Before I visited in the summer of 2026, I had no idea what to do in Goslar, Germany. In fact, I’d never even heard of the place. Now having been here, I’m actually shocked that it’s not talked about more. This place is adorable!
This post will show you all the best things to do and see in Goslar and help you plan your trip with my favorite hotel, restaurant, and transportation recommendations. Enjoy!
Map of what to do in Goslar
This map contains all the things to do in Goslar I mention in this post (including restaurants, hotels, and logistical concerns). To save this map: Click on the star ⭑ next to the map’s title to save in your Google Maps. To use this map: When you get here, open Google Maps on your phone, click “Saved” at the bottom, then click “Maps.”
Why visit Goslar, Germany?
There are a few different reasons someone would want to visit Goslar, Germany. For me, it was to drink gose beer in the place where it came from. And if that’s something that interests you too, definitely check out my guide on where to drink gose in Goslar.
Beyond beer, Goslar is a brilliantly-preserved medieval town out of your every fairytale travel dream. So many people flock to places like Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Füssen, and other cities on Germany’s “Romantic Road” for their half-timbered houses and fairytale feel. But almost no one talks about Goslar which has all the same medieval vibes but without the busloads of pushy tourists.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
In fact, the historic town of Goslar (thanks in large part to its “water management system”) has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. So if the “process of extracting ore for the production of non-ferrous metals” doesn’t entice you to visit, I don’t know what will.
Here are some fast facts about Goslar:
- Goslar is located in Lower Saxony, Germany at the base of the Harz Mountains.
- The city was founded as protection for the silver mines that had been discovered here.
- From the 10th-12th centuries, Goslar was one of the seats of the Holy Roman Empire.
- Its medieval old town includes around 1,500 perfectly preserved half-timbered houses (mostly because it miraculously avoided being targeted by Allied bombing raids in World War II).
Gose beer
Goslar is the birthplace of the gose beer style—a “sour wheat beer” that’s only slightly tart but slightly salty thanks to the saline waters of the Gose river. At one time, gose beer was the city’s biggest economic and trade staple, but eventually its popularity waned and production ended. Fast forward to the 1990s when a local brewer decided to revive the medieval style of beer for which this town is famous. So now, you can once again drink gose in Goslar.
How to get to Goslar
Maybe Goslar remains an off-the-beaten-path destination because it is, literally, not all that well-connected to Germany’s bigger cities. Getting here definitely isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but it’s worth a visit.
Driving to Goslar
If you have your own rental car, getting to Goslar won’t be difficult at all (though it’ll probably take some time depending on where you are). Goslar is about a:
- 2-hour drive from Leipzig
- 2-hour 45-minute drive from Dresden
- 3-hour drive from Berlin
- 3-hour drive from Hamburg
- 3-hour 15-minute drive from Frankfurt
Once here, you can either book a hotel that offers parking, or park at one of the public parking garages around town like Parkhaus am Zentrum. (On the map at the top of this page.)
Rent a car here if you need one. (This is the site I use to book my rental cars.)
Taking the train to Goslar
Taking the train to Goslar is what’s going to require a little more planning and patience. This is how I traveled to Goslar in July 2026. Starting in Frankfurt, it took me around 5 hours and three trains to make it to Goslar. And that was only after Deutsche Bahn canceled my original multi-point journey and I had to come up with an entire new route from scratch.
From wherever you’ll be starting out, there’s going to be what seems like an infinite number of ways to get to Goslar. For me, it was Frankfurt airport > Frankfurt Hbf > Gottingen > Goslar. I highly recommend plotting out a few different courses and having an entire backup journey planned just in case.
You’ll have to travel through smaller towns to get here, which means even if only one leg of your trip is delayed or canceled, that could very well screw the whole thing up. Don’t forget to factor in extra time at each transfer to allow for delays.
Check out train routes and schedules here, and may the odds be ever in your favor.
Getting around Goslar
Once you’re here, you’ll be able to walk just about everywhere from in and around the town center. Only one site (the Rammelsberg Mines) requires you to either drive or take the bus, unless you’re okay walking the 40 minutes it takes you get here from town.
If you’ll be driving yourself, you can park for free outside the museum. If you want to take public transportation, you can take bus 803 from the train station and get off at the “Bergbaumuseum” stop. Scroll to the bottom of this page to get the most up-to-date bus timetables.
Where to stay in Goslar
Even though Goslar is pretty small, it still has a ton of great hotels to choose from. Here are a few options to get you started:
- Akzent Hotel Villa Saxer – This is where I stayed in July 2026 and I loved it. Great central location from which I could walk everywhere, big comfy room and a huge bathroom, and a friendly staff. Highly recommend.
- Hotel Schwiecheldthaus – Excellent reviews, spacious modern rooms, very close to the center of town
- Hotel Niedersächsischer Hof – Large hotel right by the train station, big rooms, and more excellent reviews
Check out all Goslar hotel options here.
How long to spend in Goslar
Goslar is relatively small and I’d guess you could see and do everything on this list in two full days.
I wouldn’t recommend a day trip to Goslar because it’s neither fast, easy, nor convenient to get to. One day would still be too little in order to see everything here. Three days would probably be overkill unless you’re really looking to just take it super easy for a few days. Two days would be just right. In fact, Goldilocks is probably around here somewhere…
Things to do in Goslar
This list of what to do in Goslar includes all the best things to do and see, some great tours, and more.
1. Drink gose
As a beer drinker who came here specifically to drink gose, I may be a little biased. But really, if you’re a beer afficionado to any degree, you can’t come to Goslar and not drink gose.
Read my post on this topic here first, and when you’re ready, head over to Brauhaus Goslar, the only gose brewery left in Goslar. They have indoor and outdoor seating with great town center views and a full menu of local specialties and more.
2. Explore the medieval Altstadt (Old Town)
Goslar is filled with preserved half-timbered houses and other gorgeous buildings from the Middle Ages. One of my favorite things to do here is to just wander around town and see what cool things you can find. (I found a witch’s house last time!) The Goslar Altstadt (Old Town) is mostly a pedestrian zone with lots of hidden alleyways and interesting shortcuts. Within the Altstadt, here are a few notable things to look out for:
3. Check out the Marktplatz
This is the main square at the heart of the Old Town, marked by a cool cobblestone design and a fountain in the center. There’s a tourist information center here and some very unique buildings. This also makes a great starting point for your exploration or a great meeting point for later.
4. Watch the Glockenspiel
In the Marktplatz, find the gray Hotel Schiefer on the eastern side. The three windows at the top are the Glockenspiel. Every day at 9am, 12pm, 3pm, and 6pm, the clock puts on a show. The bells make music while animated figures emerge from the doors to tell the story of mining in Goslar.
5. Check out the Market Square fountain
The fountain in the center of the Marktplatz is made up of three parts, the oldest of which dates back to the 12th century. It’s topped by a golden eagle (the symbol of Goslar) and marks the center of the city.
6. Find the guy pooping money
You read that right. On the front left corner of the bright orange Kaiserworth building, you can find something you probably won’t see anywhere else—the sculpture of a man pooping coins. Set among the other ornate details is the Dukatenmännchen—the body of a naked man, balls to the wall, spreading his cheeks with coins coming out of his butt.
This cheeky little fella and the building he’s rubbing his testicles on date all the way back to the 1400s. This building—the former merchant guildhall—was once one of the wealthiest in the area. The origin of this little guy is pretty much a mystery lost to the centuries, but that just means you get to make up your own hilarious stories.
7. Climb the church tower
At the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian (right across from the Brauhaus), you can climb the Himmelsleiter (“Stairway to Heaven”) which is just a fancy name for the church tower. Hours vary throughout the year, but for a few hours each day you can climb to the top for excellent views over Goslar for just a few euros.
8. Peep the public art
One thing that amazed me was how much interesting modern public art you can find around such a traditional old town. It definitely adds a whole ‘other dimension to Goslar’s Altstadt. My favorite piece is what’s called Goslarer Nagelkopf “Goslar Nail Head” by artist Rainer Kriester. The other piece you can’t miss is the Rosentor sculptures—“Man with Cane and Woman with Umbrella.”
9. Walk along the Abzucht
The Abzucht “river” (more of stream really) flows through Goslar and you can walk the scenic walking path along it. You’ll pass picturesque medieval buildings, historical sites, and more. Several of Goslar’s museums are found on this route, as is the Lohmühle—a centuries-old bark mill.
10. Check out the historic fortifications
Until the 12th century, Goslar was surrounded by a fortified city wall. Many of these fortifications are still around and very well preserved. Start at the Breite Tor (one of the original four city gates) where you can find a full outline of the city walls and where to find all the stops. At each of them, there are information panels explaining the history.
11. Visit the Rammelsberg Mines
One of the most popular things to do in Goslar is visit the Rammelsberg Mines, a major part of the city’s UNESCO designation. Though it closed as a mine in 1988, these copper, lead, and tin mines operated continuously for over 1,000 years. Today, you can visit the Rammelsberg mine museum and take one of several guided tours of the former mine itself.
This is the one place in town you’ll need to either drive to, take the bus to, or you can walk but it’s about 40-45 minutes from the town center. You can park for free outside the museum. Or you can take bus 803 from the train station and get off at the “Bergbaumuseum” stop. Scroll to the bottom of this page to get the most up-to-date bus timetables.
12. Explore the Imperial Palace (Kaiserpfalz)
Back in town, you can explore the Imperial Palace of Goslar (Kaiserpfalz). Built between 1040 and 1050, it’s the perfect indicator of how important this town was back in its mining heyday. There are tons of fancy things to see here like the Imperial Hall, the Palatine Chapel with Holy Roman emperor tombs, the cathedral, and much more. You can opt for a guided tour or an audio guide for a self-guided visit.
13. Take a walking tour
To see tons of the things I’ve mentioned already, you can even opt for one of several different walking tours around Goslar (if you speak German as these tours are offered in German only). Here are the most popular options:
14. Ride the Goslarer Bimmelbahn
If you’d like to see some great stuff without all the walking, hitch a ride on the Goslarer Bimmelbahn. This is essentially your typical tourist choo-choo train that drive you around town to some notable locations.
More info for your trip to Germany
Like this post? Have more questions about what to do in Goslar? Let me know in the comments below. Have fun in Germany!
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