12 Reasons to Visit Saxon Switzerland National Park [2024]

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Saxon Switzerland National Park or Nationalpark Sächsische Schweiz in German, is located in the free state of Saxony, close to Dresden. Here is why you should take a trip to this stunning place.

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I visited the national park on a weekend, spending the night in Bad Schandau and hiking for two days in the nearby region. It’s an amazing experience and a great opportunity to disconnect from the rest of the world and get in touch with nature.

I didn’t get the chance to see all the viewpoints and hike all the trails but in two days I walked around 40 kilometers. And it wasn’t even two full days since I arrived on a Saturday afternoon and left on a Sunday late afternoon. If you have more time to dedicate, do it as it’s absolutely worth it. Also, you can take it slower and enjoy the panorama.

So here are 12 reasons why you should take a weekend off and visit this stunning place that is the Saxon Switzerland National Park.

1. Find unique rock formations

Saxon Switzerland National Park is the only rock national park in Germany and it offers some stunning views of unique rock formations. The park extends over 93.5 square kilometers so there are many places to discover. I had limited time so I couldn’t check them all but there are three of them worth mentioning.

Kuhstall (in English cowshed) is a stone arch located a 30-minute hike from Liechtenhain Waterfall. The arch is part of a massive rock formation with several caves and viewpoints that you can explore. Above it there used to be a castle, New Wildenstein, which is now completely in ruins. You can reach it through a very narrow stairway (Himmelsleiter or stairway to heaven) built in a crevice in the stone. It can be quite scary and the steps are tiny, so pay attention as you go up.

Lilienstein is another massive rock in the middle of the forest, not far from the village of Prossen. If you are traveling by car, there is a parking lot close to the rock and from there you just need to hike for around 20 minutes. If you prefer walking, you can even reach it within one hour and a half walk from Bad Schandau. I did that and I can tell you the hike is beautiful and peaceful.

Bastei is the most scenic and famous spot in the national park. Unfortunately, this means lots of people visiting. Nevertheless, you should plan a stop here. The views pay off for all the inconvenience caused by the crowds. Tall rock formations of all shapes and sizes rise between the trees creating a unique panorama. Check out also the ruins of the Neurathen Castle. The 2€ entrance fee is absolutely worth it. Keep reading for more info on Bastei Bridge.

2. Enjoy panoramic views

There are several summits throughout the park so there’s no lack of stunning panoramic views around here. Most of them, as mentioned earlier, can be enjoyed from the various rock formations across the national park.

Bastei rises 194 meters over the Elbe River and 305 meters above sea level with beautiful views of the forest and other rock formations as well as the river Elbe and the nearby villages on the riverbank.

Kuhstall is located on a 337 meters high rock formation, above the Kirnitzsch valley. This has been a popular tourist attraction since the late nineteenth century and keeps attracting many visitors.

Lilienstein is definitely less frequented by visitors, probably also due to its location. It is less accessible unless you are traveling by car. The fact that it’s less-visited is one of the reasons why I would recommend it. Here you can enjoy the beauty of nature and the silence even more.

3. Walk on a spectacular bridge

Bastei bridge (Basteibrücke in German) is a bridge located on the rock formation with the same name. The bridge became a famous tourist attraction already in 1824 when it was still made of wood. The sandstone bridge as it appears today was built in 1851.

You can reach this place within a 20-minute hike from the nearby town of Rathen, on the river Elbe. The town is connected with the train station of Kurort Rathen, on the other side of the river. One peculiar thing about this whole region is that there are very few bridges over the Elbe so you can only cross the river by boat. There are many crossing points in the main towns along the river.

The hike can be a bit tough so take your time, enjoy the few stops and viewpoints along the way and you will soon reach Bastei Bridge. Don’t forget to visit Neurathen Castle, the entrance is right before the bridge.

4. Elbe River: view from the top, on the ferry or kayaking

There are plenty of viewpoints from where you can get a stunning view of the Elbe River from the top around the national park, with Bastei being probably the most famous and scenic one. Apart from the famous bridge, there are several spots where you can sit and get a view of the river from above. Watch the ferry boats cross the river and check out the small villages on the riverbank. Everything is immersed in the green, with rock formations rising from the trees here and there.

You can also take a ferry, and you will probably need to at some point to cross the river. Apart from the crossing points, there are several cruises available. And if you are feeling more adventurous you can also go kayaking along the Elbe and enjoy the view on your terms.

If you want to join a cruise from Bad Schandau, check out this 4-hour Saxon Switzerland Boat Trip or this lovely 1.5-hour Saxon Switzerland Steamer Tour.

5. Explore small picturesque villages

Obviously, the main reason you would go to a national park is to enjoy nature. Nevertheless, in the 94 square kilometers of this park, you can also find a few small characteristic villages and towns. I won’t go into the details on each one of them but I visited three of them, each one unique in its way.

Bad Schandau is conveniently located somewhere in the middle of the national park, on the river Elbe. I chose to spend the night here which allowed me to explore one day the Bastei and Lilienstein area and another day in the Kirnitzsch valley area. This small spa town is a great destination for a city break, with small streets and colorful buildings as well as its convenient location right at the beginning of the Kirnitzsch Valley. All around there is just nature.

Rathen is a village of around 500 inhabitants, on the river Elbe and right under the Bastei cliffs. It can be reached by ferry boat from the village of Niederrathen situated on the other side of the river and connected by rail with Bad Schandau and Dresden. The little spa village is a chosen destination for its pure air and hiking trails around as well as for the small lake of Amselsee and the Open Air Stage in the middle of the forest in the Wehlgrund valley.

Altendorf is one of the many villages situated on top of the Kirnitzsch valley and can be reached by bus 260 from Bad Schandau but I recommend the hike from the Kirnitzschtal tramway stop Ostrauer Mühle. It’s a very small village but offers some beautiful views. This village together with the nearby ones of Mittelndorf, Lichtenhain, Ottendorf, and Saupsdorf, is part of the Seibnitz municipality.

6. Take the historical Kirnitzschtal tramway

The Kirnitzschtal tramway (Kirnitzschtal Valley Tramway) began operations in 1898 and was already a designated means of transportation for tourists. Since then it has carried visitors along the Kirnitzschtal valley in the Saxon Switzerland National Park, from bad Schandau to Liechtenhain Waterfall. You get to travel in a historical tram all the way while enjoying stunning nature all around.

The trams run along a one-way track, with two points along the way where the changeover of the signal rods takes place. This system has been in place for 45 years and has proven effective in avoiding any accidents.

My suggestion is to choose a daily ticket for 10€ which allows you to have as many rides as you wish (a one-way ticket is 7€ so even for two rides it’s worth it). This way you can choose to get off at any of the nine stops, go for a hike, and take the tram for a few more stops.

If you are visiting on certain special dates, you can even get the chance to ride one of the museum cars of the Kirnitzschtal tramway, which gets polished for the occasion and brought back on track. Here are the 2024 dates:

• April 20/21, 2024: Bahnerlebnistage (Railway experience days)
• May 1st, 2024: Fahrt in den Mai (Trip to May)
• May 18th – 20th, 2024: Pfingstfahrten (Pentecost trips)
• October 3rd, 2024: Fahrt in den Herbst (Journey into fall)

Another important event in the valley takes place on the last weekend of July. This is the Kirnitzschtal Festival (Kirnitzschtalfest), when many games and events take place, including riding the museum cars. In 2024, Kirnitzschtalfest takes place on the 27th and 28th of July.

Check out more details on the official website here.

7. Visit Lichtenhain Waterfall

At the end of your Kirnitzschtal tramway ride, you will find Lichtenhain Waterfall. It’s not some magnificent tall waterfall but it’s definitely a nice sight and it’s conveniently located right next to the tramway station and near a couple of cafés. You can have a rest, have a coffee or a drink, and enjoy the view and sound of the waterfall.

You might find it’s just a tiny stream of water when you get there but from time to time there is a bigger “wave” coming down which makes it more impressive. So patiently wait for it and you will be rewarded with a nice sight.

8. Rock climbing opportunities

If you are passionate about rock climbing, Saxon Switzerland National Park offers many opportunities to practice. With around 1,100 free-standing sandstone rocks that you can climb, there is definitely enough choice, each of them offering breathtaking views.

There are different regions for rock climbing as well as specific rules you need to follow. If you are interested in learning rock climbing, there are also many courses available. Check out the dedicated section on the official website of Saxon Switzerland National Park.

9. Stay fit on the hiking trails

In case it wasn’t clear by now, if you’re going to visit Saxon Switzerland National Park you will not be spending your time lying around and resting.

There are around 1,200 kilometers of designated hiking trails through a variety of landscapes, from forests to valleys and rock formations. These trails will satisfy each person’s needs and abilities. There are shorter and flat ones for beginners and also steep and complex ones for experienced hikers.

You can visit the National Park Center Saxon Switzerland located in Bad Schandau for more insights on the park and for advice on the places to visit. If you don’t have time for this make sure to pick up some of the free guides of the region from the train station in Bad Schandau. I got a few and they proved very useful during my short weekend in the national park.

10. Breathe pure air

In these 94 square kilometers of forests and mountains, you will definitely get a chance to breathe some pure air. Escape the smoggy big cities and treat your lungs with some real oxygen.

Saxon Switzerland National Park is almost entirely covered in forest, with only a few small villages here and there. Enjoy the clean unpolluted air, take some deep breaths, and fill your lungs with oxygen.

The air gets even better when climbing up the high rock formations so that’s a bonus on top of the amazing views you get to feast your eyes upon. Make sure to fully take advantage of these couple of days spent in the middle of nature.

11. Relax in thermal waters

Bad Schandau is a popular destination also for the Toskana Therme. Here you can relax in thermal pools while enjoying a view of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains all around.

There are four indoor pools and one open-air pool but the special treat is provided by the “Liquid Sound Temple”. Here you can relax in seawater while listening to underwater music and enjoying colorful lights. Choose a massage, a facial, or an ear candle ceremony to pamper yourself.

For a full package, you can also spend the night in the Hotel Elbresidenz. Check out all the offers, prices, and events on the Toskanaworld website.

12. Do a digital detox

I don’t know if it was because of my phone operator but I had almost no connection in the two days I spent in the park. Even my hotel didn’t provide a WiFi connection. So without really planning it, I got disconnected from the rest of the world.

This is the perfect opportunity to get yourself a digital detox. We are constantly connected, always checking our feeds and feeling the need to update others about our lives on all the different social media platforms. Sometimes taking some time off from all of this can be beneficial for your health, both physically and mentally. And if you are unable to willingly do so, going to a place where you are forced to disconnect is still a great option.

Getting to Saxon Switzerland National Park

I traveled to Bad Schandau directly from Berlin with Flixbus. The journey is around four hours and it offers already some nice views, especially between Dresden and Bad Schandau. Prices are also quite low, especially when booking in advance. The return journey is around 30€.

Another option is to take the train. From Dresden, it takes around one hour to reach Bad Schandau. Buy the tickets online or directly at the machine in the train station. Alternatively, you can use Trainline. I often use this app since it’s super easy to use and allows you to buy train tickets in various countries.

If you don’t want to travel there on your own, you can also join a guided tour. This Full-Day Trip from Dresden is ideal if you want to see the highlights of the park and meet other travelers.

Where to stay near the park

There are several options of places to spend a night in Saxon Switzerland National Park. I chose and would recommend, Bad Schandau. The town is somehow in the middle of the park and allows you to easily reach different areas.

The center of Bad Schandau itself might be a bit more expensive but for a cheaper stay, you can look up the nearby district of Krippen. It’s on the other side of the river and about a 15-minute walk from Bad Schandau. I stayed there in the guesthouse Zur Eiche but there are plenty of other options available. I booked my stay through Booking.com.

Booking.com

A great thing about spending the night is that you will also get a pass from the hotel that will allow you to use ferry boats and some buses free of charge. Plus, you have more time to explore!

Lastly, don’t forget to buy travel insurance. I highly recommend the SafetyWing travel medical insurance since it works in 185 countries and automatically renews each month. Find out more about the insurance coverage and sign up here or read my detailed article about SafetyWing. The New Nomad 2.0 version includes even more coverage for adventure sports, theft of electronics, and more.

Respect the environment

I am sure you are all amazing human beings, respectful of Mother Nature and our planet but I feel the need to say this. Make sure to respect the environment, don’t throw anything on the ground and if possible try to reduce your waste altogether.

This is a national park, therefore a place meant to be conserved for future generations. It’s all nature: forests, rivers, lakes, and mountains. You get to experience all this beauty so make sure you leave it as intact as you find it. Bring a reusable water bottle and pack healthy snacks and fruits (you will need the energy). And whenever you buy something, choose things that will create less waste and dispose of them appropriately. Be mindful of your surroundings.

If your visit to Saxon Switzerland National Park is part of a bigger trip in the region, make sure to check my other articles on Dresden and Meissen.

As usual, happy travels and enjoy this beautiful piece of art created by Mother Nature.

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