SAMPLE ITINERARY

Day 1: Travel from London to Cologne, by train

Travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar, on an early morning departure. Upon reaching Brussels, continue to Cologne by high-speed ICE train. You arrive in Cologne just after 3pm, giving you time to explore the city after checking in to your hotel for overnight.

Cologne is an important cultural and economic city, straddling the River Rhine. Dating from Roman times, it was also a thriving centre in the Middle Ages - from Charlemagne onwards. The landmark of the city is the Gothic Cathedral dating from 1248 and housing the Shrine of the Three Kings. Nearby are remnants of the city’s medieval past, with the Rathaus dating from the 12th century and reconstructed houses in the Old Town. The Roman-Germanic Museum is located near the cathedral and explains the history of the city, from Palaeolithic times until the Middle Ages. It contains precious articles in gold, glass and other treasures.

Cologne is home to numerous museums and galleries, as well as being an important musical centre, with several orchestras. It produces its own beer and is famous for its ‘Eau de Cologne’ perfume. It celebrates a joyful carnival each year before Lent, where everyone wears red and white striped shirts. Cologne is also renowned for its wonderful Christmas markets.

Day 2: Cologne to Goslar, by train

Today you travel to your first base within the Harz Mountains region. Departing from Cologne mid-morning, you will a have brief change of trains in Braunschweig before heading for Goslar. You will soon see tantalising glimpses of the hills to the south-east as you draw closer to the Harz Mountains. You arrive in Goslar just after two in the afternoon and check in to your hotel where you will spend the next three nights.

Days 3 & 4: In Goslar

Goslar is a mining town with over 1,000 years of history. The main attraction in this fairytale town is the Imperial Palace, built between 1040 and 1050. You can take a tour of the palace to see the incredible artwork and murals contained on the upper floors. The ground floor has been turned into a museum, displaying artefacts of the palace and its imperial rulers.

The Rammelsberg Mine and Museum operated for more than a thousand years and is today listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is possible to take a guided tour on a mine train to see this wonderfully-preserved authentic mine and learn about one of the world’s largest continuously-mined ore deposits. It is also well worth taking time to stroll around the Old Town, another UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best preserved city centres in the world.

However you have probably come here to travel on the scenic steam and diesel trains of the narrow-gauge Harz Railway, starting with the Brocken and Trans-Harz lines. The Brocken Railway starts in Drei Annen Hohne, whose station has a restaurant which makes a good break for lunch. The final stretch climbs nearly 2,000 ft over a distance of almost 12 miles, travelling high above the heavily forested cold Bode Valley. The final approach to the summit station is marked by a steeply-graded spiral around the mountain top. The Brocken is the highest peak in northern Germany at 1,141 metres, and on a clear day you will be met with stunning views at the top.

The Trans-Harz Railway runs from Wernigerode to Nordhausen. Wernigerode itself is well worth a visit for its incredible Rathaus (town hall) and Old Town. Leaving Wernigerode station, the 37 mile journey begins with tight curves as you head south before entering Thumkuhlenkopf Tunnel, the only tunnel on the entire Harz network. You will then pass the junction for the Brocken Railway at Drei Annen Hohne and travel between the ominously named villages of Sorge and Elend (Worry and Misery) on your way back down from the next summit (1,827 ft). The railway continues to pass through forests as you head further south to Eisfelder Talmühle, finally descending out of the mountains to finish in Nordhausen. Take a couple of hours to explore this city, which is the urban centre of northern Thuringia, before retracing your steps north through the mountains back to your base in Goslar. 

Day 5: Goslar to Quedlinburg, by train

Today travel from Goslar to Quedlinburg, your next base in the mountains, with a quick stop in Halberstadt.

This route takes only 1.5 hours and runs regularly throughout the day, so can be booked at a time that suits your preferences. Check in to your hotel in Quedlinburg for the next two nights.

Day 6: In Quedlinburg

Quedlinburg is a picture-perfect fairytale German town, with half-timbered houses lining its pretty cobbled lanes and the imposing Schloss Quedlinburg looming in the background. This magnificent structure is now a museum, with information about the history and development of the region.

The Old Town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and will enchant you with its quaintness. The Fachwerkmuseum in Ständerbau is a small museum detailing the history of half-timbered houses and the evolution of the town. It is housed in one of the oldest half-timbered houses in Germany and is supposedly the only museum of its kind in the world.

Quedlinburg makes an excellent base from which to explore the third and final main line of the Harz narrow-gauge railway system: the Selke Valley Railway. The least used of the three lines, trains on this route stop at numerous small towns - including the medieval town of Gernrode and the spa town of Alexisbad. From here the line continues southbound into the mountains at a steep gradient. The train terminates at Hasselfelde, north of which there is a sharply curved loop which allows the trains to turn around. Return to Quedlinburg and retire to your hotel for your last night in the Harz Mountains.

Day 7: Quedlinburg to Hannover, by train

Depart from Quedlinburg on a mid-morning service, arriving in Hannover at around 1.30 pm. Hannover is known for its rich cultural heritage, as well as for its Oktoberfest held in the autumn.

You will have the afternoon to explore the city’s beautiful gardens, in particular the Berggarten, which is now one of the world’s leading botanical gardens. The new Town Hall resembles a palace and offers incredible views from its 93.5m observation deck. Opposite this is the Lower Saxony State Museum, housed in a splendid Neo-Renaissance style building. It displays a collection of 11th to 20th century art, as well as natural history artifacts and a huge vivarium.

Day 8: Hannover to London, by train

On your final day, leave Hannover at around 10.30 in the morning and depart for Brussels, with one changeover in Cologne.

Check in to your Eurostar service in Brussels and arrive back in London St Pancras in the evening.

PRICING

Price is based on two adults sharing en-suite accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. This price includes second class rail travel, with supplement for first class and standard premier on Eurostar of about £360 per person.

We offer a choice of hotels at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All hotels are subject to availability.

Before your departure, you will receive personalised holiday information, including full directions and suggestions on places to visit, to help you get the most from your trip.

It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance. The FCO should also be consulted.