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Harz Mountains Christmas Markets

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You are viewing the 2025 itinerary. Select your departure year
20242025
6 days From £1,499 per person
4.3 stars(29 reviews)
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A magical tour of the Harz Mountains’ enchanting World Heritage medieval towns, and a historic journey through snow-covered landscapes on the Brocken steam train.

Mobility Rating 3

2025 Tour code: HZM26

About the tour

The Harz Mountains' wonderful medieval towns and picturesque landscapes are perfect for soaking up the traditions of Advent in Germany. Join us as we visit three of the region's traditional Christmas markets, UNESCO-listed Old Towns and enjoy an exhilarating steam train ride through picture-book winter scenery to the summit of the Brocken, Germany's highest summit.

Highlights

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What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - From London to the charming German town of Wernigerode

We start our festive holiday at London St Pancras where we meet our Tour Manager and group to join the Eurostar to Brussels. We continue to Hanover via Cologne, where we are transferred by coach to Wernigerode. A charming town with elaborate half-timbered buildings, Wernigerode dates back to the 9th century and is overlooked by its stunning castle. At this time of year, it's brilliantly illuminated and adorned with festive decorations. This evening we enjoy dinner together with our group of fellow travellers.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Wernigerode and the enchanting Brocken Railway

After breakfast this morning, we experience one of the highlights of our holiday, a wintry journey aboard the Brocken Railway through snowy forests to the summit of Brocken Mountain, part of the impressive Harz Mountain range. Travelling through magical landscapes, the Brocken Railway weaves a scenic route through the Harz National Park up to the summit of the Brocken. Along the way, we enjoy panoramic views of Brothers Grimm-style forests, quaint station houses and glittering frozen rivers.

Apart from being the Harz's tallest peak, Brocken Mountain is also home to Germany's highest narrow-gauge railway station, our arrival point following our journey. After some free time at the summit to admire the views, we return to Wernigerode to explore its traditional Christmas market. There's time to relax before dinner this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - World Heritage Quedlinburg and its Christmas Market

Our rail excursion today takes us to Quedlinburg, one of Germany's best kept secrets where we enjoy a guided tour of the Old Town. Quedlinburg's Old Town has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, due to having one of the best-preserved collections of medieval buildings in Germany, including a wonderful Romanesque church.

Quedlinburg has a rich history and culture with some fabulous Art Nouveau architecture. In winter, the town's authentic German Christmas market is held in the Rathaus square, or Marktplatz. After the tour, we have some free time to explore independently, where you can enjoy lunch or a mug of hot spiced wine or brandy punch as you soak up the festive atmosphere and browse the colourful stalls to find gifts for loved ones.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 - A day at leisure in charming Wernigerode

Today is free to explore Wernigerode at your own pace. Railway enthusiasts may wish to take a ride through dense forests on the historic Harzquerbahn narrow-gauge railway. You could also choose to wander up to the impressive Wernigerode Castle, one of the most striking pieces of neo-Gothic architecture in the area, or you may like to visit the nearby aircraft museum.

Alternatively, you could take the train back to Quedlinburg, where you can join the Selketal Railway for a seasonal journey through the snow-frosted scenery of the Selke Valley. However you choose to spend the day, Wernigerode's pretty Christmas market is sure to entice you. Set in front of the Town Hall, beneath a dazzling Christmas tree, the market offers some delightful hand-made crafts, festive food, mulled wine and warming hot drinks from its illuminated wooden stalls.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 5 - Exploring captivating Goslar on a guided walking tour

Today takes us to Goslar, another UNESCO World Heritage site. Adorned with over 1,500 half-timbered houses, it makes a superb setting for one of the most charming Christmas markets in Germany. Nestled at the foot of the Harz Mountains and older than Berlin, this former Free Imperial city is crammed full of fantastic, historic architecture, some dating back to the early 16th century.

We set out on a walking tour, discovering some fine examples of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture with our local guide. After our tour, we have some free time to explore the Christmas market at leisure. The enchanting market is beautifully framed by a man-made forest of Christmas trees and sells a variety of local products including home-baked treats and festive drinks.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Homeward bound

After breakfast we are transferred by coach to Hanover where we take a train to Cologne, then to Brussels, where we join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras. On the train journey home you might reflect on the magical Christmas markets you've visited and look back on photos you've taken, before saying goodbye to your Tour Manager and fellow travellers.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Please note

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotel

HKK Hotel Wernigerode, Wernigerode

HKK Hotel Wernigerode, Wernigerode

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Trains

Brocken Railway
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Reviews

4.3 stars4.3 / 5 · 29 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (16)
  2. 4 stars
    (7)
  3. 3 stars
    (5)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (1)

Helen

3 stars

Submitted 6/Jan

Excellent hotel in a central location in Wernigerode. Goslar would be better on a day when the shops are open. As a previous resident of Germany(20 years) I found the markets very disappointing as all the christmas decorations stalls and other craft items had disappeared to be replaced by 95% food stall with maybe 2 or 3 non food stalls. Do not go to this area if you are expecting highly decorated "Christmas Stalls" they have all gone. Long journeys to and from Wernigerode meant that whilst you got there in one day you then spent the next recovering!

from Great Rail Journeys
Dear Mrs Wilson, Thank you for your review. It is great to receive your positive feedback regarding the hotel in Wernigerode. I am sorry to hear the Christmas Markets fell short of your expectations. Providing an enjoyable tour throughout is important to us and I will share your comments to our Product Team. Best wishes, Kate
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

M De Cleen

3 stars

Submitted 2/Jan

The locations are beautiful, but the company needs to attend to the service it offers. It is not value for money (we booked first class travel, but it was not a first class experience).

from Great Rail Journeys
Dear Mr Cleen, Thank you for your review. I am glad to hear that the locations were terrific, but I am sorry to hear that your tour fell short of expectations. I will make sure to pass your feedback across to our Product team so we can review this for the future. Kind regards, Sophie.
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Dale Buche

5 stars

Submitted 30 Dec 2023

It was overall a wonderful trip. The trains were great. The accommodations were wonderful and most of all our tour guide was exceptionally great. The towns we visited were everything I hoped they would be.

from Great Rail Journeys
Dear Mr Buche, Thank you for your review. That is brilliant to hear! Kind regards, Sophie.
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Barbara Lane

5 stars

Submitted 25 Dec 2023

What a great trip.

from Great Rail Journeys
Dear Barbara, Thank you for your review and those brilliant photos! That is fantastic to hear! Kind regards, Sophie.
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Barbara Lane
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Mr Andrews

5 stars

Submitted 17 Dec 2023

Excellent tour

from Great Rail Journeys
Dear Mr Andrews, Thank you for your review. That is fantastic to hear! Kind regards, Sophie.
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Lora Fly

5 stars

Submitted 12 Dec 2023

Chris took great care of us keeping us informed on the source and timing of the initial delay.

from Great Rail Journeys
Dear Lora, Thank you for your review. That is great to hear! I will make sure to pass your praise to our Tour Management team for Chris! Kind regards, Sophie.
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

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