Saxony's flagship long-distance trail, a 112 km, 8-stage route through Saxon Switzerland National Park tracing paths used by 19th-century Romantic painters, including Caspar David Friedrich, past the Bastei rock formation, Schrammsteine ridge, and Königstein fortress.
The Malerweg ("Painters' Way") is Saxony's best-known long-distance trail, a waymarked 112 km route divided into 8 official stages through Saxon Switzerland National Park, tracing paths that 19th-century Romantic painters, most famously Caspar David Friedrich, walked to sketch the region's sandstone towers, table mountains, and Elbe river gorges. The full route runs roughly from Pirna in the northwest to Bad Schandau and the Czech border area, passing directly by or near the Bastei rock formation and its 19th-century sandstone bridge, the jagged Schrammsteine ridge (which requires scrambling with fixed ladders and handholds on the most exposed sections), and Königstein Fortress on its isolated tabletop rock above the Elbe. Total elevation gain across all 8 stages is substantial, around 3,500 m cumulative, and individual stages vary from easy riverside walking to strenuous rock scrambling rated up to T3 on the sections through the Schrammsteine and Affensteine. Because every stage town sits on or near the S-Bahn line between Dresden and Bad Schandau, hikers can walk the full multi-day route staying in guesthouses along the way, or select individual stages as day trips from Dresden without committing to the whole trail. Fixed rungs, ladders, and via ferrata-style aids appear on several of the more technical stages, and hikers should have a head for exposure on narrow sandstone ridges even though no technical climbing gear is required.
| Difficulty | Moderate-Strenuous (T2-T3, varies by stage) |
|---|---|
| Best season | April to October; some exposed rock sections are hazardous when icy |
Trail facts
- Trail area
- Saxon Switzerland National Park, southeast of Dresden
Weather through the year in Germany
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Germany.
Highlights
- Bastei rock formation and bridge
- Schrammsteine ridge scramble
- Königstein Fortress viewpoint
- Painters' viewpoints referencing Caspar David Friedrich's work
Tips for visiting
- Most hikers walk it over 8 days at roughly 14 km per stage, but individual stages can be walked as day hikes from towns along the Elbe rail line
- Book accommodation in advance in the small Saxon Switzerland villages during summer weekends, when the trail is busy
When to visit
May to early October for stable trail conditions; the Schrammsteine and other exposed rock sections should be avoided in icy or wet conditions.
Accessibility
Most stages involve natural, uneven sandstone and forest paths with significant elevation change and are not wheelchair accessible; the Bastei viewpoint itself has a paved, more accessible approach from its car park.
Visit, book or contact
Frequently asked questions
Do hikers need climbing equipment for the Malerweg?
No technical climbing gear is required, but several stages include exposed sandstone ridges with fixed ladders and handholds, particularly through the Schrammsteine, so a head for heights is important.
Can the Malerweg be hiked as day trips rather than all at once?
Yes, every stage town sits on or near the Dresden-Bad Schandau S-Bahn line, making individual stages easy to walk as standalone day hikes.
How long does the full trail take?
Most hikers complete the 112 km route over 8 days, walking roughly 14 km per stage, though fitter hikers sometimes combine stages.
What is the connection to Caspar David Friedrich?
Friedrich and other Romantic-era painters walked and sketched along much of this route in the early 19th century, and several of his best-known landscapes depict views found directly along the trail.