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Saxiska Schweiz

12 July 2022 / 12 Comments

Saxon Switzerland - day trip from the Czech Republic to Germany

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Saxon Switzerland is a mountainous area and national park in Germany with stunning and dramatic scenery. The natural area continues into the Czech Republic where the national park is called Bohemian Switzerland. We did a day trip starting in the Czech Republic. What an adventure!

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Day trip from the Czech Republic to Saxon Switzerland in Germany

The day trip from Děčín in the Czech Republic to Saxon Switzerland in Germany took a full day and included no less than five modes of transport:

  • Boat
  • Car/tram
  • Hiking
  • Ferry
  • Train

Start in Děčín, Czech Republic

Our adventure to Saxon Switzerland started in Děčín in the Czech Republic, where we stayed at the city campsite. Camp Děčín. It was also this campsite that helped us with all the planning! In the morning we walked 15 minutes from the campsite to get to the boat, which was the start of the day's adventure.

Beautiful Děčín in the Czech Republic - on the way to the boat

Boat trip to Hřensko

We jumped on the tour boat, along with a number of other tourists. Then we glided away on the Elbe. Incredibly green and fantastically beautiful!

After a 50-minute boat ride, we got off in Hřensko, an incredibly charming little town on the Czech side.

We realised that we had actually been here once before, when we hiked up to the Pravcicka Brana (Europe's largest sandstone arch) in 2018. Here, fine hotels, restaurants and shops are tucked into the dramatic mountains. Incredibly charming!

To Bad Schandau and tram to the start of the walk

The campsite we stayed at, Camp Děčín, organised a car transfer for us from Hřensko in the Czech Republic to Bad Schandau in Germany. If you want to go on your own, you can take the next boat instead. Then, to get to the start of the hike, you can take the charming little tram. This tram opened back in 1898 and is only 7.9 kilometres long.

There is a restaurant at the end of the tramway, and we decided to eat before we went hiking. We had no cash in euros, but luckily they took cards. It was cold smoked salmon, with rösti and salad. Delicious!

Hiking in Saxon Switzerland

Then it was time to go hiking! We had received a map from the campsite that we followed, and already at the start we could see dramatic mountains rising in front of us.

Saxiska Schweiz i Tyskland

To get there, of course, we had to hike a lot uphill. It was 30 degrees and we got more than a little sweaty, but we knew we had something to look forward to.

Saxiska Schweiz i Tyskland
Saxiska Schweiz i Tyskland
Saxiska Schweiz i Tyskland

Okay, some steep stairs too! Or, if we're being honest, many steep stairs!

Saxiska Schweiz i Tyskland
Saxiska Schweiz i Tyskland

Sometimes we paused to drink water, eat blueberries or just breathe. At the same time, we could take the opportunity to enjoy the view or look for interesting details, such as the tree on the edge of the cliff in the photo below. Talk about living on the edge!

Saxiska Schweiz i Tyskland

After climbing all the stairs, we were greeted by a water source. So... divine to have cold water poured over your head!

Shortly after the water source, we arrived at an area in Saxon Switzerland with the fantastic rock formations. Isn't it amazing that nature looks like this?

Saxiska Schweiz i Tyskland
Saxiska Schweiz i Tyskland
Saxiska Schweiz i Tyskland

One stone pillar rises higher than the other ...

Saxiska Schweiz i Tyskland
Saxiska Schweiz i Tyskland

We took a selfie up there. Very happy (albeit sweaty) in this moment!

Freedomtravel i Saxiska Schweiz i Tyskland

A short little "hike" went to the edge of a cliff, with a narrow section to walk on and only a few handles to hold on to. There, Peter had to walk all by himself ...

Saxiska Schweiz i Tyskland
Saxiska Schweiz i Tyskland
Saxiska Schweiz i Tyskland

We then continued the hike towards something called "Carolafelsen". This meant more steps up (and more sweat), but we didn't regret it! Here we found perhaps the most amazing view of the entire hike.

Saxiska Schweiz i Tyskland

If you want to do a similar hike, we recommend bringing a map. There are plenty of signs, but it's important to understand where the different destinations are, and you can't count on having internet coverage all the time.

Finally, we felt that we had had enough and that it was time to turn towards Schmilka. The hike down was much easier, albeit slightly longer than we expected.

Beer and food in Schmilka

In Schmilka, a cosy village and a really lovely outdoor restaurant awaited us. Here we had beer and something that reminded us of a pizza slice, before we were ready to continue.

Schmilka i Tyskland
Schmilka i Tyskland
Schmilka i Tyskland

Ferry to Hirschmühle

Time to start heading "home"! ("Home is where we park it".) From Schmilka there is a small ferry across the Elbe to Hirschmühle, where the train leaves. The ferry costs 1 euro, but we only had cards and Czech cash. Fortunately, the Czech money was accepted, even though we were in Germany!

Färja till Hirschmühle

Once on the other side, in Hirschmühle, we could look back at the charming Schmilka.

Färja till Hirschmühle

Train back to Děčín

We didn't understand how we could pay for the train ticket in the vending machine at the station (which only seemed to be valid for destinations in Germany), but luckily we were able to pay on board. We were even more excited when it turned out to be fine with Czech money.

Tåg till Decin

A little while later we were back in Děčín in the Czech Republic. Now it was already evening and we were tired. But what a trip! Wow!

Decin i Tjeckien

Camping in Děčín in the Czech Republic

We stayed at Camp Děčín, which we told you about before. A fantastically nice and relaxed place!

Camp Decin

Videos from Saxon Switzerland

More things to see and do near Děčín and Saxon Switzerland?

This entire natural area, both on the German and Czech side, is absolutely stunning. On the Czech side, we can recommend a lovely hike in Bohemian Switzerland, as well as the sandstone arch Pravčická brána and Tiske Steny in Tisá, where scenes from Narnia were filmed. On the German side, we recommend a visit to the Bastei.

All our top tips about Germany. Click on the image!

Facts about Saxon Switzerland

  • Country: Germany
  • Name: Saxon Switzerland in German. In Swedish also Saxon Switzerland. The name has been used since the 18th century.
  • Characteristics: Stunning sandstone formations and isolated mountain peaks.
  • On the Czech side: Bohemian Switzerland (Bohemian Switzerland)

You might also like:

Prachovské skályPrachovské skály in Bohemian Paradise, Czech Republic Vandring i Bohemian SwitzerlandHiking in Bohemian Switzerland in the Czech Republic Tísa i TjeckienTisá in the Czech Republic - filming location for Narnia Sněžka - Tjeckiens högsta bergThe highest mountain in the Czech Republic - Sněžka in Sudetenland Devil heads in the Czech Republic - and two other spooky hikes Bron Bastei i Saxiska SchweizBastei in Saxon Switzerland - dramatic nature in Germany

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12 July 2022 6:00
Czech Republic, Germany
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9 Comments

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  1. Our Vantastic Travels says:

    Love all these rock formations. Such amazing mountain scenery to hike in. Was there a few years ago o unfortunately the battery in the camera ran out so I have no protons to look back on. Tragic but true!

    12 July 2022 - 19:05

    Reply

  2. Our Vantastic Travels says:

    Love this mountain landscape, Absolutely amazing to hike there!

    12 July 2022 - 19:10

    Reply

    • Comment by post author

      Helena says:

      Glad you have been here! It's a fantastic landscape!!! Too bad about the photos though ... On this particular trip I also had to save the battery, and it only lasted just until we got back ...

      12 July 2022 - 19:59

      Reply

  3. BP says:

    Fantastic pictures. Both the mighty nature and the buildings seem to be taken from a fairy tale land. Absolutely incredible:-)

    12 July 2022 - 20:18

    Reply

  4. Maria's memoirs says:

    How wonderful it looks 😊 I have also visited the Bastei Bridge and Bohemian Switzerland as a day trip from Prague.

    13 July 2022 - 10:39

    Reply

  5. Lena - good for the soul says:

    What a neighbourhood! Really special. Understand that you were quite tired after that challenge in the heat.

    Hug Lena

    10 October 2022 - 5:41

    Reply

3 Pingbacks

  1. Bastei in Saxon Switzerland - dramatic nature in Germany | FREEDOMtravel
  2. 10 amazing nature areas in Germany | FREEDOMtravel
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