The spa town of Bad Schandau ( Germany ) on the Elbe is the center of Saxon Switzerland and a popular tourist destination. Bad Schandau has about 4,000 inhabitants.
The districts Postelwitz and Schmilka are further upstream, the district Krippen is located on the opposite Elbe side. Bad Schandau is located on the right side of the Elbe River, right by the Saxon Switzerland National Park in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The National Park Center is located in the city. The original town nestles against the steeply rising sandstone cliffs of the right, northern Elbufer and squeezes partially into the narrow valley of the Kirnitzsch. The center is at 121.7 m above sea level . An overland tram, the Kirnitzschtalbahn, accompanies the river over several kilometers and opens up parts of the rear Saxon Switzerland.
Access : Coordinates: 50.916667, 14.15 / By boat : Bad Schandau is a destination of the Saxon Steamship, which starts the city with old paddle steamers. Several times a day ships from Dresden and Pirna start with several stops on the way. From / to Bad Schandau they also drive towards Decin in the Czech Republic.
By bicycle : The Elbe cycle path leads from Dresden mostly on both sides to Bad Schandau to the district Schmilka. From the Czech Republic it lies traffic-free linkselbisch between railway and river. The right side of the Elbe is not recommended, as the narrow winding road is confusing.
By train : Access by train is via the S-Bahn line 1 every half hour from Meissen-Triebischtal via Dresden and Pirna to Bad Schandau. The S-Bahn goes every hour to Schona, which is opposite the Czech village Herrnskretschen (Hrensko). The 2-hour regional train Rumburk – Sebnitz (Saxony) – Bad Schandau – Schona – Decin hl.n. (Tetschen) comes from the Czech Republic and continues to Rumburk in the Czech Republic. When crossing the border, a favorable special tariff applies. The tickets can also be solved on the train.
In long-distance line Bad Schandau is a breakpoint of the Eurocity connection Berlin – Prague.
However, the station is located on the other side of the Elbe as the main town and can be reached via the Elbe bridge or via the half-hourly ferry that moored at the town center. Another ferry leaves from here to the districts Postelwitz and cribs. Between Schmilka and the station Schmilka drives another ferry as needed. These ferries are part of public transport and can be shared with the interconnected tickets. There are also single tickets for € 1.50 and return tickets for € 2.-. With bike they cost 2, – € or 3,50 €.
By car : Bad Schandau can be easily reached by car. On the A 17 motorway between Dresden and Prague, take the Pirna exit and follow the signs to B 172 via Pirna and Konigstein (in case of doubt, do not turn towards Konigstein fortress, but for Konigstein).
Get around : The Kirnitzschtalbahn is the smallest tramway in Germany. Since 1898, the train has been driving the approximately 8-kilometer route from Stadtpark in Bad Schandau to the Lichtenhain waterfall. The single ticket costs 5, – €, the day ticket 8, – €, which is already considerable for 8 km. The ride goes through the idyllic Kirnitzschtal and after about every kilometer there is a breakpoint at an inn or as a starting point for a hike.
Highlights :
- Passenger elevator Bad Schandau : The passenger elevator leading to the Ostrava in a steel truss tower has a height of about 50 m (beautiful Elbe view from above). Above you will find a small animal sanctuary with lynx and raccoons.
- National Park Center Saxon Switzerland : The center is located in a former cinema, which was built in 1953. The modern information center shows a diverse, interactive exhibition for young and old over the Saxon Switzerland National Park. Topics include geology, geology, flora and fauna as well as art in Saxon Switzerland.
- St. John’s Church./ Sendig Fountain (on the market square between the town hall and St. Johanniskirche)./ Elbe Sandstone Mountains ( Saxon Switzerland National Park | An der Elbe 4, 01814 Bad Schandau, Saxony, Germany )
- Kuhstall rock formation , Kuhstallstrasse, 01814 Bad Schandau, Saxony, Germany
- Muehle Schmilka , water mill operating since 1660s , Schmilka Nr. 36, 01814 Bad Schandau, Saxony, Germany , Open : 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Schrammsteine viewpoint , Elbe Sandstone Mountains, 01814 Bad Schandau, Saxony, Germany , Great view down to the river and the villages
- Emmabank viewpoint , Zahnsgrund, 01814 Bad Schandau, Saxony, Germany , A wonderful place for hiking
- Bad Schandau Erich Wustmann Museum , Badallee 10, 01814 Bad Schandau, Saxony, Germany ,
- Botanical Garden , Ostrauer Berg, 01814 Bad Schandau, Saxony, Germany Open : 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Activities :With the Kirnitzschtalbahn to Kuhstall – With the 8 km long electric tram you can reach the Lichtenhain waterfall, which is occasionally helped by pulling a weir to spectacular appearance. From the end station of the electric tram it is possible to make a circular walk up to the cowshed (about 3 km with a height difference of 100 meters). The Kuhstall is a well-known cavernous rock gate on the new Wildenstein.Here you will also find a restaurant. If you want, you can reach the Wildenstein through the “Himmelleiter”, a narrow crevice, and enjoy the panorama over the forests of the national park. Information: Overland tram through the Kirnitzschtal: history of the railway, hiking info to the cowshed with map) /
Hiking : In total there are about 571 hiking trails for you to discover within the region of Bad Schandau. / Cycling : 66 bicycle rides, 15 mountain bike rides and 11 long distance cycling routes are waiting to be explored / Mountaineering : 12 mountaineering tours all around Bad Schandau there are plenty of options for outdoor enthusiasts. / cruise on the Elbe river
Go next : Konigstein / Rathen / Meißen / Decin ( Czech Republic )
