With some terrific day trip options available in the surrounding area, renting a car makes good sense. Without one, it wouldn’t be half as easy to soak up all that Thale, 17 miles away, has to offer. Among the first stops you make here should be Harzer Bergtheater, Rappbodetalsperre and Bode Gorge. Locals will also likely point you toward Quedlinburg, 20 miles away. If you only have time for one thing here, let it be Quedlinburg Castle. (But we’re also huge fans of Quedlinburg Cathedral and St Nikolai Church.)