if you want to open the window and look out over the square. The price of that location is that there can be noise from the square, and some rooms are in another building where you’ll have to carry your suitcase up the stairs.
One guest praises the location on Booking.com: “The hotel is perfectly located in the middle of town.”
See photos and book Hotel Zum Bär here.
Apartments anno 1560 - apartments with a kitchen in an old house
Anno 1560 is my budget pick, and it’s apartments rather than a classic hotel. The house is around 100 metres from the Marktplatz, and the apartments have a kitchen with a fridge, a hob and a kettle. There’s private parking on site.
Breakfast isn’t served, but there are cafés and bakeries within walking distance. It suits a couple or a family who’d like to do a bit of cooking themselves.
On Booking.com, one guest writes: “The location was perfect. We parked the car in the private car park and walked everywhere.”
See photos and book Apartments anno 1560 here.
3. Goslar - best town for culture and excursions in the western Harz ⛏️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: You’ll be staying in the largest town in the area. The Kaiserpfalz is around 400 metres from the Marktplatz, and the Rammelsberg mining museum is just under 2 km away.
- 🚆 Transport: The railway station is around 700 metres from the Marktplatz, and the Old Town is easiest to get around on foot.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Hannover Airport is the nearest. Allow around an hour by car.
- 💰 Price range: €€ to €€€. Hotels in the Old Town are rarely cheap, but holiday apartments can bring the price down.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and fairly quiet in the evening. The cobblestones in the Old Town can be slippery when it rains, so bring shoes with a good grip.
Goslar is my choice if you want a bigger town with restaurants and culture while staying close to the western part of the mountains. The town lies at the foot of the Harz on the side facing Hannover, and it has a Marktplatz where one historic building follows another.
Goslar is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mines of Rammelsberg, Historic Town of Goslar and Upper Harz Water Management System. UNESCO describes the historic centre as well preserved, with around 1,500 timber-framed houses, and writes that the town was one of the seats of the Holy Roman Empire. The Kaiserpfalz, the great imperial palace, is a few minutes’ walk from the Marktplatz.
The other big draw is Rammelsberg, just south of the town. The mine is now a museum and visitor mine, and you can join guided tours both above and below ground. I’d book the tour in advance, especially if you have a particular tour in mind.
Because Goslar is bigger than the other towns on the list, there’s more going on in the evening and more restaurants to choose from. That makes it a good town for a longer stay, where you drive out on day trips and come back to a proper town in the evening.
The downside is the distance to the eastern part of the Harz. Quedlinburg and Thale are a good hour’s drive away, so if you’re mostly after timber-framed houses and gorges, Wernigerode is better placed. If you’re coming from the north, you can combine Goslar with a few days in northern Germany, and my guide to where to stay in Hamburg can help.
Places to Stay in Goslar
AKZENT Hotel Villa Saxer - four-star villa hotel with a garden and balconies
Villa Saxer is my luxury choice in Goslar. The hotel is around 500 metres from the Marktplatz and has a garden, a terrace, a bar and a sauna. Several rooms have a balcony, and the largest room type has a kitchenette and space for four.
There’s no restaurant for dinner, so you’ll have to go down into town to eat. The driveway to the car park is narrow, and the sauna costs extra.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The room was beautiful, the bed comfortable, and there was plenty of space and a lovely view from the balcony.”
See photos and book AKZENT Hotel Villa Saxer here.
Romantik Hotel Alte Münze - historic hotel around 100 metres from the Marktplatz
Alte Münze is in a historic building around 100 metres from the Marktplatz, so the square, the restaurants and the Kaiserpfalz are all within a few minutes’ walk. The hotel has a restaurant serving German and local food and a large breakfast buffet.
The hotel is spread over three buildings, and only some rooms can be reached by lift. Double rooms start at 18 m², so choose a superior or deluxe room if you want more space.
One guest sums it up like this on Booking.com: “What can I say, from start to finish this hotel delivers.”
See photos and book Romantik Hotel Alte Münze here.
Zauberhaftes Altstadt-Apartment - ground-floor apartment with free parking
The cheapest option in Goslar is an apartment rather than a hotel. Zauberhaftes Altstadt-Apartment measures 52 m², with a bedroom, a living room and a kitchenette, and it’s on the ground floor around 500 metres from the Marktplatz and just over 300 metres from the station. There’s free private parking, which has to be reserved.
The kitchen is simply equipped, so plan to eat out. Check-in isn’t until 5 pm.
Here’s what one guest highlights on Booking.com: “The apartment was clean and well kept.”
See photos and book Zauberhaftes Altstadt-Apartment here.
4. Thale - best town for hiking in the Bodetal 🥾
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Thale is a small town. From the station, it’s just under 600 metres to the cable car and the entrance to the Bodetal.
- 🚡 Transport: Direct trains run from Magdeburg to Thale, and the cable car up to the Hexentanzplatz starts close to the station.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Leipzig/Halle Airport is the nearest. Thale’s tourist office gives the distance from Leipzig as around 120 km, so allow around an hour and a half by car.
- 💰 Price range: € to €€. Often cheaper than in Wernigerode and Quedlinburg.
- 👮 Safety: The town is quiet. The paths in the gorge are steep and can be slippery, so wear proper shoes and stay on the marked routes.
Thale is my choice if hiking is the most important part of your trip. The town lies exactly where the River Bode comes out of a deep gorge, and you can walk straight from your hotel into the Bodetal without moving the car.
Above the town, the two viewpoints Hexentanzplatz and Rosstrappe sit on opposite sides of the gorge. You can take the cable car up to the Hexentanzplatz from the valley floor around 600 metres from the station, look out over the valley and walk back down through the forest. It’s one of the best day trips in the Harz, and here you have it right outside your door.
Thale is also easy to reach without a car. According to the Bodetal’s own page on getting there, there’s a direct train connection from Magdeburg, with trains running around once an hour. Quedlinburg is only around 9 km away, so you can stay in Thale and head over there for an afternoon.
The town itself isn’t the prettiest in the Harz. It’s more practical than picturesque, and there aren’t many restaurants. On the other hand, you’ll often get more hotel for your money than in Wernigerode and Quedlinburg, and after a long day in the gorge, that’s a good trade. If you want to eat somewhere specific in the evening, book a table, because the choice is limited.
I’d stay close to the station and the cable car. That way, you can walk to the train, the gorge and the Bodetal Therme, the town’s big pool and spa complex, and leave the car where it is. Hotels up by the Hexentanzplatz have great views, but it’s very quiet up there in the evening.
Places to Stay in Thale
Hotelpark Bodetal - hotel and holiday apartments with a pool near the gorge
Hotelpark Bodetal is my top pick in Thale and the most expensive of the three. The complex is around 400 metres from the cable car and 300 metres from the station and has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a playground and rooms with balconies. There are also apartments of 60 to 68 m² with space for four to six people.
According to the hotel’s information, access to the Bodetal Therme, around 200 metres away, is included, and the number of visits depends on the length of your stay, so check the conditions when you book. It’s especially good for families.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hotel is in a very nice and quiet part of Thale.”
See photos and book Hotelpark Bodetal here.
Mythenresort Heimdall - four-star hotel right by the station
Heimdall is around 150 metres from Thale station, so it’s my suggestion if you’re arriving by train. The hotel has a sauna, a bar and a breakfast buffet, and several rooms have a balcony with views towards the mountains.
Guests mention that the evening menu is limited and that there can be a little noise from the surroundings. On a hiking holiday where you’re out all day, that matters less.
One guest describes their stay on Booking.com: “The room was clean, and the bed was really comfortable.”
See photos and book Mythenresort Heimdall here.
Hotel & Gasthaus Forelle - simple inn with a good restaurant
Forelle is the cheapest of my three picks in Thale. The inn is in the northern part of town, around 1.3 km from the station, and has a restaurant serving German food, free parking and both double rooms and apartments for four people.
It’s not the place for a quiet night. Guests mention noise from the street and older mattresses, so ask for a room away from the road. The restaurant is small, so book a table for dinner.
One guest praises the food on Booking.com: “Good restaurant!”
See photos and book Hotel & Gasthaus Forelle here.
5. Braunlage - best town for winter holidays and active families ⛷️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Braunlage is a small town. From the tourist information office, it’s around 450 metres to the Wurmberg cable car.
- 🚌 Transport: Braunlage isn’t on the railway, so a car is the easiest option. Locally, you can walk or take the bus.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Hannover Airport is the nearest. Allow one and a half to two hours by car.
- 💰 Price range: € to €€€. Lots of small guesthouses and holiday apartments, plus a few larger spa hotels.
- 👮 Safety: A safe town. In winter, the roads up into the mountains can be icy, so drive with winter tyres and check the weather before you set off.
Braunlage is my suggestion for a winter holiday in the Harz or for a family who’d rather be active than look at timber-framed houses. The town sits high in the mountains on the southern side of the Brocken, and here nature, not the historic streets, is the main attraction.
In the middle of it all is the Wurmberg, which you can see from most of the town. Wurmberg-Seilbahn calls it the highest mountain in Lower Saxony, and at 2,800 metres, its cable car is the longest in northern Germany. In winter, there’s skiing and sledging, and in summer you can ride down the mountain on scooters and karts or try the bike park.
The Brocken is around 8 km north of the town as the crow flies. According to Nationalpark Harz, the summit is 1,141 metres high, and the national park stretches across both Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. If you want to take the steam train up, you’ll first need to get over to the Brockenbahn, in Wernigerode for example.
The town is practical with children. The distances between hotel, mountain and supermarket are short, many places to stay have apartments or family rooms, and there’s enough to do on the mountain for several days. On the other hand, Braunlage is fairly quiet in the evening, and the restaurants are more cosy than exciting.
Without a car, Braunlage gets awkward. The buses run to the larger towns, but expect longer journey times. If you want to ski and see the towns, I’d split the trip between Braunlage and Wernigerode. In summer, Braunlage is also a good base if you’re mainly going to hike and cycle in the high part of the Harz and don’t need much going on in the evening.
Places to Stay in Braunlage
The Hearts Hotel - boutique hotel with outdoor saunas
The Hearts is my luxury choice in Braunlage and best suits couples who want to relax between outings. The hotel has a spa area with one indoor and two outdoor saunas, a gym and a restaurant, and the breakfast buffet has vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes.
The hotel is around 600 metres from the Wurmberg cable car. Guests mention that some rooms are smaller than expected and that the hotel relies heavily on self-service.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The place was fantastic: clean, spacious and well kept.”
See photos and book The Hearts Hotel here.
EchtZeit Hotelquartier - studios and apartments in the middle of town
EchtZeit is centrally located around 400 metres from the Wurmberg cable car, and every unit has a kitchenette with a fridge. There are studios for two, plus apartments and a house with its own sauna for families. The hotel has a ski room and an honesty bar where you help yourself to drinks and pay later.
Parking costs extra, and guests mention that it can get busy in high season. I’d choose it for a family on a skiing holiday.
One guest sums up their stay on Booking.com: “The hotel was perfect. If I had to describe it in one word, it’d be relaxed.”
See photos and book EchtZeit Hotelquartier here.
Ulrichshof - small guesthouse in a quiet neighbourhood
Ulrichshof is my budget choice. The guesthouse is just under 400 metres from the Wurmberg cable car and has double rooms with private bathrooms, a TV and a kettle, plus a breakfast buffet and free parking.
It’s a simple guesthouse, and guests miss eggs at breakfast. For an active holiday where you mostly use the room for sleeping, it’s a good choice.
One guest writes about their stay on Booking.com: “Clean, cosy and very quiet! Very friendly and helpful staff!”
See photos and book Ulrichshof here.
Where should you avoid staying in the Harz Mountains?
I wouldn’t stay at a cheap hotel far out in the countryside if you don’t have a car. The buses in the Harz do run, but departures aren’t frequent, and every excursion turns into a long affair. Choose a town with a railway station instead, such as Wernigerode, Goslar, Quedlinburg or Thale.
I also wouldn’t pick one base and expect to cover the whole region on day trips. It’s a good hour’s drive from Goslar to Thale, and the roads through the mountains are slow. If you have more than four or five days, it’s worth splitting your stay between two towns, for example Goslar in the west and Quedlinburg in the east. That way, you’ll avoid the long drives back and forth.
If I had to choose one town for a first trip, it’d be Wernigerode, for the steam train, the castle and the wide choice of hotels. Quedlinburg is the choice if timber-framed houses and quiet evenings on the square matter most, and Goslar suits you if you want a slightly bigger town with museums and restaurants.
Thale is best for hiking, and Braunlage is the place for winter holidays and active days with children. According to the Harz tourist board, paying the local visitor tax in one of the participating towns gets you a HATIX card with free bus travel in the area, so ask your hotel when you check in.
If your trip continues to a big city afterwards, I’ve also written about things to do in Berlin and the best areas to stay in Hamburg.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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