Start your cycling holidays in the historic charged city of Dresden and make a bike tour along the beautiful Elbe River in Eastern Germany. The Elbe rises in the Giant Mountains in the Czech Republic and flows to the North Sea. It has got a longitude of 1165 km and runs through a very beautiful countryside of Germany. This cycle trip leads you from the Saxon Switzerland with its incredible cliffs to the vineyards of Saxon and on to the floodplains of the river. Famous and beautiful cities like Dresden, the former “Elbflorenz” or Wittenberg are making this tour a perfect adventure with lots of natural and even cultural highlights.
Day 1: Arrival to Dresden
You arrive in the Florence of the Elbe, Dresden, which is beautifully situated along the Elbe valley. Use the rest of the day for a walk along the river or through the Baroque town centre to be enchanted by the city’s historical flair.
Day 2: Dresden > Bad Schandau > Dresden, ~45 km
Today you have time to explore Dresden’s many sights and attractions such as the famous Frauenkirche, the Zwinger Palace or the Semper Opera House. Our tip: Or you make a trip to the Saxon Switzerland Region with its bizarre rock formations. Take the local train to Bad Schandau (ticket not included) and then cycle back to Dresden along the Elbe River passing sights such as the Fortress Königstein, the Bastei Bridge and the Pillnitz Palace & Park.
Day 3: Dresden > Moritzburg > Meißen, ~30 km
On the first stage of the tour along the Elbe River Cycle Path you will pass the town Radebeul which is famous for its vineyards. Continuing your journey you will soon see the landmark of the city of Meissen: the impressive castle hill with the cathedral and the Albrechtsburg castle. A visit to the world-famous Meissen porcelain factory is a must. In the evening enjoy a glass of local wine because you are in the heart of one of the smallest yet most distinguished wine growing regions of Germany.
Day 4: Meißen > Riesa (cat. A) or Strehla (cat. B), ~28 or 36 km
Today’s cycle tour will take you along picturesque wine villages to Riesa, the city of sports. The town is also famous for its pasta production. In the transparent noodle centre you can gain insight into the modern food production of the second largest pasta manufacturer in Germany.
Day 5: Riesa (cat. A) or Strehla (cat. B) > Torgau, ~48 or 40 km
Continuing the tour along the Elbe River Cycle Path you will soon reach Strehla where you will be enjoying the enchanting rural atmosphere of the Elbe town. Today’s destination is Torgau, a Renaissance town featuring Schloss Hartenfels and the Palace Church known as the first German Protestant church.
Day 6: Torgau > Wittenberg, ~68 km
After leaving Torgau you will cycle through the Elbe’s floodplains and reach Wittenberg, the starting point of Martin Luther’s Reformation process 500 years ago. Take a walk through the historic centre and visit the various memorial sights dedicated to Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon which were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996.
Day 7: Wittenberg > Dessau, ~37 km
The last leg of the tour along the Elbe cycle path will take you through tranquil Elbe river meadows and past the world-famous Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 100-hectare large park offers numerous attractions including islands, canals, temples and statues. The final destination Dessau played an important role in creating a new architecture style and life philosophy in the 1920’s, the so called ‘Bauhaus’. The Bauhaus building and the Masters’ houses from Kandinsky, Klee or Feininger all belong to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.
Day 8: Departure or you lengthen your stay
After a memorable cycle tour from Dresden to Dessau, you will start your journey back home or you will use our transfer service back to Dresden. You are welcome to prolong your journey with some additional nights,
