Malerweg With the Bastei Bridge for a Weekend

Accommodation

The Malerweg is one of the most popular long-distance hiking trails in Germany. This, in combination with the beauty of Saxon Switzerland and the attraction of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, ensures that you will find numerous accommodation options along the Malerweg. Be it a hotel, a guesthouse, a B&B, or a so-called Zimmer Frei. You will find it all along the Malerweg trail. The Gasthöfer, Pensions, and Hotels along the Malerweg are mostly family-run businesses, often accompanied by an in-house restaurant and bar, and play a central role in the community life of the village or town. 

 

Numerous accommodation facilities along the Malerweg are certified with the title "Wanderfreundlich am Malerweg" (Hiker-friendly along the Malerweg). They offer individual accommodation, packed lunches, assistance with luggage transport, and rooms for drying clothes. In restaurants, light meals are available from 11 am to 5 pm. Upon request, drinks can also be filled up to take away.

Arranging the stages and booking the accommodation should not be taken lightly, since the hotels and guesthouses get fully booked months in advance. Below you will find the hotels we usually work with during this 4-day Malerweg trek. This trek also includes accommodation in Pirna before and after your Malerweg trek. Should any of these be completely booked, we will look for a different option of a similar category whenever possible:

Night 1: Pirna
We will book your first night, before starting the Malerweg, in Pirna, where you will be able to relax and prepare for your adventure.

Night 2, Stadt Wehlen: Villa Sophie
The bed and breakfast Villa Sophie in Stadt Wehlen, located directly on the Malerweg, offers all the amenities of modern holiday accommodation.



Night 3: Hohnstein
We will book your last night, after completing this Malerweg adventure, at a hotel in Hohnstein. Here you will be able to relax and rest after your journey.

 

It doesn't matter where you are going to walk or for how long. Bringing the right equipment is very important. The first thing you need for your hike is a good backpack. The size of your backpack depends on the number of days you go hiking, the season, and the clothes you take. The most important thing is the comfort level of your daypack. We have compiled a packing list with some essential clothing you should bring and some extras you might find useful:   

 

Essentials:  

- Hiking boots (worn in) 

- Hiking socks 

- Base layer tops - ideally thermal 

- Mid layer tops (e.g. fleece)

- Trekking trousers 

- Hat for warmth or shade 

- Gloves 

- Waterproof jacket 

- Waterproof trousers 

- Casual clothing & footwear for evenings.  

- Nightwear and underwear 

- Water bottle 

- Sunglasses & sunscreen 

- Toiletries   

 

- Small first aid kit 

- Blister plasters 

- Insect repellent 

- Camera and charger 

- Map and compass  

- Whistle 

- A book 

- Energy snacks

- Walking sticks 

 

The Malerweg is one of the long-distance paths in Germany that can be walked all year round. Of course, there is a high season and it is no surprise that this is in the summer. Please note that places like the Bastei attract not only hikers but also a lot of other tourists. Between May and October, some of the hotspots along the Malerweg can be extremely busy. The most colorful seasons for the Malerweg are spring and autumn. Temperatures are mild but expect the occasional rain shower. In winter the Malerweg can also be hiked, however, in case of high snowfall the hiking paths may become inaccessible. Fortunately, this does not happen very often. 

 

The Elbe Sandstone Mountains stretch on both sides of the Elbe River from the Saxon town of Pirna in the northwest to the Bohemian Decín in the southeast. The highest peak at 723m is Decinský Snezník on the Czech side. The mountain range connects the Ore Mountains in the west with the Lusatian Mountains of the Sudetes in the east.

Saxon Switzerland and the Zittau Mountains of the Lusatian range form the Saxon-Bohemian Cretaceous Sandstone Range. The eroded sandstone landscape of this region was formed from deposits accumulated at the bottom of the sea millions of years ago. Rough quartz sand, clay, and fine marl sank and were hardened layer by layer. This explains the unique landscape of Saxon Switzerland with its flattened peaks. 

 

The National Park of Saxon Switzerland covers an area of almost 100 km² over the core areas of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The national park was established on October 1st, 1990 by the former GDR. In the neighboring Czech Republic, the protected area continues as the Bohemian Switzerland National Park.

Naturally, the national park lends itself perfectly to hiking, both for small excursions and long-distance hikes. The National Park of Saxon Switzerland has around 400 kilometers of marked trails, and it is not only the Malerweg that runs through the park. European Hiking Route E3, which runs from Santiago de Compostela to the Black Sea, also passes through Saxon Switzerland.

How do I get to the Malerweg and back?

The Malerweg is not just around the corner. On the contrary, the trail is located near the Czech border, in the far east of Germany, near Dresden. The starting and finishing point of the Malerweg is in the town of Pirna, directly on the Elbe. 

Arriving by plane
You can book a flight to Dresden. From there you can take the bus or train to Pirna.

You can drive via Osnabrück-Hannover-Magdeburg-Leipzig or via Dortmund-Kassel-Leipzig. 

 

You can take the train to Berlin. From Berlin, take the international IC to Decin Hl.n. and get off in Dresden. From here an S-Bahn runs directly to Pirna. 

 

The Malerweg starts in Pirna-Liebethal, on the other side of the Elbe, just north of Pirna itself. This means that the Malerweg cannot be walked in a precise circle. Of course, you can walk to Liebethal, but most hikers just take the bus from the bus station to Liebethal. The bus goes every half hour and runs directly. 

Along the rest of the Malerweg, buses also run regularly. The regular buses have been renamed Wanderbus by the local transport company (RVSOE) and so they are easily recognizable by hikers. In the season, from April to November, there are more buses than usual. It is very convenient.

Although the Malerweg is anything but a trek in the Himalayas, something can always happen and there are also obstacles on the trails along the way. For an unforgettable and safe memory, please keep the following in mind:

 

- Wear appropriate clothing adapted to the weather and protect you from cold and wetness or from the heat and sun.

- Do not leave the marked paths.

- Prepare your stages carefully and use your energy wisely. 

- Always make sure you have enough water with you. 

- Always use the aids provided, such as handrails and ropes, when ascending or descending. 

- Hiking trails can be particularly treacherous in autumn and winter. 

 

Make sure that those closest to you have been informed of your walking program. Bring a charged phone with you that has at least the following numbers on it: 

 

- Immediate family member

- Places to stay en route

- European general emergency number: 112

The Covid-19 pandemic has had its grip on us, and accommodations all over the world have had to take several preventive measures over the past two years. In the meantime, most of the measurements are not taken into consideration anymore, yet it is definitely still a factor to take into account. Some restrictions that are worth mentioning:

- Don't go on your hiking trip if you have symptoms.
- Not all the accommodations are allowed to operate at full capacity yet, so make sure you book your stay in advance.
- Keep your distance and hygiene.
- Use disinfectants and hand sanitizers.

Stay informed about the current rules per country. Make sure you know before you leave which measures you need to take during your stay. The best thing to do is to check the websites of the government.