Information on the Bad Schandau bridge

There are a total of five different ferry connections for cyclists and pedestrians in Bad Schandau and five more in the entire Elbe Valley between Pirna and the Czech border.

There is no car ferry. The nearest road bridge is 20 kilometres away in Pirna.

We differentiate between the right bank (Lilienstein side) and the left bank (Königstein Fortress side). You can also orientate yourself by the direction of flow of the Elbe (downstream).

The Bastei, the Lilienstein, the Kirnitzschtal and Bad Schandau with Schmilka, the national park with the Schrammsteine or the Obere Schleuse are located on the right bank of the Elbe. 

On the left bank of the Elbe you will find the Bad Schandau National Park railway station, the Bad Schandau district of Krippen with the Caspar David Friedrich Trail, Königstein Fortress, the Pfaffenstein with the Barbarine, the Papststein, Gohrisch, the Rauenstein, the Bielatal and the Marie-Louise-Stolln.

Travelling by train is quite the same as always. In Bad Schandau, the ferry takes all travellers to the right bank of the Elbe, from where many bus routes start. 

If you are travelling by car, you need to plan more carefully. For all places on the left bank of the Elbe, travelling via the A17 and B172 is a good idea, as always. 

If you want to travel to the right bank of the Elbe, e.g. to Bad Schandau, it is best to use the A4 motorway via Burkau-Neustadt-Sebnitz. This is the most efficient route. You can also change sides of the Elbe in Pirna and drive via Lohmen-Hockstein-Waltersdorf or take the route via the serpentines and Hohnstein through the Tiefen Grund to Bad Schandau. However, these roads are somewhat narrower and many others will also have the idea of travelling via this route. This will certainly slow down all.

In Saxon Switzerland, it is generally always a good idea to travel by bus and train. As an overnight guest, you already have the ticket in your pocket in many places with the mobile guest card. The bus service has been specially adapted due to the closure of the Elbe bridge.

The car parks near the Elbe are in high demand from commuters. So if you park a little outside or leave your car right by your accommodation, you can help to ease the situation.

The Elbe cycle path on the left bank of the Elbe is passable throughout.

Cyclists travelling to Bad Schandau can use the ferries in Königstein (if you are coming from Dresden) or in Bad Schandau.

If you are coming from the Czech Republic and want to get to Bad Schandau, you can cross over in Schmilka. There is a tarmac route from Schmilka downstream on both sides of the Elbe.

F1 Cross-border ferry connection Schöna (D) - Hřensko (CZ): daily 07:25 - 21:25 

F2 Schmilka ferry station: daily 07:20 - 22:30 

F3 Postelwitz ferry station - Bad Schandau, town: Mon-Fri 5:45 - approx. 22:00 / Sat, Sun 07:40 - 22:30 

F4 Krippen - Bad Schandau, town: Mon-Fri 5:45 - approx. 22:00 / Sat, Sun 07:40 - 22:00 

F5 Bad Schandau, Elbkai - Bad Schandau, National Park railway station: daily 04:25 - 01:25

F5a Bad Schandau, Elbkai - Bornfähre: daily 04:25 - 01:25

F6 Königstein ferry station: daily 04:30 - 23:10 

F7 Ferry station Kurort Rathen: Mon-Fri 04:30 - 24:00 / Sat, Sun 05:30 - 24:00 

F8 Stadt Wehlen ferry station: Mon-Fri 04:40 - 23:40 / Sat, Sun 05:40 - 23:40

It is possible to travel by car via Lohmen and Pirna.

From Hohnstein: You can also travel by bus via Pirna (line 237) and continue in the direction of Bad Schandau National Park railway station (line 241).

From Sebnitz: Here, the 237 line also travels to Pirna with a connection to the 241 line to the National Park railway station. From Sebnitz you can also take the train (U28) to the National Park railway station. From there, line 241 runs in the direction of Pirna to Königstein Fortress.

From Neustadt and Stolpen: The train (RB71) takes passengers to Pirna. From there, continue on line 241.