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Mon – Fri: 09:00 – 17:00 | Call us on: +49 (0)351 563 48 20 aktiv@augustustours.de

  • Fahrradfahrer am Elberadweg © DMG Erik Gross DML-BY
    Fahrradfahrer am Elberadweg © DMG Erik Gross DML-BY
  • Karte zur Radreise am Elberadweg von Dresden nach Dessau © AugustusTours
    Karte zur Radreise am Elberadweg von Dresden nach Dessau © AugustusTours
  • Radfahrer am Elberadweg mit Blick auf Dresden © Robert Michalk Photography
    Radfahrer am Elberadweg mit Blick auf Dresden © Robert Michalk Photography
  • Dresdner Altstadt  © TMGS
    Dresdner Altstadt © TMGS
  • Radfahrer am Schloss Hartenfels in Torgau © DZT Christof Herdt
    Radfahrer am Schloss Hartenfels in Torgau © DZT Christof Herdt
  • Lutherhaus in Lutherstadt Wittenberg
    Lutherhaus in Lutherstadt Wittenberg
  • Die Bauhausarchitektur in Dessau
    Die Bauhausarchitektur in Dessau

Cycling holidays from Dresden to Dessau

The classical tour along the Elbe from Baroque to Bauhaus


5 % early birds discount on all active holidays
5 % early birds discount on all active holidays
The Elbe, Germany's second largest river, flows through beautiful countryside. Its characteristic features include impressive terrace vineyards in the region around Meissen and tranquil riverbank meadows further north. There are plenty of historical monuments to discover along this part of the Elbe river cycle trail including magnificent castles, palaces and charming ‘old towns’.

Please note: This cycle tour can also be booked in the opposite direction. Click here for the cycle tour along the Elbe Cycle Path from Dessau to Dresden.
Navigation
Duration
8 days/ 7 nights
Travel period
01.04.2026 - 31.10.2026
Anreise: Daily
Bookable from
1 person(s)
Total length of tour
255 km
Characteristics
Level of difficulty: easyLevel of difficulty: easy
Place-to-place tourPlace-to-place tour
AugustusTours Original Tour (organized by AugustusTours)AugustusTours Original Tour (organized by AugustusTours)
© Robert Michalk Photography © Robert Michalk Photography
Your Contact Persons

Itinerary

  • Day 1: Individual arrival to Dresden
    You arrive in the Florence of the Elbe, Dresden, which is beautifully situated along the Elbe valley. Use the rest of the day for a walk along the river or through the Baroque town centre to be enchanted by the city’s historical flair.
    Overnight stay in Dresden
  • Day 2: Stay in Dresden or day trip to Bad Schandau (approx. 45 km)
    Today you have the opportunity to explore the city of Dresden. Alternatively, we recommend you take the train to Bad Schandau in the morning. Then cycle past the most famous sights of Saxon Switzerland, such as the Bastei rock in Rathen or the Königstein fortress. You will soon reach Pillnitz with its famous castle. Passing the three Elbe castles, you reach baroque Dresden.
    Overnight stay in Dresden
  • Day 3: Dresden – Meissen (approx. 28 km)
    On the first stage of the tour along the Elbe River Cycle Path you will pass the town Radebeul which is famous for its vineyards. Continuing your journey you will soon see the landmark of the city of Meissen: the impressive castle hill with the cathedral and the Albrechtsburg castle. A visit to the world-famous Meissen porcelain factory is a must. In the evening enjoy a glass of local wine because you are in the heart of one of the smallest yet most distinguished wine growing regions of Germany.
    Overnight stay in Meissen


    Bookable ExperiencePACKAGE:
    Make it more active!
    Kayak tour on the Elbe
  • Day 4: Meissen – area Riesa (approx. 28-36 km)
    Today’s cycle tour will take you along picturesque wine villages to Riesa, the city of sports. The town is also famous for its pasta production. In the transparent noodle centre you can gain insight into the modern food production of the second largest pasta manufacturer in Germany.
    Overnight stay in area Riesa
  • Day 5: area Riesa – Torgau (approx. 40-49 km)
    Continuing the tour along the Elbe River Cycle Path you will soon reach Strehla where you will be enjoying the enchanting rural atmosphere of the Elbe town. Today’s destination is Torgau, a Renaissance town featuring Schloss Hartenfels and the Palace Church known as the first German Protestant church.
    Overnight stay in Torgau
  • Day 6: Torgau – Lutherstadt Wittenberg (approx. 70 km)
    After leaving Torgau you will cycle through the Elbe’s floodplains and reach Wittenberg, the starting point of Martin Luther’s Reformation process 500 years ago. Take a walk through the historic centre and visit the various memorial sights dedicated to Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon which were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996.
    Overnight stay in Lutherstadt Wittenberg

    Tip:
    This tour can be divided by an overnight stop in Pretzsch (results in approx. 35 km/35 km). Online booking via Experience packages.
  • Day 7: Lutherstadt Wittenberg – Dessau (approx. 40 km)
    The last leg of the tour along the Elbe cycle path will take you through tranquil Elbe river meadows and past the world-famous Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 100-hectare large park offers numerous attractions including islands, canals, temples and statues. The final destination Dessau played an important role in creating a new architecture style and life philosophy in the 1920’s, the so called ‘Bauhaus’. The Bauhaus building and the Masters’ houses from Kandinsky, Klee or Feininger all belong to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.
    Overnight stay in Dessau
  • Day 8: Individual departure from Dessau or transfer service to Dresden
    After a memorable cycle tour from Dresden to Dessau, you will start your journey back home or you will use our transfer service back to Dresden. You are welcome to prolong your journey with some additional nights, e.g. in Dresden or other towns along the route. We will gladly arrange the accommodations for you.

ErlebnisBAUSTEINExperience PACKAGES

Put the crown on your holiday!

Kayak tour on the Elbe
Kajak-Tour auf der Elbe in Meißen © aktiv tours meissen

Make it more active!

Paddle a kayak on the Elbe between Meissen and the wine village of Diesbar-Seusslitz and enjoy the view of Albrechtsburg Castle and the vineyards.

After being provided with the equipment and a thorough briefing, you will paddle towards your destination for approx. 1.5 hours. Once you arrive in Diesbar, your boat hire company will hand over your bikes. Now you can either get back to Meissen with the hire company or individually by bus and spend an extra night in Meissen. Or you can cycle straight on to Riesa/Strehla. (Tip: This option is only suitable for cycle tours downstream. For tours upstream, we recommend the extra night in Meissen).

bookable from 2 persons

Services:

  • 1x kayak tour Meissen - Diesbar (approx. 1.5 h)
  • 1x bike transport to Diesbar
  • optional: 1x overnight stay in Meissen

Price kayak tour: 45 € p.p.

Price kayak tour incl. overnight stay in Meissen: from 99 € p.p. in a double room

Photo © aktiv tours meissen

Split the tour with an overnight stay in Pretzsch
ErlebnisBAUSTEIN

Make it cosier!

The tour from Torgau to Lutherstadt Wittenberg can be divided by an overnight stay in Pretzsch (approx. 35 km/approx. 35 km, including luggage transport).

Price: from 85 € p.p. in a double room,
from 115 € p.P. in a single room

Services

Services included

  • 7 x overnight stay in the booked category with private facilities
  • 7 x continental breakfast
  • 1 x ticket for train trip to Bad Schandau incl. bicycle transport
  • Luggage transfer from accommodation to accommodation (9am-5pm, up to 2 pieces of luggage per person, maximum 20 kg each)
  • GPS data
  • 1 package of detailed travel information and maps per room
  • telephone-service-hotline during your cycling holidays

Additional services

Please feel free to add the following value-added services to the basic travel package of the tour from Dresden to Dessau:

Travel documents

Less paper, more savings!
This tour, you can do without printed travel documents – you will receive all information digitally (PDF route booklet and GPS data). As a thank you, we offer you a discount of 20 € per room. Simple, practical and consciously sustainable! Please select this option when booking.

Accommodation categories

Category A: 3- and 4-star hotels, mainly centrally located
Category B: 3-star hotels and guesthouses/pensions, usually close to the cycle path

Further information

Local taxes such as visitor's tax or city tax, parking, pets, lunch packages and ferries are not included in the tour price unless otherwise stated and must be paid locally.

This tour is not recommendable for travellers with mobility impairments.

Arrival & Departure

Tipps on how to get to Dresden

Arrival by train:
Dresden is easily accessible by train from all major cities in Germany.
From Dresden's main train station or Neustadt train station, you then have the option of using public transportation to get to your hotel.
Current timetable information and price information can be found at www.bahn.de or at www.dvb.de.

Arrival by car and parking facilities:
Dresden is connected to the main supra-regional traffic network via three freeways. Depending on the hotel, there are direct parking facilities or often nearby. Please understand that there are limited parking facilities at the hotel, especially in the city centers.
Check directly with your starting hotel to see if they offer parking. At www.parkopedia.de you will find a good overview of other parking options and we will be happy to inform you individually.

Prices

  • Prices for services included
    incl. luggage transfer
    Dbl
    Sgl
    Price validity: 01.04.2026 to 10.05.2026
    Category A
    779.00 € per person
    1,059.00 € per person
    Category B
    699.00 € per person
    899.00 € per person
    Price validity: 11.05.2026 to 12.09.2026
    Category A
    809.00 € per person
    1,089.00 € per person
    Category B
    729.00 € per person
    929.00 € per person
    Price validity: 13.09.2026 to 31.10.2026
    Category A
    779.00 € per person
    1,059.00 € per person
    Category B
    699.00 € per person
    899.00 € per person
  • Prices for services included EXCL. luggage transfer
    Dbl
    Sgl
    Price validity: 01.04.2026 to 10.05.2026
    Category A
    659.00 € per person
    939.00 € per person
    Category B
    579.00 € per person
    779.00 € per person
    Price validity: 11.05.2026 to 12.09.2026
    Category A
    689.00 € per person
    969.00 € per person
    Category B
    609.00 € per person
    809.00 € per person
    Price validity: 13.09.2026 to 31.10.2026
    Category A
    659.00 € per person
    939.00 € per person
    Category B
    579.00 € per person
    779.00 € per person
  • Prices for additional nights
    Dbl
    Sgl
    Category A
    Dresden
    80.00 €
    119.00 €
    Meissen
    75.00 €
    105.00 €
    Riesa
    75.00 €
    105.00 €
    Torgau
    75.00 €
    105.00 €
    Lutherstadt Wittenberg
    75.00 €
    105.00 €
    Dessau-Roßlau
    75.00 €
    105.00 €
    Category B
    Dresden
    69.00 €
    89.00 €
    Meissen
    65.00 €
    85.00 €
    Riesa
    65.00 €
    85.00 €
    Torgau
    65.00 €
    85.00 €
    Lutherstadt Wittenberg
    65.00 €
    85.00 €
    Dessau-Roßlau
    65.00 €
    85.00 €
  • Prices for rental bikes
     
    Price
    Touring bicycle unisex with 21 gears free wheel (from 1.55m)
    Flat-rate price for cycling tour
    99.00 €
    per person
    Touring bicycle unisex with 7 gears back pedal brake (from 1.55m)
    Flat-rate price for cycling tour
    99.00 €
    per person
    Touring bicycle men with 21 gears free wheel (from 1.70m)
    Flat-rate price for cycling tour
    99.00 €
    per person
    Touring bike men with 7 gears back pedal brake (from 1.70m)
    Flat-rate price for cycling tour
    99.00 €
    per person
    E-Bike unisex with 7 gears back pedal brake (from 1.55m)
    Flat-rate price for cycling tour
    289.00 €
    per person
    Speedometer
    free of charge, according to free
    0.00 €
    per person
  • Prices for transfer services
     
    Price
    Dessau - Dresden
    Shared transfer, every Saturday 10:00 a.m. + 25 € per own bike, price per person
    110.00 €
    Dessau - Dresden
    Transfer, flat rate price for 1-2 persons, + 25 € per own bike (subject to taking along further persons /intermediate stops)
    240.00 €
  • Experience packages & additional services
     
    Price
    Experience package: additional night in Pretzsch
    85.00 € (DZ), 115.00 € (EZ)
    per person
    Experience package: Kayak tour on the Elbe
    119.00 € (DZ), 159.00 € (EZ)
    per person
    Experience package: Kayak tour on the Elbe
    99.00 € (DZ), 125.00 € (EZ)
    per person
    Experience package: Kayak tour on the Elbe
    45.00 € (DZ), 45.00 € (EZ)
    per person
    FlexPLUS
    rebook or cancel up to 28 days before arrival, only available for AugustusTours-Original-Tours
    39.00 € (DZ), 39.00 € (EZ)
    per person
    Discount on digital travel documents
    -20.00 € (DZ), -20.00 € (EZ)
    per room