Walking along the Malerweg Trail in 8 days
An unforgettable walking tour through picturesque landscapes and historic cities
The Elbe Sandstone Malerweg Trail, which translates to "Painter's Path" and marked with a significant "M", follows the tracks of romantic artists. It allows you to discover diverse hiking tracks along bizarre rock formations of Saxon Switzerland.
This 85 km long circular hiking holiday leads you either from Saxony's capital Dresden or Pirna through the wildly rugged world of Saxon Switzerland. Set out to enjoy magnificient views and a wonderful nature experience. Lots of highlights await you along the walking route: the Bastei Bridge, the Brandstein view point, the Schrammsteine massif, the Fortress Königstein, charming villages, and finally back to the medieval town of Pirna or the baroque Florence on the Elbe, Dresden.
This 85 km long circular hiking holiday leads you either from Saxony's capital Dresden or Pirna through the wildly rugged world of Saxon Switzerland. Set out to enjoy magnificient views and a wonderful nature experience. Lots of highlights await you along the walking route: the Bastei Bridge, the Brandstein view point, the Schrammsteine massif, the Fortress Königstein, charming villages, and finally back to the medieval town of Pirna or the baroque Florence on the Elbe, Dresden.
Duration | 8 days/ 7 nights |
Travel period | 01.04.2024 - 31.10.2024 Anreise: Daily |
Bookable from | 1 person(s) |
Total length of tour | 85 km |
Characteristics of the tour | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |


Your Contact Persons
Phone +49 (0)351 - 563 48 20
Email: aktiv@augustustours.de
Itinerary
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Day 1: Individual arrival at Pirna/Dresden
The "Florence on the Elbe", Dresden, shines with the world-famous sights of the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), the Zwinger, the Semper Opera House and the Brühl Terrace and forms a picturesque silhouette. Let yourself be enchanted by the historical flair during a stroll through the baroque Old Town. Being a "Gateway to the Saxon Switzerland", Pirna is 20 km distant from Dresden and is characterzied by its medieval alleys as well as charming cafés and restaurants.
Overnight stay in Pirna or Dresden -
Day 2: Wehlen - Hohnstein (approx. 11 km, walking time: approx. 4 hrs, + 480 m, - 400 m)
In the morning, you will take the S-bahn train to Wehlen, the starting point of your first hiking tour along the Malerweg (Duration: approx. 40/7 minutes). Look foward to the probably most famous viewpoint: the Bastei Bridge. It forms the connection between the Bastei and the rock castle of Neurathen. From here you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Saxon Switzerland. Thereafter, you descend into the Amselgrund and head for the second highlight of todays route- the Hockstein from where there are exciting views of the lower Polenztal valley. Through the Wolfschlucht gorge, past the Polenztal valley you reach Hohnstein, your destination for todays stage.
Overnight stay in Hohnstein -
Day 3: Hohnstein – Altendorf/Kirnitzschtal/Bad Schandau (approx. 15 km, walking time: approx. 6 hrs, + 600 m, - 520 m)
Today you will hike to the Brand viewpoint which is also called the ‘Balcony of Saxon Switzerland’. You will continue the tour by taking roughly 800 steps down into the ‘Tiefen Grund’ gorge. Passing Waitzdorf you will reach Altendorf or continue along the Panorama trail to Altendorf or the Kirnitzschtal valley, depending on availability.
Overnight stay in Altendorf, Kirnitzschtal valley or Bad Schandau -
Day 4: Altendorf/Kirnitzschtal/Bad Schandau – Schrammsteine – Neumannmühle (approx. 18,5 km, walking time: 6.5 hrs, + 700 m, - 755 m)
Hike uphill to the Schrammstein viewpoint and along the ridge path through the Schrammstein massif. Passing the Großer and Kleiner Dom, you reach the Affensteinweg, which leads you to the Lichtenhainer Wasserfall. Via the Kuhstall with its sky ladder, you reach the stage destination - the technical monument Neumannmühle. By bus you return to the Kirnitzschtal valley or to Bad Schandau.
Overnight stay in the Kirnitzschtal valley or Bad Schandau -
Day 5: Neumannmühle – Großer Winterberg – region Schmilka/ Krippen (approx. 13,5 km, walking time: approx. 5.5 hrs, + 620 m, - 720 m)
You start the day taking the bus back to Neumannmühle to continue the walking tour along the Malerweg Trail. Explore the region called "Hintere Sächsische Schweiz" with Zeughaus and Goldstein viewpoint before climbing up the mountain Großer Winterberg, with 556 metres the second highest mountain in Saxon Switzerland. In Schmilka you take the Elbe ferry and travel by S-Bahn train to your accommodation in Bad Schandau/Krippen.
Overnight stay in Krippen -
Day 6: region Schmilka/ Krippen – Gohrisch (approx. 18 km, walking time: 6.5 hrs, + 640 m, - 470 m)
Take the S-Bahn to the end of yesterdays hike to Schmilka. Climbing the table mountains Papststein and Gohrisch are on your tour plan today. You will spend the night in Gohrisch.
Overnights stay in Gohrisch -
Day 7: Gohrisch - Königstein (approx. 9 km, walking time: approx. 4 hrs, + 270 m, - 470 m)
Todays short hike along the Malerweg leads you over the Pfaffenstein, past the Diebeskeller cave to Königstein Fortress. This leaves enough time for a visit to the "Impregnable". You travel by S-Bahn train to your accommodation in Pirna/Dresden.
Overnight stay in Pirna or Dresden -
Day 8: Individual departure
We would be delighted to book additional overnight stays for you in Dresden/Pirna 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.
Experience PACKAGES: Put the crown on your holiday!
Services
Services included
- 7 x overnight stay in hotels with 3-star-standard and guesthouses
- 7 x continental breakfast
- 1 x dinner as 2-course menu or buffet
- Luggage transfer from accommodation to accommodation during your walking tours
- GPS data on request
- 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 walking holidays along the Elbe Sandstone Mountains Malerweg trail:
- Additional nights in Pirna/Dresden
- Trip to Lilienstein on day 7 from/to Gohrisch (additional night)
- FlexPLUS: rebook or cancel up to 28 days before arrival without giving reasons (more about our FlexPLUS)
Accommodation categories
We book hiker-friendly hotels and guesthouses with 3-star standard for you.
Further information
Please note that in some cities accommodation taxes, visitor's taxes, etc. apply. Unless otherwise stated, these are not included in the tour price and must be paid locally.
This cycle trip is not recommendable for travellers with mobility impairments.
Arrival & Departure
How to get to the tour
Tips on how to get to Pirna
Arrival by train:
From Dresden main station, the S1 and S2 suburban trains in the direction of Schöna run regularly every half hour between 04:30 and 01:00, sometimes even every 10 minutes to Pirna.
Coming from the direction of Stolpen, Neustadt i.Sa. and Sebnitz, the regional train RB 71 brings travelers to the city.
From the train station you can reach your hotel in a short time by foot or we recommend you to 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:
Pirna is only 25 km from the state capital Dresden and easily accessible by car via the A17 and then on the federal highway.
On www.parkopedia.de you will find a good overview of public parking lots and parking garages.
Arrival by train:
From Dresden main station, the S1 and S2 suburban trains in the direction of Schöna run regularly every half hour between 04:30 and 01:00, sometimes even every 10 minutes to Pirna.
Coming from the direction of Stolpen, Neustadt i.Sa. and Sebnitz, the regional train RB 71 brings travelers to the city.
From the train station you can reach your hotel in a short time by foot or we recommend you to 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:
Pirna is only 25 km from the state capital Dresden and easily accessible by car via the A17 and then on the federal highway.
On www.parkopedia.de you will find a good overview of public parking lots and parking garages.
Prices
- Prices for services includedPrice validity: 01.04.2020 to 31.10.2024incl. luggage transferDblSglPrice validity: 01.04.2024 to 05.05.2024719.00 € per person929.00 € per personPrice validity: 06.05.2024 to 05.10.2024719.00 € per person929.00 € per personPrice validity: 06.10.2024 to 31.10.2024755.00 € per person965.00 € per person719.00 € per person929.00 € per person
- Prices for additional nightsDblSglPirna85.00 €115.00 €Bad Schandau85.00 €115.00 €Dresden75.00 €110.00 €
- Experience packagesPriceFlexPLUS39.00 € (DZ), 39.00 € (EZ)
per personWanderung zum Prebischtor (CZ)75.00 € (DZ), 110.00 € (EZ)
per personWanderung zum Lilienstein75.00 € (DZ), 110.00 € (EZ)
per personKunstPLUS: Caspar David Friedrich100.00 € (DZ), 140.00 € (EZ)
per personWanderung auf dem Caspar-David-Friedrich-Weg75.00 € (DZ), 110.00 € (EZ)
per person

As always...
5% Early Bird Discount
on all active holidays
until 29/02/2024 (upon the basic package price)