Malerweg
Photo © S.Rose Fotografie
4-6 days
116.5 km
3085 m
543 m
The Malerweg is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Germany, set in the heart of the spectacular Saxon Switzerland region. This iconic route traverses a unique landscape of sandstone cliffs, deep gorges, forests, and panoramic views over the Elbe. Among its most famous sites are the Bastei, the Schrammsteine, and the Königstein fortress. The trail follows in the footsteps of the German Romantic painters who immortalised these landscapes in the 19th century.
Stages
| Departure | Arrival | Accommodation on arrival | Profile | Duration | Distance | +Elev. | −Elev. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 PirnaTown | PorschdorfVillage | 8h00 | 27.5 km | +859 m | −676 m | ||
2 PorschdorfVillage | LichtenhainTown | 6h30 | 22.5 km | +708 m | −783 m | ||
3 LichtenhainTown | Reinhardtsdorf-SchönaVillage | 6h15 | 20.3 km | +778 m | −858 m | ||
4 Reinhardtsdorf-SchönaVillage | Haus BergblickLodge | 6h30 | 21.2 km | +841 m | −783 m | ||
5 Haus BergblickLodge | GoesVillage | 5h30 | 22.4 km | +242 m | −362 m |
Elevation profile
How to get there
Public transport
Fully accessibleThe start of the Malerweg is easily accessible from Dresden via the S-Bahn S1, which serves Pirna, the gateway to the trail. From Pirna, bus lines allow you to reach the starting point of Liebethal directly. Throughout the trail, the regional network of trains, buses, ferries, and trams facilitates access and return journeys without a car. Bad Schandau station, served by national and international trains, is also a major access point to Saxon Switzerland. A single transport network covers the entire region.
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