Day trip from Czech Republic to Saxon Switzerland

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Saxon Switzerland is a mountainous area and national park in Germany with stunning and dramatic scenery. The nature 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!

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 (Alternative: 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.

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 the start of the hike

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.

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.

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

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!

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?

One stone pillar rises higher than the other ...

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

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 ...

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.

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.

Ferry to Hirschmühle

Time to start heading ”home”! (”Home is where we park it”.) From Schmilka a small ferry goes across the Elbe to Hirschmühle, where the train goes. When we made the trip the ferry cost 1 euro, but we only had cards and Czech cash. Luckily the Czech money was accepted, even though we were in Germany!

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

Train back to Děčín

When we made the trip, we didn't understand how we would be able to pay for the train ticket in the machine at the station. That time, it was solved by being able to pay on board – and with Czech money.

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!

Camping in Děčín in the Czech Republic

We stayed at Camp Děčín, which is centrally and conveniently located in Děčín. A fantastically nice and relaxed place!

Film from the day trip to Saxon Switzerland

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

This entire natural area, on both the German and Czech sides, is absolutely stunning. Here are some tips for more places to visit nearby:

• Hiking in Bohemian Switzerland
• Pravčická brána sandstone arch
• Tiske Steny in Tisá
• Source Bastion