Holiday in Bad Schandau

What makes Bad Schandau special as a destination?

Bad Schandau is the gateway to Saxon Switzerland and is beautifully situated in the Elbe Valley, framed by the bizarre sandstone cliffs of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The state-recognized spa town with around 3,500 inhabitants is the ideal starting point for one of Germany's most spectacular natural wonders. The Bastei, just 25 minutes from Bad Schandau, is the most famous rock formation in Saxon Switzerland: The Bastei Bridge spans 194 meters high over the gorge and offers a breathtaking view of the Elbe Valley. The rock needles and table mountains resemble a miniature version of the Grand Canyon — Caspar David Friedrich painted his famous Romantic landscapes here. The historic Kirnitzschtalbahn has been operating since 1898 as a tram from the city center 8 km through the romantic Kirnitzschtal to the Lichtenhainer Waterfall. It is the only interurban tram in Saxony and one of the oldest electric trams in Germany. Bad Schandau is the climbing paradise of Saxony: Over 1,100 free-standing climbing rocks with 21,000 routes make Saxon Switzerland the most important climbing area in Germany. Saxon climbing follows its own strict rules — no magnesium, no camming devices, only natural protection points and rings. This ethic has influenced free climbing worldwide. The historic passenger elevator (built in 1904) transports visitors 50 meters vertically to a viewpoint above the Elbe Valley. The Toskana-Therme offers Liquid Sound — floating in warm saltwater with underwater music and light installations.