Search

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

The Harz Mountains in Winter

Seven-day winter escape to Germany's Harz Mountains on heritage railways

Illustration of The Harz Mountains in Winter

Great Rail Journeys operates this 7-day winter escape through Germany's Harz Mountains, departing January and February 2027. The tour departs from London St Pancras and returns there, traveling via Eurostar to Belgium, then by train and coach into the mountains. Your base is Wernigerode, a timber-framed town beneath snow-capped peaks, where you stay five nights in a 4-star hotel. Days follow a blend of guided experiences and free time: you ride heritage railways including the famous Brocken Railway to the highest narrow-gauge summit in Germany, tour the UNESCO World Heritage towns of Goslar and Quedlinburg with a local guide, and enjoy a full free day to visit Wernigerode Castle or the nearby aviation museum. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout. Breakfast is served daily, and four dinners plus Eurostar light meals are included. This pace suits couples, history lovers, and rail enthusiasts who want the security of guided tours with time to wander medieval streets.

What to know before you look closer

  • Single supplement is 180 GBP on top of the from-price (1879 GBP total), significantly higher than half the double rate.
  • Maximum group size is 30 travellers; this is a larger escorted tour.
  • Day 5 is unguided; you are on your own to explore Wernigerode, though the castle and aviation museum are listed as nearby options.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Cologne

    From London to Cologne

    Your winter holiday starts at London St Pancras where we meet before departing on the Eurostar to Brussels. Our journey continues by rail to Cologne for an overnight stay. With free time to explore, you could stroll through the Old Town, which has been lovingly and carefully restored to its pre-war appearance. We enjoy a welcome dinner together with the group this evening.

    Meals: Eurostar Light Meal, Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Wernigerode

    To the Harz Mountains and our charming base in Wernigerode

    We board the train this morning, travelling across northern Germany to Hanover where we continue by coach into the Harz Mountains. Driving through winter landscapes, we travel through scenes of deep pine forests peppered with pretty lakes. We arrive in the town of Wernigerode, nestled between picturesque mountains, where we check into our hotel for a five-night stay. There is time at leisure this afternoon to relax and to explore before dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3railovernight: Wernigerode

    A trip on the Brocken Railway

    Today takes us on a scenic rail journey aboard the Brocken Railway to the summit of Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz Mountains at 3,743 feet. We enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Upper Harz National Park as we wind our way up the snow-covered mountain to the terminus, Brockenbahnhof, the highest narrow-gauge railway station in Germany. This towering summit has long been associated with dark forces, perhaps most famously in Goethe's Faust, and during the Cold War, Brocken was a military base used for border surveillance. From the mountain's top, we enjoy one of Europe's most spectacular lookout points, commanding views of the sloping tree-lined hillsides below. We rail back from Brocken to Wernigerode and return to our hotel for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4railovernight: Wernigerode

    A guided tour of UNESCO-listed Goslar

    We travel by rail to medieval Goslar, nestled at the foot of the Harz Mountains. Older than Berlin, this former Free Imperial city is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is full of historic architecture, including half-timbered houses dating back to the early 16th century. We set out on a walking tour, discovering Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture with our local guide. After the tour, there is time to continue exploring independently. You could visit the Kaiserpfalz, built at the beginning of the 11th century, the largest Romanesque palace in Europe, or the Rammelsberg Mining Museum.

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5overnight: Wernigerode

    A free day in fairytale Wernigerode

    You are free to explore Wernigerode today. A highlight of this beautiful town is the grand Wernigerode Castle. Sat on a hill overlooking the town, this is a building straight from the pages of a fairytale. Constructed on the site of an old medieval fortress, it was rebuilt into its current Neo-Romantic style in the 19th century. A short distance from the hotel is the aviation museum, where you can view the exhibits and enjoy a flight simulation experience, while the fire brigade museum in the town centre contains an array of vintage engines.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6railovernight: Wernigerode

    A tour of Quedlinburg and the Selke Valley Railway

    Our excursion today is to the preserved town of Quedlinburg. Here, set out on a journey into the scenic Selke Valley on the Selke Valley Railway. The route ascends along the steepest sections of the Harz Narrow Gauge Railway, taking us into the Harz Mountains, through a winter landscape of snow-frosted forests and picturesque mountain peaks. From Alexisbad, we return to Quedlinburg for a guided walking tour of this charming town. Discover the cobbled streets, passing a collection of medieval, timber-framed buildings and Romanesque architecture in the Old Town, which has UNESCO World Heritage status. Later, we return to our hotel for our final dinner together this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  7. Day 7rail

    Homeward bound

    After breakfast, we say goodbye to Wernigerode and are transferred by coach to Hanover. From here we continue by rail to Cologne, then change trains to travel to Brussels (certain departures will travel home via Amsterdam instead of Brussels), where we join the Eurostar to London. We say goodbye at London St Pancras.

    Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Day 3: ride the Brocken Railway up the snow-covered slopes to Brocken summit at 3,743 feet, the highest narrow-gauge station in Germany, with panoramic views of the Upper Harz National Park.
  • Day 4Day 4: guided walking tour of UNESCO World Heritage Goslar, a medieval city with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque half-timbered houses and architecture from the early 16th century.
  • Day 6Day 6: journey on the Selke Valley Railway through winter forests and mountain peaks, then a guided walking tour of the preserved town of Quedlinburg.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 6 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • Eurostar Plus Standard Class rail travel
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Eurostar Light Meals
  • Breakfast each day
  • 4 dinners
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes Eurostar Plus Standard Class, all rail travel in Germany (Brocken Railway, Selke Valley Railway), and coach transfers. The from-price of 1699 GBP covers these together.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. A UK Tour Manager travels with the group from start to finish, and most days include guided tours and excursions. Day 5 in Wernigerode is free time.
What is included in the price?
Six nights in a 4-star hotel, Eurostar Plus Standard Class, all rail and coach travel, breakfast each day, four dinners, two Eurostar light meals, and all guided tours and excursions.
When does this tour depart?
Great Rail Journeys has two departures: January 2027 and February 2027.
What hotels are included?
The HKK Hotel Wernigerode, a 4-star hotel, is your base for five nights. One night is spent in Cologne (hotel not named in the itinerary).
How much walking is involved?
There are guided walking tours in Goslar and Quedlinburg. Day 5 is free to explore Wernigerode on your own at your pace. Most other days involve coach or train travel with leisure time.

Similar journeys