Hike the stunning Elbe Sandston Mountains via the Malerweg Trail
Walk in the footsteps of the inspired Swiss artists who gave this scenic route the name 'The Painter's Path' on this stella hiking tour! With striking rock formations, stone arches, caves, and thundering waterfalls, the Malerweg Complete Trail Hike reveals 112km of unbelievable natural beauty.
Hike to the surreal Bastei Bridge, the historic Königstein Fortress, and the famed viewpoints of Papststein and Gohrisch. You'll climb to towering massifs, navigate steel ladders and staircases, and descend through lush gorges and valleys. You'll also scale Großer Winterberg, the region's second-highest mountain. Embark on a journey through Saxon Switzerland National Park with the challenging but rewarding Malerweg Trail. This hiking tour is a must for those keen to explore the best of Saxony!
Highlights of the Malerweg Complete Trail Hike
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Malerweg Complete Trail Hike Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Pirna
Pirna is a small city known as the 'gateway to Saxony’ and has a number of attractions to see, with a historic city centre brimming with lovely architecture.
Spend the day settling in and perhaps take a walk to acquaint yourself with the town or to find a patio for dinner.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Pirna
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Pirna to Wehlen/Rathen
The first section of the Malerweg Trail takes you through three lush ravines and deep gorges, with a lovely landscape all around. You can either finish this section at Wehlen or walk a bit further to the spa town of Rathen, both of which are located on the Elbe River.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Wehlen/Rathen
Distance: 4-5.5 hours, 12-17km, 387m of ascent, 423m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Bastei Bridge and Hohnstein Castle
The most striking and famous spot in Saxony, the Bastei Bridge is best seen early in the morning before many tourists arrive, so get up early! Then, enjoy the incredible views of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains and descend to another interesting natural formation, the Hockstein Rock. From here you continue to Hohnstein and see its historic castle.
Spend the night here, perhaps enjoying a pint with the castle in view.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Hohnstein
Distance: 2.5-4 hours, 7-10.5km, 477m of ascent, 396m of descent
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 4 Brand Viewpoint and Tiefen Grund Gorge
The Brand Viewpoint is often referred to as the 'Balcony of Saxony,’ with panoramic vistas of the mountain range in every direction. This is where you begin your day!
The route then takes you down more than 800 steps into the rocky Tiefen Grund Gorge. You can either finish at Altendorf or Kirnitzschtal today. Depending on availability, you will stay overnight in Altendorf, Kirnitzschtal or Bad Schandau.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Altendorf or Kirnitzschtal
Distance: 6 hours, 15km, 596m of ascent, 518m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Schrammsteine Viewpoint and Lichtenhain Waterfall
A steep and rocky massif, the climb to the Schrammsteine Viewpoint is worth it this morning to get the most incredible views of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains.
The next stop is the rushing Lichtenhain Waterfall and the impressive natural rock arch of the Kuhstall Cave, which you can walk right through. Snap plenty of photos before making your way to Neumannmühle for the evening.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Neumannmühle
Distance: 6.5 hours, 18.5km, 698m of ascent, 755m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Climb to Großer Winterberg
As the second-highest mountain in Saxony at 556 metres, the route to the top of Großer Winterberg is a stunner. Your hike includes stops at the Zeughaus and Goldstein viewpoints to admire the amazing scenery.
From here you descend to Schmilka to cross the Elbe River by ferry. Here you take the train to Krippen or walk another 8 km on the Malerweg trail.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Schmilka/Krippen
Distance: 5.5 hours, 13.5km, 617m of ascent, 718m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Table Mountains of Papststein and Gohrisch
Offering incredible views of the imposing Schrammstein massif, today's route takes you to the crest of the two table mountains of Papststein and Gohrisch. From these two peaks, you’ll go down into the valley to reach the quaint spa town of Gohrisch. Feel free to treat yourself to a massage or facial after your hike!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Gohrisch
Distance: 6.5 hours, 18km, 617m of ascent, 718m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Pfaffenstein Massif to Königstein Fortress
Anoter great day of hiking is ahead! The climb to the top of the Pfaffenstein Massif takes you up a range of narrow steel staircases and ladders, rewarding you with views of the impressive Königstein Fortress. The trail descends into Königstein where you can explore one of Europe's largest hilltop fortifications.
You’ll stay overnight in Königstein or continue on to Weißig.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Königstein/Weißig
Distance: 4 hours, 9km, 270m of ascent, 469m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 Rauenstein Massif to Pirna
Today you complete the last stage of the Malerweg Trail by hiking to the Rauenstein Massif, with views of the Bastei Bridge and the Elbe River. The descent along the ridge takes you back to the starting point of your adventure, Pirna, completing the circuit.
You should feel proud of your journey! Maybe it’s time to find a restaurant to celebrate at?
Overnight Location: Hotel in Pirna or Dresden
Distance: 7.5 hours, 21.5km, 650m of ascent, 660m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 Departure from Pirna
Having completed the entire Malerweg Trail through the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, you can either depart from Pirna or add on some additional nights in Pirna or Dresden. Safe travels!
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
This self-guided tour is always run as a private tour for your group only.
2025 Departures
Daily departures are available from April to October, with some exceptions in the spring and early summer.
- Single room: from $1,395 USD*
- Sharing a double room: from $1,025 USD*
*-Pricing for this tour depends on the dates of your trip and all the prices are per person. Please click the booking button below to get the exact pricing for your trip dates.
Book NowAccommodation on Malerweg Complete Trail Hike
This tour is based in hotels. Each night you will stay in a different hotel on the route. Hotels on this trip are 3-star and offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant. Rooms may have fireplaces or access to amenities such as hot tubs, steam rooms, or private decks to lounge on.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
If you are a solo traveller or prefer a single room, the required supplements are included in the listed price.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Hotel in Pirna
A picturesque little city in the Elbe Valley, Pirna boasts a historic town centre brimming with medieval architecture.
Hotel in Wehlen or Rathen
Depending on how far you want to walk, you can overnight in the charming riverside town of Wehlen or continue to the spa town of Rathen.
Hotel in Hohnstein
A small but scenic town, Hohnstein is known for its castle and timber houses dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.
Hotel in Altendorf/Kirnitzschtal
Depending on how far you want to walk, you can overnight in the tiny town of Altendorf or keep walking to Kirnitzschtal which has a historic tramway.
Hotel in Neumannmühle
A small and quiet village in the mountains, Neumannmühle lies on the Malerweg Trail and is a popular overnight location for hikers.
Hotel in Schmilka or Reinhardtsdorf
Located right on the Elbe River, Schmilka is a charming little town to stay in, or walk further to the rural village of Reinhardtsdorf.
Hotel in Gohrisch
A historic spa town by the Elbe River, Gohrisch has lovely scenery and table mountains.
Hotel in Königstein/Weißig
Stay the night in Königstein with its famous fortress, or carry on to the small town of Weißig.
Hotel in Pirna
A picturesque little city in the Elbe Valley, Pirna boasts a historic town centre brimming with medieval architecture.
What’s Included in the Malerweg Complete Trail Hike?
Meals
9 breakfasts and 1 dinner are included in the tour.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 9 nights are included. Accommodations before the tour are not included but can be added as a supplement. You can also add on additional nights at any of the overnight locations along the tour route.
Transportation during the Tour
Transportation for your luggage from hotel to hotel is included throughout the tour. Bus tickets on Days 2, 5 and 6 are also included. Airport transfers are not included. Please note, that one ferry transfer is required which is not included and you should budget around 2 EUR per person for it.
Also Included
- 1 package with maps and information per room (in English)
- Service hotline during the walking tour
Not included
- Transportation to and from Pirna
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Flights
- Travel insruance
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy upgrades
- GPS data on request
Frequently Asked Questions about Malerweg Complete Trail Hike
AugustusTours is an established tour operator in Dresden which is well known for its customized tours for both groups and individual travellers. As an experienced incoming operator, we do not only organize city and cultural tours to the capital of Saxony and the picturesque surroundings including the enchanting vineyards of the Elbe valley. Besides classical city tour programmes, we also offer trips to the sights of the region.
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