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Voykit pocket guide · Germany
Schierke
Spend a half‑day for a hike to the Brocken, or a full day if you want the steam train and town stroll.
Schierke is a small spa town in the Harz Mountains, 600 m above sea level, serving as a base for Brocken hikes and the historic narrow‑gauge railway. Its sights cluster around the town, so a half‑day covers the main hike; a full day adds the steam train ride and a bite at a local café.
- Country
- Germany
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (snow may close trails)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Card acceptance has improved but some bakeries, bars and small restaurants are still cash only.
- Daily spend
- Budget €45–70 excl. bed · Mid €70–120 excl. bed · High €120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telekom, Vodafone and O2 are the networks; Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect and congstar resell them cheaply in supermarkets and electronics shops.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 112 · Medical out‑of‑hours 116 117
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; UK and US devices need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total you want to pay as you hand over money or card.; Bar and café: Round up to the nearest euro.; Taxi: Round up by €1–2.; Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 a night, optional.; Free walking tour: €10–15 per person.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Restaurants usually sell bottled water; fizzy (mit Kohlensäure) is the default, ask for 'still' or 'ohne'.
- Toilets
- Station toilets cost €0.50–1.50 (Rail&Fresh WC); restaurant toilets are for customers; the 'WC' at motorway rest stops takes coins and gives a voucher.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2–3 |
| Regional beer | €3–5 |
| Brocken Railway ticket | €20–45 |
| Hiking guidebook | €10–15 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HAJ · Hannover Airport
- ≈1.5 h by train to Schierke
Typical fares
- Brocken Railway Schierke ↔ Brocken
- ≈ €20–45 round‑trip (check)
- B4 road car travel Schierke ↔ Wernigerode
- ≈ €5–10 fuel (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable; the Brocken Railway runs from Wernigerode through Schierke to the summit. B4 road provides car access.
See and do
Known for
- Brocken summit hikes
- Brocken Railway steam train
- Schierker Feuerstein liqueur
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Brocken summit | Brocken Railway from Schierke (steam train) ~30 min, then hike to summit | ≈1 h 45 min round trip |
| Wernigerode | Regional train (Harz narrow gauge) or car via B4, ~15 min | ≈30 min |
Sleep
- Brockenhotel
- Hotel on the Brocken plateau; breakfast included; single from €80, double from €130.
- Brockenapartments
- Apartment style lodging; from €65 per night.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hallo |
| Thank you | Danke |
| How much? | Wie viel kostet das? |
| Where is the bathroom? | Wo ist die Toilette? |
| Can I have the menu? | Kann ich die Speisekarte haben? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; 'Guten Tag' or 'Hallo'; avoid: Hugs with people you have just met
- Names: Herr / Frau plus surname until invited to use first names; avoid: Using 'du' with officials or older strangers
- Punctuality: Arrive on time for tours, dinners and appointments; avoid: Being more than 5–10 minutes late without a message
- Queues and rules: Follow signs, wait at red lights, sort rubbish; avoid: Walking in cycle lanes
- Conversation: Direct and factual; people say what they mean; avoid: Taking directness as rudeness, or joking about the Nazi era
- Home visit: Bring flowers (odd number, not red roses) or wine; shoes off if the hosts do; avoid: Arriving early
- Paying: Say the total including tip as you pay; avoid: Leaving coins on the table and walking off
Scams and watch-outs
- Winter snow can close the Brocken trail; check conditions before heading up.
- The steam train runs seasonally; verify schedule on the official Brocken Railway site.
Generally safe; watch for sudden mountain weather changes and keep to marked trails.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Schierke yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Brocken summit hikes
- Brocken Railway steam train
- Schierker Feuerstein liqueur
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Schierke, revision 4719042 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4719042
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/schierke). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.