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  • Kiefer auf dem Papststein © Uwe Kögler
    Kiefer auf dem Papststein © Uwe Kögler
  • Karte zur Wanderreise am Malerweg Teil 2 © AugustusTours
    Karte zur Wanderreise am Malerweg Teil 2 © AugustusTours
  • Ausblick vom Winterberg © Uwe Kögler
    Ausblick vom Winterberg © Uwe Kögler
  • Schmilka © AugustusTours
    Schmilka © AugustusTours
  • Aufstieg im Elbsandsteingebirge © Robert Michalk Photography
    Aufstieg im Elbsandsteingebirge © Robert Michalk Photography
  • Blick von der Festung Königstein © Gunnar Freise
    Blick von der Festung Königstein © Gunnar Freise
  • Wanderschuh
    Wanderschuh
  • Wanderrast in der Sächsischen Schweiz © Robert Michalk Photography
    Wanderrast in der Sächsischen Schweiz © Robert Michalk Photography
  • Blick vom Rauenstein am Malerweg
    Blick vom Rauenstein am Malerweg
  • Blick vom Rauenstein
    Blick vom Rauenstein

Short hiking trip along the Malerweg trail part 2

Highlights: Winterberg, Papststein, Gohrisch, Pfaffenstein, Königstein Fortress and the Rauenstein massif


The unique rock formations of Elbe Sandstone Mountains have been fascinating people from all over the world at all times. There, poets and painters once found inspiration and a counterpart to turbulent city life.

The Elbe Sandstone Mountains Malerweg trail, a 112 km long circular tour, leads you from Pirna along the Bastei Bridge, the Brandstein view point, the Schrammsteine massif, the Fortress Königstein and charming villages back to its origin Pirna.

Not only does this short hiking trip along Malerweg trail lead you to the tourist attractions Pfaffenstein and Fortress Königstein, it also guides you to less famous sights. As the trail passes through secluded paths and untouched nature, it enchants both nature lovers and fans of hiking.

Numerous observation decks are located either directly on the Malerweg trail or just a stone’s throw away. Look forward to the fascination offered by the hiking region Saxon Switzerland!
Navigation
Duration
6 days/ 5 nights
Travel period
01.04.2026 - 31.10.2026
Anreise: Daily
Bookable from
1 person(s)
Total length of tour
60 km
Characteristics
Level of difficulty: averageLevel of difficulty: average
Place-to-place tourPlace-to-place tour
AugustusTours Original Tour (organized by AugustusTours)AugustusTours Original Tour (organized by AugustusTours)
Travel with dog possibleTravel with dog possible
© Robert Michalk Photography © Robert Michalk Photography
Your Contact Persons

Itinerary

  • Day 1: Individual arrival at Krippen
    Krippen, a district of the state-recognised Kneipp spa town of Bad Schandau, suggests itself being the perfect starting destination for short hiking tours along Malerweg trail on the left side of the Elbe River. From here you can easily take the ferry to Bad Schandau on the day of your arrival (additional costs) and spend the afternoon with a walk or a visit to the Toskana Therme.
    Overnight stay in Krippen


    Bookable ExperiencePACKAGE:
    Make it cultural!
    ArtPLUS: Artists in Dresden
  • Day 2: Neumannmühle – Großer Winterberg – region Schmilka/Krippen (approx. 13,5 km, walking time: approx. 5,5 hrs, + 506 m, - 603 m)
    First you travel by bus to the Neumannmühle. You hike through the Hintere Sächsiche Schweiz to the Zeughaus. Shortly afterwards, the breathtaking Goldstein view awaits you. After crossing the Elbe by ferry, you travel by S-Bahn to your accommodation in Bad Schandau/Krippen or continue hiking the Malerweg via Schöna and Reinhardtsdorf to Krippen (further approx. 9 km).
    Overnight stay in Krippen


    Bookable ExperiencePACKAGE:
    Make it even more beautiful!
    Hike to the Prebischtor in Bohemian Switzerland
  • Day 3: Region Schmilka/Krippen – Gohrisch (approx. 17 km, walking time: 6.5 hrs, + 490 m, - 260 m)
    Enjoy today’s view on the Schrammstein massif located on the other side of the Elbe River. Before you will reach the spa resort Gohrisch, you climb up the mesas Papstein and Gohrisch. Capture the different spectacular views of the landscape of Elbe Sandstone Mountains from the respective peaks.
    Overnight stay in Gohrisch


    Bookable ExperiencePACKAGE:
    Make it even more beautiful!
    Hike to the Lilienstein table mountain
  • Day 4: Gohrisch – Königstein/Weißig (approx. 9/17 km, walking time: approx. 4/6 hrs, + 270 m, - 470 m)
    On the third day of your short hiking tour you will not have to cover too many kilometres, so that you will have enough time in the afternoon to visit Königstein Fortress. Beforehand, you will master an ascent via wooden and iron stairs to the Pfaffenstein with its famous rock needle Barbarine in front of it. According to legend, the freestanding rock is a petrified virgin who was cursed by her mother in anger. If you would like to visit Königstein Fortress in the afternoon, we recommend that you plan at least two hours, as there is a lot to discover in this historically charming mountain fortress. If you dont feel like visiting the castle, you can also make a detour from Königstein to the Lilienstein, the only table mountain on the right bank of the Elbe.
    Overnight stay in Königstein or Rathen
  • Day 5: Königstein/Weißig – Dresden (approx. 22.5/16 km, walking time: approx. 7.5/5.5 hrs, + 485/336 m, - 510/341 m)
    Your fourth hiking tour on Malerweg trail part 2 firstly leads you to Thürmsdorf, where you can visit its castle and chocolate manufacture. Latter allows gourmets to taste various chocolate creations. Passing Weißig, you will soon reach the Rauenstein massif, from where you can spot the famous Bastei Bridge on the other bank of the Elbe. You have almost reached the destination of your short walking tour: via Naundorf and Obervogelgesang you will reach Pirna in the afternoon. You take the train to Dresden (tickets included).
    Overnight stay in Dresden
  • Day 6: Individual departure
    Four eventful and varied walking trips on Elbe Sandstone Mountains Malerweg Trail lay behind you now. How about some more days of relaxing vacation in Saxon Switzerland or a cultural trip to Dresden? You are very welcome to prolong your journey with additional nights in Dresden and enjoy the cultural flair of the baroque city. We would be delighted to book additional overnight stays for you in Dresden or in other towns along the trail. Please note
    that the routes indicated in the itinerary are the hiking stages only. The places of accommodation may differ from the starting and finishing points of the hikes.

ErlebnisBAUSTEINExperience PACKAGES

Put the crown on your holiday!

Hike to the Prebischtor in Bohemian Switzerland
Prebischtor © Gunnar Freise

Make it even more beautiful!

Europe's largest rock gate awaits your visit! Public transport will take you to the start and end point of the hike to Hrensko in Bohemian Switzerland (approx. 14 km, walking time: approx. 4.5 h, +410 m, -275 m).

Services: 

  • Overnight stay incl. breakfast in Bad Schandau/Krippen

Price: from 85 € p.p. in a double room

ArtPLUS: Romantic in Dresden
ErlebnisBAUSTEIN

Make it cultural!

Visit the Albertinum in Dresden with the New Masters Gallery (open daily except Mondays) and marvel at the works of Caspar David Friedrich's and many other romantic artists. You will receive a ticket for the permanent exhibition and stay overnight in Dresden. Please let us know the desired date in the booking notes.

Services:

  • Overnight stay incl. breakfast in Dresden
  • Luggage transport
  • Public transport ticket
  • Ticket for the Albertinum (permanent exhibition or special exhibition)

Price: from 125 € p.p. in a double room

Hike to the Lilienstein table mountain
ErlebnisBAUSTEIN

Make it even more beautiful!

Spend another night in Gohrisch and go on a breathtaking circular hike to the Lilienstein table mountain on the right bank of the Elbe, the landmark of Saxon Switzerland. An impressive view of the Elbe and the Elbe Sandstone Mountains awaits you (approx. 11 km, walking time: approx. 4 h, +385 m, -390 m)!

Services:

  • Overnight stay incl. breakfast in Gohrisch

Price: from 85 € p.p. in a double room

Services

Services included

  • 5 x overnight stay in hotels with 3-star-standard and guesthouses
  • 5 x continental breakfast
  • TOUR OF THE YEAR 2026 BONUS: 1 x dinner as 2-course menu or buffet for free
  • Luggage transfer from accommodation to accommodation (9am - 5pm, up to 2 pieces of luggage per person, maximum 20 kg each)
  • GPS data
  • 1 package with maps and information material per room (in English language)
  • Telephone-service-hotline during your walking holidays

Additional services

Please feel free to add the following value-added services to the basic travel package to personalize your short walking tour along the Elbe Sandstone Mountains Malerweg trail:

  • Additional nights in Dresden and Krippen
  • FlexPLUS: rebook or cancel up to 28 days before arrival without giving reasons (more about our FlexPLUS)

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

We book hiker-friendly hotels and guesthouses with 3-star standard for you.

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

Tips on how to get to Bad Schandau

Arrival by train:
As an international EC stop, the Bad Schandau National Park train station is very well suited for arriving directly by train. There are direct connections from Berlin, Leipzig, Prague, Budapest, Graz and also again from Vienna. In Bad Schandau the city ferry awaits you for the crossing to Bad Schandau.
From the Bad Schandau Elbe quay you can reach your hotel on foot in a very short time or we recommend that you take a cab (depending on the location of your hotel).
Current timetable information and prices can be found at www.bahn.de.

Arrival by car and parking facilities:
If you want to come by car, take the A 17 from Dresden in the direction of Prague until you reach the Pirna exit. After about 20 km you have reached Bad Schandau.
On www.parkopedia.de you will find a good overview of public parking lots and parking garages.

Prices

  • Prices for services included
    incl. luggage transfer
    Dbl
    Sgl
    Price validity: 01.04.2026 to 10.05.2026
    585.00 € per person
    795.00 € per person
    Price validity: 11.05.2026 to 26.09.2026
    619.00 € per person
    829.00 € per person
    Price validity: 27.09.2026 to 31.10.2026
    585.00 € per person
    795.00 € per person
  • Prices for additional nights
    Dbl
    Sgl
    Krippen
    80.00 €
    115.00 €
    Dresden
    80.00 €
    119.00 €
  • Experience packages & additional services
     
    Price
    Experience package: Excursion to Lilienstein (Overnight stay in Gohrisch)
    85.00 € (DZ), 125.00 € (EZ)
    per person
    Experience package: Excursion to the Prebischtor (rock gate) (Overnight stay in Krippen)
    85.00 € (DZ), 125.00 € (EZ)
    per person
    Experience package: Art PLUS Romantic in Dresden (Overnight stay in Dresden)
    125.00 € (DZ), 160.00 € (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 person