Welcome in Schierke in the Harz National Park

The highest Youth Hostel in Saxony-Anhalt

The Youth Hostel in resort town of Schierke is an ideal base for enjoying and exploring the surrounding nature. On a peaceful ledge right above the town of Schierke, you can simply relax, enjoy the nature or take in the culture of the area’s towns. Our hostel, with its newly renovated large gymnasium, two new bowling lanes, seminar rooms and 4- bed rooms, is ideally suited for families, school groups, seminars, and sports groups.

Schierke in the Harz mountains

The Youth Hostel Schierke is located at the foot of the Brocken and the entrance to the Harz National Park. Leaving our door, you can hike to the peak of the Brocken, the highest peak in North Germany (1141 m), in about 2 hours, or enjoy an exhilirating ride on the Brocken Mountain Train ("Brockenbahn"). 

Schierke is well-known for its annual "Walpurgisnacht". From April 30 to May 1, the festival welcomes in the Nordic spring. According to tradition, witches fly over the Brocken on this night, in order to sweep away the last remnants of snow and to finally welcome in the spring for good. 

Welcome to the Harz – Region of Myths and Legends.

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Opening hours
The house is open

7.00 a.m. - 10.00 p.m.

The reception is open

7.30 a.m. - 10.00 p.m.

Check-in

3.00 p.m. - 9.30 p.m.

Closing time

Hostel is open all year round except Christmas.

Prices 2023

B&B from Half board from Full board from
€ 32.50 € 41.00 € 48.50

Locations & directions

The town of Schierke is located in the Upper Harz at the base of the Brocken, highest German peak north of the Alps. Our hostel is located just a few minutes by foot from the town center, bordering the Harz National Park. Directly outside our front door, you’ll find well-marked hiking trails, such as the famous „Harzer-Hexen-Stieg,“ which enable you to explore the  region’s mysterious and unique landscape. The area also has its share of exciting winter sports.

  • town center: 0.5 km
  • "Café Winkler" bus stop: 0.3 km (bus line 257) 
  • nearest train station (Schierke): 2 km (station operated by the “Harzer Schmalspurbahnen“ [HSB])
    • nearest stop of the Brocken Mountain Train (“Brockenbahn“): 2 km
  • nearest Deutsche Bahn (DB) train station (Wernigerode): 19 km
  • nearest airport (Hannover Airport): 148 km

Accomodation

298 beds in rooms with four beds, some with en-suite shower and toilet,
  • 6 wheelchair accessible rooms with shower and toilet
  • 12 suites with bedrooms as well as separate, partitioned living/sleeping rooms
  • Individual and 2-person rooms available upon request

Activities

  • Outdoor terrace with barbecue area
  • 2 recreation rooms with TV
  • Club room
  • 2 Bowling lanes (€10/hour/lane)
  • Cafeteria (open from 10am to 10pm
  • Wireless Internet access for a reasonable fee
  • New Bowling Alley (fully automated)
  • Table Tennis room
  • Sports and Games Room with a Billiards Table
  • Air Hockey
  • New large gymnasium (11 x 22m), equipped for:
    • Volleyball
    • Handball
    • Basketball
    • Badminton

Room Floor space
Max. number of participants
  • cinema
    cinema
  • parliament
    parliament
  • block
    block
  • U-shaped block
    U-shaped block
  • circle
    circle
 Floor Rent per day off
Bodesprung 121 sqm 112 30 38 34 60 GF € 25.00
Eckerloch 38 sqm 24 - 16 16 20 GF € 25.00
Schierker Wiese 57 sqm 42 26 24 24 30 GF € 25.00
Seminarraum 1 18 sqm - - 10 - - 1 upon request
Seminarraum 2 14 sqm - - 8 - - 4 upon request
Request meeting room
Conference equipment

flip chart, internet access (WiFi), pin board, projector, screen, speaker's desk

Activities

The Schierke health resort lies at the foot of the Brocken. This is the place for hiking and climbing to your heart's content - because here, nature is still nature. 200 km of signposted hiking paths have been laid out for active holidaymakers in the area and you can always catch a ride on the Brockenbahn or Harzquerbahn narrow-gauge railways.

You cannot only enjoy the nature in Schierke, but also plan excursions - to Wernigerode with its half-timbered houses, to Flowstone caves in Rübeland or  to “Hexentanzplatz“ (literally “Witches′ Dance Floor”) in Thale.

But when everything is covered in snow and temperatures drop below zero, there is only one thing going on here: winter sports! In winter, you can give your skis or sledge a run, prove your skating abilities in the ice rink, or watch one of the sledge dog races in the villages close by.

Activities in the Youth Hostel

  • Outdoor terrace with barbecue area
  • 2 recreation rooms with TV
  • Club room
  • 2 Bowling lanes (€10/hour/lane)
  • Cafeteria (open from 10am to 10pm
  • Wireless Internet access for a reasonable fee
  • New Bowling Alley (fully automated)
  • Table Tennis room
  • Sports and Games Room with a Billiards Table
  • Air Hockey
  • New large gymnasium (11 x 22m), equipped for:
    • Volleyball
    • Handball
    • Basketball
    • Badminton

Excursions

Within easy access

  • Spa and Spa Gardens
  • Natur-Ice rink (dependent on weather)
  • Summer Toboggan ("Brockencoaster")
  • Brocken Hiking Trail
  • Educational Hiking Path
  • Harz National Park
  • Ski and Sled Rentals
  • Mountain Bike Rentals
  • Rock Climbing

In the greater area

  • "Löwenzahn-Explorer’s Trail“ in Drei Annen Hohne (ca. 8 km)
  • Brocken peak with alpine garden and museum (ca. 2 hours by foot, 30 min. with the "Brockenbahn," departing from Schierke)
  • Wernigerode with its historical town center, town hall, castle, thermal baths, and park (ca. 19 km)
  • Wurmberg with Cable Cars in Braunlage and the "Monsterroller"- Winter Sports Center (ca. 11 km)
  • “Harzkristall“ Glass Manufacturing Plant at Derenburg (ca. 27 km)
  • 3 Kronen und Ehrt“ mining operations (open to visitors) and "Büchenberg" (observational mine) in Elbingerode (ca. 14 km)
  • Flowstone caves in Rübeland (ca. 17 km) (Hermann’s Cave and Baumann’s Cave)
  • “Hexentanzplatz“ (Witches’ Circle) with a zoo and interactive park, in Thale (ca. 48 km)
  • Cycling paths