Elbe River with Schloss Moritzburg, Sachsen, Germany. Photo via Flickr:Polybert49

View from Albrechtsberg Castle in Meissen, Germany. Photo via Flickr:Harshil Shah
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Dresden to Magdeburg

Germany Bike Tours

Along the Elbe River…

Depending on which of the following bicycle tours you choose, you can cycle a total of approximately 108 miles (335 km) between Bad Schandau and Madgeburg. You can start in Dresden with Wittenberg, Dessau or Magdeburg as your destination. Or, reverse the order, start in one of the three towns and end in Dresden. There are 1001 possibilities to combine sight seeing with your tour. Enjoy regional cuisine and wine tasting in pubs and restaurants along the way. A few wine specialties are Goldriesling, Ruländer and Scheurebe. Come along and explore the picturesque landscape from the narrow Elbe Sandstone Mountain Valley to the vast flood plains by Magdeburg.

Starting in Dresden in eastern Germany, this tour incorporates scenic river landscapes with palaces and castles, chapels and churches, vineyards and valleys, history and harmony and always, tasty traditional Deutsch cuisine, from sausages to sauerkraut! Dresden is known for its Baroque towers and gables. For a great view of the city, climb the dome of the Frauenkirche! This famous symbol of Dresden was recently reconstructed and is considered the world’s finest Protestant church.

From the dome, one can see Brühl's Terrace (a terrace overlooking the Elbe River); Semper Opera House in Dresden-Baroque architecture; Zwinger (Baroque buildings enclosing a picturesque garden courtyard); the Catholic Hofkirche (the largest church in Saxony and one of Dresden's foremost landmarks) and the Residenzschloss. The city’s cultural and artistic splendor result from its long history as capital and Royal residence for the Kings of Saxony, and its importance as a cultural center has given it the nickname Elbflorenz or “Florence of the Elbe”.

The town of Meißen is dominated by the Albrechtsburg, a 15th century late-Gothic castle that was the first of its kind to be built solely as a residence. In the historic town of Torgau, you will notice the early-Renaissance Hartenfels castle. The town of Wittenberg will take you back to the roots of Marin Luther and the Reformation. On the door of the Schlosskirche (castle church) is where the Augustinian monk Luther is said to have nailed his famous 95 theses in 1517, starting the Reformation. On the market square is the ancient Rathaus with a statue of Luther.

For a full list of options for bicycle tours in Germany, click here!

Where You’ll Stay

Category 1: 2, but mostly 3 hotels and inns
Category 2: great 3  to 4  hotels

What’s Included

  • Hotel accommodations for 8 nights
  • Breakfast buffets
  • 21-speed hybrid bicycle
  • Luggage transportation
  • Route descriptions & maps
  • 7-day service hotline

What’s Not Included

Dresden to Magdeburg Map

TourBike
TypeSelf Guided
SkillEasy
Length7–9 days
From€656 Rates
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Tour Dates

Daily from April 25 to October 10, 2016

Skill Level

Easy self-guided hotel tour with average daily distances of 25 miles per day over good asphalt roads or bike paths and flat terrain.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Dresden to Magdeburg Map

Day 1: Arrival in Dresden
Day 2: Dresden - Elbe Sandstone Mountains – Dresden, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 3: Dresden - Meißen, 15/28 mi. (24/45 km)
Day 4: Meißen - Strehla, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 5: Strehla - Torgau, 27 mi. (44 km)
Day 6: Torgau - Wittenberg, 41 mi. (66 km)
Day 7: Wittenberg - Dessau, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 8: Dessau - Magdeburg, 40 mi. (65 km)
Day 9: Departure

**The 7 day / 6 night tour runs from Dresden to Wittenberg (or v.v.) with overnight stays in Dresden x 2, Meißen, Strehla, Torgau, & Wittenberg.

The below itinerary is for the 9 day / 8 night tour:

DAY 1: Arrival in Dresden
Dresden, also known as "Florence on the Elbe River", is a cultural metropolis in Saxony. The view from the river towards the city is gorgeous. A few points of interest include The Frauenkirche, 'Church of Our Lady', Brühlsche Terrasse, nicknamed 'The Balcony of Europe', the Semperoper Opera House and Zwinger Palace are just a few points of interest worth visiting. Overnight in Dresden.

DAY 2: Dresden - Elbe Sandstone Mountains – Dresden, 28 mi. (45 km)
Today's excursion is to the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. Cycle along the Elbe past the Albrecht Palace and enjoy the beauty of the former royal vineyards. Cross the suspension bridge called the 'Blue Wonder', and continue on to Pirna. On the way, you will pass the Pillnitz Palace and Gardens. You may want to visit the town hall on the market square in Pillnitz and admire its Renaissance architecture. Continue on through the Elbe Valley past Wehlen to the spa town of Rathen. You may want to walk up to the medieval castle and bastion. Take the ferry across the Elbe to Königstein (fare payable on-site). Crown your day with coffee or tea and a piece of cake on the promenade in Bad Schandau. Travelers are responsible for their own transportation by S-Bahn (commuter train) back to Dresden.

DAY 3: Dresden - Meißen, 15/28 mi. (24/45 km)
The Karl May Museum (Karl May was one of Germany's best selling authors in the 19th and 20th century) is in Radebeul. On your way to Meissen it would be worth your while to leave the cycling paths and cycle through the vineyards. You may want to take a nice break to enjoy a delicious glass of wine at one of the rustic inns. A visit to the stately Meissen Porcelain Factory and the Albrecht Castle is a must. Stay overnight in or near Meissen.

DAY 4: Meißen - Strehla, 26 mi. (42 km)
After Diesbar Seusslitz, you’ll ride along the northernmost vineyards of Germany. Beside the Baroque castle with wonderful gardens, the winegrowing area offers many opportunities for becoming acquainted with the Saxonian Weines. Next the day will take you further along the Elbe past the former steel town of Riesa following Strehla. Strehla is an idyllic small town also over a 1000-years-old. Overnight accommodation in Riesa or Strehla.

DAY 5: Strehla - Torgau, 27 mi. (44 km)
Today the former fortress town of Torgau is your destination. A historical place to meet in. During World War II at the Elbe bridge, the Soviets were on one side and the Americans on the other. Along the way, you’ll pass the small town of Muehlberg with a Cistercian monastery and the Treblitz tree park.

DAY 6: Torgau - Wittenberg, 41 mi. (66 km)
Wittenberg is famous for its one-time citizen Martin Luther, and here you can find the largest exhibition about the history of the Reformation. Along the way, you’ll ride over the lock, Lichtenberg, over Pretsch along the Elbe.

DAY 7: Wittenberg - Dessau, 31 mi. (50 km)
Cross the Elbe into Wörlitz. Wörlitzer Park was the first naturalistic English landscaped park on continental Europe. It was created in the late 18th century under the regency of Duke Leopold III of Anhalt-Dessau and is 142 km² (54.8 sq mi). On your way to Dessau you can either cycle along the Elbe or through the little baroque city of Oranienbaum. The House of Ascania onced resided in Dessau. The city has become very reputable since the ‘Bauhaus’, a “Building School” in Germany that combined crafts and fine arts and is famous for its approach to design, was located there in 1925. Stay the night in or near Dessau.

DAY 8: Dessau - Magdeburg, 40 mi. (65 km)
Cycle across flood plains of the Elbe on your way to Aken. The small city was founded by Albert the Bear in the 12th century. The old town is surrounded by a 700 yr. old city wall with 14 fortified towers and 3 city gates. Cycle through the towns of Barby, Gommern and Schönebeck and on to the beautiful city of Magdeburg. Spend the night there. 

DAY 9: Departure from Magdeburg

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Customer Feedback

  • C. Thompson 3 months ago

    Some of the directions from the bike path to the hotel were not great. In 2 cases, when hotel was far from bike path, it was only with GPS in our phone that we were able to find our way. Loved having the meal plan where possible. Thanks for setting that up.

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