By bike from Hamburg to Dresden along the Elbe Cycle Path

Detailed tour description

Day 1: Individual arrival in Hamburg
The Hanseatic city offers a wide range of cultural attractions. Discover the neo-gothic brick architecture and, in contrast to that, futuristic-looking buildings, symbolising the city’s everlasting growth.

Day 2: Hamburg – Lauenburg (approx. 55 km)
Your first cycling stage along the Elbe Cycle Path will take you through Geeshacht to the old shipping town Lauenburg. The Elbe – here still very broad – winds its way through the flatland, dispersing into many smaller and larger tributaries.

Day 3: Lauenburg – Hitzacker (approx. 55 km)
Today you will ride through sleepy villages and the Elbe Floodplain UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with its largely untouched fluvial landscape to Hitzacker. The town’s historic centre with numerous half-timbered houses is picturesque situated on an island and invites you for a stroll.

Day 4: Hitzacker – Wittenberge (approx. 78 km)
On your fourth day you will continue to cycle through the peaceful Elbe floodplains. Enjoy the tranquillity and wildlife along the way. You will also pass the former inner German borderland. Soon after that, Wittenberge will appear on the horizon, well known for its many towers.

Day 5: Wittenberge – Havelberg (approx. 38 km)
After leaving Wittenberge you will cycle on dykes along the banks of the Elbe to Havelberg. Visit the city’s impressive cathedral in the Romanesque and Gothic style made of red-brick.

Day 6: Havelberg – Tangermünde (approx. 50 km)
The sixth leg of your biking holidays will take you through small villages to Tangermünde. The town’s medieval centre invites you to discover the many red-brick and half-timbered buildings.

Day 7: Tangermünde – Magdeburg (approx. 80 km)
Today’s stage is defined by nature: enjoy the ride through the vast floodplains with its diverse wildlife. Shortly before reaching Magdeburg, stop at the imposing "European water junction" connecting the Elbe, the Elbe-Havel-Canal and the Mid-land Canal. In Magdeburg do not miss to pay a visit to the cathedral and Hundertwasser building.

Day 8: Magdeburg – Dessau (approx. 82 - 88 km)
The cycle path will lead you through the Biosphere Reserve of the Mid-Elbe, one of the last undeveloped floodplains in Central Europe. The untouched nature is home to rare bird species. Soon you will be arriving in Dessau. The Bauhaus buildings and the Masters’ houses from Kandinsky, Klee or Feininger all belong to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.

Day 9: Dessau – Lutherstadt Wittenberg (approx. 37 km)
The short cycling stage allows you to explore extensively the world-famous Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 100-hectare large park offers numerous attractions including islands, chanals, temples and statues. Today’s tour ends in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, the starting point of Martin Luther’s Reformation process 500 years ago. Take a walk through the intact 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.

Day 10: Lutherstadt Wittenberg – Torgau (approx. 68 km)
Your today's bicycle tour along the Elbe Cycle Path continues through the Elbe floodplains to Torgau, a Renaissance town featuring Schloss Hartenfels and the Palace Church known as the first German Protestant church.

The stage can be divided by booking an extra night in Pretzsch (approx. 35 km/33 km). For prices see extra nights (Cat. B).

Day 11: Torgau – Strehla (approx. 40 km)
Today your cycle tour will take you to Belgern first, the only place with a Roland statue in Saxony. Continuing the journey you can enjoy the enchanting rural atmosphere of the Elbe town Strehla.

Day 12: Strehla – Dresden (approx. 66 km)
The final leg of your cycle tour will take you to the Riesa first. The city is home to a famous German pasta manufacturer and at its museum, you can gain insight into the modern food production. You will also pass picturesque vineyards, as well as the wine and porcelain city of Meissen with its castle Albrechtsburg. Finally, the cycle path leads you to Dresden. Take a walk through the historic old town and visit the Frauenkirche, the Zwinger Palace and the Semper Opera House. Enjoy the view from the Brühl’s Terrace – also known as ‘The Balcony of Europe’.

Day 13: Individual departure
Take your time to review your memories of the journey along the Elbe River Cycle Path before departure. You are welcome to prolong your cycling holidays with additional nights, e.g. in Dresden or other towns along the route. We will be delighted to arrange the accommodations for you.

This cycle trip is not recommendable for travellers with mobility impairments.

Services included

• Welcome surprise
• 12 x overnight stay in hotels and guesthouses with 3-star-standard
• 12 x continental breakfast
• Luggage transfer from accommodation to accommodation during your cycle tours
• GPS data on request
• 1 package of detailed travel information and maps per room (in English language)
• 24-hours-service-hotline during your cycling holidays

Bookable value-added services for the bike tour Hamburg – Dresden 

Please feel free to add the following value-added services to the basic travel package to personalize your cycling holidays from Hamburg to Dresden:

• Additional nights at every overnight location according to the tour description
• Rental bikes or electric bicycles for the duration of the tour (more about our rental bike service)
• FlexPLUS: rebook or cancel up to 28 days before arrival without giving reasons (more about our FlexPLUS)

Prices of these value-added services are detailed under the tab "Quotes" of this tour information.

Further advice on the cycling tour from Hamburg to Dresden

Please note that in certain cities between Hamburg and Dresden a compulsory city, tourist or occupancy tax is required to be paid. Unless otherwise indicated, these taxes are not included in our prices and have to be paid directly to the hotel.

This cycle trip is not recommendable for travellers with mobility impairments.