Things to do in

Bad Schandau

Discover a unique landscape from this historic paddle steamer and enjoy the journey along the Elbe River from Bad Schandau to Pillnitz and back. You can admire the prettiest scenes of the Elbe valley in the Nation Park Saxon Switzerland.  Discover the picturesque Old Town with the Canaletto-House and the church St. Marien. Also pay a visit to Sonnenstein Castle for a fantastic view of Pirna. Take a closer look at the 250-meter high Fortress in Koenigstein and the impressive bastion rocks, Basteifelsen, in Kurort Rathen. Settle back and enjoy a delicious cake and specialty coffees while passing small picturesque villages. The National Park Saxon Switzerland, with its diverse flora and fauna, is a paradise for hikers and climbers.

From April to the beginning of November, this 1.5-hour boat trip departs Bad Schandau every Friday and Saturday (May to October) and takes you on a journey along the rock formations of the Saxon Switzerland National Park. Depending on the water level, you can admire the Schrammsteine (a long, strung-out, very jagged group of rocks in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains) and the legendary Sieben Brüder houses in Postelwitz. Alternatively, the paddle steamer travels to Königstein. From the boat, you can see the striking shape of the fortress and Lilienstein on the right-hand side.

Discover the beauty of the National Park Saxon Switzerland and cruise along the Elbe on a half-day boat trip. Travel in a traditional paddle steamer, as you savor the most beautiful scenes of the Elbe Valley.  During the tour from Pirna to Bad Schandau and back you can admire the impressive bastion rocks in the Kurort Rathen. On this day trip, you will also see the gorgeous Pillnitz Castle and the historic city of Dresden. Also, see the natural theater of Felsenbühne Rathen, often described as the most beautiful natural theater in Europe, and the 250-meter tall Fortress in Königstein. This unique monument has a history that goes back more than 750 years.

Enjoy a guided hike through Saxon Switzerland National Park. The 8-10km hike is ideal for beginners and includes breaks along the way. Throughout your hike, you'll be accompanied by a bilingual German/English guide. You can choose from 4 different hiking routes depending on which parts of Saxon Switzerland National Park you'd like to explore. Along the way, you’ll stop for a 3-course picnic made up entirely of local products. Try fresh bread, cheese, seasonal fruits, and vegetables while taking in the views of the sandstone rocks that make up the national park. Your picnic is all sourced locally and helps to support at least 5 local small businesses. The 4 hiking routes available are: Tiny Rocks Above Bad Schandau This tour starts in the scenic village Schöna on a plain high above Bad Schandau. Hike up Kaiserkrone and Zirkelstein to enjoy the breathtaking view of the entire national park. Hidden Rocks and Stunning Views This tour starts in the tiny village of Cunnersdorf with its picturesque old mills along the narrow creek. Follow small paths in dense forest and hike up 3 small sandstone peaks. Gohrisch Sandstone Rock This tour starts in the small town of Gohrisch. Which is the perfect spot to hike up the impressive, highly fissured, and weathered rock of Gohrisch. Discover small gorges and stunning plateaus with a 360° view of the sandstone rocks. Bad Schandau This tour starts at the river Elbe in Bad Schandau, exactly where the region's tourism industry picked up speed with the first steamliner 185-years ago. Hike up a higher plain and take in the views of Schrammstein rocks in the evening lights.

Discover the beautiful town of Bad Schandau in Saxon Switzerland on this exciting scavenger hunt. Ride the historic Kirnitzschtalbahn to the Lichtenhainer Wasserfall for a truly impressive experience. Begin your tour at the National Park train station in Bad Schandau, where you can take the ferry to the city center. After a tour of the village, take the historic passenger elevator up to the Osterrauer Scheibe. Then, travel through the park to the Kirnitzschtalbahn and, if you still have time, up to the Felsentor Kuhstall. Feel free to stop for breaks or refreshments at any time at any of the cafes or restaurants along the route. Your scavenger hunt is individually designed and time-divisible.