Biker-Friendly Places to Stay in Harz Mountains

Hotelpark Bodetal is in Thale, at the mouth of the Bode gorge on the north-eastern edge of the Harz. Our Harz Mountain Loop runs through the Bode gorge and past the Rappbode dam, so the most dramatic stretch of the route starts here. For the bikes there is covered parking, a wash area and tools or a workshop corner; for you, a drying spot for wet kit, wifi and route suggestions from the hosts. Thale is busy with walkers heading up to the Hexentanzplatz and the Rosstrappe on fine weekends, so ride the gorge roads early.

Hotel 5 Linden is in Wickerode, in the Suedharz area south-east of the Harz, close to the Kyffhaeuser hills. The Kyffhaeuser road, with its long run of bends between Kelbra and Bad Frankenhausen, is a short ride south, and the southern Harz roads start just to the north. There is a garage and covered parking, a drying spot for gear, wifi, route tips, and guided rides. It suits riders who want to combine the Harz with the quieter Kyffhaeuser and the Goldene Aue. Ask for guided ride dates when you book, as they follow a schedule.

This hotel and restaurant is in Koenigslutter, in the Elm hills east of Braunschweig, north of the Harz. It is close to the A2 motorway, which makes it a practical overnight stop when you are riding east or west across Germany, and the northern edge of the Harz at Bad Harzburg is about 45 km away in a straight line. Bikes get covered parking, and there is a place to dry gear, wifi, and route suggestions for the area. Use it as a stopover or a first night before the Harz rather than as a base in the hills.

Hotel am Schlehberg is on the hill above Alfeld, in the Leine valley between Hildesheim and Einbeck, west of the Harz. The western Harz edge near Seesen is about 30 km away in a straight line, and the Weserbergland roads to the west are just as close, so you can ride two hill areas from one base. Bikes get covered parking, and there is a drying spot for wet kit, wifi and local route tips. The view over the Leine valley and the Sieben Berge hills is a bonus at the end of the day.

Landhotel Harz is a country hotel in Friedrichsbrunn, a village on the plateau above Thale in the eastern Harz, about 31 km in a straight line from the Brocken. The roads down to Thale and the Bode gorge, and across to the Selke valley, start almost at the door, and our Harz Mountain Loop is close. Bikes get covered parking, and there is wifi and route advice for the area. Friedrichsbrunn is quiet and wooded, which suits riders who want a calm night after a full day in the hills rather than a busy town.

Hotel Sauerbrey is in Osterode, on the south-western edge of the Harz, about 23 km in a straight line from the Brocken. The Soese valley road climbs from here into the Upper Harz towards Clausthal-Zellerfeld and Altenau, which links up with our Harz Mountain Loop. There is a garage for the bikes, route tips are available, and guided rides are offered. Osterode is a market town with fuel, shops and places to eat, so it works for a longer stay. Guided rides follow a schedule, so ask for dates when you book.

Pension Waldfrieden is a guesthouse on the hillside above Bad Lauterberg, on the southern edge of the Harz, about 22 km in a straight line from the Brocken. It is one of the most complete rider setups in the region: a garage and covered parking, a bike wash, tools or a workshop corner for small jobs, a drying spot for wet gear, wifi, and route tips from the hosts. From here the Oder valley and the roads up to Braunlage and the high Harz are close, and our Harz Mountain Loop is within easy reach. Good for a few nights of day rides.

Hotel Eichengrund is in Cochstedt, part of Hecklingen, in the flat country north-east of the Harz. Quedlinburg is about 20 km away in a straight line, and Thale and the Bode gorge on our Harz Mountain Loop are just beyond. That makes it a sensible base if you are arriving from Magdeburg or Berlin and want an easy ride into the hills the next morning. Bikes get covered parking, and you can dry wet gear, use the wifi and ask for route tips. Expect a quieter evening than in the tourist towns at the foot of the Harz.

Pension Blechleppel is a small guesthouse in Benneckenstein, a high village in the Harz east of Braunlage, about 16 km in a straight line from the Brocken. The narrow-gauge Harz railway passes through, and the forest roads to Elend, Sorge and Hasselfelde start nearby. Bikes get covered parking, there is wifi, and the hosts can suggest routes. A Pension is usually simple, with breakfast as the main meal, so check meal times if you want dinner in. The Rappbode dam, on our Harz Mountain Loop, is a short ride east.

Harzhotel Guentersberge is in Guentersberge, a village in the Selke valley in the eastern Harz, part of Harzgerode. The Brocken is about 30 km away in a straight line, and the Bode gorge and Rappbode dam on our Harz Mountain Loop are a short ride north. The eastern Harz is quieter than the Goslar and Wernigerode side, with long forest roads and little traffic. The bikes stand under a roof, wet kit has somewhere to dry, and the hosts share local route tips; wifi is included. A calm base for exploring the Selke and Bode valleys over a few days.

Hotel Engel is in Altenau, in the Upper Harz, about 12 km in a straight line from the Brocken. Torfhaus and the Oker valley, both on our Harz Mountain Loop, are just a few minutes away, so the high Harz starts at the door. There is a garage and covered parking for the bikes, wifi, and route tips from the hosts. Altenau sits at the edge of the Harz National Park, with forest on all sides and cool air even in summer, so pack a warm layer. The B498 Oker valley road down to Goslar is a good first ride.

Hotel Der Wolfshof is in Wolfshagen, part of Langelsheim on the north-western side of the Harz, about 24 km in a straight line from the Brocken. Bikes get covered parking, there is somewhere to dry wet gear, and the hotel can give you route tips or route descriptions. Wifi is available for planning the next day. Somewhere to dry kit is worth a lot on a wet Harz trip. Pair your stay with our Harz Mountain Loop guide.

Hotel garni Haus Iris is in Sieber, part of Herzberg in the Harz, about 17 km in a straight line from the Brocken. It is a garni house, so expect rooms and breakfast rather than a full restaurant, and plan your evening meal. Bikes go in a garage. Sieber puts you in the western Harz with the higher roads close by. Confirm garage space when you book, and use our Harz Mountain Loop guide to plan your days.

Hotel Spiegeltaler Eck is in Wildemann, in the Upper Harz, about 22 km in a straight line from the Brocken. It is a base for riding the western and central Harz and coming back to the same room each night. Facilities for bikes are not listed, so ask before you book whether there is a garage or covered parking. Let them know you are arriving by motorcycle. Our Harz Mountain Loop guide gives you a route to plan around.

Komforthotel Zum Pass is in Sieber, part of Herzberg in the Harz, about 18 km in a straight line from the Brocken. Bikes go in a garage, which matters when the Harz weather changes fast. From Sieber the higher roads of the western Harz are close at hand for day loops. If you travel as a group, ask how many bikes the garage holds when you book. Our Harz Mountain Loop guide gives you a ready-made route.

Landhotel Waldblick is a country hotel in Stolberg, in the southern Harz, about 35 km in a straight line from the Brocken. It is a base for the southern side of the region, with the higher ground around the Brocken within a day ride. Facilities for bikes are not listed, so ask before you book whether there is a garage or covered parking. Mention you are arriving by motorcycle. Our Harz Mountain Loop guide covers the wider region.

Pension Altes Forsthaus is a guesthouse in Zorge, in the southern Harz, about 18 km in a straight line from the Brocken. A small Pension usually means a personal welcome and a quiet night. Facilities for bikes are not listed, so ask about garage or covered parking when you book. Zorge works as a base for loops through the southern and central Harz. Our Harz Mountain Loop guide gives you a route to plan your days around.

Pension Druidenstein is a guesthouse in Trautenstein, in the Harz, about 17 km in a straight line from the Brocken. It is a small, simple place to sleep between days in the saddle. Facilities for bikes are not listed, so ask before you book where bikes are kept overnight and whether there is cover. Trautenstein sits well for loops through the central and eastern Harz. Our Harz Mountain Loop guide gives you a route to start from.

Wellness-Pension Sonneck is a guesthouse in Wildemann, in the Upper Harz, about 23 km in a straight line from the Brocken. The owner rides a motorcycle and offers route tips or route descriptions, so you get local knowledge with your room. As the name suggests, there is a wellness side to the house, welcome after a long ride. Garage parking is not listed, so ask about it when you book. See our Harz Mountain Loop guide.

Haus Tonburg is in Bad Sachsa, a small spa town on the southern edge of the Harz, about 23 km in a straight line from the Brocken. The roads north to Braunlage and the Upper Harz start here, and the run west to Bad Lauterberg is a short one. Bikes can go in a garage or under cover, there is wifi, and the hosts can suggest routes. The southern Harz sees fewer visitors than the Goslar and Wernigerode side, so the roads tend to be quieter on summer weekends.

Hotel Bodeblick is in Treseburg, a small village in the Bode valley upstream of Thale, about 26 km in a straight line from the Brocken. Treseburg sits where the Luppbode joins the Bode, with steep wooded sides and twisty roads in and out. The Rappbode dam and the Bode gorge, both on our Harz Mountain Loop, are close. Bikes get covered parking, and there is wifi. The village is tiny, so expect a quiet night and plan your evening meal before you arrive.

Hotel Abtshof is in Halberstadt, the cathedral town just north of the Harz, about 31 km in a straight line from the Brocken. It is an easy ride south to Wernigerode, Blankenburg and Thale, so the northern and eastern Harz are both within reach on day trips. The owner rides a motorcycle, guided rides are offered, and route tips are available. There is no garage listed, so ask where the bikes are parked overnight when you book. Halberstadt has a proper town centre, which makes walking out for dinner easy.