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Things to do in Bad Schandau

Our most recommended things to do in Bad Schandau

Bad Schandau: Saxon Switzerland Steamer Tour

1. 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.

Bad Schandau/Dresden: Saxon Switzerland Boat Trip

2. Bad Schandau/Dresden: 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.

Bad Schandau: Scavenger Hunt through Saxon Switzerland

3. 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.

From Prague: Small-Group Bastei Tour and Thermal Bath Access

4. From Prague: Small-Group Bastei Tour and Thermal Bath Access

Combine nature and relaxation on this day tour from Prague which will take you to the best natural wonders and thermal spas in Saxon Switzerland. After getting picked up from your hotel, travel in a comfortable minivan with wifi, accompanied by an expert guide. Your first stop will be at the Bastei rock formation. Enjoy panoramic views of the Elbe Canyon and River and walk across the famous sandstone bridge that connects Bastei and the ruins of an old Neurathen rock castle. You can also admire an abundance of incredible sandstone pillars that are part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, a key part of Saxon Switzerland's unique beauty. After your hike, enjoy a delicious lunch at a traditional German restaurant. Later, relax in the thermal waters of Toskana Therme thermal baths. Marvel at the colorful lights, underwater music and moving projections of the Liquid Sound Temple or relax in the warmth of one of the multiple saunas. Enjoy access to 4 indoor pools with massage loungers, an open-air pool with amazing views, a whirlpool and children’s pool with a small slide. Destress in one of the saunas, steam baths or Turkish baths and refuel at the onsite restaurant or bar before heading back to Prague.

Saxon Switzerland: Hike and Picnic with Local Produce

5. Saxon Switzerland: Hike and Picnic with Local Produce

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.

Frequently asked questions about Bad Schandau

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What people are saying about Bad Schandau

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 85 reviews

We booked this hike as a mother-daughter trip on Mother's Day. The group of 8 people including the guide was very nice. The tour went to the Zirkelstein and the Kaiserkrone, in between a few small picnic breaks with delicacies from the area. The picnic was very lovingly arranged. Christine was very personable and told us a lot about the Saxon Switzerland National Park. We can only warmly recommend the tour.

It was a very nice trip through Saxon Switzerland, which we can recommend. Unfortunately, there was only a 45-minute stay in Pillnitz, which was just enough for a visit to the castle or a quick trip to the nearby restaurant. The audio guide was included, but we still missed the nice explanations from the captain himself (like before ;-) Food and drinks were self-service.

We were thrilled, a wonderful route. We were also lucky with the weather. Everyone on board was very friendly. The range of cakes or dishes could be a bit bigger. But at least not overpriced. All in all a nice experience.

As expected, very nice! Snack sufficient offer - prices ok. It's a classic steamboat, nice to see the engine at work... we were very happy

Very nice tour along the Schrammsteine in a beautiful landscape