Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about visiting the Harz Mountains of Germany. It’s a beautiful region of Germany, with half-timbered houses and picturesque towns like Wernigerode and Goslar Germany. There’s a lot to love about Germany’s Harz Mountains, but there are also a few things you might not love when you visit the Harz Mountains of Germany.
Love #1: German Immersion
When you visit the Harz Mountains, there is no doubt you are in Germany. This is where Germans come for vacation; it’s not an internationally known destination, so you are mostly surrounded by Germans. There are thousands of half-timbered houses in the region, so it’s like stepping into a postcard. When you visit larger cities in Germany, you are surrounded by international tourists, so the Harz Mountains are a great way to immerse yourselves in German culture.
Hate #1: Getting to the Harz Mountains
While travel throughout Europe is pretty easy compared to the States, the Harz Mountains aren’t exactly easy to reach. From Berlin, you have to take multiple trains and it takes around three hours. This is a more secluded region, so there’s no fast train to get here. The quickest connection is from Hanover to Goslar Germany.
Six Unwritten Rules for Train Travel in Europe
Love #2: Hidden Helpfulness
Despite seeming kind of cold at first, once you start talking to the locals, they really open up. It may take a while, but you’ll find helpful locals hidden under their tough exterior. They’re also very proud of their heritage and culture, so if you can get them to open up, you’ll be amazed at what you can learn from them.
Hate #2: Getting Around the Harz Mountains
Once you’ve arrived in the Harz Mountains, it’s not that easy to get between towns. There are not many options for getting around the region. You will find some buses, and there are trains that run once per hour, so it’s not impossible to get around. It’s just not as convenient as some other places in Germany.
Love #3: Half-Timbered Houses
Everywhere you go in the Harz Mountains, you will see half-timbered houses. Being surrounded by them really makes you feel like you’re back in medieval times of Germany. A lot of the towns in the Harz Mountains were spared during World War II, so you can see some really well-preserved architecture during your trip. There are town halls and churches dating back to the 13th century!
Culture Trip’s Take on Why You Should Visit the Harz Mountains: CLICK HERE
Hate #3: German Service
German service can take some getting used to. They’re very professional, but not necessarily outgoing or friendly. If you’re used to over-the-top service, then German service can take some getting used to. This is pretty standard all over Germany, not just in the Harz Mountains.
Five Things You MUST Eat in Germany
Love #4: Harz Mountains Culture
As in many countries, culture can change from region to region, and that’s no exception in the Harz Mountains. I love the culture here of touring castles, and museums. Even the smallest villages usually have a local museum so take a few minutes to check it out and learn about the town.
Hate #4: Lack of English
Because this is such a German tourist destination, they don’t have many international travelers here. So you won’t hear a lot of English and may have trouble finding English speakers. Don’t let it scare you off; just have your translation app ready and brush up on a bit of German before you visit the Harz Mountains. And as more tourists have been visiting from around the world, English is becoming spoken more and more at restaurants and bars.
Love #5: Harz National Park
Besides the architecture and the culture, the nature surrounding the Harz Mountains is astounding. Visit Harz National Park for skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. There’s an old steam train that does sightseeing trips to Brocken Mountain, the highest peak in Northern Germany. With beautiful surroundings, the Harz Mountains and Harz National Park are truly a mountain retreat.
Hate #5: Holiday Crowds
Of course, everyone wants to see the Christmas markets, so if you visit the Harz Mountains during the holidays, expect it to be crowded. Some of the most centrally-located hotels may fill up a year or more in advance for the holidays! It’s definitely worth soaking in the holiday spirit if you are willing to plan in advance and deal with larger crowds than usual.
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
With beautiful surroundings, unique culture, and well-preserved historic architecture, the Harz Mountains make a fantastic German travel destination. We’ve been coming for many years, and will likely make many more visits in the future. The fact that it’s hard to reach and mostly visited by German tourists makes it that much better, in our opinion! Interested in more German travel tips? Check out these blog posts!