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© Florian Trykowski

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Accessible Travel

 Nature for Everyone

The Elbe Sandstone Mountains are the best proof that mountains and accessibility are by no means mutually exclusive: people with disabilities will find everything they need for an unforgettable active vacation here. 

For wheelchair users, there are many opportunities to take extensive hikes to magnificent viewpoints in the national park region. Activities have also been developed for people with hearing or visual impairments, ranging from therapeutic riding and staying in a designer hotel to hiking for the blind.

Rollstuhlfahrer benutzen eine Rampe an einer Straßenbahnhaltestelle der Kirnitzschtalbahn..
Mobility
Bed with several cushions and a blanket, softly illuminated by a table lamp.
Accommodation
Mann in weißem Hut betrachtet große Kanone neben dem Friedrichschlößchen der Festung Königstein.
Excursion Destinations
Zwei Personen klettern an Felswand, gesichert mit Seilen, bewaldete Hügel im Hintergrund.
Active on the Go
Ein gedeckter Tisch mit rot-weißem Tischdecken, frischem Brot, Erdbeeren, Getränken und einer kleinen Speise.
Gastronomy

Brochure “Experience Saxon Switzerland Barrier-free”

It offers a comprehensive overview of tourist services for travelers with mobility and sensory impairments, as well as for individuals with learning and intellectual disabilities.

All accessible offerings in the Saxon Switzerland region have been reviewed by staff of the Tourism Association and compiled into a brochure in a compact and clear manner.

The aim is to make the magic of this region accessible to everyone. The brochure includes all topics relevant to planning a barrier-free vacation, such as mobility, accommodation, information centers, as well as active, cultural, and leisure activities.

For travelers with mobility impairments, there are detailed descriptions of the accessibility of all services, allowing the trip to be planned according to individual requirements.

We are happy to send the free brochure by mail.

Order Brochure Download as PDF
Familie, Rollstuhlfahrer, Kind mit Laufrad, Hund und Kinderwagen vor einem großen Felsmassiv.
© Florian Trykowski

Mobility - Arrive Better

The public transportation network in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains enables wheelchair users and those with mobility impairments to be mobile on site.

Travelers with disabilities will find accessible train stations, disability-friendly buses, and ferry docks to explore the region. However, the local travel chain is not yet completely barrier-free, meaning there are also restricted or non-wheelchair-accessible access points. Therefore, informing oneself in advance is the sure way to a relaxed vacation.

By train

The Mobility Service Center of Deutsche Bahn provides advice and tips for travel and organizes boarding, transfer, and alighting services. Beyond organizing assistance, it also offers travel information that is specifically tailored to the needs of disabled individuals. This includes options such as selecting routes with minimal transfers, reserving seats, and having purchased tickets sent directly to your home or, alternatively, collected at the new ticket machines. To ensure reliable assistance by the service staff, it is advisable to notify the Mobility Service Center in advance (no later than 8 p.m. on the day before the journey).

Tel: +49 030 65212888
E-Mail: msz@deutschebahn.com

Tip: Use the DB Bahnhof live app to check, for instance, the operational status of elevators and escalators.

Saxon Switzerland is seamlessly connected to Deutsche Bahn's regional and long-distance network. Long-distance services allow direct access to both Dresden and the National Park Station Bad Schandau, with all other destinations reachable from here by commuter train, bus, or ferry. The main transportation route in the region is the S-Bahn line S1, connecting Saxon Switzerland with the state capital Dresden.

Assistance for mobility-impaired passengers on the S-Bahn line Dresden–Schöna:
Tel. +49 (0) 351 2068290 up to 30 minutes before the train departs. Mobility-impaired passengers should remain close to the driver's cab stop, which is equipped with facilities for disabled individuals (extendable train bridge, barrier-free toilet, spacious multi-purpose compartment). Additional information is available from the Verkehrsverbund Oberelbe.

Upper Elbe Transport Association Deutsche Bahn Mobility Service Center
Grüner WanderBus fährt an einer Haltestelle mit Wartehäuschen und Bäumen vorbei.
© Solveig Grosser

By bus

In the Saxon Switzerland region, 95% of all buses are equipped for disabled access.

Phone:  +49 3501 71110

Regional Transport Saxon Switzerland Ore Mountains
Frau in roter Jacke liest Wanderkarte am Fähranleger Nationalparkbahnhof Bad Schandau, Fluss im Hintergrund.
© Florian Trykowski

By ferry

The band of the Elbe stretches across the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. Ferries connect parts of towns on either side of the river at certain points. The ferries have thresholds or wedges in the access area, or there are ramps on board, so you can roll onto each ferry. This information applies to normal water levels - not for extreme low or high water. In such cases, access may be severely restricted or impossible.

Overview of the individual ferry connections
Flusslandschaft mit Dampfer und bewaldeten Hügeln im Hintergrund.
© Anna Meurer

By steamship

Some paddle steamers of Saxon Steamship Company are accessible by wheelchair to a limited extent.
Prior registration is requested.

Phone:  +49 351 866090
Email: service@sdsgruppe.de

Saxon Steamship Company

Barrier-free Gastronomy

Good dining, accessible hospitality

From the rustic tavern to the exquisite restaurant: The culinary hiking map of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains features many facets of the renowned Saxon-Bohemian hospitality.

The local cuisine is known for its heartiness. And for the fact that a cool pilsner almost always goes well with it. However, it's not just roasts and stews that are served here. With passion and ease, nearly all culinary desires are fulfilled. The head chefs know exactly how to captivate their guests. In the restaurants and inns of Saxon Switzerland, you can treat your palate to something truly special while enjoying spectacular views. Savor Saxon and international specialties or try typical regional dishes made with organic ingredients. Vegetarians and vegans will also find plenty to enjoy.

Accessible Destinations

There is much to experience! Let's go! The cultural richness of the National Park region is as accessible to people with disabilities as the diverse recreational facilities in Saxon Switzerland. Whether a medieval fortress, lookout tower, interactive exhibition, rock stage, demonstration workshop, or climbing course – all are adapted for tourists with mobility and/or sensory impairments, as well as learning and intellectually disabled individuals.

Accessible Accommodations

Feel Good Without Barriers

From five-star hotels to campsites, the range of accessible accommodations in the Saxon Switzerland region is vast. Accommodation is a crucial component for a successful holiday. This is especially true for travelers with mobility restrictions, as numerous individual needs must be met. Many providers in the region have now adapted to the needs of people with disabilities, offering the best conditions for an unforgettable holiday amid stunning scenery.

  • Camping- & Freizeitpark LuxOase
    Campsite
    Arnsdorfer Straße 1, 01900 Bretnig-Hauswalde
  • Agentur Projekt40 Jeanette Koch | CC-BY-SA
    Aktiv Hotel "Stock & Stein"
    Hotel
    Halbestadt 13, 01824 Königstein/Sächs. Schw. (Halbestadt)
  • Camping am Treidlerweg
    Campsite
    Am Alten Sägewerk 4, 01824 Königstein/Sächs. Schw.
  • Familienferienstätte St. Ursula
    Holiday apartment
    Sankt-Ursula-Weg 24, 01796 Struppen (Naundorf)
  • Hotel garni "Grundmühle"
    Hotel
    Friedrich-Gottlob-Keller-Straße 69, 01814 Bad Schandau (Krippen)
  • Parkhotel Neustadt
    (DEHOGA)
    Hotel
    Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Str. 20, 01844 Neustadt in Sachsen
  • Apparthotel STEIGER Bad Schandau | CC-BY-SA
    Apparthotel Bad Schandau by Steiger Hotels
    (DEHOGA)
    Hotel
    Elbstraße 6, 01814 Bad Schandau

Out into Happiness

For active vacationers with disabilities, the Elbe Sandstone Mountains offer a wide range of activities: wheelchair hiking, handbike tours, climbing, horseback riding, and boat trips.

Notes for wheelchair users: The paths in our region are typically mountainous and can vary depending on the route – sometimes they are flat, other times there are inclines and different surfaces. All tours presented here were tested together with a local wheelchair user to ensure barrier-free experiences. Due to the natural terrain and weather conditions such as wind and rain, conditions can sometimes change. We recommend always having a companion to make the hike more pleasant and relaxing.

Here is a small selection of the most beautiful wheelchair and handbike tours through the Saxon Switzerland. Depending on the length of the tour, the condition of the path, and the route profile, they differ in their demands on the wheelchair user. A classification using difficulty levels should help to find the suitable tour for oneself. The handbike tours were completed with a touring bike, meaning tours with an adaptive bike might be more challenging to navigate due to their different balance points.

All accessible tours at a glance

Activity Offers

The well-developed network of paths in the Saxon Switzerland National Park region offers travelers with mobility and sensory impairments as well as those with learning and intellectual disabilities opportunities for relaxed walks or extended, challenging hikes. Although not all tourist destinations are suitable for people with disabilities, many of the most beautiful places in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains can be explored independently or with assistance. 

Tours for visually impaired people: our certified National Park guide Michale Könemann offers customized individual tours as a trained geriatric nurse. 

Other attractive activities:
At the horse farm Anders Hof, there is therapeutic riding and archery.
The provider Kanu-Aktiv-Tours offers rubber boat and raft tours for guests with disabilities.
The National Park guide Michael Könemann offers guided hikes for blind and visually impaired people. 
Climbing courses for hearing-impaired, learning, and intellectually disabled people: 
Activity Center Bad Schandau, Climbing School Lilienstein, Climbing Park Königstein

Zwei Personen klettern an Felswand, gesichert mit Seilen, bewaldete Hügel im Hintergrund.
© Sylvio Dittrich

Barrier-free Saxony

Titelbild einer Broschüre. Zwei Frauen, eine im Rollstuhl stehen lächelnd vor dem barocken Zwinger in Dresden.
© TMGS

For a barrier-free holiday in Saxony, the Tourism Marketing Company of Saxony has compiled a comprehensive portal with all tourism-related information.

Barrier-free Saxony
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