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15 Best Things to Do in Goslar (Germany)

A UNESCO city of overwhelming beauty, Goslar is under the northwestern hills of the Harz range in Lower Saxony. One of these peaks, Rammelsberg proved especially lucrative for Goslar, and the city’s finances were boosted by its lead, copper and silver mines. Rammelsberg has some of Europe’s oldest mining infrastructure, and its Medieval tunnels and chambers are revealed at a sensational museum.

For two centuries that mineral wealth even put Goslar at the centre of the Holy Roman Empire, and 1,000 years after it was built the Imperial Palace is an absolute must. Goslar hit its peak in the 15th and 16th centuries, and its merchants competed to build ever more fantastical homes that make up a romantic townscape today.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Goslar :

1. Altstadt

Goslar’s old town looks a lot like it did when the Rammelsberg mine was generating serious wealth for the city’s merchants in the 15th and 16th centuries.

We’ll talk about the splendid market square a bit later, but there are a few other obligatory stops on a tour.

One is the old mint building on Münzstraße from the start of the 16th century, while Kemenate Röver cultural centre on Frankenberger Straße, from roughly the same time, has very ornate Gothic window arches and conceals a Romanesque two-storey cellar that once stored bee.

Standing across from the Marktkirche is the Brustruch, from 1526 which has an outlandishly steep hipped roof, above a romantic bay window and timbers carved with hundreds of mythical figures.

2. Rammelsberg Mining Museum

It’s no mystery why the mine on the Rammelsberg mountain watching over the city to the south share’s Goslar’s UNESCO World Heritage status.

This silver, copper and lead mine was in operation almost continuously from the 10th century up to 1988. And its story is intertwined with that of Goslar, as it was the reason Emperor Henry II established a royal palatinate in the city in the 11th century, and why Goslar entered the Hanseatic League of trading cities in 1267. There’s evidence from every period, like spoil tips from the 900s and the Rathstiefste, one of the oldest German mine tunnels, cut in the 12th century.

You’ll also journey into the Feuergezähe, Europe’s oldest subterranean mine chamber, dating to the 13th century and visit the Maltermeister Turm, the oldest over-ground building at any German mine, constructed in the mine’s heyday in the 15th century.

3. Imperial Palace of Goslar

The Holy Roman Emperors of the Salian dynasty had their throne at this startling Medieval palace, yet another of Goslar’s UNESCO wonders.

Dating back to the beginning of the 11th century, and its Kaiserhaus with a double storey great hall, was the largest secular building of the period, measuring 54 metres by 18. The German Royal to use the Imperial Palace was William of Holland in 1253, after which the site fell into decline becoming a court, granary and prison.

Finally Kaiser Wilhelm I gave his seal of approval to a reconstruction of the palace in 1875 during a wave of German nationalism.

Two of the high points of the tour are the Reichsaal (Empire Hall) and its rich murals, and the Palace Chapel, which has the 13th-century effigy tomb of Emperor Henry III, on which his heart is preserved in an octagonal gilded capsule.

4. Goslarer Rathaus

The earliest architecture at the town hall complex is from the middle of the 15th century, and this would be modified over the next 400 years.

The lasting changes were made in the 1500s when the Hanseatic and imperial free city Goslar was at the height of its powers.

At this time the Huldigungssaal (Hall of Homage) was designed as a council meeting chamber, and every available surface was covered with Late Gothic paintings that have a vibrancy that will catch you off-guard.

The town hall’s east wing opens onto the marketplace with a Gothic arcade.

5. Neuwerkkirche Goslar

Hardly a stone has been moved since this 12th-century church was founded, which means its basic structure is as pure an example of Romanesque architecture as you could hope to find.

Give yourself a while to appreciate the building from outside, sizing up the pair of octagonal western towers, and then coming around to the three apses which are richly articulated and have patterned exterior columns and capitals.

There are also capitals with an eclectic array of carvings in the apses’ interiors, as well as murals painted in the 13th century.

The most impressive of these glows with gold leaf is in the dome of the central apse and shows Jesus on Mary’s knee flanked by Peter and Paul.

6. Marktplatz

At the centre of Goslar’s marketplace it will dawn on you just how long this square has been a fixture of daily life in the city.

The Martkbrunnen fountain is exceptionally old; its lower basin is from the 12th century and is the largest piece of bronze cast anywhere at that time.

The basin above is 100 years younger, while the Holy Roman Imperial eagle crowing the monument is much more recent and was only added in the 1700s.

On the south side is the arcaded Kaiserworth guildhall dating to 1484 and decorated with statues of Holy Roman Emperors.

And opposite the town hall the slate-clad Kaiserringhaus has a glockenspiel and automatons from 1968. The figures act out scenes from Goslar’s mining past at 09:00, 12:00. 15:00 and 18:00.

7. Marktkirche St. Cosmas und Damian

First documented in 1151 the Market Church would be given a Gothic redesign in the 14th and 15th centuries when its outer aisles were widened into naves.

The oldest architecture is on the “westwork”, where two 66 metre towers dwarf the marketplace.

It’s not difficult to see which one of the towers suffered a fire in 1589, as the north tower was rebuilt with a Renaissance-style cupola.

This is also the tower that you can scale to view the city from the old roost for Goslar’s watchman.

Down below there are nine Medieval stained glass windows from the 13th century, frescoes painted around 1440 and a bronze baptismal font cast in 1573.

8. Stiftskirche St. Georg

In the Hahndorf district is a late-Baroque church of uncommon beauty.

The Stiftskirche St. Georg was attached to an Augustinian monastery, the buildings of which remain today.

The church is on the northern flank of the courtyard and has consistent Italianate Baroque architecture and decoration from the 1710s.

The interior walls are plastered with lively stuccowork, forming cartouches, foliate patterns and representations of Mary, Joseph and the Apostles.

The high altar is as rich as it is large, filling the whole back wall of the choir and is carved from wood, with deep red imitation marble columns framing an image of the Crucifixion.

The pulpit from 1721 is another masterpiece, almost overloaded with giltwood and white statues, while the choir stalls from later that same decade have intricate wooden inlays.

9. Zinnfigurenmuseum

Put together with a lot of love, this museum acts out Goslar’s 1,000-year history using hand-painted miniature figures made of tin.

There are 50 highly detailed dioramas on the development of the city, key moments down the years and the Rammelsberg Mine.

Youngsters will be rapt by the 30 dioramas depicting fairytales.

The museum has a small army of more than 10,000 figures in total, and you’ll even be invited to paint a tin figure of your own.

The setting is delightful too, in a 500-year-old mill that once processed bark and roots for leather tanners.

10. Gustav Adolf Stave Church

Head southwest to the old spa resort of Hahnenklee, which was developed at the turn of the 20th century.

Awaiting you is something you’d never expect to see in Lower Saxony: a Nordic-style stave church.

This was built in just a year and consecrated in 1908. The architect came up with the design after a visit to Borgund in Norway.

The timber is from spruce trees sourced from the Bocksberg mountain close by, and there are Viking-style interlace patterns on its ceiling.

The church is on a scenic hillside over Hahnenklee, and has a melodic carillon that chimes on the hour.

11. Mönchehaus Museum

The Goslarer Kaiserring is a prestigious art prize presented since 1975 by Golsar art association to leading contemporary artists.

Among the former winners are Henry Moore, Joseph Beuys, Cy Twombly, Nam June Paik, Sigmar Polke, David Lynch and Olafur Eliasson.

When the association was set up it moved into the Mönchehaus (1528), a half-timbered farmhouse from 1528, one of the city’s most beloved landmarks.

There’s normally an exhibition by the prize-winner each year, as well for up-and-coming artists awarded a scholarship by the association.

The museum also puts on a busy programme of accompanying talks, workshops and concerts.

12. Frankenberger Kirche

A couple of streets east of the Imperial Palace on the Frankenberg hill is a church first erected in the 12th century, now blending Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque styles.

Something neat to remember about the Frankenberger Kirche is that its western towers were once defences in the city walls.

The vaulting inside was fashioned in the 1230s, while the choir and southern transept are Gothic and went up in the 14th and 15th centuries.

The portal on the south side of the church has a Romanesque tympanum, showing Christ, Peter and Paul, from 1200. The altar and pulpit are Baroque and were produced by a local sculptor in the mid-1670s.

Also head to the western gallery, which has frescoes from the 13th century.

13. Breites Tor

Goslar’s prosperity in the late Medieval period attracted unwanted attention and the Free City took great effort to protect itself.

The most vital of the city’s defences was the Breites Tor in the east of the city as it protected the entrance on the road from the territory of the Duke of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, hostile to Goslar in this period.

The gate dates to 1443 and In the 16th century it was reinforced into a small fortress with inner and outer towers.

Some of this stronghold was lost once the Breites Tor had outlived its usefulness in the 18th and 19th centuries.

But the tower of the inner gate, a former barracks (Werderhof) and the circular outer gate close by are testament to less peaceful times.

14. Siemens Haus

You’ll recognise the name of one of Goslar’s largest and most photogenic half-timbered houses.

Constructed in 1693, this house was put up by an ancestor of the international technology and telecommunications brand.

The Siemens Haus has been in the family ever since, apart from during a hiatus from 1778 to 1916 and today is has meeting rooms and the family archive.

On the timber above the entrance you can decipher the motto “Ora et labora”, “Pray and work”. Check in with the tourist office if you want to go inside.

One of the curious things is the brewery, from the time when some 380 houses around the city were granted the right to make their own beer.

15. Liebesbankweg

If the coniferous landscape of the Harz mountains is calling out to you, there’s an award-winning trail on the southwestern edge of Goslar.

The Liebesbankweg has been declared the top walking path in Lower Saxony and the Harz range, and is a 7.5-kilometre rollercoaster walk.

Where the trail goes the extra mile is in its benches and decorative stations, all designed around the theme of romance and love.

There’s a drinking water source (Quelle der Liebe) and water playgrounds for little ones, while the each of the 25 carved benches is unique and has a romantic poem carved into it or benefits from a view worth sharing with a loved one.

15 Best Things to Do in Goslar (Germany):

• Rammelsberg Mining Museum
• Imperial Palace of Goslar
• Goslarer Rathaus
• Neuwerkkirche Goslar
• Marktkirche St. Cosmas und Damian
• Stiftskirche St. Georg
• Zinnfigurenmuseum
• Gustav Adolf Stave Church
• Mönchehaus Museum
• Frankenberger Kirche
• Breites Tor
• Siemens Haus
• Liebesbankweg

Liebe Goslarerinnen und Goslarer, liebe Gäste,

als Oberbürgermeisterin möchte ich Sie herzlich auf der offiziellen Homepage der Stadt Goslar begrüßen. Ich lade Sie nun zu einem virtuellen Streifzug durch Goslar ein. Vielleicht sehen wir uns schon bald persönlich in unserer schönen Stadt. Wir freuen uns auf Sie!

Ihre Urte Schwerdtner Oberbürgermeisterin

Mehr erfahren

KaiserPfalzQuartier

Das sogenannte KaiserPfalzQuartier umfasst eine Fläche von ca. 29.300 m 2  und liegt am Rande der historischen Goslarer Altstadt zwischen Wallstraße und der historischen Kaiserpfalz. Zum KaiserPfalzQuartier gehören das Areal der ehemaligen Bundesgrenzschutzkaserne sowie der Parkplatz unterhalb der Kaiserpfalz hinter der Domvorhalle. Das Quartier liegt im Bereich des UNESCO Weltkulturerbes. Für die Entwicklung dieses Quartiers wurde vor über 10 Jahren ein intensiver Entwicklungs- und Planungsprozesses gestartet. Mehr Informationen:

Ausbildungsplätze und Stellenangebote

Wir freuen uns über Ihr Interesse an einer Tätigkeit bei der Stadt Goslar. Informieren Sie sich hier über die vielfältigen Karrieremöglichkeiten. Die Stadtverwaltung Goslar mit über 600 Mitarbeitenden sowie Auszubildenden bietet attraktive und anspruchsvolle Arbeitsplätze.

Städtische Dienstleistungen

In unserem Serviceportal können Sie online Anträge stellen und mit Ihrer Verwaltung kommunizieren – bequem vom PC oder mit dem Smartphone. Sie können das Serviceportal ohne Registrierung auch als "Gast" nutzen.

Öffnungszeiten

Wir sind für Sie da! Sie finden hier die Öffnungs- und Sprechzeiten der Stadtverwaltung und einzelner Dienststellen.  

Wirtschaftsnews

Aktuelle Nachrichten aus dem Bereich Wirtschaftsförderung.

Mängel- und Lobmelder

Aufmerksame Bürgerinnen und Bürger der Stadt Goslar haben hier die Möglichkeit, Schäden im öffentlichen Raum zu melden. Wählen Sie bitte die entsprechende Kategorie aus. Wir kümmern uns schnellstmöglich um Ihr Anliegen. Ihnen gefällt Goslar besonders gut? Auch das können Sie uns hier gerne mitteilen.

Goslars Stadt- und Ortsteile

Auf einer Fläche von 163,71 km² besteht Goslar aus der Altstadt, den anschließenden Wohngebieten sowie aus zahlreichen Dörfern und ehemals selbstständigen Städten, die im Zuge von Eingemeindungen hinzugekommen sind.

Stadtentwicklung

Eine Stadt verändert sich ständig. Damit wirtschaftliche, soziale und umweltschützende Interessen gewahrt werden, gibt es die Stadtentwicklung. Ziel ist es, die unterschiedlichen Anforderungen miteinander in Einklang zu bringen.

Leben in Goslar

Goslar - eine Stadt, die mehr bietet. Für Sie, für uns, für eine gemeinsame Zukunft.

Klima - Umwelt und Gewässerschutz

In allen Bereichen der Verwaltung werden Maßnahmen ergriffen, die dem Klimaschutz und der Minimierung der Umweltbelastung dienen.

Bergbau und Klimawandel hinterlassen im Stadtwald seine Spuren. Ziel der Stadtforst ist der Waldumbau in einen klimastabilen Mischwald.

Bürgerbeteiligung in Goslar

Goslar gemeinsam gestalten! Unser Ziel ist es, dass wir gemeinsam durch Austausch, Kreativität, Transparenz und Nahbarkeit die besten Lösungen für Sie als Bewohnerinnen und Bewohner finden. Machen Sie mit! Link: Jetzt mitmachen!

Hier finden Sie aktuelle Projekte aus Verwaltung, Politik und Bürgerschaft. Informieren Sie sich, bringen Sie sich ein. Gestalten Sie unsere Stadt aktiv mit! Link: Jetzt mitgestalten! 

Gesellschaften und Beteiligungen

Stellenangebote Welterbe Bürgerbüro Kinderbetreuung Kindertagesstätten Kaiserpfalz Verwaltung Ausbildung Termin buchen Reisepass Personalausweis beantragen Heiraten Terminbuchung - Führerscheinstelle

16 Best Things To Do In Goslar Germany

• David Angel

Goslar is a small mining town in the Harz Mountains in central Germany. It’s famous for its 1000-year-old Rammelsberg Mine and stunning Old Town, which together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wandering its atmospheric half-timbered streets and venturing underground into the Mine are up there with the best things to do in Goslar.

It is one of the most fairytale and fantastical of all old towns in Germany. Many of Goslar’s houses are richly and elaborately decorated, with vivid carvings of everything from exotic creatures to naked women riding goats backwards. The town owed its wealth to the Rammelsberg Mine, which extracted silver, lead and copper for over a millennium.

Goslar is relatively off the beaten path for international visitors because it’s a few hours’ drive or train journey from the main international airports. But it is absolutely worth the effort, possibly in combination with other places around the Harz Mountains including Quedlinburg and Wernigerode.

My Goslar guide begins in the Old Town (Altstadt), before branching out to the nearby Imperial Palace and Rammelsberg Mines and Museum. I also advise you on getting to Goslar, where to stay in the town and places to visit in the area. I hope you find it useful and inspirational. Enjoy!

Table of Contents

Explore the Altstadt – Goslar Old Town

Goslar Old Town is wondrous. There are over a thousand half-timbered houses in the town, many with incredibly intricate carvings like the lead shot for the article.

And many of the places I describe in this portion of the article are very close to each other. It may sound like a lot of things, but you could walk around them in a couple of hours or so.

The Marktplatz – Goslar’s Market Square – is the natural place to begin. The tourist information centre is housed at the back of the Rathaus (Town Hall).  The staff are very friendly and helpful, but there’s not a great deal of printed information in English, and the town maps are small – part of a leaflet rather than a full sheet as you often find elsewhere.

Glockenspiel

Four times each day everyone in the Marktplatz stops to watch the famous Goslar Glockenspiel. At 9.00 am, 12.00 pm,  3.00 pm and 6.00 pm, a parade of mineworkers appears, lasting around five minutes.

They have been appearing daily since 1968, the 1000 th anniversary of the opening of the nearby Rammelsberg Mine. They emerge from three doors. The first figures depict the discovery of silver ore on the Rammelsberg Mountain, the second medieval miners and the third 20 th -century miners.

It’s not as old as the more famous Prague Astronomical Clock and its parade of Apostles. But at five minutes it’s a much longer spectacle, and Our Little Man thought it was great fun.

Rathaus or Town Hall

The 15 th -century Rathaus (Town Hall) is a must-see, though you’ll need to join a guided tour (in German only at the time of writing) to do so.

The highlight is the magnificent Huldigungssall (Hall of Homage), a beautifully painted late Gothic hall decorated between 1505 and 1520.  It’s worth persevering with it if you don’t speak German, as there is a small information handout in English on request.

A stunning sight indeed.

Golden Eagle Fountain

The Goslar market fountain in the middle of the square dates back to the 13 th century. The lower part may be even older.

It’s crowned by a golden eagle, which is also from the 13 th century – although its crown was added 500 years later. The eagle is an Imperial symbol, reflecting the town’s role as a seat of power for the Holy Roman Empire.

Spot The Dukatenscheisser – the Coin-Pooping Statues – on the Kaiserworth Building

The striking red building on the south side of the Marktplatz is now the Hotel Kaiserworth. It has been a hotel for almost 200 years – since 1831 – but started as a guild house ( gildehaus ) for the tailors of Goslar.

As you walk around Goslar you’ll notice plenty of ribald – some might say rude – statues and figures. Among the most famous in the town are the two dukatenscheisser or dukatenkacker – literally ‘ducat shitters’ – on the walls of the Kaiserworth.

It has been suggested that the figures serve as a reminder to pay one’s debts. It may well have been derived from a centuries-old fairytale (later adapted by the Brothers Grimm) about a donkey that also pooped gold coins.

Visit Goslar Marktkirche – SS Cosmas and Damian Church

The Market Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian is just behind (to the west of) Goslar’s medieval Town Hall. It’s dedicated to twin brothers who became doctors, and were martyred during the reign of Diocletian – either in the late 3 rd or early 4 th century.  They are renowned as one of the patron saints of the medical profession.

It’s a Romanesque church, dating back to the 11 th or 12 th centuries. The windows of the two towers are one of the best-preserved elements from this time. The church was severely damaged during a fire in 1844, so it was rebuilt and reconsecrated over the following few years.

Inside, don’t miss the superb 16 th -century pulpit, and the stained glass panels a few metres away at the end of the north aisle, which are believed to date from the 12 th century. These phenomenal works of art depict the lives of Cosmas and Damian.

And Then Climb The Tower

For the best view in Goslar, you need to ascend the 231 steps of the north tower of the Marktkirche. It looks a fair way up from the bottom, and so it is, but the numbered steps – and the increase in them as you go – give you great encouragement.

We visited on a day of sharp hail showers mixed with short spells of sunshine, so I raced against the clouds to grab a few minutes of fantastic clear sunlight from the top. The sky was as black as some of the slate-fronted houses in the Old Town, but what a tremendous view. The red rooftops and black, white and grey medieval houses look magnificent from up there.

It costs just €3 to climb the tower. There is a small exhibition on the first floor, after which there is a wooden staircase most of the way. The last part is by a small ladder with narrow steps. If you have a bag on your back, take it off before you reach the top, as you won’t be able to get through the small hatch to the viewing gallery.

Easily one of the best things to do in Goslar.

Take The Goslar Tourist Train

Another great way to get an overview of Goslar is to take the tourist train ( Bimmelbahn ) around the town.

Faye and Our Little Man took the train while I walked the back streets of the town. They both loved it.  It runs for 35-40 minutes seven times a day, taking in some of the Goslar town towers, walls and churches, as well as some of its most beautiful streets.

It starts from outside the Market Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, and the trip costs €8 for adults and €3 for children.

Brusttuch Hotel

This remarkable 16 th -century building across the street from the Market Church is one of the landmarks of Goslar. It has a very unusual pitched roof, rising steeply at an angle from the rest of the building. Its name means ‘breast cloth’, whose shape some say it resembles.

The main reason to take a closer look at the Brusttuch is its extraordinary carvings. They are believed to be the work of Simon Stappen, a master carver from the nearby city of Braunschweig (Brunswick).

Even in a city rich in sculptures, these stand out. In one series, a woman ignores the advances of a devil-like figure, continuing to stir butter in a churn with one hand, with her other hand up her skirt showing she isn’t interested!

In another, a naked woman rides backwards on a goat, while another rides on a naked man’s back while wielding a whip. Goslar is a bit more sedate nowadays!

Coffee In The Schuhhof, The Oldest Square in Goslar

The Schuhhof (Cobblers Court)is the oldest square in Goslar, and one of the most beautiful spots in the city. It’s full of wonderful timber-framed ( fachwerk ) houses, and there are plenty of cafes with outdoor tables.

We visited during the last blast of winter, on a day interspersed with hail showers and sunshine, so the sheltered arcaded area (pictured) was most welcome!

Walk Along The Gorgeous An der Abzucht and Gose River

If you’re enchanted with the medieval architecture of Goslar, then take half an hour or so to explore this street along the Gose River.

It’s lined with half-timbered houses and cottages, as well as a frw slate-fronted houses. Many of these date from the 17 th or 18 th centuries.

It’s a wonderful 10-15 minute walk. Start at the entrance to the Goslar Museum, and just wander either side of the river. It was very atmospheric when I visited, with the river replenished by some heavy downpours!

Also take a wander away from the river to some of the other streets nearby, including Knochenhauerstrasse, a few steps north of the river.

Visit The Siemenshaus

Siemens is one of the biggest names in the technology world, and I was fascinated to learn that they have theory origins in Goslar.

Tha family has been traced back to 1384, na the Siemenshaus in Goslar was built over 300 years later, between 1692 and 1693. It’s a magnificent half-timbered building, one of the finest in a city abundant in them.

It stands on the corner of Schreiberstrasse and Bergstrasse, a few minutes’ walk to the west of the Marktplatz (Market Square).

It can only be visited as part of a group guided tour.

Visit the Kaiserpfalz (Imperial Palace)

Medieval Germany – which made up much of the Holy Roman Empire – didn’t have a single capital. Instead, the Emperor (or King, if he hadn’t yet been crowned by the Pope) travelled around his lands, staying at and ruling from a series of palaces. One of these was the Kaiserpfalz at Goslar.

It was the favoured residence of Heinrich III (Henry III) who is believed to have stayed there twenty times or more. The main building on the site, the Kaiserhaus, was built around 1050, and was the largest secular building of its time. The Palace was occasionally used as an imperial residence until the 13 th century, after which the complex gradually declined.

The main Kaiserhaus (Palace) has been restored and is hugely impressive, particularly the ceremonial Kaisersaal (Imperial Hall). The Palace Chapel of St Ulrich has also survived. You’ll also notice the Cathedral Porch, and wonder what happened to the Cathedral. It is long lost, its ruins pulled down in the 19 th century.

Uncover More Goslar History At The Goslar Museum

The Town Museum (Stadtmuseum) is well worth an hour of your time. The town’s history is fascinating, and some of the exhibits here help you put a lot of pieces of the jigsaw together.

It’s worth visiting for the stunning Krodo Altar, the only Romanesque metal altar to have survived. I’m not sure that many would have ever been made, but this is an astonishing work. It’s supported by four kneeling figures, while the table part of the structure includes a series of holes. To me it looks futuristic, so it’s all the more remarkable that it’s around 900 years old.

It was originally in the aforementioned Goslar Cathedral, part of the Imperial Palace complex.

Tour The World Heritage Rammelsberg Mine

The main reason for Goslar’s existence and prosperity is the Rammelsberg Mine complex two miles or so south of the town. The mountain was mined for silver, lead and copper ore for over a thousand years until the deposits were exhausted.

There are three sections of the Museum – the central power station, storehouse and ore dressing plant. However, you need to go underground to make everything come to life. You can do so on several guided tours.

The basic museum-only ticket costs €9 for adults, €4.50 for children. Guided tours then cost extra – usually around €10 per adult per tour.

My son and I would have loved to have gone on a Mine Train Tour, which takes you underground to learn about a day in the life of a Goslar miner. However, the tour (as were the others) was only available in German at the time of year we visited Goslar (March) and it would have been lost on him.  A real pity. Tours in English (and Danish) are available in the summer, but I would advise contacting the Mine before you visit to make sure there’s a suitable tour for you.

Visit The Hahnenklee Stave Church

The remarkable wooden stave church (stabkirche) was built in the early 20 th century in the nearby town of Hahnenklee.

It’s inspired by similar wooden  Norwegian churches and is a magnificent sight. It’s open from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm during the summer months, with reduced opening hours over the winter.

Where Is Goslar

Goslar is in the north-west of the Harz Mountains area of Central Germany, near the eastern edge of the Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) region.

Here are some sample distances to Goslar from major cities in Germany:

Berlin to Goslar: 264 km

Leipzig to Goslar : 186 km

H annover to Goslar : 91 km

Hamburg to Goslar: 234 km

Frankfurt to Goslar: 310 km

How To Get To Goslar

You can either drive to Goslar or take the train.  

If you fly into Berlin Brandenburg Airport (formerly Schonefeld), you’re looking at a 4-hour journey by public transport, allowing for transfers, to Goslar.

It’s around a 3-hour one-way trip from Berlin to Goslar, usually involving one change.  Trains depart Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Berlin Hbf on timetables), and you change at Braunschweig for the 50-minute journey to Goslar.

Alternatively, you can travel from Berlin to Goslar via Hannover, Wolfsburg, Hildesheim or Halle an der Saale.

The nearest airport to Goslar is Hannover , which is a medium-sized German airport flying mostly to European holiday destinations.

Leipzig Airport is around 175 km from Goslar, and you can get there in two and a half hours with just one change of train, at nearby Halle an der Saale.

The journey from Hamburg Airport takes up to 3 hours. You’d need to change at Hannover Hbf. Some journeys also require a change at Hamburg (Harburg).

How To Get Around Goslar

Once in Goslar, you’ll probably only need to use public transport to get to and from the Rammelsberg Ore Mines. The Altstadt – Old Town – is across the street from the station, and you could walk from one end of it to the other in 15 minutes.

The 803 World Heritage Bus runs from Goslar bus station – which is right outside the train station. It runs every half an hour – at 28 and 58 minutes past the hour. The stops of most use to tourists are Brusttuch (a 4-minute ride, a 2-minute walk from the main square), Kaiserpfalz (a 5-minute ride) and Bergbaumuseum (an 11-minute ride). The latter is the terminus, and the stop for the Rammelsberg Mine and Museum.

The 803 bus returns from the Bergbau Rammelsberg stop at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour.

Where To Stay In Goslar

There is a huge range of hotels in Goslar, many of which are in the Old Town. Many hotels are in cosy old medieval or Renaissance period houses, with all the modern facilities you would expect.

For somewhere in the centre of the Old Town, the GDA Hotel Schwiecheldthaus is a superb option. It’s just a few steps from the Marktplatz, with luxury apartments in a 16 th -century townhouse.

The Romantic Hotel Alte Münze is another great choice in Goslar Old Town. It’s housed in two buildings – one old, one modern. The older part has some gorgeous atmospheric rooms with timber-beamed ceilings.

Just across the street from the Siemenshaus, the Altstadt Hotel zur Börse is one of the most beautiful buildings in Goslar. The exterior (pictured above) is wonderfully decorated, and the interior was renovated just three years ago. Many guests rate this hotel exceptional.

Dangers and Annoyances

I was surprised to find to find quite a crowd of unsavoury characters hanging around Goslar train station in the early evening. Several of them were drunk, shouting abuse (mainly at each other rather than at passers-by) and had dogs barking loudly at anyone that went near.

Not a good advert for the town.

Things To Do In Goslar Germany – Final Thoughts

I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to what to do in Goslar. It’s a fantastic place to visit, with one of the most beautiful old towns in Germany. And there are a great many of those!

The one thing that struck me is that everything is very much geared towards German visitors. You’ll find people who speak excellent English everywhere you go. But there’s a lack of written information and guided tours in English.  This is why I decided against visiting the Rammelsberg Mine when we went to Goslar – only guided tours in German were available when we were due in town. On a Saturday too.  Far from ideal.

That said, I loved Goslar. If you enjoy the half-timbered architecture you see across much of Germany, you’ll love it too.

As Goslar is located a few hours from the main international airports in Germany, it makes sense to visit it as part of a trip to the Harz Mountains region.  We stayed in Quedlinburg, a little over an hour away, famous for having more half-timbered houses than any other town in Germany.

For more information on this amazing town, check out my guide to the best Things To Do In Quedlinburg , and my companion article on the Most Beautiful Streets In Quedlinburg . Also take a look at my guide to the best Churches in Quedlinburg , including the church where Henry I – often referred to as the first King of Germany – is buried.

I also strongly suggest visiting Wernigerode. The old town is smaller than that of Goslar or Quedlinburg, but brimming with life. There’s a fairytale castle on the hill, some great quirky museums and a fine Aviation Museum on the edge of town.  It’s also the starting point for the superb Harz Steam Railway , especially if you intend to ascend the Brocken, the highest mountain in Northern Germany.

Goslar was in former West Germany, very close to the border with Communist East Germany. It’s one of the best places to visit in Germany , and also within reach of so many more.

Within Lower Saxony, the amazing Romanesque churches in Hildesheim are just 25 miles (40 km) away. Hannover is a little further away, and Bremen, an old favourite of mine and one of the most underrated cities in Europe , is just over 100 miles away.

It’s also possible to take a trip north and spend one day in Hamburg , though the northern port city deserves more time if you have it.

To the east, Goslar is relatively close to the River Elbe. Magdeburg – a regular stop on Elbe River cruises – is the obvious starting point.

But Goslar is within reach of plenty more of the best places to visit in eastern Germany , with Leipzig a little over two hours away. Check out my Germany Travel Guide for even more ideas.

David Angel is a British photographer, writer and historian. He is a European travel expert with over 30 years’ experience exploring Europe. He has a degree in History from Manchester University, and his work is regularly featured in global media including the BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, The Guardian, The Times, and The Sunday Times.  David is fluent in French and Welsh, and can also converse in Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Czech and Polish.

Lebendiges Weltkulturerbe am Harz

Goslar, die tausendjährige Kaiserstadt am Harz, lädt ein zu einer erlebnisreichen Zeitreise vom Mittelalter bis in die Gegenwart. Wo einst Kaiser und Könige regierten, finden Besucher heute eine lebhafte Stadt mit malerischen Gassen und Plätzen zum Bummeln, Verweilen, Shoppen, Genießen und Entspannen.

Die besondere Atmosphäre Goslars, die Mischung aus Tradition, Geschichte und Moderne, wird bei einem Streifzug durch die zum UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe ernannte Altstadt deutlich. Neben imposanten Bauwerken verschiedenster Epochen, Kirchen und Fachwerkhäusern finden sich Objekte zeitgenössischer Künstler aus der ganzen Welt. Historische Gebäude, wie das Große Heilige Kreuz, bieten heute Kunsthandwerkern Raum für kreative Arbeiten.

15. - 21. April 2024 Hahnenklee-Bockswiese

Fr, 19. April 2024 22:00 Uhr Kulturkraftwerk-HarzEnergie

Neue multimediale Inszenierung

30. April 2024 | Marktplatz Goslar

Goslar ist...

Mach es zu deinem Goslar!

Immer was los

Zeit mit Freunden und der Familie

Mit dem Harz vor der Haustür

Orte zum Innehalten

Unterkünfte zum Träumen

Inspiriert durch unsere Broschüren

Erste Anlaufstelle für Ihren Besuch

In unserer Tourist-Information sind Sie in den besten Händen. Von touristischen Informationen, Zimmervermittlung, Stadtführungs- und Wanderkarten über die individuelle Beratung bis hin zum Gäste-Service, stehen wir Ihnen immer mit einem Lächeln zur Seite. 

Das historische Rathaus im Herzen der Altstadt ist das Zuhause der Tourist-Information inklusive dem Stadtmarketing und eines Welterbe-Infozentrums. 

Täglich von 10 bis 17 Uhr für Sie geöffnet: (außer 24.12., 31.12., & 01.01.):

Tourist-Information Markt 1, 38640 Tel. 05321-78060 tourist-information(at)goslar.de

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Unser Instagramaccount #meingoslar ermöglicht einen Blick auf die schönsten Momente in Goslar. 

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Imperial city and UNESCO World Heritage Site

The thousand- year old town of Goslar is situated on the northern edge of the Harz Mountains, and with its historic charm, cultural treasures and the beautiful inner town is a popular destination for cultural and individual travellers.

In 1992, the old town of Goslar and the Rammelsberg Ore Mine were declared UNESCO World Heritage sites . The Rammelsberg Mine is the only mine in the world that has been in continuously operation for over a thousand years. Today, the museum welcomes visitors and guests with various mine tours and a calendar of events. Since 2010, the Upper Harz Water Management , as one of the world's largest pre-industrial energy supply systems, has been added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

On the market square, high up in the gable of the house at Markt 6, an imposing carillon tells the story of Rammelsberg mining, from its discovery by the Knight Ramm to modern times, four times a day with the help of figures and bells.

No less worth seeing is the Imperial Palace , built between 1040 and 1050 under Henry III, with its extensive exhibition on the history of the wandering emperors. The imperial palace is a unique monument to secular architecture and houses the heart of Emperor Heinrich III, who died in 1056, under a tomb slab in the adjoining palace chapel.

A large selection of museums can be found in Goslar; like the Mönchehaus Museum for Modern Art, the Zwinger Museum of the late Middle Ages, plus many examples of public art are just a selection of the cultural offerings of Goslar.

The churches and chapels, Goslar's fortifications and the Guild Houses invite you to a journey into the past.

In winter, discover the beautiful and romantic Goslar Christmas Market Forest with a sprinkle of snow.

Holidays in Goslar

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Tourist-Information Goslar

Markt 7 38640 Goslar

+49 5321 78060

[email protected]

www.goslar.de

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• 1.1 History
• 1.2 UNESCO World Heritage Status
• 2.1 By plane
• 2.2 By train
• 3 Get around
• 4.1 Castles and buildings of interest
• 4.2 Houses of worship
• 4.3 Museums
• 7.2 Mid-range
• 7.3 Splurge
• 9.1 Campsites
• 9.3 Mid-range
• 9.4 Splurge

Goslar [dead link] is a medieval town in Lower Saxony and serves as a regional hub to the wider Harz area . It lies at the foot of the Harz Mountains (highest elevation 3,744 feet). Goslar is much older than Berlin and worth a visit. If you are interested in history, outdoor pursuits (especially hiking), tranquility and nature, then Goslar is the right spot for you. In 2019, it was home to 51,000 people.

Understand [ edit ]

Goslar was founded in 922 AD, although it is widely assumed that there had been a settlement since pre-Roman times. The town is famed for its magnificent gates and ramparts, the medieval Imperial Palace, Romanesque churches, its half timbered guild houses, the ancient Rammelsberg ore mine... and its witches, the last of which was burned at the stake in 1657 AD. In medieval times the city was a major producer of armouries and coins—the raw ores for their manufacture came from the Rammelsberg mine just outside the city's walls.

History [ edit ]

What, Ram + Goat = Goslar? Not quite...! According to legend, Ramm, a knight to Henry's son Otto the Great, tied his horse to a tree, halfway up the Rammelsberg, to continue hunting in the undergrowth. In anticipation of the return of its owner, the horse scraped with its hoof in the ground laying open a ledge of silver so rich that it took over a millennium to mine. Hence the mountain and mine were called the Rammelsberg, after Otto's knight Ramm. As the wife of knight Ramm was called Gosa, they named the town Goslar in her honor.

Emperors, Dukes, and Townsfolk Essentially Goslar was a Free Imperial City, which was under direct control of the Emperor and there were no regional feudal overlords, who were in charge of the city until the end of the Thirty's Year War. Thus the citizens were largely left to their own devices, since the emperors had mostly better things to do than to sit in their Imperial Palace at Goslar. There were several other imperial palaces throughout the Holy Roman Empire, where the emperors held court. The only problem for the city's craftsmen was that their Free Imperial City ended right behind the city's walls. Unfortunately for them, the mine they depended upon, for the delivery of the ores, was immediately outside these very city walls. So they had to lease the rights to the mine from even such regional feudal overlords, the Dukes of Brunswick, who would have fancied it, if the city was theirs. This inevitably let to regular skirmishes between the Dukes and their men on the one side, and the burghers on the other side, which were not resolved until the end of the Thirty's Year War in 1642 AD with the Goslar Accord.

Goethe's Goslar Gothic Ghosts . With the onset of the Reformation in 1517 AD Goslar has escaped the interest of the emperor, and its riches declined so that Goethe, Germany's national polymath, writes in 1777 during his visit to Goslar: "Imperial City, which rots 'inside' and 'with' its privileges!"

UNESCO World Heritage Status [ edit ]

This might be a reason why the Rammelsberg Mine and Town have been so uniquely preserved that they hold UNESCO World Heritage Status .

Goslar is the Harz region's festival town, culminating in the annual award of the "Imperial Ring" [dead link] .

Get in [ edit ]

Goslar is 250 km west of Berlin . The nearest cities are Brunswick , Hanover , and Magdeburg .

By plane [ edit ]

If you own a plane, a helicopter or even a flying saucer then you might wish to land at the club airport Salzgitter-Drütte in the immediate vicinity (24 miles) of Goslar or the Brunswick-Wolfsburg Airport. Maybe try the disused military airfield at Goslar itself, but don't get yourselves into troubles over this.

However, as a lesser mortal you need to take a plane into either

• Hanover International Airport [dead link] ( HAJ  IATA ) (65 miles)
• Leipzig/Halle Airport [dead link] ( LEJ  IATA ) (103 miles)

and make your way to Goslar by car or by train. Both airports are connected to the S-Bahn network of their respective cities from where you can take a train to Goslar. A further option is flying into Frankfurt Airport ( FRA  IATA ) and taking the train from there

By train [ edit ]

Goslar can best be accessed by regional trains from Hanover or Brunswick . In Hanover and Göttingen there is access to Germany's ICE (Inter City Express) network. Getting to other cities might require changes along the way, often in Hildesheim, Salzgitter or Kreiensen.

By car [ edit ]

From Paris / London / Brussels / Cologne take the Autobahn A44 /E331 to Kassel and take the A7 /E45 in the direction Hamburg at the Kassel intersection. For further directions see below.

From Madrid / Rome / Vienna / Zurich / Munich / Frankfurt take the A7 /E45 and leave it at either the intersection Seesen. Take the Bundesstraße B248 and then the Bundesstraße B82 to Goslar . If you wish to take the route via the Harz mountains, exit the A7 /E45 at Northeim and take the Bundesstraße B241 via Osterode , Clausthal-Zellerfeld to Goslar .

Coming from Moscow / Warsaw / Prague / Berlin , take the A2 /E39 to the intersection Braunschweig and head via the A395 in the direction of Bad Harzburg . At Vienenburg you leave the A395 and take the Bundesstraße B241 to Goslar .

Arriving from Amsterdam / Düsseldorf / Ruhr Basin take the A2 /E39 to Hannover and at the Intersection Hannover leave the A2 /E39 and take the A7 /E45. For further directions, see below.

Coming from Copenhagen / Stockholm / Oslo / Hamburg / Bremen / Hanover you take the A7 /E45 in the direction Frankfurt . You exit the autobahn at Derneburg-Salzgitter (63) and take the Bundesstraße B6 (mostly two-lane) to Goslar or you exit at Rhüden (66) and take the Bundesstraße B82 to Goslar.

Goslar is a popular destination for bikers who enjoy riding their bikes through the Harz mountains.

By bus [ edit ]

Bus services to and from Goslar are relatively frequent and efficient. The regional bus operator Brunswick Regional Transport RBB [dead link] runs a website [formerly dead link] , which assists you with finding the relevant connection. In Goslar, their hub is in front of the central railway station. Here you also find a small travel centre, where staff can provide you with further advise. Essentially, the most frequent routes are between Goslar, Seesen, Harzburg-Spa, Salzgitter and Clausthal-Zellerfeld, with less frequent services to other destinations in the Upper Harz (lines 440, 450, 462, 831, 838, 841, 842, 850, 861, 879). The RegioBus lines are the express ones—the others are slow. The handy thing is that the RBB forms a partnership with other regional public transport operators , so that you only have to buy a single transferable ticket. Thus, there is no need to purchase a new one every time you change your train or bus.

• Regionalbus Braunschweig GmbH - Office Goslar, Hildesheimer St. 53. T: +49 5321 34310, F: +49 5321 343160, E: [email protected].

Get around [ edit ]

The town's centre is relatively small and can easily be navigated by foot. If you, however choose otherwise, then:

• The Goslar Tank Engine is the leisurely way to get around the town. It offers guided sight-seeing tours ( in German only ) through the town.
• Bicycle - the environmentally most friendly way to get around Goslar is by bike. Either you bring your own, or you hire one at:
• Zweirad-Linkhorst, Bäcker St. 17.
• Fahrradverleih in der Touristinformation Hahnenklee, Kurhaus Way 7, Hahnenklee.
• Sporttreffpunkt Hahnenklee, Rathaus St. 6–7, Hahnenklee.
• Bus - The Goslar town council operates bus services within the municipal boundaries (lines 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 806) which run between the town centre and the borough of Oker, as well as Jürgenohl and Hahnenklee.

See [ edit ]

Castles and buildings of interest [ edit ].

• Kaiserpfalz Imperial Palace . – built between 1040 and 1050. For more than 200 years German and European history was made here. Open: Apr - Oct: 10:00 - 17:00; Nov - Mar: 10:00 - 16:00, closed during special events. Admission: adults €7.50, children/youth €4.50. Kaiserbleek 6, ☏ +49 5321-311 9693  

• Town Hall and Hall of Homage , Markt 7 , ☏ +49 5321 78060 , [email protected] . Apr – Oct and Dec: M-F 11:00-15:00, Sa Sunholidays 10:00-16:00. During the rest of the year the Hall of Homage can be visited during the guided city tour One Thousand Steps through the Old Town (daily 10:00). Tickets at the Goslar Tourist Information. . Town Hall (Rathaus) – The Goslar Town Hall is, indeed, a building of the centuries: the east wing with the arcades opening onto the Market Square was begun in the middle of the 15th century and over the following 400 years the Town Hall was continually extended and enlarged. Today its overall impression is determined by the 16th-century additions: a period of great prosperity for Goslar, which, as a member of Hanseatic League and a Free Imperial City, profited from the flourishing mining industry. The Town Hall still serves its original purpose, housing the Lord Mayor’s Office and the hall where the Town Council still discuss the weal of the town under the beautiful star-studded wooden ceiling. Hall of Homage (Huldigungssaal) – The Hall of Homage was set up as a council chamber between 1505 and 1520. It is a unique jewel of late Gothic interior decoration: its walls, the ceiling and even the window alcoves are completely covered with wood panel paintings. Each painting is an artwork of quality, contributing to the overwhelming complete ensemble. Richly carved wood decorations surround each painting. After many years of restoration the room is now protected by complex environmental protection devices so that this masterpiece can be preserved for future generations. Adults €3.50. Groups €2.50, children/youth €1.50. .  

• Kaiserworth – The main building of the Town Hall had not long been completed when the cloth merchants built their guildhall in its immediate proximity in 1494. For nearly 200 years the Hotel Kaiserworth has been at home here.
• St. Anne’s House , St. Annenhaus , ☏ +49 5321 39870 . Tu - Th 14:00-16:00 . Just five minutes away from the Market Square, between the Glockengießer Straße and the Abzucht stream, is Goslar’s oldest unaltered half-timbered house. This almshouse was founded in 1488 and contains portions of a Romanesque stone “Kemenate” with a medieval kitchen, the large one-room hall, and a chapel. Of particular note is the Baroque altar by Jobst Heinrich Lessen and the artfully-worked Margarete Tapestry from the 15th century with 32 illustrations of the life of the martyred saint.  

Houses of worship [ edit ]

Museums [ edit ]

• World Cultural Heritage Rammelsberg Museum and Visitors' Mine Works , Bergtal 19 . 09:00-18:00 daily . Different prices for different tours above and underground. Few buildings (baths, workshops, warehouses) and underground corridors accessible. Attractions include a ride in old miners' underground train and mining tools showing. Guides speak a few languages.  
• Tin Figure Museum ( Zinnfiguren Museum ), Klapperhagen 1 , ☏ +49 5321 25889 . Nov-Mar: 10:00-16:00; Apr-Oct: 10:00-17:00, closed Mondays . In the beautiful historical building of „Lohmühle“ (early 16th century) – set in romantic Klapperhagen – you will find the Goslar-Museum of tin-figures. The museum was founded by a group of sponsors in 1985. Experts and connoisseurs of the scene call it the most beautiful museum of its kind in Germany. Main subject of interest is the representation of the 1000 years of history of mining as well as the historical events of the region in general. The tin-figures are use as means of demonstration of these events and situations. Through presentation of historical information in the form of diorama (it´s a scene), that depict fragments of characteristic situations, the visitor gets the chance to approach the cultural-historical facts and situations on a “personal” level. On two floors the presentation shows about 100 diorama and more than 10,000 hand-painted tin-figures. Besides the possibility of looking at the tin-figures our museum offers the opportunity to get inside information about the practical part of making the figures at our workshop. Offering the opportunity to make as well as paint a figure by yourself is part of the main concept of the museum. Also for the collector of tin-figures there is a wide range of tin-figures for sale which are partly produced in our own workshop. Admission for individuals: adult €4 (including Goslar Museum: €6), children or youth €2 (€3.50), family card for both museums €9 (€12.50); for groups of 10 persons or more: adult €3, child or youth €1.50 .  

Do [ edit ]

• Skiing , Hahnenklee-Bockswiese (a part of Goslar) . On a high meadow there are two ski lifts and a cable car. There are also other resorts, i.e. Torfhaus and Wurmberg in the Harz Highlands, which offer skiing facilities up to grade 4/5 in a scale of 10.  
• Pure Air Resort Hahnenklee , Kurhausweg 7, Hahnenklee ( distance: approx. 16 km ), ☏ +49 5325 51040 , fax : +49 5325 510416 , [email protected] . Ski slopes, cross-country ski trails, a toboggan run and ice skating make Hahnenklee a popular winter sports location. Snow-making facilities assure snow in the skiing and tobogganing areas, which are easily accessible by the trail network and the cabin funicular railway.  
• Harz National Park , Nationalparkverwaltung Harz Lindenallee 35, Wernigerode , ☏ +49 3943 55020 , fax : +49 3943 550237 , [email protected] . Nature preservation area covering approximately 20.000 ha of the Harz Middle Mountain Range. Primeval natural elements such as the block fields, raised bogs, rivers and forests are preserved here. National Park Rangers introduce visitors to the natural attractions.  
• Volksbank Arena Harz , Markt 7 , ☏ +49 5321 78060 , fax : +49 5321 780644 , [email protected] . A paradise for mountain bikers.  
• Airfield at Bollrich , Segelflugabteilung Geschwister-Scholl-Ring 29, Bad Harzburg ( distance: approx. 2 km ), ☏ +49 5322 8881 , +49 5321 22656 , [email protected] . Motorized glider flights over the town of Goslar and the Harz Mountains are possible from the airfield just outside. Experienced pilots make the bird's-eye view of the beautiful town and its surroundings possible; filming and photographing are allowed. An unforgettable experience for sure!  
• Maltermeister Tower , Rammelsberger Str. 99 ( distance: approx. 3 km ), ☏ +49 5321 4800 , fax : +49 5321 306669 . The 14th-century tower on the slope of the Rammelsberg above Goslar is the oldest above ground mining building of the nearby mine works. In 1578 it became the bell tower for the miners and in 1740 living quarters for the warden in charge of wood for the mines (the “Maltermeister”) were incorporated. Today it houses a restaurant which is very popular for outings. Many trails begin and end here.  
• Upper Harz Water Regal National Monument ( Harzwasserwerke GmbH ), Nikolaistraße 8, Hildesheim ( distance: approx. 15-30 km ), ☏ +49 5121 4040 , fax : +49 5121 404220 , [email protected] . The Upper Harz Water Regal is both an industrial monument and a beauty of nature. (A “regal” was a royal prerogative, in this case permitting the exploitation of water resources.) In part over 300 years old, the waterways include 70 lakes, long water courses, galleries and mechanical constructions which served the miners as a source of energy. Today hiking paths, educational trails and museums trace evidences of mining in the Harz.  
• Harzer Hexen-Stieg (Harz Witches Steep Path) , Harzer Verkehrsverband e.V., Marktstraße 45 ( distance: from Osterode approx. 20 km, via the Brocken approx. 17 km, to Thale approx. 44 km ), ☏ +49 5321 34040 , fax : +49 5321 340466 , [email protected] . In the middle of Germany, in the middle of the Harz Mountains. An approximately one hundred kilometre hiking trail across Germany’s northernmost Middle Mountain Range; from east to west or west to east, via the legendary Brocken peak , the highest mountain in the north: the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg (Steep Harz Witches Trail) makes it possible. The entire beauty of the Harz Mountains lies at the hiker's feet. Light-dappled mixed forests and dense coniferous forests, colourfully shimmering mountain meadows and steeply soaring cliffs, softly babbling brooks and majestic reservoirs.  

Buy [ edit ]

Goslar is not only the perfect location for meetings but also provides various shopping facilities to let a convention day wind down with a pleasant shopping spree. Short distances and a centrally located pedestrian zone invite sauntering and shopping. A wide range of small exclusive stores provide the opportunity to find something unique. Combine your convention stay with a one-of-a-kind shopping experience.

• Kunsthandwerk im Großen Heiligen Kreuz , Hoher Weg 7 . At the Hostice of the Great Holy Cross you have artisans and goldsmiths where you can find yourselves the right gifts & souvenirs to take home.  
• Odermark Factory Outlet , Odermarkplatz 1 , ☏ +49 5321 7080 , fax : +49 5321 708218 . There is a factory outlet at the Odermark textile plant, where you might wish to purchase some formal men's wear off the shelf at half price.  
• Kaiserpassage . M 10:00-19:00, Tu 07:00-20:00, W Th 09:00-19:00, F 05:00-18:00, Sa 10:00-19:00, Su 15:00-17:00 . Shopping centre with a wide range of shops.  

Eat [ edit ]

Budget [ edit ].

• Asia Bistro , Fischemäker St. 14, T: +49 5321 3949300. Chinese food at budget prices.
• Aigner , Erkelenzdamm 110, T: +49 5321 6759, German dishes. Open M-Sa 11:00 - 23:00,
• Bistro Tomate , Stapelner St. 8, T: +49 5321 683886. Currywurst (curried sausage), salads, beer.
• Döner-King , Höhlenweg 2, in Goslar Oker, T: +49 5321 65003. 4.5 km to the east of the town's centre. Typical Turkish next door kebab shop.
• La Piazza , Schlesische St. 50, T: +49 5321 1452, Italian dishes, weekdays lunch time is half price. Open Daily 12:00 - 23:00.
• Lil-Café , Markt St. 15, T: +49 5321 42178. Chips, cappuccino, salads.
• Petit , Reinhardtstraße 57, T: +49 5321 9016, French cuisine, weekdays lunch time is half price. Open M-Sa 11:00 - 23:00.
• Pubblico , Frankfurter St. 105, T: +49 5321 26180, Italian dishes. Open daily from 12:00 - 24:00.
• Shiva , Kant St. 96, T: +49 5321 765, Indian restaurant, family friendly, children's meal for €4.95. Daily 12:00 - 23:00.
• Kasimir's Döner Ecke , Danziger St. 8. in Goslar Jürgenohl, 1 mile north of the town's centre. Nice and clean Turkish kebab shop.

Mid-range [ edit ]

• Altdeutsche Stuben/Teutonic Lodge Goslar's most traditional restaurant in the Old Watchtower of Achtermann Hotel. Local and international cuisine. Rosentor St. 20. T: +49 5321 70000-V. Opening hours: 12:00-15:00 and 18:00 - late.
• Restaurant Aubergine , ☏ +49 5321 42136 . Markt St. 4. Novel, vegetarian, Mediterranean and Persian cuisine. Highly acclaimed (Michelin Guide) restaurant with a nice ambience for the gourmet.  
• Restaurant Sahara , Markt St. 16, T: +49 5321 381955. Maghrebinian, Arab and Moroccan Dishes. Excellent barbecues. Try the delicious couscous.
• Restaurant Worthmühle , ☏ +49 5321 43402 . Worth St. 4. Known for its excellent game dishes directly from the Harz Mountains. Located in a cosy old mill at the river Gose in the town centre.  
• Zum Lindenhof/Limetree Yard , Schützenallee 1, T: +49 5321 1777. Local and regional cuisine. Ideal venue for groups and parties. With 12 lane bowling alley and meeting rooms attached.

Splurge [ edit ]

• Trattoria Da Enzo , ☏ +49 5321 23223 . Bäckerster. 18. The finest Italian meals in town. Top tip for authentic Sicilian cuisine.  
• Restaurant Gosequell , ☏ +49 5321 34050 . An der Gose 23, in the chefs' guildhall. Enjoy the locally brewed beer. Organic dishes. Best trout in town.  

Drink [ edit ]

There is plenty of night-life in the town, equally divided between the traditional German Kneipe Pubs and theme bars. Some clubs take fun -photos of their visitors. So if you do not wish to be photographed, tell them.

• Tim’s 5 Tageszeiten , Breite St. 98 , ☏ +49 5321 382999 , fax : +49 5321 398831 , [email protected] . Most enjoyable venue. Modern flair. Jolly visitors.  
• Tiffany's Club , Marktkirchhof 3 , ☏ +49 5321 22886 , fax : +49 5321 45232 , [email protected] . Located in the town centre opposite the market church. Young visitors. Do not expect the latest music and fashion.  
• Heckies Pub , Stapelner St. 8, Bassgeige , ☏ +49 5321 683886 . To meet up with the locals. 1 mile south of the town centre.  
• [dead link] La Bohéme , Schilder St.6 , ☏ +49 5321 394838 , [email protected] . Large pub. Gigs of local bands. Rock music.  
• Quetsche , Marktkirchhof 4 , ☏ +49 5321 24416 . Local pub.  
• Heaven's Door , Brüggemann St. 14 , ☏ +49 5321 1214 . Irish themed pub.  
• White Swan ( Weißer Schwan ), Münz St. 11 , ☏ +49 5321 25737 . Nice outdoor beer garden. Located in an old half-timbered house.  
• Maxi Mumm , Markt St. 3 , ☏ +49 5321 22627 . Bar with live music.  
• [dead link] Brauhaus Wolpertinger , Marstall St. 1 , ☏ +49 5321 22155 , [email protected] . Bavarian theme bar.  

Sleep [ edit ]

Campsites [ edit ].

• Campingplatz Sennhütte , Clausthaler St. 28 , ☏ +49 5321 22498 . Camping site in the vicinity of the town centre. Clean.  
• Campingplatz Am Kreuzeck , 2570 Kreuzeck 5, Hahnenklee , ☏ +49 5325 238564 , fax : +49 5325 3392 , [email protected] . Suited for caravans. ca. 250 places. High up in the Upper Harz in the village of Hahnenklee, ca. 8 km to the south of Goslar. Quiet.  
• YHA Hostel Goslar ( Jugendherberge Goslar ), Rammelsberger St. 25 , ☏ +49 5321 22240 , fax : +49 5321 41376 , [email protected] . The YHA hostel can be found at the southwestern edge of Goslar on a hill overlooking the town. Its slate roof and half timbered façade make the building instantly recognisable. Membership of the International Youth Hostel Association is required. There are 163 beds, each room has 2 - 8 beds and a washing facility. The rooms in the annex have 12 beds and are suited for visitors with disabilities.  

There are more than 20 private pensions and room rentals as well as almost 100 holiday apartments catering to this price range in Goslar. It is best to contact the Tourist Information or see the official website [1] [dead link] for details.

• Zwinger , Thomasstraße 2 , ☏ +49 5322 554944 , fax : +49 5322 554945 . A real castle to sleep in! With a selection of beautiful rooms. Two people per room: €58, three people per room: €63, there are other options available .  
• Haus am Steinberg , Zeppelinstr. 1 ( From the station: on foot about 15 to 20 minutes. By taxi 5 minutes ), ☏ +49 5321 75880 , fax : +49 5321 758813 . They offer 13 double rooms and 21 single rooms with shower and toilet. Seminar rooms of various sizes with modern media equipment waiting for you.  
• Gästehaus Möller , Schieferweg 6 , ☏ +49 5321 23098 , fax : +49 5321 317462 . Total 27 beds, of those 5 single rooms, 11 double rooms. starting at €22 .  
• Haus Lieselotte , Langeliethstr. 1, Hahnenklee , ☏ +49 5325 2348 , [email protected] . Family Guesthouse in Hahnenklee-Bockswiese. Equipment: parking lot, TV room, garden/park at the house, discount for children, quiet location near the forest. A total of 8 beds, 2 singles, 3 doubles.  
• Hotel Achtermann , Rosento St. 20r , ☏ +49 5321 70000 , fax : +49 5321 7000999 , [email protected] . Situated near the central railway station. Has a conference centre attached.  
• Hotel Kaiserworth**** , Markt 3 , ☏ +49 5321 7090 , fax : +49 5321 709345 . At the historical market place directly in the centre. Has also an excellent restaurant, the "Worth", and a confectionery with delicious cream cakes... yummy yummy!  
• [dead link] Hotel Niedersächsischer Hof**** , Klubgartenstr. 1-2 , ☏ +49 5321 3160 , fax : +49 5321 316444 , [email protected] . Opposite the central railway station.  

Connect [ edit ]

• Tourist Office - Harz Tourism Agency , Markt St. 45 , ☏ +49 5321 34040 , fax : +49 5321 340466 , [email protected] .  

Go next [ edit ]

• Bad Gandersheim - a town in South Lower Saxony . It is a town is full of character and is made up of many half-timbered houses. (40 minutes from Goslar)
• Bad Harzburg - a small spa town nestled in the foothills on the northern edge of the Harz. It is named after a former imperial castle, the Harzburg, which used to stand proud on the heights above the town, but is now a ruin with just a few walls and ramparts remaining. The town itself caters largely for residents taking the "cure" as well as tourists - especially ramblers and cyclists - visiting the Harz. As a result, the centre is a pedestrian zone with small shops and timber-framed houses, surrounded by sprawling suburbs - a mix of impressive timber-framed residences and functional modern buildings. Bad Harzburg is a great base for exploring the northern Harz. There is an 80-year old cable car to the Harzburg above the town called the Harzbergbahn. Once on the top, there is a network of easy walking trails and numerous sights within striking distance including the Lynx Enclosure near the Rabenklippe crags and several outstanding viewing points over the surrounding area. (Only 12 minutes from Goslar).
• Wernigerode
• Clausthal-Zellerfeld - in the Oberharz. It is the largest town of the Oberharz community with an altitude of 535m. It is great for winter activities as well as walking and mountain biking during the rest of the year. Clausthal has a well known University "Aula Academica". It has a picturesque low mountain range landscape with crystal clear waters in more than 60 ponds and flowering meadows. (20 minutes from Goslar).
• Brunswick - (German: Braunschweig ) is a city of around 250,000 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser. (40 minutes from Goslar).

• Hildesheim - the historical centre of Hildesheim consisted of over 1900 half-timbered buildings and was often called " Nuremberg of the north" up to the Second World War. During the war, 90% of the centre was destroyed; only a few lanes in the southern centre remained unchanged. Today the centre consists mainly of postwar buildings, 1950 to 1970. However, many historical monuments have been reconstructed. In this process, some of the changes of the last few centuries were removed and the original form of the buildings restored. Two church buildings were declared UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1985. (50 minutes from Goslar).
• Hanover - capital of Lower Saxony. Visit the Herrenhausen Gardens, the Old Town Hall or Hanover Zoo. Follow the "red line" tourist trail and visit many of the historic sights. (1½ hours from Goslar).
• Göttingen - a city in the southernmost part of the state of Lower Saxony, bordering Hesse and Thuringia. (1 hour from Goslar).

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Goslar (Harz) – Travel Guide & Things to do (Germany)

8. August 2020 Categories: Travel reports , Europe , Germany

At the end of our short holiday in the Harz, we made a detour to the nearby district town of Goslar, which lies on the northwestern foothills of the Harz in the state of Lower Saxony.

Table of contents

Things to know about Goslar

Goslar was first mentioned as a mining town in 979 and now has about 50,000 inhabitants. The 1000-year history of the city meets you on a stroll through the city, because tradition, history and modernity meet here: you will find historic buildings, imposing half-timbered houses and the unique Imperial Palatinate up to squares and shops that invite you to linger, relax and shop.

Since 1992, the old town of Goslar as well as the former arch mine Rammelsberg on the outskirts of the city under the name “Mine Rammelsberg, Old Town of Goslar and Upper Harz Water Management” belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

What to see in Goslar

We parked our car in a car park right in downtown Goslar and were able to explore the city on foot on foot.

Around the marketplace

The historic old town of Goslar is very well preserved and includes over 1,500 half-timbered houses from different eras. The central point of contact is the market square with its town hall from the 15th century. In the centuries after that it was repeatedly enlarged by new additions. Since 2011, extensive repairs have been carried out at the town hall, which will probably not be completed until 2021. In the immediate vicinity of the town hall is the historic Gildehaus Kaiserworth, built in 1484, with its distinctive red facade, which now houses a hotel. The market fountain stands in the middle of the market square and is crowned by a golden eagle, the landmark of Goslar. On the east side of the market square there is a bell and figure play in the gable of the combing building, which resounds four times a day and shows the history of the Rammelsberg mining industry.

Market Square in Goslar

Kaiserworth

Goslar Town Hall

Old Town of Goslar

Hotel Slate with Chimes

Behind the market square you reach the market church of St. Cosmas and Damian with their two different towers. The 66-metre-high north tower is accessible via the “Sky Ladder” and offers a beautiful view over the city from above. It is worth a walk around the market square through the cobbled streets, because here are some beautiful old guild and townhouses, such as the Baker’s Guild House and the Chest Cloth – one of Goslar’s most beautiful patrician houses. Goslar’s oldest square, the Schuhhof, is also located directly on the market square.

Market Church of St. Cosmas and Damian

Baker's Guild House

Baker's Guild House of 1501

Other sights in the city centre

A detour to the breeding, a stream flowing through Goslar, should not be missed, because especially on the shore there are also some very nice half-timbered houses, which give an idyllic photo motif (e.g. in the abated road). Other sights include the kennel, a battery tower and former part of the fortifications, the Breite Tor, a former city gate as well as Peterstraße and Glockengießerstraße, where beautiful half-timbered houses are located.

Half-timbered houses in Goslar

The breeding

Goslarer Lohmühle

Half-timbered houses on the river Abzucht

War memorials

The Wide Gate

Cathedral hall of the former Goslar Cathedral

The Imperial Palatinate

Built between 1040 and 1050 under Henry III, the Kaiserpfalz is considered the largest professed building of its time and is a unique monument to secular architecture. For more than 200 years, German and European history was written here on numerous imperial and court days. The Kaiserpfalz covers an area of about 340 x 180 meters and is located at the foot of the Rammelsberg in the south of Goslar. On the site are the Imperial House, the former collegiate monastery “St. Simon and Judas”, the Palatinate Chapel of St. Ulrich and the Church of Our Lady.

Front of the Imperial Palatinate

Imperial Palatinate Goslar

The Rammelsberg Visitor Mine

South of goslar city centre is the former ore mine and today’s visitor mine Rammelsberg , which has been the only mine in the world to have been continuously in operation for over 1,000 years.

World Heritage Site Rammelsberg – Museum & Visitor Mine

The mine has supplied almost 30 million tonnes of ore in its history and was shut down in June 1988 by the last owner, Preussag AG Metall, as the deposit was largely depleted. A citizens’ initiative prevented the demolition of the mine and made it possible to reopen as a visitor mine. A few years later, in 1992, the ore mine became the first industrial plant in Germany to be designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO together with the old town of Goslar.

World Heritage Site Rammelsberg - Museum & Visitor Mine

Rammelsberg Visitor Mine

We bought a day ticket for the museum for 9 EUR per person in order to get a better insight into the former working and everyday life of the miners. We would also have liked to have taken part in one of the many guided tours, during which you can sometimes dive underground, but unfortunately all were already fully booked. On the grounds of the museum there are various exhibitions , some in the middle of the original processing machines.

Old conveyor car

The Hahnenklee Stave Church

In the Goslar district of Hahnenklee-Bockswiese there is a beautiful stave church , which was modelled on the Norwegian stave church Borgund and was consecrated after a one-year construction period in June 1908. The church was built by Prof. Karl Mohrmann, master builder of the Hanoverian State Church. During the construction, he orientated himself to the Nordic wooden churches, but adapted the Hahnenkle era church in size and design to the needs of the congregation. With 240 seats, for example, it offers considerably more space than its models with approx. 50 seats and allows a lot of light into the interior through the relatively large windows.

Gustav-Adolf-Stabkirche

The Gustav-Adolf-Stabkirche in Goslar

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Goslar: An Historic Harz Town

Unesco world heritage city.

Tips for visiting the pretty Harz town of Goslar: what to see, things to do and where to stay.

What to See in Goslar

Visiting goslar, history of goslar.

The town of Goslar sits on the northeast edge of the Harz mountains. For hundreds of years it was a prosperous mining town and wealth poured in from the silver mine of Rammelsberg just on the outskirts.

Street after street of beautifully-carved, half-timbered houses are the result. In fact, this town has the largest number of old houses in Germany, 1800 of them!

Not only was Goslar a wealthy mining town, but the Holy Roman Emperors made this city their residence for 300 years, starting in 1039.

This small town of 46,000 was one of the most important places in Germany for centuries. The Rammelsberg mine was also the major source of copper for Europe during the Middle Ages.

The city survived the war without damage due in part to the presence of a POW hospital and is an amazingly well-preserved example of a town of the late middle ages.

Goslar ended up in West Germany after the war, unlike most of the other Harz towns, so it was maintained better over the years compared to the places that found themselves east of the border.

The Rammelsberg mine and the entire city were declared UNESCO World Heritage sites because of their importance.

This is a wonderful town for strolling through the winding streets and admiring the well-preserved, picturesque houses. Many of the townspeople decorated their houses with elaborate (and sometimes rather naughty) wood carvings.

You'll find angels, demons, animals and mythological creatures alongside human figures, and some startlingly crude characters. The main square, the  Markt , has some interesting examples.

The 500 year old  Kaiserworth Hotel  was the official home of the tailors' guild. A line of German emperors marches across the building. Also prominently displayed is a man excreting a gold coin!

(Image thanks to Nataliya19, CC-by-SA license.)

He's not the only bare-bottom on the Markt, either. The  Brusttuch House , another hotel, was the home of a prosperous burger. There is a riot of carved wooden figures across the upper levels; red devils, angels, a dignified lady riding a goat and the famous (or infamous) Butter Hannah, a charming young lady casually scratching her behind while churning the butter!

It looks pretty much the same now as it did in the photo taken in 1900.

Clearly the Puritan mindset never got a grip on the citizens of Goslar. One would kind of expect these carvings to be placed discretely inside the house. But no, they are boldly fixed on the exterior for all the townsfolk to enjoy. A surprisingly modern approach.

Make sure you take a walk along the small stream that goes through the town past other exquisite little houses.

More Things to See in Goslar

The  Rathaus , also on the Markt, is a good example of a medieval hall. It's worth a visit inside to see the beautiful starry blue ceiling and Gothic frescos on the walls.

The  Kaiserpfalz  is the royal palace down Hohenweg street from the Markt. This building was built in the eleventh century by Heinrich III, and was where the German Emperors held court for several centuries during the middle ages.

(Image thanks to Dionysos, CC-by-SA license.)

During the Third Reich, the town's historical importance as the seat of the German emperors made it an attractive location for political ceremonies.

( Bundesarchiv Image 183-1897-0313-503 , CC-by-SA license.)

A small building across the lawn from the palace houses the bronze throne used by the emperors of the first "Reich" and much later by Kaiser Wilhelm of the second one.

Also on the Markt is the  Glockenspiel , a clock tower where a procession of mechanical figures re-enact the history of Goslar at 12, 3, 6, and 9 p.m. every day.

Not to Be Missed: The Rammelsberg Mine

This old mine is a fascinating place. It had been in operation for  over 1000 years , closing in 1988 when it finally ran out of ore. For centuries, tons of silver, copper and zinc were pulled out of the mountain just outside of town.

Rammelsberg was the source of most European copper for many years and the silver from this mine made Goslar a very wealthy town.

There is a large and interesting  mining museum  above ground demonstrating the techniques and tools of mining.

The best part is the  tour of the mine  itself. You can join a group and put on coveralls and a hard hat and go down deep into the mountain where the walls are dripping water.

(Image thanks to  Y.Shishido , CC-by-SA license.)

From there you can ride the miniature train the miners used to zoom through the narrow tunnels. At one point you get out and experience the dark, dank atmosphere the miners worked in.

The mine is easy to get to. You can arrange for an  English tour  at the  Tourist Information Office  (on the Markt) and take bus #C from the town center. Or you can drop in and take the German tour. It's only a short bus ride to the outskirts of the town.

Where to Stay in Goslar

Both the  Kaiserworth Hotel  and the  Brusttuch House  (of the notorious carvings) are possibilities if you want to be right in the center of things, but don't mind paying a premium for location and atmosphere.

Another possibility is a very pleasant pension in a quiet residential area a short walk from the Bahnhof. I stayed at the  Gästehaus Möller  at Schieferweg 6, about a ten minute walk from the town center. It is run by Frau Christa Merschel and the rooms are very comfortable with high ceilings and lots of lace.

The breakfasts were scrumptious and included in the price. The house is a large, turn-of-the-century building in a wooded setting with a lovely garden in the back. I was also greeted by a friendly orange cat on the front steps. Highly recommended. See map below.

Where to Eat

For an ultra charming spot, try the  Wortmühle , a rustic mill on a stream turned into a restaurant and beer garden. In addition to local specialties, they serve game dishes (wild boar, venison, bison!) and home-brewed beer. They are two blocks from the Markt at Worthstrasse 4. (Check out the photos at worthmuehle.de).

Another suggestion is the  Paulaner-Wirthaus  at Gemeindehof 3-5. This quaint, half-timbered pub is located in a former tanner's house. You can sit inside, out in front at the sidewalk cafe or in the beer garden in the back. Sehr gemütlich.

For how to get to Goslar, plus some Harz travel tips, go to  Travel to the Harz .

Maps of Goslar

Map data (c)  OpenStreetMap  and contributors,  CC-BY-SA

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Im­per­i­al Palace Gos­lar

Kaiserpfalz Goslar

The Imperial Palace (Kaiserpfalz Goslar) was built in the period from 1040 to 1050 and is a unique monument in the tradition of secular architecture – a must-see for every visitor to Goslar.

The building ensemble of the Imperial Palace was used above all by the Salian emperors as a favoured residence and even shortly after its completion it impressed contemporaries so much that the chronicler Lampert von Hersfeld spoke of the “most famous residence in the empire”. Since 1992 the castle complex, together with the old town of Goslar and the Rammelsberg, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage culture site.

For over 200 years, German history was made at the Imperial Palace during numerous imperial assemblies and court councils. All the wall compartments of the “aula regia”, the Imperial Hall measuring almost 800 square metres, have been decorated with scenes that recount the history of the Holy Roman Empire. Every hour, a guided tour lets visitors view and appreciate the paintings and learn about the exciting history of the Imperial Castle through the ages. An exhibition in seven vaults on the ground floor displays outstanding art.

In the Castle Chapel of St. Ulrich, a notable jewel of medieval architecture, the heart of Emperor Henry III lies under a memorial slab. The narthex of the cathedral in the vicinity of the Imperial Castle is formed by the preserved foyer of the important abbey church of St. Simon and Judas, which was demolished due to dilapidation in 1820. It contains outstanding architectural fragments and the richly decorated sandstone plinths of the imperial throne.

Today the Imperial Castle functions not only as a museum but also hosts weddings and events. The registry office of the town of Goslar offers various options for weddings in the historical rooms, while the imposing Imperial Hall has also proved itself an excellent venue for conferences.

Tourist-Information Goslar

Markt 1 38640   Goslar Phone: +49 (0) 5321 / 78060 website E-Mail

Goslar Is Incredibly Cultural And Historic

Located in the northwestern slopes of the Harz Hills , Goslar features a strong historic influence. Much older than Berlin , which is the capital of Germany, this medieval town is worthy of at least a day trip. With the wealth generated from silver mining, Goslar received status of an Imperial City.

Full of museums and various tourist attractions (ex., the gorgeous Goslar Imperial Palace ), you can travel the Old Town Center, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, by foot. Anyone who chooses a more relaxed and guided tour there is the option of the Goslar Tank Engine. The tour is only offered in German, so if you are not fluent, enjoy the scenery. ;-)

Other options are available, such as bus or bicycle. You can even rent a bike at the tourist information center. Make sure to give your self the appropriate amount of time needed to enjoy the scenery.

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An exploratory person must tour this town. With the Harz Highlands accessible it makes for an excellent ski location. Other options include water-skiing, Hang-gliding, wild-water-rafting, pretty much anything you can think of.

For anyone who is “hands on” or like to be active, I suggest trying to devote a few days here. There is even a ship AquaMarin that offers a cruise up the Oker River, into the highlands. For the feebler and less adventuress, there is always a cable car that can take you to approximately 2,300 feet. It runs seasonally so be sure to check in advance if you plan to utilize it.

At first glance, the town can appear to be tired and worn out, but after doing some searching, you will realize there is an extensive nightlife, and many opportunities to enjoy yourself. An excellent source for activities is the information center.

There is plenty of shopping and restaurants readily available. A perfect locale for a family with different objectives for their travels.

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Name: Goslar Established: 922 Population: ~43,000 ZIP: 38640 Phone: 05321

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How to Spend 24 Hours in Goslar, Germany

Goslar is a gem of a town, situated at the northern fringe of the Harz Mountains. Founded in 922 AD, the city has maintained much of its medieval charm, with the cobbled alleys, half-timbered houses and the Imperial Palace, which was once the residence of Heinrich III. Much of it has earned a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list and a day in town is just about enough to cover the highlights, so brace yourselves for a full day of sightseeing.

Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, Die Butterhanne is the first stop on the list. This cute and cosy restaurant occupies a charming 500-year-old house that once served as guildhall of the felt hatters. All day long, the tavern serves delightful food that has earned stellar reviews on all platforms. The a-la-carte breakfast menu lists typical items, ranging from bread, buns and pastries with sweet and savoury toppings to scrambled eggs and an all-time German favourite called Strammer Max, which describes slices of farmhouse bread with ham and fried eggs.

Once you’ve fuelled up on food and coffee, step outside to find yourself surrounded by a stunning ensemble of half-timbered houses, which have helped Goslar earn a spot on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites . The impeccably conserved medieval remnants are strung along the cobbled alleys of the Old Town and can be explored as part of a guided tour arranged by the tourist office. The pre-scheduled tours only run in German, though, but foreign-language tours for groups can be booked in advance. That said, Goslar is relatively small, so you can easily venture off on your own as well. Either way, a stroll around the romantic web of small streets, to snap shots of the beautifully decorated façades, is the perfect way to start your day.

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The Lohmühle water mill is the only one remaining of initially 40 in town, and still creaks on, while the Broad Gate is a relict of Goslar’s 16th-century defence structure. One of the most beautiful buildings is the so-called Brusstuch Haus, which stuns with its crooked walls, intricate wood carvings and murals depicting antique mythological creatures and symbols.

Also worth seeing is the picturesque Frankenberger Plane Square with the adjoining Small Holy Cross hospital, as well as the Schuhhof Square, which is flanked by timber-framed houses on one side and stunning arcades of the Shoe Maker’s Guildhall on the other.

Back at Market Square, head to the Town Hall. Construction of this imposing building started in the 15th century and stretched across 400 years, during which time it was continuously extended. Its most spectacular part stems from the early days: The Hall of Homage is decked out in colourful murals from floor to ceiling, painted on wood panels. The overwhelming artwork is currently closed off to the public due to construction work on the building, but is set to re-open later this year with a newly installed multimedia experience – so make sure you check the official Goslar webpage ahead of time.

Keep an eye on the time. Four times a day – at 9am, 12pm, 3pm and 6pm – three small doors open up at the shingled front of the old treasury on the other side of the plaza, and a number of small figurines emerge. They tell the story of the renowned Rammelsberg mine, which brought prosperity to Goslar. The spectacle is accompanied by the sound of carillon bells.

Pick a bistro or café on Market Square for a quick lunch before following the Old Town alleys up the hill to one of the sightseeing highlights for the day. The Imperial Palace (€7.50) was built in 1040 AD, and the elaborate artworks and murals on the upper floors draw tens of thousands of visitors to the Harz Mountains every year. Downstairs, a permanent exhibition displays artefacts depicting what life under the rule of Heinrich III was like. It’s well worth renting an audio guide for an additional €2.50, to learn more about the history of the building and the imperial rule.

Highlight number two on our list is the Rammelsberg Mining Museum . The mines played a crucial part in the economic development of the region and they are the world’s only mines operating for more than 1000 years without interruption. If you can, join a guided tour around the complex (pre-booking for non-German tours is required). The vast site is composed of various fascinating elements, including the 10th-century slag heaps, vaults and water wheels.

Once back in the Old Town, it’s time to treat yourself to some of the culinary specialities the Harz Mountains are known for . A peek at the local menus might lure you back into Butterhanne, which by now has switched from breakfast platters to delightful dinner options – think Harz-style Sauerbraten, grilled ox meat, Käsespätzle (the German mac and cheese) or beef roulades. Vegetarians and vegans can inform the staff of their diet, and the chef is sure to whip up something.

After your meal, head next door to the Brauhaus Goslar brewery and sample some of their home-brewed creations. There’s hardly a better way to end a jam-packed day of exploring than with a cold beer.

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Visit Goslar, a Pretty Harz Town of Germany

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Ever found a great destination that seems exclusively popular with domestic tourists? Because that’s what I found when visiting Goslar, a charming and old-fashioned town in north-central Germany. With only a few exceptions the tourists I encountered in this devastatingly pretty place were all Germans. This seems crazy to me, as Goslar is exactly the kind of destination that tourists to Germany would want to see.

Honestly, the only reason I knew to visit Goslar was thanks to my travel blogger friend who lived in Germany, the California Globetrotter . I had seen her great post on this picturesque half-timbered town that’s even been heritage-listed by UNESCO and mentally filed it away for the future.

So when a cheap bus fare popped up as an option while travelling in Germany , I knew the opportunity I had before me. I’m so grateful that I had someone clue me into this region of Germany because now I can’t wait to go back and explore it more. In the spirit of sharing, here’s why the town of Goslar should be in your travel plans.

Table of Contents

Where is Goslar?

Goslar is found in the Harz region of northern Germany, a low-lying mountain range covered in forest. But it’s important to understand that Goslar is just one of many quaint towns in this part of Germany. The Harz region is popular with German tourists for two things: the opportunity for scenic hikes in the mountains and its charming half-timbered towns. What’s more, it sits squarely between cities like Berlin, Hamburg and Leipzig making it an easy place to add to a trip.

Travelling without a car, I only had time for Goslar, but many tourists will stop in at several towns while touring the region. Other picturesque towns to visit in the region include Wernigerode and Quedlinburg , both of which also delight with their traditional look. My decision to visit the Harz region was quite a spur-of-the-moment thing and therefore quite short. I’d love to go back and fully explore more next time.

How to get to Goslar

If you’d like to visit Goslar to see it in person, you’ll need to know how to get there. For those without a car, you have your pick of train and bus. Trains connect Goslar with big cities like Berlin, Leipzig or Hamburg, but often you do have to make one transfer. Going by bus with Flixbus from cities like Hamburg and Berlin may be cheaper, but there are also fewer departures each day. An added benefit of having a car is that you can drive around the Harz region after seeing the town.

Staying in Goslar

For accommodation in Goslar, there are quite a lot of hotels and guesthouses to choose from. It is popular with German tourists, after all, meaning it has tourism infrastructure. I stayed out at Hotel Harzlodge Goslar which is a 20-minute walk from the Old Town on the edge of the forest. Despite its location, it was cheap and quiet, and the food at the restaurant was pretty good.

Things to do in Goslar in Germany

In a place like Goslar, the kinds of attractions you can expect to find are somewhat limited. Activities either fall into three categories: admire its historic architecture and atmosphere, visit cultural landmarks, or hike in the surrounding woods.

I focused on the town’s architecture, but you could also fill your time here with places like the Imperial Palace of Goslar, Goslar Cathedral, the Mönchehaus Museum, and the Zinnfiguren Museum. Here’s what it’s like visiting Goslar.

Goslar Altstadt

Goslar isn’t a large town by any stretch of the imagination, but its historical centre is even smaller. Known as Goslar Altstadt, the Old Town here is where tourists will want to spend all of their time. Founded in 922, Goslar emerged out of mining efforts in the nearby mountains. But the town also developed an important royal and imperial connection, giving it considerable clout for centuries.

You’ll know when you’ve reached the Old Town when you pass through or by a gate tower. Although there isn’t much left of the town walls that once encircled Goslar, several of its medieval towers still stand. Pass through them and you’ll quickly be met with a barrage of half-timbered houses and grey slate roofs. That is the signature look of Goslar and it doesn’t disappoint.

Like any good European town, you’ll want to pay a visit to the main square in Goslar, Marktplatz. Lining each side of the square you’ll find a wonderful selection of buildings. Interestingly, very of them here are half-timbered, instead showcasing Goslar’s other style which incorporates slate shingles. That may not sound as visually appealing, but trust me, it is.

The one building here that stood out to me though is the red building above, the Hotel Kaiserworth Goslar. Thanks to its unusual colour scheme it distinctly stands out among its neighbours and is undeniably interesting. Another interesting feature of Marktplatz is the eye-catching patterns in the square’s cobblestones, which emerge from the Marktbrunnen fountain in the centre of the square.

Unfortunately, there was a lot of construction off one end of the square during my visit which ruined the ambience a bit. Photos I’ve seen of Marktplatz show it normally has quite an intimate, enclosed feel, but the construction ruined that.

Marktkirche Tower Views

Whenever possible I like to see an aerial view of a place and look out over its rooftops. Well, the Marktkirche is the place for it in Goslar. This Romanesque church may not look much, but take the long staircase up its tower and you’re rewarded with a full panorama of Goslar below.

The view from up there transforms the town from a sea of white and black houses to one of grey and orange rooftops. It may not be as beautiful as the street-level view of things, but you do get to see how meandering Goslar’s main streets can be. You also get a chance to admire the surrounding forest and countryside up there, which may be your only chance if you don’t have time to leave the town.

Goslar Streets

Without a doubt, the best thing to do in Goslar is to simply walk around. Head for the southern end of Goslar Altstadt and you’ll find plenty of enchanting cobblestone streets jam-packed with half-timbered houses. Not only does this area best capture the mood of the town, but it’s also incredibly photogenic.

It’s honestly surprising that this entire Goslar blog post isn’t just photos of the town’s streets. I did take a few after all. I don’t know how busy it gets in summer, but visiting in March the streets here were dead empty.

Travel Tips for Visiting Goslar

Spring is an excellent time to visit Goslar. You avoid summer crowds, the weather is comfortable for spending the day outside, and the town’s trees and flowers are in bloom. I’ve read that Goslar also hosts a good Christmas market and can only imagine how enchanting the town is blanketed in snow and dressed up in lights.

Have you heard of Goslar or the Harz region of Germany before? Do these photos make you want to visit Goslar or other nearby towns? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

David is the author behind the Travelsewhere travel blog and is always on the search for the quieter, less-visited corners of the world.

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Thanks for the shout out! Your photos are so much lovelier than mine! Glad you got to go and enjoyed it! ?

Not so sure about that but I’ll take the compliment!

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10 Things to do in Goslar – a Gem in the Harz

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My dear friend, Tülin, and I spent a girls’ weekend in Goslar, a small town located on the western edge of the Harz Mountains. We found so many things to do in Goslar that a weekend was barely enough time. We were both so enamored with the adorable little town that it was hard to leave.

Table of Contents

A Gem in the Harz

The Harz is the closest mountainous region to Berlin, which makes it a great weekend playground for climbers and outdoor adventurers. Goslar is on the northwest side of the Harz in Lower Saxony , while other top Harz attractions like Quedlinburg , Wernigerode , and the Brocken are in Saxony-Anhalt .

Tip: Stay for the night! Included in Goslar’s tourist tax is a Guest Card. The card allows you to take public transportation in the city for free and includes discounts for many attractions.

Goslar was a seat of the Holy Roman Empire from the 10 th to 12 th century. The richness of the nearby mines made Goslar an important player in the Hanseatic League .

Did you know Goslar is a UNESCO site ? The Altstadt, Kaiserpfalz, and Rammelsberg Mine make up the Harz’s UNESCO site. It’s possible to do all of these things in one weekend, but there is so much more to see in Goslar that staying longer is worth it!

Tip: the HBX Harz Berlin Express by Abellio allows you to travel Berlin-Goslar (or Quedlinburg, Halberstadt, Wernigerode, etc.) for just 16€! Though this train only runs on Saturday and Sunday in the direction of Berlin-Harz and takes a bit longer than a regular DB train, the advantage is that it is a DIRECT connection. I’ve had train stress/bad luck 4 out of 5 times to the Harz, so this sounds like a fantastic option! Check it out at abellio.com under Sondertarife: Harz-Berlin-Express Spezial Tarif. The 16€ price is only available when buying your ticket on the train, so don’t buy through DB.

Thing to do in Goslar 1: Stroll the Altstadt

Amazingly, Goslar was spared any bombing in the Second World War. The reason? It was the location of an American POW camp. The old town’s 1,500+ half-timbered houses were saved, many of which date back as far as the 16 th century. Another unique architectural element in Goslar is all of the slate-shingled houses. This style is unlike anywhere I’ve seen in Germany. If you wander outside of the pedestrian zone and stray further from the center, the houses around Goslar are mostly 18 th century villas and equally impressive.

The old town is home to many churches, like St. Cosmos und Damien, St. Jakobus der Ältere, and St.-Stephani-Kirche, and several museums, like the Mönchehaus museum for modern art and Zinnfiguren Museum about tin figures. The fountain in the market square is from 1230 with Goslar’s golden eagle on top. Can you find the human-eating donkeys in the fountain?

Thing to do in Goslar 2: Visit the Kaisersaal in the Kaiserpfalz

The Kaiserpfalz, or Imperial Palace, is over 1000 years old. Over. 1000. Years. Old. Of course, it was renovated and expanded over the years, but this palace dates back to the Holy Roman Empire. The most recent renovation took place in the 19 th century.

The Imperial Palace is worth a visit with your Goslar guest card (the admission is then 6€ instead of 7.50€). Included in your ticket fee is a tour of the Kaisersaal, the Imperial Hall. This tour takes place at 11am and 3pm, so plan your day accordingly. The tour was in German only and explained the paintings all around the hall. They were chosen to represent the history of Goslar and the Imperial Palace’s most important residents, with a touch of Prussian patriotism (as this was the era in which the room was painted).

more at the Imperial Palace

Other than the main hall of the palace, you can also visit the Wintersaal below. Due to many fires, the large hall was divided into several smaller alcoves which now host meager exhibitions on architectural columns and other features. During non-corona times, you can visit the St. Ulrich chapel which hosts the grave of Kaiser Heinrich III, builder of the Kaiserpfalz in 1040.

Note: I found the ticket price to be worth the cost of the tour around the Imperial Hall. If the tour information is not available in English, it may be best to just visit from the outside.

Thing to do in Goslar 3: Descend into the Mine

Mining has been prevalent in the region since Roman times. The water management system, which aided in the process of extracting minerals from the mine, developed over the course of 800 years, and is of particular cultural importance. The tour Tülin and I went on in the mine was all about one of these waterways and how vital it was to the daily operation of the mine. If you are interested in the tours in English, inquire in advance.

Make sure you visit the museum!

If you can’t get a tour in English, the museum is still worth a visit. You can wander around some of the mining buildings and massive equipment. The Museumshaus Magazin houses a massive exhibit about mining and Goslar rolled into one, with plenty of information available in English and German. The cost of your visit depends on how many tours you’d like to take during the day (up to 3). The museum plus one tour costs 16€, or 14.40€ with your Goslar Guest Card. Plan enough time for your visit here: one tour plus the museum could easily turn into 3-4 hours.

Bus 803 and the Museumsshuttle conveniently transfer you from town to the museum for free with your Guest Card.

Thing to do in Goslar 4: Find the Dukatenkacker

At the corner of the bright orange hotel/restaurant Domero Rotes Eichhörnchen on the market square in Goslar, you will find a sculpture of a tiny, naked man. It appears that a coin is coming out of his bottom. This is the “ducat pooper.” This character comes from an old fairy tale in which a donkey excretes gold coins. The phrase eventually came to mean someone who is good at making money or well-versed in finances.

The meaning of the Ducatenkacker on this hotel overlooking the market square in Goslar, though, is different. This little, bare-bottomed Dukatenkacker is meant to remind people to pay their debts or they will be “gebottarscht” – have their nude tush rubbed over a stone for all to see!

Thing to do in Goslar 5: Go for a hike

Goslar is located on the edge of the Harz, one of Germany’s National Parks. Though the surrounding mountains are canvased in dark green evergreens, this is a cultivated landscape. Once all the deciduous trees were used up, the locals needed quick growing wood for homes and mine shafts, so they planted pines. Now, due to climate change and the Borkenkäfer (a parasitic bark beetle) the monotonous Kiefer are perishing in droves, creating space for the leafy trees to make a comeback. This is a great little tour to do from the Goslar Altstadt and through the forest to Thing to do in Goslar 8 . If you’re spending more time in the Harz, visiting the Brocken is worthwhile – it’s the tallest mountain in northern and eastern Germany.

Thing to do in Goslar 6: Walk along the Abzucht

The Abzucht is the little stream that runs between the Altstadt and the Imperial Palace. The pedestrian walkway next to the water is lined with flower boxes brimming with colorful blooms. Wooden and stone bridges span the waterway every few meters, some for road crossings, others to reach the front door of homes directly on the other side. It doesn’t get more picturesque than this!

Thing to do in Goslar 7: Have cake at Barock-Café Anders

If you are in Germany, you must experience Kaffee und Kuchen . Usually around 3 or 4pm (but really any time is a good time for cake), Kaffee und Kuchen is comparable to Britain’s afternoon tea. You can experience a great one at Barock-Café Anders in Goslar. It is close the market, just across from the Marktkirche St. Cosmos und Damien. From the outside it seems kind of small and kitschy, but there’s more than meets the eye. Tülin and I sat outside on the terrace and enjoyed two delicious and tall slices of cake. ( I think I’m an expert now , they really were very good cakes!)

Thing to do in Goslar 8: Enjoy the view at the Maltermeister Turm

You don’t have to do the whole hike in Thing to do in Goslar 5 to enjoy the view at the Maltermeister Turm. It’s a short walk from the Altstadt (about 20 minutes) over the Blauer Haufen meadow to the Maltermeister Turm. Built in the 1500s, the tower’s primary purpose was to guard the entrances to the mine. Secondarily, the tower also rang the bell to announce the start and end of shifts and to give warning of attacks. Next to the tower is now a restaurant with a fantastic view of Goslar from the deck outside. It’s a super spot to get away from all the touristic hubbub.

Thing to do in Goslar 9: Ascend the Himmelsleiter

If you’d like amazing close-up views of the city, then you’ll have to climb this “stairway to heaven” in the St. Cosmos and Damien church on the market. Each stair is labeled with its number and patron. There are 231 stairs to the top, including over a dozen stairs on a steep stair-ladder. But the views are worth it! It is such a beautiful way to see Goslar. Beware of the bell: every quarter hour the loud gong surprises visitors at the top!

Thing to do in Goslar 10: Watch the Glockenspiel

Every day at 9am, 12 noon, 3pm and 6pm a special event occurs on the market square. Across from the Rathaus, next to the tourist information, the house with the many bells puts on a little show. Lasting approximately five minutes, the bells ring and the characters scroll across the stage paying homage to the town’s (male) mining history. It’s quite unique to have such a clock in town, as the only other one I can think of is in Prague, and the characters in Goslar are much larger.

More to visit in the Harz

There are so many things to do in Goslar that the weekend flies by! If you have more time, you can also explore other parts of the Harz Mountains like Wernigerode , Quedlinburg , and the Brocken .

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Explore Goslar

Plan Your Trip to Goslar: Best of Goslar Tourism

Essential goslar.

Goslar Is Great For

Eat & drink.

Art & history

Ski & ride

• Romantik Hotel Alte Muenze
• Hotel DER ACHTERMANN
• Enjoyhotel Harz
• Hotel Harzlodge
• Akzent Hotel Villa Saxer
• Soup & Soul Kitchen - Vegan | Vibrant!
• Brauhaus Goslar
• Paulaner Wirsthaus
• Ratsstuben Restaurant Hahnenklee
• Weltkulturerbe Rammelsberg Museum & Besucherbergwerk
• Imperial Palace of Goslar
• Zinnfiguren-Museum Goslar
• Glocken- und Figurenspiel am Markt

• Rammelsberg Mine
• Imperial Palace Goslar
• Goslar Museum
• Tin Figure Museum
• Walkenried Monastery
• Grube Samson: Mine | Museum | Events
• 19-Lachter-Stollen Mining Museum
• Knesebeck Shaft Mining Museum
• Upper Harz Mining Museum
• Ottiliae Shaft
• Rosenhof Wheel Chambers
• Kaiser Wilhelm II Shaft
• The World Heritage Information Center in Walkenried
• The World Heritage Information Center in Clausthal-Zellerfeld
• The World Heritage Information Center in Goslar
• Discover the World Heritage with its own app
• WORLD HERITAGE INSIGHT WALKS
• Hikes and walks - up to 2 hours
• Hikes and walks - up to 4 hours
• CYCLING TOURS
• World Heritage Route in the Harz
• World Heritage Shuttle
• Historic Town of Goslar
• Upper Harz Water Management System - Above ground
• Upper Harz Water Management System - Underground
• World Heritage Day
• Architecture & Settlements
• Changing Landscapes
• Energy production
• Sustainability

© GOSLAR marketing gmbh, Foto: Stefan Schiefer

a fascinating mediaeval townscape

Goslar's thousand years of history have been shaped by mining. Still today, evidence of its economic and political importance can be seen everywhere in the historic town centre: the Imperial Palace (Kaiserpfalz) , the historic Town Hall, the churches, the town defences, houses of wealthy individuals and guilds as well as more than 1500 half-timbered buildings from the 15th to 19th centuries await your visit. In 1992 the Historic Town of Goslar was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Directly in the historic town centre you can immerse yourself in the town's history at the Goslar Museum , explore in the historcial town hall the World Heritage Info Centre  or discover the UNESCO World Heritage in the Harz "en miniature" at the Tin Figure Museum Goslar .

Goslar's market fountain with the bronze imperial eagle

© Stefan Sobotta

The Historic Town of Goslar will impress you with more than 1500 half-timbered buildings from different eras.

Goslar Museum provides information on the fascinating history of the town.

© GOSLAR MARKETING GMBH

Discover the Historic Town of Goslar on a guided tour!

Evening in the Historic Town of Goslar

Since 1992, the Historic Town of Goslar has been listed as UNESCO World Heritage together with the Rammelsberg Mine.

Goslar's market fountain from above

OVERVIEW MAP

Tourist-Information  GOSLAR marketing gmbh Markt 1 38640 Goslar Tel. +49 5321-780621 and Tel. +49 5321-780630 [email protected] www.goslar.de

Legacy from 3000 years of mining

Cultural diversity amid breathtaking landscapes: the UNESCO World Heritage in the Harz

At the World Heritage Site Mines of Rammelsberg, Historic Town of Goslar and Upper Harz Water Management System a wide range of museums and monuments await your visit. Discover this treasure of human history.

On the move in a region shaped by mining

Your personal tour through the World Heritage

Hiking or cycling, motorized or guided tours – there are many ways to explore the UNESCO World Heritage in the Harz. Be inspired by the wide range of offers.

The main themes of the World Heritage

Architecture & settlements, mining, changing landscapes, energy production

The interactions between people and ore have left many traces in the cultural landscape of the Harz. These can be divided among the four main themes that characterize the UNESCO World Heritage in the Harz.

Cistercian Museum Walkenried Monastery

Today in the Middle Ages

Visit the oldest part of the UNESCO World Heritage in the Harz at the Cistercian Museum Walkenried Monastery. With its sensual and creative design within the Gothic monastery complex, it brings the Middle Ages to life.

Brochure to download

Go on a journey of discovery by reading your way through the UNESCO World Heritage in the Harz

On 64 pages, the brochure will give you an overview of everything the UNESCO World Heritage in the Harz has to offer. Enjoy browsing through it!

Information Centres for the World Heritage Site

Starting point for the original locations

The Information Centres of the World Heritage Site Mines of Rammelsberg, Historic Town of Goslar and Upper Harz Water Management System inform you in fascinating exhibitions about the UNESCO World Heritage in the Harz and what it offers for tourists.

• Foundation Trustees
• World Heritage Journeys
• Historic mining 3D
• #wissengeteilt
• Data protection

Goslar Travel Essentials

Ideal duration: 1-2 days

Best Time: May - September

Planning a Trip? Ask Your Question

"Medieval Beauty and UNESCO World Heritage"

Goslar tourism.

Goslar is a picturesque town located in the Harz Mountains of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is a popular tourist destination due to its majestic medieval architecture, tranquil river valleys, and breathtaking mountain views.

The old city center of Goslar has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its well-preserved 11th-century architecture and rich cultural heritage. The town is home to many attractions including the Kaiserpfalz, a Romanesque palace; the Goslarer Dom, a Gothic cathedral; and the Rammelsberg Mine, a former mining complex. In addition, the town offers numerous outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, canoeing, and horseback riding. Goslar also offers a variety of cultural experiences such as the International Music Festival, the Goslar International Puppet Theatre Festival, and the annual Christmas Market. The town also has a great selection of restaurants, cafes, and pubs. When visiting Goslar, it is important to keep in mind that the town is a popular tourist destination and can get crowded during the peak summer months. It is also important to dress appropriately for the weather as temperatures can get quite cold in the winter months. Additionally, visitors should be aware of the local laws and customs, and be respectful of the town's history and culture.

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Goslar, the thousand-year-old imperial town in the Harz Mountains, invites you to an eventful journey through time from the Middle Ages to the present. Where once emperors and kings reigned, visitors today find a lively town with picturesque alleys and squares for strolling, lingering, shopping, enjoying and relaxing.

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