The steamboat landing stage is a convenient entry and exit point for hikes to the Bastei Bridge and trips on the Elbe.. .
The landing stage is located on the right bank of the Elbe (looking downstream) in the spa town of Rathen. It is a popular boarding point for trips up and down the Elbe - for example to Pirna, Königstein or Bad Schandau.
In the immediate vicinity are restaurants, the Elbe ferry and access to the Rathen rock stage and the hiking area around the Bastei. The combination of a steamboat trip and hiking tour is particularly popular.
The ships operating here are part of the oldest and largest paddle steamer fleet in the world. Nine historic paddle steamers dating from 1879 to 1929 are largely preserved in their original condition and are listed as historical monuments.
The ships are powered by oscillating steam engines, whose open technical rooms can also be viewed by guests. The trip along the bizarre rocky backdrop is one of the most impressive sections of the Elbe cruise.
Rathen itself is picturesquely nestled between rock formations and gorges. High above the village are the Bastei rock formations.
A popular excursion leads along the Bastei Trail to the 76-metre-long sandstone bridge and on to the viewing rock 191 meters above the Elbe. Equally worthwhile is the path through the Schwedenlöcher or along the Amselgrund to the Amselsee lake.