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Harz Mountains Christmas Markets

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20232024
6 days Sold out
5.0 stars(1 reviews)
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Embrace the cheer of the advent season while surrounded by the frost-bitten peaks of the Harz Mountains and Germany’s fully decked out medieval towns this Christmas.

Travel among a group of like-minded travelers led by a professional tour manager
Save up to $300pp

Save up to $300 per person on 2024 escorted rail vacations. Seats are filling up quickly, so book online or call a rail specialist today!

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Mobility Rating 3

2023 Tour code: HZM24

About the tour

An all-encompassing journey for the senses beckons this holiday season in Germany's Harz Mountains. Warm, spiced aromas waft through the air. Sounds of traditional carols and bells curate a festive environment. Medieval cities, perfectly adorned in twinkling lights and customary holiday decor, pave the course for a Christmas to remember. This tour is based out of Wernigerode, a charming mountain town characterized by its cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and imposing age-old castle. From your base, enjoy a memorable ride through snowy forests and past impressive peaks on the Brocken Railway and visit two incredible UNESCO World Heritage towns, Quedlinburg and Goslar. The towns' rich histories and notable architecture welcome you, and their Christmas markets embrace the true meaning of holiday cheer. Yuletide offerings and timeless winter landscapes aplenty, this trip is your chance to merge traditions old and new.

Highlights

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What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - London and Wernigerode

We meet at London St Pancras and depart on the Eurostar to Brussels. Continuing to Hanover via Cologne, here we board a coach for the final leg of our journey 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.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Wernigerode and the Brocken Railway

We experience one of the highlights of our holiday today, a wintry journey aboard the Brocken Railway through snowy forests to the summit of Brocken Mountain, part of the Harz Mountain range. Travelling through magical landscapes of chocolate-box scenery, the Brocken Railway carves a snaking route through the Harz National Park up to the summit of the indomitable Brocken. Along the way, we enjoy panoramic views of Brothers Grimm style forests, old-fashioned station houses and glittering frozen rivers. Gaping valleys vie for our attention, competing against a sublime painting of distant peaks, dusted with sugar-icing snow.

As well as 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 drink in the views, we return to Wernigerode to explore its traditional Christmas market. Situated in front of the Town Hall and sat in the shadow of a mighty Christmas tree, here you can buy a range of hand-made crafts, food and drink from the illuminated wooden stalls.

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

Our rail excursion today takes us to Quedlinburg, one of Germany's best kept secrets. The Old Town has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status and is home to one of the best-preserved collections of medieval buildings in Germany, as well as a wonderful Romanesque church. Considered to be one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe, Quedlinburg offers a wealth of history and culture, whilst also having a modern flair and fabulous examples of Art Nouveau architecture. At this time of year though, the main focus is the town's authentic German Christmas market, held in the Rathaus square, or Marktplatz. Enjoy a mug of hot spiced wine or brandy punch as you immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere and stock up on gifts for loved ones.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 - Exploring Wernigerode

You are free today to explore Wernigerode. You may wish to take a ride on the Harzquerbahn narrow-gauge railway, stroll up to the impressive Wernigerode Castle, one of the most striking pieces of neo-Gothic architecture in the area, or 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 frost-bitten scenery of the Selke Valley.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 5 - Exploring Goslar

Day 5 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 of which dates 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 ahead of some free time to explore the Christmas market, beautifully framed by a man-made forest of Christmas trees and selling a variety of local treats.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Wernigerode and London

Taking the train to Hanover this morning, we travel by rail firstly to Cologne, then Brussels. Here, we join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Departure times vary based on selected rail vacation. This information will be provided in your final documents. For more information please speak with your rail specialist.

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 vacation 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
Eurostar

Reviews

5.0 stars5.0 / 5 · 1 review

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LOVEDAY, THOMAS

5 stars

Submitted 30 Dec 2022

Great trip! Our tour director was excellent.

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