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The Semperoper opera house in Dresden with its ornate Neo-Renaissance facade in golden sunlight, featuring arched windows and sculptures on top.

Cycle tour along the river Elbe

The classic route from Dresden to Dessau

8 Days / 7 Nights
Easy
The Semperoper opera house in Dresden with its ornate Neo-Renaissance facade in golden sunlight, featuring arched windows and sculptures on top.

This stretch forms the heart of the Elbe River cycle path. On this tour you will cycle through the almost untouched landscapes of the Elbe floodplains and the impressive Elbe Sandstone Mountains. Famous cities such as Dessau, Wittenberg, Meißen and Dresden and the omnipresent legacy of Martin Luther are part of the cultural offering. Dreamy baroque castles and Renaissance gardens will take you back in history. The countless reaction ferries are a true peculiarity – these cable ferries have no motor, but use the reaction of the current against a fixed tether to propel themselves across the river.

from
€719

Dresden – Meißen – Riesa – Dessau

  • Elbe Sandstone Mountains
  • the porcelain town of Meissen
  • Saxon Wine Road
  • Semperoper Dresden

Facts & Map

  • Booking code
    DE-EBRDD-08A/B
  • Übernachtungsniveau
    Category B: national 2* / 3* level (DE-EBRDD-08b)
    Category A: national 3* / 4* level (DE-EBRDD-08a)
  • Duration
    8 days / 7 nights
  • Arrival days
    Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
  • Travel documents languages
    German, English, French
  • Parking informationCategory B: Parking in garage of the hotel. Cost: approx. 16 € / day, no reservation necessary, payable on site. Free-of-charge parking nearby the hotel available.
    Category A: Underground parking at the start hotel. Cost: 24 € / day, no reservation necessary, payable on site. No reservation possible through Radweg-Reisen.
  • Return to Dresden
    Optional return journey by minibus every Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning, duration approx. 2 hours, must be specified when booking. Alternatively on your own by train, connections: hourly, duration: approx. 3 - 4 hours, 1 change of trains.

Map - The Elbe River Cycle Path

Itinerary

Day 1

Individual arrival in Dresden

Your our bike tour along Elbe River Cycle Path through Saxony starts in Dresden. In fact, its city center appears like a huge museum. You can discover a lot of sights like the Dresden Zwinger, the Historic Green Vault, the Church of Our Lady and many more. The splendid historical old town combines perfectly with the new part of town where you can find nice boutiques and restaurants. Dresden really has a lot to offer – enjoy it!

Day 2

Excursion to Bad Schandau

approx. 45 km + train ride or approx. 90 km

First you will be riding along the River Elbe to the Baroque Castle of Pillnitz. In former times it served as summer residence for the Royal Family of Saxony. Then you will continue upriver to the Elbe Mountain Range. From the famous Bastei Cliff you will have an amazing view over the Elbe Mountain Range and the River Elbe. For the way back from Bad Schandau to Dresden you can choose between cycling and train (not included). Look forward to enjoying another night in Dresden.

Day 3

Dresden – Meißen

approx. 25 km

Today you will leave Dresden, cycling along vineyards and through the romantic Elbe Valley. Soon you will reach Radebeul. The 400-year-old town can look back on a long tradition of wine-growing and it´s the birth place of Karl May. We recommend to visit the Karl May Museum which is dedicated to Winnetou and Old Shaterhand. In Meissen, renowned for its famous porcelain, you should visit Albrechtsburg and the Market with the Frauenkirche.

Day 4

Meißen – Riesa

approx. 35 km

Today´s leg of your our bike tour along the Elbe through Saxony leads you along the Saxony Wine Route. On your way you will have several opportunities to try the local wines. The Baroque Castle in Diesbar-Seusslitz with its church is embedded in a beautiful park. Further you will be riding on the Elbe Cycle Path to Riesa, also known as the City of Sports.

Day 5

Riesa – Torgau

approx. 45 km

On your our bike tour along the Elbe through Saxony you will be cycling downriver to the small town of Mühlberg. With its amazing old town and the 13th century convent it´s really worth a visit. Just a few kilometres away we recommend to see Treblitzsch Landscape Park with a large variety of trees and shrubs from five continents. Afterwards you will be cycling to Torgau, Germany´s best preserved Renaissance town. In Torgau you will find many traces of Martin Luther, too.

Day 6

Torgau – Wittenberg

approx. 65 km

Before starting today´s leg, you should visit the landmark of Torgau, Castle Hartenfels. On your way you will also have the chance to see the Castles of Lichtenberg and Pretzsch. You will finally arrive in Wittenberg which is very much connected to Martin Luther and the Reformation. In the small streets you will feel the spirit of the past, and in the Lutherhaus you can explore the world´s largest collection related to the history of Reformation.

Day 7

Wittenberg – Dessau

approx. 30 km

Today you will continue cycling downriver. You should allow for a short break in-between, e. g. in the Dessau-Wörlitz Park – a real piece of art that perfectly combines gardening and architecture. In Dessau you will meet one of the world´s major architects: Walter Gropius who in the 1920´s built some Bauhaus buildings with those typical functional stylistic elements.

Day 8

Individual departure

Today is the last day of your cycling holiday along the Elbe River cycle path. After breakfast, you start your individual return journey home or extend your stay.

Bastei Bridge in Saxon Switzerland

Historic buildings with a tower in Riesa

Bronze statue in front of historic church towers in Lutherstadt Wittenberg under clear blue sky. Twin spires and domed towers visible.

Historic towers and a statue in Lutherstadt Wittenberg

Dessau Palace with white facade and towers beside the Elbe River, with church featuring orange roof and green riverbank under blue sky.

Dessau Residential Palace on the River Elbe

Prices and dates

Prices per person in EUR

Services & Information

  • 7 nights with breakfast, national 2* / 3* level,
    Category B (DE-EBRDD-08b)
  • 7 nights with breakfast, national 3* / 4* level,
    Category A (DE-EBRDD-08a)
  • Luggage transport from hotel to hotel as far as Dessau, no limit on the number of pieces, max. 20 kg / piece
  • Digital travel documents and route navigation via app
  • Service hotline (7 days, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)

Not included:

  • Light rail (S-Bahn) journey Bad Schandau – Dresden, approx. 11 Euro per person excl. bike
  • Citys or visitors tax, if payable
Children’s discount on the basic tour price
  •  0 - 5 years = 100%
  •  6 - 11 years = 50%
  • 12 - 14 years = 25%
  • 15 - 17 years = 10%


Applies for accommodation in rooms with 2 full-paying guests.

  • Start / Destination
    Dresden / Dessau
  • Length
    approx. 245 - 290 km
    Daily routes between 25 and 90 km, Ø 45 km
  • Tour operated by
    Radweg-Reisen
  • Mobility note
    The tour is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Rental bikes

Rental bike types

  • 7-gear unisex bike, hub gears with backpedal
  • 21-gear unisex bike, derailleur gears with freewheel (men's bike from 1.85 m)
  • 30-gear trapezoidal bike, derailleur gears with freewheel
  • Electric bike / pedelec

 

Fittings

Pannier, handlebar bag, milometer, bike lock, pump, repair kit (1 x per room)

Red logo with white silhouette of cyclist with backpack riding a bicycle above the text 'RADWEG REISEN' in white capital letters.
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