Our most recommended things to do in Bad Schandau

From Dresden: Saxon Switzerland National Park Full-Day Trip

1. From Dresden: Saxon Switzerland National Park Full-Day Trip

Explore the bizarre rocky landscape of the Saxon Switzerland National Park on a panoramic double-decker bus tour from Dresden. Marvel at the Bastei lookout rock, the world-famous Bastei Bridge, and the breathtaking circular route of the Königstein Fortress. Gather at the meeting point in Dresden then set off toward the picturesque Saxon Switzerland National Park. Swiss painters discovered the sandstone cliffs as a landscape backdrop more than 200 years ago, and the park's well-known natural highlights such as Schrammsteine, Rathen, and the Kirnitzschtal have inspired numerous artists, including Caspar David Friedrich and Richard Wagner. On this tour, go directly into and through the national park with your German-speaking guide. Soak up stunning panoramic views throughout, especially from the Bastei lookout rock (entry included). Explore the Königstein Fortress, one of the largest fortifications in Europe (entry not included). To conclude your tour, you can either return to Dresden by simply staying on the bus, or you can take an optional boat ride back to the city on the oldest and largest side-wheel steamer fleet in the world. The boat ride is not included and can only be purchased onsite.

From Prague: Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland Full-Day Tour

2. From Prague: Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland Full-Day Tour

Explore Bohemia and the Saxon Switzerland National Park on a full day from Prague. See the Bastei Bridge, Pravcicka Gate, Kamenice Gorge, and more with a guide. After being picked up from Prague head to the heart of Bohemia and the Saxon Switzerland National Park, the youngest national park in the Czech Republic. Make a stop at the Bastei Bridge (the German side of the park), perched high above the River Elbe. Enjoy stunning views as you walk across the bridge. Then, continue to Pravcicka Gate on the Czech Republic side of the park. Admire Europe’s largest natural sandstone gate. Pause for lunch (included), before transferring to Kamenice Gorge. You will board a small dinghy for a scenic journey through a canyon carved deep in the sandstone cliffs.

From Prague: Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland Day Trip

3. From Prague: Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland Day Trip

Choose from a hiking tour, a fantasy highlights tour and a winter tour, and discover Prague in a unique way. Visit National Parks, ancient castles, or snow-covered landscapes. Learn about your surroundings from your local expert guide. Your guide will pick you up from your Prague accommodation early in the morning. Enjoy the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle while learning about Czech culture, history, and the main highlights on your way to the national park. Taste snacks and enjoy beverages throughout the entire day.  Enjoy an abundance of time to admire the filming sites of the 'Chronicles of Narnia' movie in a group of a maximum of 10 persons. Spend an unforgettable day in the Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland National Park, one of the unique natural reserves in Europe, by choosing one of the following Tour options:  Hiking Tour Choose this tour if you want to see the main highlights of both National Parks. Visit two countries in one day. The first destination is the magnificent Bastei Bridge. Feast on the breathtaking views of the Elbe river canyon, surrounded by unique sandstone rock formations. Then enjoy the rolling landscape full of tiny German villages and famous table mountains. The following hike brings you near the main symbol of Bohemian Switzerland — the Pravcicka Gate — the largest sandstone arch in Europe. After tasting the rich local cuisine (lunch included), sail on gondola-style boats through the soothing Kamenice river gorge (a 12-hour, 10-kilometer active hike). Fantasy Highlights Tour This tour brings together the two main fantasy filming sites of the region. Visit Saxon Switzerland and walk across the magnificent Bastei bridge and visit Neurathen Castle ruins. Cross to Bohemian Switzerland and adore the amazing views from the Sneznik lookout tower. Enjoy a tasty lunch (included) in a local restaurant and continue to experience Narnia while hiking through the sandstone labyrinth of Tyssa Walls (a 10-hour, 9-kilometer moderate hike).  Winter Tour Go on this tour for an active winter visit to the region. Marvel at the beauty of snow-covered sandstone towers. Stroll across the Bastei Bridge to reach the medieval ruins of Neurathen Castle. Enjoy the Pravcicka Gate during the season pictured in Narnia. Hot beverages and lunch in a local restaurant (included) will help you regain all your energy (10-hour, 7-kilometer moderate hike).

Dresden: Königstein Fortress Paddle Steamer Cruise

4. Dresden: Königstein Fortress Paddle Steamer Cruise

Witness the versatility of „Dresden Elbe” and the Saxon Switzerland with a cruise between Dresden and Königstein. From bizarrely shaped rock formations via opulent wine-growing districts and fascinating baroque palaces through to the unique skyline of Dresden. Only the city center of Dresden, with the Frauenkirche, Semperoper, and the Brühl´s Terrace, presents priceless views. Above that, you can discover the three beautiful Elbe castles and the Pillnitz Palace and Park along the riverbanks of the Elbe while driving.  In Saxon Switzerland await the cities Pirna, Stadt Wehlen and Kurort Rathen and also Königstein to be spotted. Here you can admire the world-famous “Festung Königstein”, which is 250 meters high and looks back at a history of more than 700 years. This tour offers different options for traveling, like a round trip or single trips with start in Dresden or Königstein. Please check the several journey times.

Bad Schandau: Saxon Switzerland Boat Trip

5. Bad Schandau: Saxon Switzerland Boat Trip

Discover a unique landscape from this historic paddle steamer and enjoy the journey along the Elbe River. Admire the prettiest scenes of the Elbe valley in Saxon Switzerland National Park. Choose from a return trip starting in Bad Schaundau or a one-way trip from Dresden. 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 Dresden: Bohemia and Saxon Switzerland Day Trip

6. From Dresden: Bohemia and Saxon Switzerland Day Trip

Explore Bohemia and the Saxon Switzerland National Park on a full day from Dresden. See the Bastei Bridge, Pravcicka Gate, Kamenice Gorge, and more with a guide. After being picked up from Dresden head to the heart of Bohemia and the Saxon Switzerland National Park, the youngest national park in the Czech Republic. Make a stop at the Bastei Bridge (the German side of the park), perched high above the River Elbe. Enjoy stunning views as you walk across the bridge. Then, continue to Pravcicka Gate on the Czech Republic side of the park. Admire Europe’s largest natural sandstone gate. Pause for lunch, before transferring to Kamenice Gorge. You will board a small dinghy for a scenic journey through a canyon carved deep in the sandstone cliffs.

Bad Schandau: Saxon Switzerland Steamer Tour

7. Bad Schandau: Saxon Switzerland Steamer Tour

From May to the end of October, this boat trip departs Bad Schandau every Friday and Saturday 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.

From Dresden: Bohemian & Saxon Switzerland Day Trip

8. From Dresden: Bohemian & Saxon Switzerland Day Trip

Your local guide will pick you up at your Dresden accommodation early in the morning. From here you will set off to the National Park as you enjoy the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle whilst learning about local culture, history and the area's main highlights on the way. You will arrive at the Bohemian & Saxon Switzerland just in time to beat the crowds, giving you a more private experience of the place. All the admission and bathroom fees are included and throughout the day you will have the chance to taste delicious beverages and snacks.  On your tour you have will plenty of time to admire the film set of the Chronicles of Narnia movie with your group. Spend an unforgettable day in the Bohemian & Saxon Switzerland National Park - one of the most unique natural reserves of Europe – by choosing one of the following tour options: Best of - Hiking Tour: If you want to see the main highlights of both National Parks this is the right tour for you. Visit two countries in one day! The first destination is the magnificent Bastei Bridge. Feast on the breathtaking views of the Elbe river canyon, surrounded by unique sandstone rock formations. Then enjoy the rolling landscape full of tiny German villages and famous table mountains. The following hike brings you near the main symbol of Bohemian Switzerland - the Pravcicka Gate - the largest sandstone arch in Europe. After tasting the rich local cuisine (lunch included), sail on a gondola-style boat through the soothing Kamenice river gorge (12-hour 10 kilometer active hike). Best of - Winter Edition:  This tour is an ideal choice for someone wanting an active, Winter visit of the region. Marvel at the beauty of snow-covered sandstone towers and stroll across the Bastei Bridge to reach the medieval ruins of Neurathen Castle. Enjoy the Pravcicka Gate during the season pictured in Narnia. Warm up with some delicious hot beverages and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant (10-hour 9-kilometer moderate hike). Fantasy Highlights Tour: Enjoy a tour that brings together the two main fantasy filming sites of the region. First stop will be the amazing Bastei bridge. The breathtaking views of the Elbe River Canyon and the surrounding sandstone formations will be engraved into your memory forever. Next stop, Sneznik lookout tower on the Czech side of the national park. The views will be spectacular. After a delicious lunch in mountain climbers favorite tavern, move into the Tyssa Walls and experience the magic of Narnia Labyrinth (11-hour 9 kilometers moderate hike).

Bohemia & Saxon Switzerland Winter Day Tour from Prague

9. Bohemia & Saxon Switzerland Winter Day Tour from Prague

The 10-hour guided tour from Prague will take you into the heart of Czech Bohemia and Germany’s Saxon Switzerland National Park. Your first stop will be at the Bastei bridge on the Saxon (German) side of the park. Walk across this magnificent bridge perched high above the Elbe River, and marvel at the stunning views that will simply take your breath away. Your day trip then continues on to Pravčická brána on the Czech side of the park. Take a hike up to Pravčická gate, the largest natural sandstone gate in Europe. There will be time for a break and for you to enjoy a delicious lunch. Afterwards, you can just sit back and relax in comfort on the journey back to Prague.

Bad Schandau: Scavenger Hunt through Saxon Switzerland

10. Bad Schandau: Scavenger Hunt through Saxon Switzerland

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. The Scavenger Hunt Box contains 11 sealed and numbered envelopes. These contain puzzles that need to be solved. Guided by clear and unambiguous directions, make your way through Bad Schandau and the Kirnitzschtal. Solve the puzzles and let the clues lead you to the next destination. Each solved puzzle will yield a number that will tell you which envelope to open next. You will not know in advance what order the scavenger hunt city envelopes need to be opened. The envelopes will also contain detailed background information of each attraction, its history, its current use, and much more. Decide for yourself when to start your Scavenger Hunt through Bad Schandau and the Saxon Switzerland and how much time to spend at each location. Take a break from your Scavenger Hunt whenever you feel like it, or even continue your scavenger hunt on a different day. Order the Box and enjoy this special sightseeing tour whenever you want. Please note that the scavenger box will be shipped to you and needs approximately 5 days.

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What people are saying about Bad Schandau

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 96 reviews

This was such a beautiful experience and the tour guide couldn't of been any better all thanks to Joseph who was the kindest person ever! Joseph is fantastic and would definitely recommend this tour! He was so helpful, knowledgeable and kind! He helped us walk on the snow and made sure we could take the tour at our own pace! Which was appreciated due to my mother having disabilities which was no issue for Joseph who was prepared to help when needed! Thank you for the perfect day trip - love from Scotland from Jennifer and Mum x

I was lucky since my guide Joseph has a background in geography. He is very knowledgeable and introduced the formation of the park in a way of easy understanding. I was the only customer in this trip but didn’t feel awkward at all as Joseph treated me like a friend while in the same time he took care everything very well. I strongly recommend this tour if you are a nature lover and want to see different scenery.

It was a beautiful winter excursion! It had just snowed and the views were stunning. Our guide for the day, William, was amazing! Very funny, helpful and friendly! Pick-up and drop off at the hotel was also a nice plus. Definitely recommend to book with him, especially in the winter!!

Excellent tour. Joseph was great. The hike was wonderful and so beautiful. Joseph was such a help with some of the stairs. Gave us all a hand. Literally. I would recommend to all!

Beautiful nature, comfortable minibus and amazing guide. Would definitely recommend to my friends. Our family had an amazing time! Thanks a lot to our guide Joseph!