Sonnenresort Ettershaus

Treetop path Harz

Experience the beautiful nature of the Harz Mountains from a new perspective with a walk among the tree crowns in Bad Harzburg! On your next self-drive holiday to the Harz Mountains, you can stop off at the Harz Tree Path. Several metres above the forest floor, a route of wooden bridges has been built between the treetops, from where you will get a spectacular 360-degree view of the landscape, with several viewpoints along the way. An exciting experience for the whole family.

Harz National Park

In the fantastic park of 247 sqm you can get up close to nature. With more than 300 km of routes there are plenty of opportunities for beautiful hiking and cycling tours for the whole family. 

Goslar

Goslar is the largest town in the Harz, and is characterised by half-timbered buildings and buildings with slate coatings in fantastic patterns. These were built to accommodate the miners in the town who worked to extract silver, lead and copper.

In Goslar you can see Germany's oldest secular building, the Kaiserhaus, which was built in 1050. It was used as the emperor's residence until 1250.

Christmas market in Goslar

26th November to 30th December 2025- Please note that dates and opening hours may vary. You can visit the Christmas market's own website with current information.

In Goslar there is a magical Christmas market where you can have a very special experience. Every year, the old town is transformed into a forest of Christmas trees, with the old medieval buildings standing like a picturesque canvas in the background. The Christmas forest is a sure hit with young and old alike. With 40 illuminated fir trees, soft forest floor, fragrant specialities and gentle music, the Christmas spirit is brought out in everyone.

When you arrive at the Christmas market in Goslar's historic market square, you can enjoy the sight of more than 70 Christmas stalls arranged in a star formation. From the stalls you will be able to buy everything from traditional German specialities such as mulled wine and Klejner, or the handmade products of the local area.

Every day at the Goslar Christmas Market there will also be music, concerts or entertainment around the large market square. Besides the Christmas market, Goslar also offers many great historical experiences. The city's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the old imperial city's Altstadt, Old Town, dates back to the Middle Ages. Here you will find beautiful and famous half-timbered houses side by side with Goslar's beautiful town hall, which brings a historic atmosphere to the cosy Christmas market.

If you don't get into the Christmas spirit above ground, it's also possible to visit the Festival of Lights in the Roeder mines, where the special Christmas market takes place underground.

Rammelsberg Mines

The Harz was once known for its many minerals and metals. These included silver, gold, copper, coal and iron. There are many disused mines in the area. If you would like to explore a mine, the Rammelsberg mine is worth a visit. Here you can see how mines were worked in the old days and how they are worked in modern times with explosives.

You can take a small mountain train deep into the mine, where the little ones can even get a helmet with a headlamp and try their hand at mining.

The mine also has a museum and a restaurant.

Braunlage

Go on a family holiday with the kids and visit the small German town of Braunlage, located in the Goslar region in the southern Harz Mountains. The town has its history to tell, having been founded as early as 1250. One of the oldest buildings in town is the old forge building from 1658, which today serves as a hotel. The cosy little town also has a number of shops as well as cafés and bistros.

The town's main source of income is tourism, mostly due to its fantastic location, which helps make it suitable for a lot of outdoor activities and sports in the beautiful mountains and forests. In summer, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking or cycling in the mountains, and there are several mountain bike trails to challenge most. In winter, skiing is popular and this is certainly noticeable. The Harz is a fantastic ski resort and is very popular in winter with tourists from all over Europe. The beautiful surroundings, a mixture of pine forests and mountains, make this place truly unique.

Try a turn on the ice rink in the Stadion, located in Harzburger Strasse. Ice hockey and disco skating are organised here, as well as ice shooting. Equipment can be rented at the Stadion, try to get up to speed with a pair of skates on your feet, a fun experience for all members of the family, both experienced and inexperienced. A little less balance is required to play mini golf, here more emphasis is placed on precision with a golf ball. Try the 14-hole mini golf course at Adventure Golf. This sets the stage for a wonderful and active holiday with the children, with lots of fun and exciting activities. Find a self-drive holiday with Risskov and go on an active family holiday in Braunlage, Germany.

Wurmberg

With help from a cable car from Braunlage, you can get to the top of Wurmberg where you can enjoy a fantastic view over the entire Oberharzen. Wurmberg is the largest ski area in the Harz. For both skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts await a modern ski area with various tow lifts and pistes for beginners as well as experienced skiers. 

BocksBergBob

Go on a wonderful family holiday in the Harz Mountains and visit the Bocksberg. The fun summer toboggan run is located on the slopes of the Bocksberg near Hahnenklee. Here, one to two people can race down the slopes. You control the speed yourself, so it doesn't get any wilder than you want. The BocksBergBob track is between 1 and 6 metres above the ground, depending on where you are on the track. At the end of the ride, you are pulled back up to the start while sitting in the sled.

You can either take the cable car up to the start of the track or take a brisk hike up there. So you're also set for an active holiday and, of course, a holiday with children.

Wernigerode

"The colourful city of the Harz" Wernigerode and Wernigerode castle. The castle is enthroned high above the city. In the castle you can look into princely rooms and there are various exhibitions all year round. From the castle you have a fantastic view of the Harz landscape up to Bloksbjerg. Wernigerode is a town full of charm. There are many magnificent half-timbered houses - the oldest dates from around 1400.

Christmas market in Wernigerode

Open 21nd November - 22nd December - You can visit the Christmas market's own website with current information

Christmas atmosphere between the hill and mountain tops of the Harz. With Christmas lights and old half-timbered houses, Wernigerode looks like a scene from a fairytale in December, when the town's Christmas market takes place in the square in front of the magnificent town hall. Wernigerode offers pleasant walks, stalls with the most wonderful Christmas gifts and Christmas treats galore for the sweet tooth."

Wernigerode's old square is the site of the annual Christmas market, which spreads out into the side streets of the town among the beautiful old half-timbered houses. Many of the houses date back to the 16th century and with the Christmas market's decorations and splendour, the atmospheric buildings look extra grand.

During the Christmas market there are many Christmas stalls. They sell handicrafts in many trades and various Christmas treats such as glazed apples, hot mulled wine and roasted almonds. The village centre is car-free, making it perfect for short strolls under the dark December sky.

Wernigerode is centrally located in the Harz, and can thus be experienced in continuation of and together with our many stays in the region.

Schierke

The small village in the middle of the Harz Mountains has about 900 inhabitants and is located at the beautiful Harz National Park right in the middle of the beautiful Germany. Schierke is situated about 600 metres above sea level and leads directly up to Bloksbjerg. The village lies in the valley of the river "Kalte Bode" and is a very popular place, both because of its beautiful location, but also thanks to the many opportunities for outdoor recreation that the surrounding mountains and parks offer. There are plenty of opportunities for hiking and cycling in the beautiful countryside. The park covers 24,700 hectares, so it may be a good idea to have a few walks prepared from home, as it is a large area.

Hahnenkleer Stabkirche

The Stabkirche Hahnenklee, located in the scenic Harz Mountains of Germany, is a remarkable sightseeing destination. This unique church, inspired by medieval Norwegian stave churches, is a masterpiece of wooden architecture. Its intricate carvings and traditional design make it a fascinating example of historical craftsmanship. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Harz region, the church offers a peaceful and spiritual atmosphere. Visitors can explore the stunning exterior and interior, experiencing a blend of cultural history and natural tranquility. The Stabkirche Hahnenklee is not only a place of worship but also a captivating attraction for those interested in history, architecture, and nature.