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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.

Wheelchair users use a ramp at a Kirnitzschtal Tramway stop..
Mobility
Bed with several pillows and a duvet, softly illuminated by a table lamp.
Accommodation
Man in a white hat examines a large cannon beside the Friedrichschlösschen at Königstein Fortress.
Excursion Destinations
Two people climbing a rock face, secured by ropes, with wooded hills in the background.
Active on the Go
A table laid with red-and-white tablecloths, fresh bread, strawberries, drinks and a small dish.
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.

Family, wheelchair user, child on a balance bike, dog and pushchair in front of a large rock massif.

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.

Green hiking bus passes a bus stop with a shelter and trees.

By bus

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

Phone:  +49 3501 71110

Woman in a red jacket reading a hiking map at the Bad Schandau National Park Station ferry terminal, with the river in the background.

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.

River landscape with a steamship and wooded hills in the background.

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

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.

Geibeltbad Pirna: Modern indoor pool with glass roof, blue water and several people swimming; bright, airy atmosphere with plants and deckchairs.
Geibeltbad Pirna – Indoor swimming pool
Thermal bath/health spa
Rottwerndorfer Straße 56 c, 01796 Pirna
Four people stand smiling in front of a green wall and pull on ropes with handles; forest motifs can be seen in the background.
Saxon Switzerland National Park Center
Information centre in national park
Dresdner Straße 2 b, 01814 Bad Schandau
Toskana Therme Bad Schandau: Bright indoor pool with blue water, surrounded by yellow sun loungers and large windows; modern, airy atmosphere with wooden ceiling.
Toskana Therme Bad Schandau
Thermal bath/health spa
Rudolf-Sendig-Straße 8 a, 01814 Bad Schandau
Children are fascinated by an exhibit in a display case in the museum.
German Watch Museum Glashütte
Museum/art collection
Schillerstraße 3a, 01768 Glashütte
Two people in swimwear sit at the edge of an indoor pool, surrounded by tropical plants and a glass roof that lets in natural light.
Mariba Freizeitwelt Neustadt
Indoor swimming pool/water park
Götzingerstraße 12, 01844 Neustadt in Sachsen
A woman sits at a table and arranges flowers; around her are vases with colorful flowers and plants. The atmosphere is creative and concentrated.
German artificial flower - Manufactory
Show workshop/manufactory
Neustädter Weg 10, 01855 Sebnitz
Königstein climbing forest with high platforms and ladders on trees, surrounded by dense green foliage; peaceful and adventurous atmosphere.
Climbing forest Königstein
Climbing
Am Königstein 1A, 01824 Königstein/Sächs. Schw.
A family looks at an interactive screen in a museum with purple walls and historical portraits.
Richard Wagner Sites Graupa
Culture and event venue
Tschaikowskiplatz 7, 01796 Pirna (OT Graupa)
A young man splashes into the water of an outdoor pool with slides and swimmers in summer fun.
Billy leisure pool
Open-air swimming pool
Am Oberhammer 1, 01816 Bad Gottleuba-Berggießhübel (OT Berggießhübel)
A room with white walls and a vaulted ceiling shows black and white portraits of people mounted on stands and arranged in two rows.
Pirna-Sonnenstein Memorial
Museum/art collection
Schloßpark 11, 01796 Pirna
Blick auf eine kleine Stadt mit Häusern und einem großen Baum, Tafelberg im Hintergrund.
Rathmannsdorf observation tower
Viewpoint/viewing tower
Altendorfer Str. 2, 01814 Rathmannsdorf
Miniature landscape with model railroad, surrounded by colorful buildings and green trees, under a cloudy sky.
Railroad Worlds Rathen
Railway/narrow-gauge railway
Elbweg 10, 01824 Kurort Rathen
An outdoor pool with a yellow water slide, a large pool and a red elephant slide, surrounded by grass and trees under a cloudy sky.
Rathewalde Water Park
Open-air swimming pool
Schulweg 4, 01848 Hohnstein (OT Rathewalde)
Several people stand at night in a colorfully illuminated park with trees and spotlights shining into the sky.
Miniature Park "Little Saxon Switzerland"
Leisure park
Schustergasse 8, 01829 Stadt Wehlen (OT Dorf Wehlen)
Three colorful hand puppets with cheerful faces, in traditional costumes, lying on a table.
Max Jacob Theater Hohnstein
Theatre
Max-Jacob-Straße 1, 01848 Hohnstein
Visitors look at a digital panoramic image.
CDFriedrich inspires - Digital art experience
Museum/art collection
Markt 12, 01814 Bad Schandau
Modern glass façade of the Neustadthalle with blue roof and flags.
New Town Hall
Culture and event venue
Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Straße 15, 01844 Neustadt in Sachsen
Interior view of St. Mary's Church in Pirna with Gothic vaulting and view of the altar.
Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Marien Pirna
Church
Kirchplatz 13, 01796 Pirna
Viewing platform with railings above a gorge, foggy landscape and rocks in the background; the sun shines through bare tree branches.
Bastei view
Viewpoint/viewing tower
01847 Lohmen
Freilichtbühne im Wald mit Publikum und Bühne bei Dämmerung.
Rathen rock stage
Open-air theatre
Amselgrund 17, 01824 Kurort Rathen
A man paddles in a green kayak on a river, in the background a town with a church and a wooded hill under a clear sky.
Canoe Active Tours
Water sports
Schandauer Straße 17 - 19, 01824 Königstein/Sächs. Schw.
An older woman in a blue uniform and cap operates an interactive screen and holds a microphone; a skull lies on a shelf next to it.
Medical history collections
Museum/art collection
Königstraße 39, 01816 Bad Gottleuba-Berggießhübel (OT Bad Gottleuba)
Yellow baroque building of the Grosssedlitz Baroque Garden with a red roof, surrounded by well-tended gardens and trees in blue and white pots, under a clear blue sky.
Grosssedlitz Baroque Garden
Worth seeing
Parkstraße 85, 01809 Heidenau
A person in a yellow helmet climbs on a rock surrounded by green trees and holds on to blue ropes.
Climbing school Lilienstein
Climbing
Ringweg 33 f, 01814 Bad Schandau (OT Porschdorf)
A vantage point from which you can see a forest, a rock massif and a table mountain.
Goat's back view
Viewpoint/viewing tower
Ziegenrückenstraße, 01814 Bad Schandau (Waltersdorf)
Bronze statue of a man with accordion on a square, in the background river, houses and wooded hill with castle ruins at sunset.
Sound terrace Kurort Rathen
Worth seeing
Elbweg, 01824 Kurort Rathen
Drei Personen wandern auf einem Pfad zu einem rosa Haus im Wald.
Beizehaus National Park Information Center
Information desk in national park
Buchenstraße, 01855 Sebnitz (OT Hinterhermsdorf)
Stone table with benches in the snowy forest, surrounded by leaves and bare trees, in a quiet, wintry atmosphere.
Rest area "Steinerner Tisch"
Worth seeing
01847 Lohmen
Yellow Kirtnitzschtalbahn runs through a green forest along a small stream, peaceful atmosphere.
Kirnitzschtalbahn
Leisure railway
Kirnitzschtalstraße 8, 01814 Bad Schandau
A metal bridge with a small tower leads over a green landscape with trees and hills in the background, in sunny weather.
Historic passenger elevator Bad Schandau
Mountain railway/ski lift
Rudolf-Sendig-Straße, 01814 Bad Schandau
Two children play on a large wooden model of a beetle in the forest; one girl looks out of an opening while another climbs in.
Waldhusche, Hinterhermsdorf
Nature discovery trail
Buchenstraße, 01855 Sebnitz (OT Hinterhermsdorf)
River landscape with calm water, green banks and wooded hills; colorful houses on the left, clear, sunny atmosphere.
Wehlen - View from the banks of the Elbe to Rathen
Worth seeing
01829 Stadt Wehlen
Street scene with people, church tower and historic buildings in the sunshine on the market square in Bad Schandau.
Evangelical Lutheran St. Johanniskirche Bad Schandau
Church
Dampfschiffstraße 1, 01814 Bad Schandau
A person in a red jacket walks along a path to a white house with a green roof, surrounded by lush vegetation and trees.
Armory National Park Info Point
Information desk in national park
Zeughausstraße, 01855 Sebnitz (OT Ottendorf)
View from the deck of a steamboat onto a calm river, surrounded by wooded hills under a slightly cloudy sky.
Saxon Steam Navigation (Dresden)
Boat tours
Georg-Treu-Platz 3, 01067 Dresden
A woman with a rucksack looks out over a green, hilly landscape with a striking rock in the background under a clear sky.
Brand view (Hohnstein)
Viewpoint/viewing tower
Brandstraße 27, 01848 Hohnstein
Lächelnder Mann mit Bart, brauner Jacke und Rucksack vor einer Felswand.
Certified national park guide: Michael Könemann
Guided tour
Pestalozzistraße 8, 01814 Rathmannsdorf
A narrow path covered in fallen leaves leads through an impressive rock gate.
Rock gate in the Uttewalder Grund
Natural sight
01847 Lohmen (OT Uttewalde)
Black log cabin with white shutters, flower box and wooden sculpture, next to a sign for the national park information center.
Blockhaus Brand National Park Info Point
Information desk in national park
Brandstraße 27, 01848 Hohnstein

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.

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.

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

Two people climbing a rock face, secured by ropes, with wooded hills in the background.

Barrier-free Saxony

Cover image of a brochure. Two women, one of whom is in a wheelchair, stand smiling in front of the Baroque Zwinger Palace in Dresden.

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

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