The National Park in Harz is also known as a hidden gem, despite having become a lot more popular in recent years due to its photogenic steam train. However, the park has much more to offer than just the steam train as it is a true hiking paradise.
We (Lisa, Birgit and our dog James) travelled to the Harz nature reserve and have listed all the tips for you. So... Are you planning a trip to the beautiful Harz National Park in Germany? Then look no further, because in this article you will read all about it.
Table of contents:
Practical tips for planning your trip
- Prepare for your visit to the Harz National Park
- Transport to and within the region of Harz National Park in Germany
- The best accommodation in the Harz region
- Best period for to visit the Harz National Park.
- Equipment for a hike in the Harz National Park
The top 10 sights in Harz National Park
1. Hiking trails National Park Harz | Braunlage
2. Discover Braunlage with a scooter
3. Wander through the historic town of Wernigerode
4. Marvel at Wernigerode Castle from the best vantage point
5. Take a walk around Lake Oderteich
6. Visit the Radau waterfall
7. Admire the Gustav Adolf Stav church
8. Take a ride on the Harz steam train to the top of the Brocken
9. Explore the Brockenplateau in the Harz National Park
10. Visit the pretty town of Quedlinburg
Prepare for your visit to the Harz National Park
- Find the best accommodations on Booking.com
- Hire a car to drive to the most beautiful places in Germany with SunnyCars.com
- Pack a power bank, hiking boots and a universal adapter.
Transport to and within the region of Harz National Park in Germany
On social media, you see many beautiful natural areas but often they are quite far away. Fortunately, this does not count for the Harz area as it is just a few hours' drive from the Netherlands. In 2006, Harz became the first National Park in Germany. The park covers almost 274 km² and is located in northern Germany. You can reach the park by car or public transport. Once there, it is easy to travel from one village to another by train, bus or car.
Tip: We understand you can save money with the Harz Holiday Ticket. If you pay the tourist tax by staying in a hotel (in most Harz towns), hotels give you a card that allows you to travel for free on local buses.
The best accommodation in the Harz region
There are an awful lot of accommodation options in the region. During our stay in the Harz region, we chose to stay in Braunlage. Braunlage is a ski resort in winter and a hiking paradise in the warmer months. Forests, meadows and a nice amount of altimeters.
The village itself is not very much but it has everything you need. You will find a few restaurants, three different supermarkets and some other shops. Last but not least, this village is very dog-friendly. So if you want to go with your four-legged friend, you can easily do so.
We slept in a Airbnb in a residential area just behind the main village street. This was preferable for us because we like to have the option of cooking for ourselves. In addition, we would like our dog to have a bit more space around him. In total, we spent 6 days in this area.
Best period for to visit the Harz National Park.
Harz National Park is a beautiful region to visit all year round. As mentioned earlier, Braunlage is a ski resort in winter and a hiking paradise in the warmer months. This also applies to other areas within the Harz National Park. If you want to enjoy a true winter wonderland, we recommend visiting the area from December to February.
We were there in October (autumn) and enjoyed the orange, yellow and red colours. The trails are less crowded then compared to the summer months and hotels are usually much cheaper during this time of year.
Equipment for a hike in the Harz National Park
You know that? Doing a hike on your regular trainers and during a hike feeling quite fed up with yourself? Very recognisable, we at Thousandtravelmiles always thought; trainers on and go... Fine of course if you're through Thailand or Sri Lanka travels, but you have to adjust this attitude quickly for a good hike. Because the combination of wet socks, 8 degrees and a long hike are not very conducive to the mood. But what should you take into account? Birgit, Lisa and James found out for you!
Hiking boots
Hiking in the Harz National Park has quite a few altitude metres. We therefore recommend you go that way with good shoes. For us it was the first time ‘real hiking’ so we joined Beaver get advice. It is an investment, but if you plan to hike more often, it is definitely recommended.
Online, you will find the largest selection. But in specialised shops, you can actually see, feel and test the shoes. You will also get good advice, which can definitely make a difference. Would you rather see the full range? Then proceed online with the advice in mind. Bever often has great promotions and you can easily compare prices online. That way, you never pay too much!
Hiking clothing
The next point for good preparation is your clothing! If you always want to be comfortable on the road, you will have to work with the well-known layering system. With this handy clothing system, you can adapt your outfit to the weather in no time. Check out the Clothing selection guide from Bever and order easily and securely online!
Backpack
Finally, we recommend looking at a good backpack. Personally, we always take a small and large backpack. Both with a detached back panel so your back doesn't get hot.
If you opt for a long walk make sure you also have enough space for food and drink. You will come across few restaurants and there are almost no water taps in the area. Besides enough food and drink, we recommend you take a small percolator take along with a gas bottle and wick. Along the way, you will come across plenty of benches and tables and there is nothing better than a fresh cup of coffee!
Read more | The Malerweg, one of the top 10 most beautiful hikes in Europe.
Read more | Top 5 things to do in Saxon Switzerland.
The top 10 sights in Harz National Park
Harz National Park is located in the north of Germany. If you are as much of a fan of hiking and adventure as we are, this is the place to be. There are an awful lot of attractions in this area making it an ideal holiday spot. Check out the best sights to visit in the region and plan your next adventure!
1. Hiking trails National Park Harz | Braunlage
There are plenty of hiking trails in Harz National Park, including from Braunlage. Some routes start from the village and for others you have to take a bit of public transport or the car.
For the hiking routes, we used the app Komoot. The app displays multiple hiking routes and is very user-friendly. Just search by location and the hiking routes appear automatically. You can then filter by distance, difficulty and duration. The app is free, but if you want to save the maps offline it costs a few euros. In our opinion, this is highly recommended, as it makes your phone battery last a lot longer.
Tip: Rather save a few euros? At the bag of Thousandtravelmiles there is a separate compartment for your power bank. In addition, you can easily charge your phone, via a USB port on the side of the bag, and view the route at the same time.
What can you expect from the routes?
Every route we did was different. Komoot's navigation will show you the way and everything in the area is beautiful. Works perfectly! We walked over barren mountain tops and through huge colourful forests. Had to climb considerably on rocky paths and cross rivers via small bridges. Our dog loved it because he could go in all directions. In fact, dogs are allowed to run free in the park. He could run to his heart's content through the fallen autumn leaves, exert himself for the uphill sections and cool down in the river.
One of our favourite routes
On the first day, we found a route that started at the Braunlage cable car. From there
we walked a bit on the ski slope up towards the side of the Wurmberg. It was a route where the landscape constantly changed. First a bare ski meadow and then through a forest with a babbling brook beside you. The trail lead us all the way to the top of the Wurmberg. Once at the top, we had the choice of walking down or going down by cable car. We definitely recommend this route.
If you are not a hiker but would like the peace and quiet of the Harz region, you can
that too, of course. In fact, there are an awful lot of other attractions in the area!
2. Discover Braunlage with a scooter
Looking for something different? Then take a scooter down Mount Wurmberg near Braunlage. Rest assured it is not a tiny scooter but rather a giant ‘scooter’ with big fat wheels and of course a brake. These scooters are also called Sample roller called and are suitable for any age.
3. Wander through the historic town of Wernigerode
The historic town of Wernigerode is a must-see when travelling in the Harz region. The town is centrally located, making it ideal to combine with other villages. In addition, it is the ideal place for day trips. In Wenigerode, you will find houses with wooden beams in pastel colours and narrow streets. Besides, the old town is car-free so you can browse around at your leisure.
4. Admire Wernigerode Castle from the viewpoint
Germany is known for its beautiful castles and you will also find them in the Harz National Park. Above the town of Wernigerode, you will find a medieval fortress where parts of the castle are open to the public. A tour of the castle takes about 1 hour. Please note that you need to book in advance.
If you don't want to go to the castle itself walk to the Agnesberg. This small hill is right next to the castle and offers the best views. The walk up takes just 10 minutes and is quite easy.
5. Take a walk around Lake Oderteich
Lake Oderteich is one of the most beautiful lakes in northern Germany and is located in the middle of the Harz National Park. The route around the lake is about 4.5 kilometres and takes about 1.5 hours.
6. Visit the Radau waterfall
The Radau waterfall is located in the east of the National Park and is next to the road! No complicated hikes but just park and admire.
7. Admire the Gustav Adolf Stav church
This extraordinary medieval wooden church can be found just a 30-minute drive from Wernigerode and is definitely worth a visit. The church is a copy of the medieval Borgund Stavkerk in Norway.
8. Take a ride on the Harz steam train to the top of the Brocken
One of the most popular things to do in Harz is probably to take a ride on the steam train. Especially during the winter months, this is highly recommended. The train ride from Schierke to Brocken takes about 30 minutes. A ticket is on the expensive side. In fact, a train ride there and back to Brocken costs around €49 p.p.
No matter where you get on the Brockenbahn, the price remains the same. So you can also board in Wernigerode and pay the same price. You can find the official train route for the Brockenbahn here find and you can buy your ticket online or at the train station itself.
9. Explore the Brockenplateau in the Harz National Park
The Brocken, sometimes called the Blocksberg, is the highest peak in the Harz Mountains and also the highest peak in northern Germany. Although the height of 1141 metres may not excite you much, it is definitely worth it.
The peak above the tree line often has snow cover from September to May, and fog & mist cover it up to 300 days a year. The location and altitude in northern Germany make for sometimes strong winds and cold temperatures, similar to the mountains of Iceland. So make sure you pack well with extra layers of clothing!
There are two ways to reach the Brocken. Take the train to Brocken station (yes, that's the same steam train as mentioned above) or hike the entire stretch from the town of Schierke up to the Brocken. The trail is 5.4 km there and back and winds up the mountain. On the way there or back, you also occasionally walk along the track, which can result in incredible photo opportunities.
10. Visit the pretty town of Quedlinburg
Finally, we recommend heading to the town of Quedlinburg. Quedlinburg is a small town north of the Harz Mountains and in 1994 its castle, church and old town were added to UNESCO's World Heritage List.
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