Magdeburg – Dresden: Bike tours along the Elbe Cycle Path

Detailed tour description

Day 1: Individual arrival at Magdeburg
Welcome to Magdeburg – the capital of Saxony-Anhalt! This old city has many tales to tell. The local historical monuments and building will satisfy your curiosity. For example the Magdeburg Dome, symbol of the city, or the12th or 13th century fortresses surrounding the old town will transfer you to another time!

Day 2: Magdeburg – Dessau (approx. 82 - 88 km)
As you are cycling along the river Elbe, notice the purity of the surrounding nature! This UNESCO protected area – the Biosphere Reserve of the Middle Elbe – contains the largest interconnected water meadow area of Middle Europe and includes the Elbe floodplains as a unique biotope which serves as a shelter for many endangered species. The reserve also contains Woerlitzer Park. This is the oldest landscape park and one of the first and largest English parks in continental Europe. Your last stop will be the city of Dessau. Explore the local "Bauhaus" architecture and visit the Bauhaus Collage or Museum.

Day 3: Dessau – Lutherstadt Wittenberg (approx. 37 km)
On your second bike tour along the Elbe River you will pass the Biosphere Reserve for a few more kilometers before you reach the beautiful City Lutherstadt Wittenberg. There are many exciting places you can go to. A fun and relaxing way to spend the rest of the day is a visit to either the Alaris butterfly park, the NABU Center "Im Stadtwald" or the local zoo. If you are in for a more cultural experience, you can visit Wittenberg’s 14th century Reformation Church, the House of Lucas Cranach or Martin Luther, or the one-hundred-waters Luther-Melanchthon-Gymnasium. A perfect ending to the day offers Luthersbrunnen – local restaurant offering regional specialties.

Day 4: Lutherstadt Wittenberg – Torgau (approx. 68 km)
On the fourth day of your bicycle holidays you will be passing through the floodplains of the River Elbe until you reach the city of Pretzsch. The 16th century renaissance castle of Pretzsch offers itself as an ideal location for a snack. After you have left Pretzsch, you will bike approx. 20 more kilometers until you reach the border to Saxony and from there you will bike along the Elbe all the way to Torgau.

This bike tour can be shared by an extra night in Pretzsch (approx. 35 km/37 km). Price see extra nights (Cat. B).

Day 5: Torgau – Riesa or Strehla (approx. 40 km/48 km)
Passing by the villages hemming the River Elbe, one worth paying a visit is Belgern. The main attraction here is the city hall, painted in vermilion, guarded by the statue "Roland of Belgern". Once you have left the village, you will continue along the River Elbe until you reach Strehla. Besides the Castle and the old town hall of Strehla, you can visit the adorable zoo of small animals, nourishing raccoons, mini pigs, chipmunks and many more. If you still have energy left, you may bike the remaining 5 Kilometres to Riesa.

Day 6: Riesa or Strehla – Meissen (approx. 36 km/28 km)
If you have decided to spend your night in Strehla, we recommend you pay a visit to Riesa, renowned for its steel industry and sports. Biking further along the Elbe, you will pass by lovely wine villages until you reach Diesbar-Seulitz. With its baroque castle Seußlitz and the castles Heinrichsburg and Luisenburg is Diesbar-Seulitz a jewel to Saxony's towns with castle’s and palaces. However, the true highlight of the today’s bike tour still lies ahead. Meissen, or the porcelain city, welcomes you in its whole noble beauty. With the castle Albrechtsturm, the porcelain manufactory, the late gothic city hall and many more, the city Meissen is annually visited by hundreds of thousands of people.

Day 7: Meissen – Dresden (approx. 30 km)
Follow the River Elbe from Meissen and you will soon reach the town of Radebeul. This wine, mansion and garden city, with its eight historical village centers and two residential neighborhoods, is located directly on Saxony’s wine street between the former royal capital of Dresden and the former bishop seat in Meissen. Visit the wine castles Hofloesnitz or Wackerbarth and their museums and follow the local wine-growing history back in time to the year 1271! When you have seen enough of the city, you may bike along the River Elbe to your final destination in Dresden.

Day 8: Individual departure from Dresden or transfer service to Magdeburg
Dresden – the Florence on the Elbe! For those who still have time and desire, Dresden offers a wide variety of cultural experiences. Walk through the old town of Dresden and see the famous Frauenkirche or Semperoper, enjoy the magnificent view over the city from the city walls or widen your knowledge in one of the many local museums. In case you are returning home back to Magdeburg, you may take advantage of our transfer service.

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

Services included

• Welcome surprise
• 7 x overnight stay in the booked category with private facilities
• 7 x continental breakfast
• Luggage transfer from accommodation to accommodation during your bike tours
• GPS data on request
• 1 package of detailed travel information and maps per room
• 24-hours-service-hotline during your bicycle holidays

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

Please feel free to add the following value-added services to the basic travel package to personalize your cycling holidays from Magdeburg 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)
• Transfer services from Dresden to  Magdeburg or vice versa. (more about our transfer services)
• 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 Magdeburg to Dresden

Please note that in certain cities along the Elbe Cycle Path a compulsory city, tourist or occupancy tax is required to be paid. Unless otherwise indicated, the 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.