Overview
This moderate-grade short walking break covers the Malerweg Trail North, from Dresden to Bad Schandau on the right bank of the Elbe.
The Elbe Sandstone Mountains (also called Saxon Switzerland) are one of Germany’s most beautiful regions, located just a few miles from Dresden. They were named by two Swiss painters who were impressed by the similarity of the area to their own country’s landscapes. You will see bizarre rock formations, walk through ancient woodland picturesque valleys alongside the winding Elbe River. In the Romantic Era, many painters from Switzerland and England discovered this region with its beautiful wilderness.
The two Swiss painters Adrian Zingg and Anton Graff, both of them teachers at the Dresden Academy of Arts, were among the first to discover the unique beauty of the stones, valleys and gorges in 1766. Together with their students, they spent a lot of time in this area. Soon many other artists followed their steps. The most famous painter from this group of nature-loving artists was the German Caspar David Friedrich (1774 – 1840) with his masterpieces ‘View of the Elbe Valley’, ‘Rocky Gorge’ and ‘Wanderer above the Sea of Fog’.
In 2006 the 115km long Painter’s Path (‘Malerweg’) was inaugurated, leading you in the footsteps of these romantic painters.
- Malerweg Trail
- Elbe Sandstones Mountains
- Bastei Bridge
- Dresden
- Bad Schandau
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Dresden
Arrive in Dresden and if time allows explore landmarks such as the Zwinger, a palace complex and gardens in the heart of the city, the Semper Opera House and Dresden Church of Our Lady, known as the Frauenkirche and one of Germany’s most iconic landmarks, rebuilt after the bombing of Dresden in 1945. If time allows, visit Pirna, the gateway to Saxon Switzerland. Stroll through its historic centre with medieval alleys and artfully decorated townhouses. Pirna lies close to Dresden and is easily reached by public transport.
- Accommodation: Hotel Martha Dresden or similar in Dresden
Day 2: Dresden – Lieberthal – Wehlen/Rathen | 12/16km
Take the train and bus (25mins) to the start of your first walking day on the Malerweg trail. Follow the path through sandstone landscapes, and take the time to pause at Bastei Bridge, the most renowned viewpoint in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. Rising 194m above the Elbe River, the bridge offers views over the Elbe River valley, sandstone rock towers and the forested landscape of Saxon Switzerland National Park. End the day in Wehlen or Rathen, depending on availability. Wehlen and Rathen are both small towns on the banks of the River Elbe, with traditional timber houses.
- Walking for the day: 12km, 4h ↑113m ↓146m or 16km, 5-6h, ↑304m ↓314m
- Accommodation: Bed and Breakfast Wehlen or similar in Wehlen or Rathen
Day 3: Wehlen/Rathen – Hohnstein | 11/7km
Descend into Amselgrund valley and continue towards Hockstein Rock, a viewpoint overlooking Hohnstein and its medieval castle. Continue on through Wolfsschlucht Gorge, a narrow ravine with steep sandstone walls, before entering Polenztal Valley. Walk along the Polenz River and follow Schindergraben, a gorge trail with rare mosses and ferns. End the day in Hohnstein, dominated by its castle with traditional houses clustered around the market square.
- Walking for the day: 7km, 3h, ↑237m ↓110m or 11km, 4h, ↑428m ↓278m if starting in Wehlen
- Accommodation: Pension & Gasthaus Polenztal or similar in Hohnstein
Day 4: Hohnstein – Altendorf/Bad Schandau | 15km
Walk to Brand, the iconic viewpoint known as the Balcony of Saxon Switzerland to take in views across the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. Descend the 800 steps, passing through Waitzdorf and Altendorf to reach Kirnitzschtal valley in the afternoon. End the day in Altendorf or Bad Schandau depending on availability.
- Walking for the day: 15km, 5-6h, ↑390m ↓430m
- Accommodation: Landgasthaus Heiterer Blick or similar in Altendorf or Bad Schandau
Day 5: Altendorf/Bad Schandau – Neumannmühle | 18.5km
One of today’s highlights is the Schrammsteine massif, an elongated and rugged rock formation. Follow the Gratweg trail through the Schrammstein massive to reach the viewpoint. Cross the massif along the Gratweg ridge path before following the trail to Lichtenhain Waterfall. Continue to Kuhstall Cave, a natural rock arch once linked to local legends of villagers hiding during times of conflict. End the walk at Neumannmühle, from here take the public bus to your accommodation in Bad Schandau, a German spa town known for its healing mineral springs.
- Walking for the day: 18.5km, 6-7h, ↑440m ↓410m
- Accommodation: Elbhotel Bad Schandau or similar in Bad Schandau
Day 6: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms. Please note that due to limited availability, you may stay for two or three consecutive nights at the same place with train tickets included, which does not affect the walking itinerary. Please note that, in Germany, it is common practice for hotels and other accommodations to join twin beds together to make a double, with separate linen for each person. If you prefer to opt for twin beds, we will happily request this at time of booking, however they can’t always be guaranteed.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Martha Dresden (Dresden)
- Bed and Breakfast Wehlen (Wehlen)
- Pension & Gasthaus Polenztal (Hohnstein)
- Landgasthaus Heiterer Blick (Altendorf)
- Elbhotel Bad Schandau (Bad Schandau)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either from the restaurant in your accommodation or in local restaurants.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is graded moderate and is appropriate for walkers with a good level of fitness and no fear of heights. With daily walking distances ranging from 7-19km (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you only to follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from the beginning of April until the end of October.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date within the season. Although it’s well known for city breaks, Oktoberfest and Christmas markets, Germany’s multi-seasonal treats stretch far beyond these clichés. Germany’s climate is typically northern European, and you can read more about temperatures, rainfall and events in our blog, Best time to go to Germany.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival airport for this holiday is Dresden Airport (DRS).
By train or bus
If you are able to travel to Germany without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with good connections to Dresden Hauptbahnhof. For more details, see the national rail operator, DB or use the Omio planner above.
Dresden Airport: take the S-Bahn S2 train to Dresden Hauptbahnhof (21mins). The platform is in the basement of the airport terminal and is well signposted.
Departure: take a train from Bad Schandau to Dresden Hauptbahnhof (44mins) before connecting to the airport with the S-Bahn S2 train or elsewhere in Europe.
Inclusions
Included
- 5 nights accommodation (double rooms only)
- 5 breakfasts
- Luggage transfers (one piece per person, max 20kg)
- Train tickets for the hiking days
- Tour materials (1 per room): detailed roadbook including maps a navigation app for smartphones and GPS tracks. Please note that no printed documents will be provided on-site.
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Other public transport
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist tax and entrance fees (payable locally)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own.
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights in Bad Schandau and Dresden
