On the German-Czech border you will find a the national park Sächsische Schweiz. This impressive park is one of the most beautiful places in Germany. You will find high mountain peaks, steep rock formations and endless views. So it is not surprising that you can hike one of the most beautiful hikes in Europe here. In addition, it is perfect to combine with a city trip tor Dresden or Prague. Read on to discover the best sights and our favourite addresses! Is your next adventure going to Saxon Switzerlandz?
Table of contents: Sights of Saxon Switzerland
The top 5 sights in Saxon Switzerland
1. Walk the Malerweg route
2. Visit the Bastei bridge
3. Take a walking tour through Saxon Switzerland National Park
4. Opt for short walks to fantastic picnic spots
5. Go climbing in Saxon Switzerland
Practical tips for planning your trip
- Transport to Saxon Switzerland
- Accommodations in Saxon Switzerland
- Combine Saxon Switzerland with a road trip
The top 5 sights in Saxon Switzerland
Saxon Switzerland is located in the east of Germany in the state of Saxony. If you are a fan of hiking and culture, this is the place for you. There are plenty of sights in this area, making it an ideal holiday spot. Check out the best places to visit in the region and plan your next adventure!
1. Walk the Malerweg route
Through Saxon Switzerland runs the Malerweg. This multi-day trek gets its name from the many painters who walked through the forest to find inspiration for their masterpieces. Do not expect a simple or boring path as the Malerweg route consists of alternating up and down sections, including steps and ladders in typical rocky terrain. Perfect if you like a challenge. Want more information about the Malerweg? Then check out the blog The Malerweg, one of the top 10 most beautiful hikes in Europe.
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2. Visit the Bastei bridge
Close to Stadt Wehlen is the Bastei bridge. This bridge is a well-known tourist attraction which makes it very crowded. We therefore recommend visiting this place early in the morning. If you prefer not to walk to this bridge, you can be taken by covered wagon from Stadt Wehlen. Close to Bastei Bridge is Neurathen Castle which is also worth a visit.
Tip: Going to the Bastei Bridge and want to shoot the best images? Then check out this handy tips for taking photos of the Bastei Bridge.
3. Take a walking tour through Saxon Switzerland National Park
Through Sächsische Schweiz National Park, there are other routes besides the Malerweg. All types of hikers can find a suitable hike route here. From long-distance routes to day trips for the whole family.
4. Opt for short walks to fantastic picnic spots
There are also several nature spots you can easily get to by car. It is a short half-hour walk from the car parks to one of these dreamy picnic spots:
- Gohrisch: Perfect for sunrise and sunset.
Park the car at ‘Wanderparkplatz Gohrisch/Papststein’ and from there it is about a 20-minute walk - the walking route is signposted. - Gamrig: Park your car at ‘Wandelparkplatz Gamrig’ and from there it's about a 15-minute walk - the walking route is signposted.
- Grosser Bärenstein: Park your car at ‘Parkplatz Bärensteine’ and from there it's about a 25-minute walk - the walking route is signposted.
- Herkulessäulen: Park your car at ‘Wandparkplatz Ottomühle’ and from there it's about a 5-minute walk - the walking route is signposted.
5. Go climbing in Saxon Switzerland
Do you really want to go on an adventure? Then check out the different climbing options! Saxon Switzerland is a fantastic place for rock climbing and/or bouldering. On the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, ‘Freeclimbing’ has practically been discovered. There are around 17,000 climbing routes of varying degrees of difficulty in the nature reserve. Are you not an experienced climber? Then don't let that stop you because there are many routes suitable for novice climbers.
Want to spend a full day climbing? Then let the tourist information office inform you about the different options. This can be done in Stadt Wehlen but also further out in the nature reserve in the town of Hohnstein or at one of the local guesthouses.
Getyourguide.co.uk
Would you like to know more about the sights in Saxon Switzerland? Various tours are offered from Dresden via getyourguide.co.uk. You can also easily pre-order your book hikes.
Practical tips for planning your trip
Transport to Saxon Switzerland
The national park is easy to reach by both car and public transport. From the Netherlands, drive towards Dresden or Pirna by car. If you opt for the train, you go the same way! From the Netherlands, you can travel by train to Dresden and then from Dresden by train to the exact area you want to visit. Check out the site of NSInternational for current times and prices.
Accommodations in Saxon Switzerland
We stayed at Pension Buschmühle. This hotel is 2 km from Ohorn & just a 30-minute drive from Dresden. This guest house is incredibly nice and run by passionate climbers, who also organise climbing trips from their accommodation.
We have visited this area in Germany twice and also stayed at Landhotel Gut Wildberg. We had just come from the hustle and bustle of Berlin at the time and were looking for an idyllic, quiet spot outside the city, where a swimming pool was a must-have given the heatwave. Landhotel Gut Wildberg is the perfect place to recharge. They also have a spa, you can rent bikes and go horse riding. And... that's 20 minutes away from the heart of Dresden.
Is this not for you or would you rather have accommodation in downtown Dresden? Then check out all the options at booking.com.
Combine Saxon Switzerland with a road trip
You can also add a visit to the nature reserve as part of your road trip. For example, in combination with a city trip to Cologne, Dresden or Prague. If you want to know more about this, let us know!
Check out reisstel.nl's cool blog if you want to combine a visit to Sächsische Schweiz with a visit to the Geierlay suspension bridge in Germany.
Want to know more about these trip afterr or has anything changed from the above text? Please let us know at [email protected]. Need more travel inspiration? Take a look at our landing page.