Seilbahnen Thale

Who they are

Seilbahnen Thale GmbH runs the two lifts at Thale, at the entrance to the Bode gorge, in the Harz: the gondola cable car that climbs to the Hexentanzplatz and the chairlift that climbs to the Rosstrappe, the two crags that close off the valley. Beside the lower stations it has a small amusement park, the Spassinsel, with about twenty rides, as well as minigolf, the Hexenkessel and a bike park at the Rosstrappe; at the top, at the Hexentanzplatz, the Harzbob summer toboggan. Its mascot is the witch Gondolina, and the website is in German, English, French, Dutch and Danish.

The two lifts

The cable car (Kabinenbahn) dates from 2012, from the Austrian firm Doppelmayr. It is 728 metres long, climbs from 187 to 431 metres of altitude (244 of vertical rise) with an average gradient of 41% and takes between four and eight minutes depending on the speed. It has 21 six-seat cabins, and ten have armoured glass floors, something the company presents as unique in Germany and northern Europe.

The chairlift (Sessellift) is a fixed-grip double chair from 2005. It is 668 metres long, also rises 244 metres, takes 7 minutes 15 seconds and carries up to 400 people an hour. From the top station there is a half-hour easy walk to the tip of the Rosstrappe, with the hoofprint of the legend and views over the gorge and the Hexentanzplatz. The chairlift also carries bikes up for the bike park; that service ends 15 minutes before closing.

The company itself suggests the order: chairlift to the Rosstrappe and back, a break in the valley, cable car to the Hexentanzplatz, Harzbob and down to the Spassinsel.

Hours and prices

In 2026 it opened daily from 9:30 to 18:00 until 25 October and from 9:30 to 16:30 until 1 November. From 2 November to 24 December everything is closed for inspection, and from 25 December to 10 January it opens daily from 9:30 to 16:30. The cable car does not run for the evening sessions (after 18:00) of the open-air theatre Harzer Bergtheater.

On the cable car, an adult pays €7.50 for the ride up or down and €10.50 return; children aged 4 to 14, €4.50 and €6.50. There are family cards (€19.50 and €29.50 for two adults and two children) and fares for groups from 15 people. Pushchairs and dogs pay €1.50 per journey. On the chairlift, an adult pays €5 and €7, and children €3.50 and €4.50; with the HARZCARD you go up free once. The SuperSpar combined tickets bundle the cable car, chairlift and Harzbob: from €13.50 to €18.50 for adults and from €8.50 to €12.50 for children.

Getting there

The valley stations have no car park of their own: you park at the Bodetal one, at Parkstraße 1a, for €3 a day.