Saxon Switzerland and the Bastei: a day trip from Prague

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The sandstone cliffs above the Elbe are an hour and forty minutes' drive from Prague. The best-known spot, the viewpoint and stone bridge of the Bastei, stands almost two hundred metres above the river, and its view over the Elbe valley and the flat-topped hills around is one of the finest in the region. Entry is free, and the bridge is only a short walk from the car park.

How the day goes

It pays to leave early. Around midday the car park at the Bastei fills up and the bridge is packed; in the morning it is quiet. The driver drops you at the car park, about ten minutes' walk from the bridge, and waits. The Bastei itself, with a walk along the viewpoints, takes two to three hours. In the afternoon you can go on somewhere else.

What to add

A short drive from the Bastei is Königstein Fortress, one of the largest hilltop fortresses in Europe, with a view over the whole of Saxon Switzerland. The spa town of Bad Schandau is where the historic tram up the Kirnitzsch valley starts. And if you would like to end the day in a city, Dresden is forty minutes away. On the way back via Děčín you pass Bohemian Switzerland on the Czech side, with the Pravčická brána rock arch; since the 2022 fire, though, check in advance which trails are open.

What it costs

It is about 150 km from central Prague. The outward journey costs 5 480 CZK in a Mercedes E-Class (1–3 passengers) or 6 901 CZK in a V-Class (up to 7 passengers), VAT included. If you come back the same day and the driver waits no more than six hours, the return costs half, so the whole day in an E-Class comes to 8 220 CZK. Germany charges no motorway tolls for cars; parking at the Bastei is billed separately. Trips abroad are paid in advance, at the latest 24 hours before departure. The calculator gives the price for your address.

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