5 Must-See Places in the Harz, Germany

The Harz region is one of the most underrated destinations in Germany (in our opinion). Most visitors don’t realize that there are mountains, adventurous trails, fascinating historical sites and breathtaking waterfalls smack dab in the middle of the country. We recently road tripped through the Harz and have come back with this list of 5 must-see places in the Harz, Germany:

Radau Waterfall

• Location: Radau Waterfall
• Parking: There are two nearby hiking parking lots or you can park at the restaurant if you plan on staying for a refreshment.

The pouring rain didn’t stop us from seeing this rushing waterfall. In fact, it only made it more interesting. This beautiful waterfall is great as a short stopover, as it is located right next to the main road. Of course, you can also include it as part of a hike through the forest-covered mountains.

This location is one of hundreds available in our premium Germany travel maps.

Teufelsmauer in Thale

• Location: Thale, Germany
• Parking: Parkplatz “Teufelsmauer”

The “Devil’s Wall” really caught us by surprise, as we never expected to see such a fascinating rock formation sticking out of a deceivingly “flat” landscape. The Teufelsmauer in Thale is a result of shifting plates and millions of years of erosion. There are a few hikes that will take you up to this natural formation. Happy exploring!

The location and hike are among hundreds available in our premium Germany travel maps.

Ilsenburg

• Location: Ilsenburg, Germany
• Parking: Anywhere in Ilsenburg

This town was so cute and peaceful that we can easily see why anyone would want to live here. We always love how half-timbered houses catapult us back in time to see how cities looked before modern building techniques. Ilsenburg is surrounded by forests and trails, providing easy access to nearby outdoor activities. Take a peaceful stroll along the forested Ilse river or hop on your mountain bike and hit the mountain biking trails.

Activities in this municipality are among hundreds available in our premium Germany travel maps.

Rosstrappe in Thale

• Location: Thale, Germany
• Parking: AKZENT Berghotel Rosstrappe

The views from up here are amazing and it is definitely worth hiking at least a short portion of the trail to take in the magnificently steep mountainsides and canyons formed by the Bode river. If you do decide to take the full hike, make sure you bring sturdy shoes and plenty of water, as there is no shortage of steep altitude changes. Just getting to the first viewpoint from the parking lot, however, is quite easy albeit rocky.

This location is one of hundreds available in our premium Germany travel maps.

Dugouts in Langenstein | “Hobbit Homes”

• Location: Langenstein Dugouts
• Parking: Anywhere in Langenstein

People actually used to live in these; more recently than you might think! Although there are technically two locations in Langenstein where people lived in these so-called “hobbit homes”, only one location is feasibly accessible today. To our knowledge, the other location is not maintained and the trail getting there was overgrown and unmanaged during our visit. The dugouts in town, however, are maintained by a local volunteer organization. Their members are often on location to provide interesting facts and pamphlets. Feel free to leave a small donation, so that these dwellings are not lost to history. 🙂

These are only a few of numerous fascinating locations in the Harz mountains. We post about locations like these on our Instagram account, daily. Give us a follow and let us know which locations you’re most excited to visit!