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
geocalia
Day itinerary · 50.92° N · 14.15° E
The Bastei and Königstein in a day from Prague, a fortress on the rock and the most photographed bridge in Saxony.
A little over an hour and a half by car from Prague for Königstein fortress, lunch with a view of the Elbe at the Panoramarestaurant and the afternoon on the Bastei bridge.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Praga fromBarcelona 2 h 30Bilbao 2 h 45Palma de Mallorca 2 h 45Alicante 3 hMadrid 3 hMálaga 3 h 30Sevilla 3 h 30Lanzarote 5 hFuerteventura 5 h 15Gran Canaria 5 h 15
Part of Saxon SwitzerlandElbe Sandstone Mountains
Add to my trip
Total time11 h
By car1 h 45 each way
CarAbout 130 km from Prague
Fortress€15 in winter, €17 from March
BasteiFree, no opening hours
DifficultyEasy
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Prague 1 h 45 by car
take the D8 motorway and the A17 · park at the foot of the fortress (€13 a day)
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1
Königstein Fortress, on a sandstone plateau
opens at 9:00 · entry €15 in winter, €17 from 20 March
- 30 min by car24,1 km
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Panoramarestaurant Bastei
book a table · open daily from 12:00 to 22:00
Bastei, 01847 Lohmen · +49 35024 7790
Restaurant €€€Book - 5 min on foot
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3
The Bastei and its stone bridge over the Elbe
bridge, viewpoints and Neurathen from the outside
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Back home
in Prague around 19:30
Approximate cost
About €35–60 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Königstein Fortress, on a sandstone plateau
The Bastei and Königstein are the two big sights of Saxon Switzerland and are less than ten kilometres apart, on different sides of the Elbe. From Prague you reach them by car in a little over an hour and a half on the motorway. This plan starts with the fortress, when it opens and is quiet, eats with a view at the Bastei panoramic restaurant and leaves the bridge for the afternoon, when the groups leave.
The day, hour by hour
8:00 · Leave Prague. On the D8 towards Ústí nad Labem and the German A17. Park at the foot of the fortress: €2 the first hour, €8 up to four hours, €13 for the day.
9:45 · Königstein fortress. Open from 9:00 all year. Walk right round the wall, with the Bastei and the Lilienstein on the other side of the river, and go into the exhibitions. The lift is included in the ticket: €15 in winter, €17 on Advent weekends and from 20 March 2027; under-7s free. Allow three hours.
13:00 · Lunch at the Panoramarestaurant Bastei. Half an hour by car crossing the Elbe to Basteistraße. The dining room has big windows over the river; order the Dresden Sauerbraten or the venison goulash. From November to December, St Martin's goose, ordered two days ahead. Book.
15:00 · The Bastei. On foot from the restaurant: the stone bridge of 1851, the viewpoints and, from outside, the remains of Neurathen castle. If you have legs left, go down towards Rathen and climb back up.
17:30 · Journey back. You reach Prague around 19:30.
With children or in the rain
The fortress is the part children like best, with walls, a lift and plenty of space. The Bastei can be seen in an hour. In the rain, swap the afternoon for the Toskana Therme in Bad Schandau, upriver.
Time3 h
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
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
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
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Saxon Switzerland
All year: the fortress is open daily and the Bastei has no opening hours. From April to October there is a shuttle to the Bastei car park and the Festungsexpress runs from the village. On summer weekends the Bastei fills up at midday; this plan leaves it for the afternoon.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Start with the fortress
First thing there are fewer people and the Bastei is better enjoyed last thing.
- 2Book the table
The restaurant is large, but at weekends it fills up.
- 3Check the Bastei notices
The tourist office publishes closures and works.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Prague to the Bastei?
A little over an hour and a half by car, about 130 km.
How much does the day cost?
Fortress €15–17, lunch €35–60 and car parks; the Bastei is free.
Can it be done by train?
Yes, with the EC to Bad Schandau and the S-Bahn S1, but it takes longer.
Are they open in winter?
Yes: the fortress is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00 and the Bastei never closes.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/germany/saxony/saxon-switzerland/itineraries/bastei-koenigstein-day-from-prague
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.