# Day trip to the Bastei and Königstein fortress from Prague

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.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/germany/saxony/saxon-switzerland/itineraries/bastei-koenigstein-day-from-prague · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## El día
- 08:00 · Salida: 1 h 45 by car (take the D8 motorway and the A17 · park at the foot of the fortress (€13 a day))
- 09:45 · Königstein Fortress, on a sandstone plateau (opens at 9:00 · entry €15 in winter, €17 from 20 March)
  - 30 min by car, 24,1 km
- 13:00 · Panoramarestaurant Bastei (book a table · open daily from 12:00 to 22:00) · Panoramarestaurant Bastei, €€€
  - 5 min on foot
- 15:00 · The Bastei and its stone bridge over the Elbe (bridge, viewpoints and Neurathen from the outside)
- 17:30 · Vuelta (in Prague around 19:30)

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.

## Cómo llegar

### By car
About 130 km from Prague on the D8 and the A17. At the Bastei, car park 2 near the hotel or car park 1 with a shuttle from April to October.

### Without a car
EC from Prague to Bad Schandau and S-Bahn S1 to Königstein; then S1 to Kurort Rathen, ferry and a walk up to the Bastei. It is possible, but the day gets longer.

## Consejos

### Start with the fortress
First thing there are fewer people and the Bastei is better enjoyed last thing.

### Book the table
The restaurant is large, but at weekends it fills up.

### Check the Bastei notices
The tourist office publishes closures and works.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### 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.