Express to the Rocky Kingdom

The Saxon Switzerland is seamlessly connected to the regional and long-distance transport network of Deutsche Bahn. With long-distance travel, one can reach both Dresden and the National Park station Bad Schandau directly, and all other places from here via suburban trains, buses, or ferries.

The main traffic artery of the region is the S-Bahn line S1. It connects the Elbe Sandstone Mountains with the state capital Dresden and Meissen. From Pirna onwards, the tracks follow the course of the Elbe. This provides impressive views of the bizarre rock formations and picturesque towns like Stadt Wehlen, Rathen, or Bad Schandau. From the stops, there are numerous connecting train, bus, and ferry connections, allowing access to the entire area.

German and international bus lines go to Dresden (main station). From there, you can easily transfer to the S-Bahn (S1/S2).

The dense network of Regionalverkehr Sächsische Schweiz Osterzgebirge (RVSOE) facilitates convenient and quick travel throughout the entire national park region. Most tourist destinations are easily accessible by bus.

The bicycle bus service was specifically developed for cyclists on selected routes. Comfortably seated in the bus, with your bike on the trailer, you can overcome elevation changes without effort. Bicycle buses are available in the region during the season from early April to late October on weekends and public holidays.

A similar service is also available for hikers: the hiking buses, which allow you to reach popular hiking areas without changing buses.

A special offer in regional transport is the National Park Railway Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland. Since the 19th century, it has connected the two towns of Bad Schandau and Sebnitz. The route ascends about 200 meters in altitude from the Elbe Valley, passes through seven tunnels, and crosses the Sebnitz River 28 times. Its mountainous character gives the nearly 16-kilometer long route its name—a nod to the Semmering Railway in Austria. Not only is the roughly half-hour ride an experience, but hikes along the route are also highly recommended. Each railway stop is also the starting point for several beautiful tours through the Elbe Sandstone Mountains.

A nostalgic experience is a ride on the Kirnitzschtal Railway. It is the only tram in the world that enters a national park. The heritage tram clatters leisurely through the wild and romantic valley along the clear mountain stream Kirnitzsch. The nine stops from Bad Schandau to the Lichtenhain Waterfall are ideal starting points for adventurous hikes in the national park.

There is a particularly attractive offer for excursions to Bohemian Switzerland: the Elbe-Labe Ticket. This cross-border ticket is valid on buses and trains throughout the VVO transport network, on Czech Railways (ČD) local trains in the Ústí Region, on city buses in Děčín and on the popular cross-border ferry between Schöna and Hřensko, as well as on regional buses in the area known as the “Šluknov Hook” east of Sebnitz and in the area south and west of Děčín.

Deutsche Bahn’s Saxony-Bohemia Ticket allows small groups of up to five people to travel affordably from anywhere in Saxony to areas near the Czech border on selected local trains. The ticket is also available for individual travellers.