Bad Schandau Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Bad Schandau featuring a river or creek, farmland and a small town or village
Saxon Switzerland National Park showing a small town or village
Bad Schandau which includes a bridge
Bad Schandau
Saxon Switzerland National Park which includes a bridge

Relax in the gardens and spa resorts of the medieval quarter and climb rugged peaks in the national park that flanks this historic Saxon town.

Bad Schandau is a riverside spa town in the mountainous region of Saxony. Great rolling hills shelter the valley of the River Elbe and the charming houses that flank the shore. Use the town as a portal to the climbing hotspot of Saxon Switzerland National ParkOpens in a new window.

Explore the medieval quarter of the town, which is full of quaint cafés and restaurants. Enjoy the spa facilities at one of the many wellness and beauty centres. Visit the Toskana Therme beside the river to experience the atmospheric colored lights that illuminate the pools.

Wander through the town’s Spa Gardens to relax by a fountain and attend concerts in summer. Inspect the range of plants in the Botanical Garden.

Among the town’s highlights is St. John’s Church, which dates back to the 14th century. Admire its Late-Gothic style and the tall Renaissance sandstone altar.

Ride the Aufzug Bad Schandau, which is an outdoor elevator that rises above the trees to give views of the charming town and the undulating countryside. The steel framework reaches a height of 164 feet (50 metres) and has been used to scale the Ostrau hill since 1905.

Learn about the geological history of the area in the Museum of Bad Schandau. Note how the town’s buildings and amenities are situated primarily on the northern flank of the river, while only the railway line runs through the other side. Enjoy the view of the green countryside across the river.

Take trips to the Saxon Switzerland National Park for its thousands of climbing routes and hiking trails. Expect cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers in this region.

Reach this town in the southern part of Saxony via its nearest major airport in Dresden, a 1-hour drive northwest. Get around the region by railway and bus, or ride the Kirnitzschtal Tramway to small villages along the River Elbe.

Hotel Elbresidenz an der Therme Bad Schandau

Hotel Elbresidenz an der Therme Bad Schandau

Markt 1-11, Bad Schandau, SN
Book a stay at this spa hotel in Bad Schandau. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (340 reviews)
Fantastic weekend stay
"Wonderfully understated hotel and spa. Breakfast was fresh and varied foods. Access to the pools was a great value. I'll be back"

Reviewed on 10 July 2025

Hotel Elbresidenz an der Therme Bad Schandau
Occidental Dresden Newa

Occidental Dresden Newa

Prager Straße 2c, Dresden, SN
The price is AU$110 per night from 16 Nov to 17 Nov
AU$110
16 Nov - 17 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this spa hotel in Dresden. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,011 reviews)
"The room was modern and spacious and clean, the bed very comfortable, the staff were very friendly and helpful. I felt very safe here. Close to the train station and shopping, walkable to historic sites, this restaurant was perfect and I'd definitely stay again if i return to Dresden."

Reviewed on 12 Oct 2025

Occidental Dresden Newa
Dormero Hotel Dresden Airport

Dormero Hotel Dresden Airport

Karl Marx Strasse, 25, Dresden, Saxony
The price is AU$88 per night from 6 Nov to 7 Nov
AU$88
6 Nov - 7 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Dresden. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
7.8/10 Good! (285 reviews)
"The hotel is a walking distance from the airport. It is clean, comfortable. The breakfast buffet was excellent but not included in the cost of the room."

Reviewed on 13 Oct 2025

Dormero Hotel Dresden Airport
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Gemütliches Ferienhaus Direkt am Fuße des Lilienstein in Bad Schandau

Gemütliches Ferienhaus Direkt am Fuße des Lilienstein in Bad Schandau

Bad Schandau
Stay at this vacation home in Bad Schandau. Enjoy free WiFi, patios, and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions Elbe-Freizeitland Koenigstein and National ...
9/10 Wonderful! (51 reviews)
"Wir haben uns sehr wohl gefühlt. Die Gastgeber waren sehr freundlich und haben uns auch sehr geholfen, wenn wir etwas über die Umgebung wissen wollten. Vielen Dank und wir kommen bestimmt bald wieder."

Reviewed on 22 Sept 2025

Gemütliches Ferienhaus Direkt am Fuße des Lilienstein in Bad Schandau
Elbe-2-Resort Directly on the Elbe

Elbe-2-Resort Directly on the Elbe

Bad Schandau
Stay at this apartment in Bad Schandau. Enjoy free WiFi, balconies, and cable/satellite TV service. Popular attractions Saxon Switzerland National Park and Postelwitz ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (117 reviews)
Peaceful, great riverside location... but a couple of niggles
"Overall, this appartment is good. Well placed on edge of town, accessible via public transport (we had no car) and great views of the river. The reception agent was brisk in his dealings with us, but overall OK on the welcome front. From the outside, the appartment isn’t going to win any awards for ..."

Reviewed on 28 Apr 2019

Elbe-2-Resort Directly on the Elbe
Elbe-1-Resort Directly on the Elbe

Elbe-1-Resort Directly on the Elbe

Bad Schandau
Stay at this apartment in Bad Schandau. Enjoy free WiFi, balconies, and cable/satellite TV service. Popular attractions Saxon Switzerland National Park and Postelwitz ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (127 reviews)
"Alles super"

Reviewed on 30 Sept 2025

Elbe-1-Resort Directly on the Elbe
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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