The Bastei and its stone bridge over the Elbe
2 hAll ages; from Rathen, steep stepsAll year, no opening hours
Viewpoint · 1–3 h · Free · All year · The 1851 bridge between sandstone pinnacles, 194 m above the river
Stay2–3 nights
Best timeMay – October
RegionSaxony
What to do
What to do in Saxon Switzerland
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Königstein Fortress, on a sandstone plateau
3 hAll ages; under-7s freeDog-friendlyAll year; April to October 9:00 to 18:00, November to March 9:00 to 17:00
Visit · 3 h · From €15 · All year · A whole fortress at the top of a rock table, with walls overlooking the Elbe
From €15
Book
Kirnitzschtal tram to the Lichtenhainer Wasserfall and the climb to the Kuhstall
3 h 30Families; the final stretch to the arch has stepsAll year; summer timetable from 28 March to 1 November 2026, every 30 minutes
Tram and walk · 3–4 h · From €7 · All year · An 1898 tram through the valley and 30 minutes of forest to the largest rock arch in the area
From €7
How to do it
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Plan the trip
Saxon Switzerland, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Saxon Switzerland
From May to October for walking and climbing; in autumn the forests change colour. In winter you can walk, but some staircases and passes may be icy.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Saxon Switzerland your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
Saxon Switzerland without a car
Saxon Switzerland is one of the few mountain parks that are better explored without a car. The S1 S-Bahn follows the Elbe from Dresden to Rathen, Königstein, Bad Schandau and Schmilka; ferries cross the river; the Kirnitzschtal tram climbs the valley to the Lichtenhainer Wasserfall, and buses reach the upper villages. If you sleep in the area, the guest card you are given when you pay the tourist tax makes the VVO transport association's public transport free throughout Saxon Switzerland.
60–200 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayHotel Elbresidenz an der Therme…
- Getting aroundS1 S-Bahn from Dresden through…
- Where to eatPanoramarestaurant Bastei, next to the…
- ServicesBad Schandau station, with direct…
Where to stay
- Hotel Elbresidenz an der Therme, in Bad Schandau, with the station ferry at the door
- Camping & Pension Ostrauer Mühle, with the Kirnitzschtal tram stop in front
- Berghotel Bastei, by bus or on foot from Kurort Rathen
Getting around
- S1 S-Bahn from Dresden through the Elbe valley, every half hour
- Ferries at Rathen, Bad Schandau and Schmilka
- Kirnitzschtalbahn from Bad Schandau to the Lichtenhainer Wasserfall, 30 minutes
- Festungsexpress from Königstein to the fortress, April to October
Where to eat
- Panoramarestaurant Bastei, next to the bridge, every day
- Bergwirtschaft Kuhstall, 30 minutes' walk from the tram
- Gasthof zur Mühle, in Schmilka, a ferry ride from the S-Bahn
Services
- Bad Schandau station, with direct EC trains to Berlin and Prague and the S-Bahn to Dresden
- Saxon Switzerland guest card, with free VVO transport
Fly to Prague, Berlin or Dresden and take the train to Saxon Switzerland
You reach Saxon Switzerland by flying to Prague or Berlin, both with direct flights from several Spanish cities, or to Dresden, with far fewer connections from Spain. From all three you continue by train: Bad Schandau, the gateway to the national park, is on the line of the EC trains that link Berlin, Dresden and Prague, and the Dresden S-Bahn runs along the valley every half hour. You do not need a hire car.
- Getting therePrague Airport (PRG): to Prague…
- Getting aroundS1 S-Bahn through the Elbe…
- Where to stayHotel Elbresidenz an der Therme…
- ServicesBad Schandau station, on the…
Getting there
- Prague Airport (PRG): to Prague main station and direct EC to Bad Schandau
- Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER): train to Berlin Hauptbahnhof and direct EC to Bad Schandau
- Dresden Airport (DRS): S-Bahn to Dresden Hauptbahnhof and the S1 towards Bad Schandau
- The Hotel Elbresidenz arranges transfers from Dresden and Prague airports, at a separate price
Getting around
- S1 S-Bahn through the Elbe valley
- Ferries and the Kirnitzschtal tram
- Hire car only if you want the upper villages in a hurry
Where to stay
- Hotel Elbresidenz an der Therme, in Bad Schandau, a ferry ride from the station: a good first night if you arrive late
- Berghotel Bastei, to begin the trip with the Bastei empty at dawn
Services
- Bad Schandau station, on the Berlin–Dresden–Prague line
- Dresden Hauptbahnhof, for the S1 S-Bahn
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Where to stay
Where to stay without a carif you're flying
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Berghotel Bastei
Why we like it: 64-room family hotel on the Bastei plateau, next to the bridge, with a panoramic restaurant, a sauna with views and free public transport around the area.
From €132
View details
Hotel Elbresidenz an der Therme Bad Schandau
Why we like it: Grand 207-room hotel on Bad Schandau's market square, on the bank of the Elbe, with unlimited entry to the Toskana Therme and the ferry at the door.
Camping & Pension Ostrauer Mühle
Why we like it: Year-round campsite in the Kirnitzsch valley, with the tram at the gate, its own inn and guesthouse rooms; from €10 per person per night.
Where to eat
Where to eat in Saxon Switzerland
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Bergwirtschaft Kuhstall
What to order: a soup of the day and the Brotzeit, the board of cold cuts and bread; ice cream for the children
In winter it opens only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
Panoramarestaurant Bastei
What to order: the Dresden Sauerbraten with red cabbage and Klöße, or the venison goulash; from November to December, the St Martin's goose ordered two days ahead
Gasthof zur Mühle, Schmilka
What to order: an organic house beer with a hot soup or a grilled sausage, and something sweet from the mill bakery
Nearby
Near Saxon Switzerland
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
50.87° N · 14.24° E
Bohemian Switzerland
By planeCar-freeBy car
51.05° N · 13.74° E
Dresden
Car-freeBy plane
50.53° N · 14.13° E
Litoměřice
By planeCar-freeBy car
50.51° N · 14.15° E
Terezín
By planeCar-freeBy car
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Use the train and the ferry
Parking next to the Bastei is difficult; from Kurort Rathen you walk up.
- 2Do the Malerweg in stages
Choose one or two stages and come back by train.
- 3Stick to the marked paths
In the National Park you may only walk on the marked routes.
The Bastei on a Sunday at noon
That is when it is most crowded. At first light or at the end of the day it is far more enjoyable.
Getting there from Spain
Fly to Dresden, Prague or Berlin. From Dresden main station, the S-Bahn follows the Elbe to Pirna, Kurort Rathen, Königstein and Bad Schandau, the gateway to the National Park. For the Bastei, get off at Kurort Rathen and cross the river by ferry.
Getting around the region
You can get around very well without a car: train along the valley, ferries to cross the Elbe and hiking buses to the upland villages. The Malerweg, the painters' trail, is a multi-stage route that starts and ends near Pirna; it can be done in day-long sections.
What to do, where to eat and sleep
The essentials are the Bastei and its bridge, free and always open, and Königstein Fortress, one S-Bahn stop away. From Bad Schandau, the Kirnitzschtal tram leaves you half an hour's walk from the Kuhstall arch. For serious walking, stage 4 of the Malerweg through the Schrammsteine; to try the rock, a beginner climbing day, and for a rainy day, the Toskana Therme.
To eat, the Bergwirtschaft Kuhstall next to the arch, the Panoramarestaurant Bastei above the Elbe and the Gasthof zur Mühle in Schmilka, with its own beer. To sleep, the Berghotel Bastei beside the bridge, the Elbresidenz on the square in Bad Schandau or the Ostrauer Mühle campsite, open all year.
Crowds and what to check beforehand
The Bastei is the most visited spot and fills up at weekends; arrive early. Before you go, check the restrictions currently in force on the region's tourism website: there are notices about the Bastei bridge and about path closures.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I get there from Dresden?
By S-Bahn along the Elbe valley to Kurort Rathen or Bad Schandau, in less than an hour.
What is the Malerweg?
A multi-stage hiking route through Saxon Switzerland, past the landscapes painted by the Romantic artists.
Do you need a car?
No. The train, the ferries and the hiking buses cover the main sights.
Are there restrictions at the Bastei?
The tourist office publishes notices about the Bastei bridge: check them before you go.