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!

  •  Cat. 1Cat. 2
    9 Day Tour £ 664 $ 1,033 € 686 NOK 6974 kr 6438 $ 837 £ 783 $ 1,218 € 809 NOK 8225 kr 7592 $ 987
    Single Supplement £ 140 $ 218 € 145 NOK 1474 kr 1361 $ 177 £ 184 $ 286 € 190 NOK 1932 kr 1783 $ 232

    Season Surcharge

    		 £ 58 $ 90 € 60 NOK 610 kr 563 $ 73 £ 68 $ 105 € 70 NOK 712 kr 657 $ 85

    Season surcharge for arrivals from May 15 to Sept 18, 2017

    extra options

    Electric bicycle rental

    9 Day: £ 126 $ 196 € 130 NOK 1322 kr 1220 $ 159

    Return transfers* 

    Magdeburg to Dresden (per person): £ 68 $ 105 € 70 NOK 712 kr 657 $ 85

    *Min. of 2 passengers. Advanced reservation required. Payable on site. 

    Extra nights in Dresden

     

    Cat. 1

    Cat. 2

    Double Room

    Price £ 55 $ 86 € 57 NOK 580 kr 535 $ 70

    Price £ 68 $ 105 € 70 NOK 712 kr 657 $ 85

    Single Supplement

    Price £ 31 $ 48 € 32 NOK 325 kr 300 $ 39

    Price £ 44 $ 68 € 45 NOK 458 kr 422 $ 55

     

    Extra nights in Magdeburg

     

    Cat. 1

    Cat. 2

    Double Room

    Price £ 48 $ 75 € 50 NOK 508 kr 469 $ 61

    Price £ 68 $ 105 € 70 NOK 712 kr 657 $ 85

    Single Supplement

    Price £ 29 $ 45 € 30 NOK 305 kr 282 $ 37

    Price £ 39 $ 60 € 40 NOK 407 kr 375 $ 49

    please note

    Rates are based on double occupancy.

    Information to read before you book.

    We recommend purchasing bike trip insurance.

    Please see our FAQ.

  • Travel

    Fly to Berlin.

    Local Travel

    Train from Berlin airport to Dresden, approx. 2-3 hr, cost of ticket approximately €40 depending on connections.

    Climate

    Average high/low temperature in °F for Dresden is approximately: 64/47 for May, 70/53 June, 70/53 July, 72/56 August, 66/50 September, & 56/44 for October.

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

Extra Stay

Extra nights available in Dresden, Wittenberg, or Magdeburg.

Dresden to Magdeburg Map

TourBike
TypeSelf Guided
SkillEasy
Length7–9 days
From€686 Rates
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Tour Dates

Daily from April 30 to October 7, 2017

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 15/28 mi. (24/45km)
Day 3: Dresden - Meißen  26 mi. (42 km)
Day 4: Meißen - Strehla 27 mi. (44 km)
Day 5: Strehla - Torgau  41 mi. (66 km)
Day 6: Torgau - Wittenberg 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 7: Wittenberg - Dessau 25 mi. (40km)
Day 8: Dessau - Magdeburg, 31 mi. (50 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 15/28 mi. (24/45km)

There is an abundance of castles and points of interesest in the region around Dresden. Follow the Elbe River past the castles once belonging to Prince Albert, past the Blue Wonder, and past the stately vineyards on your way to Pillnitz. Not too far from there is the beautiful Old Town of Pirna. The Königstein Fortress and Bastion are favorite tourist destinations. The seemingly magical rock formations surrounded by forest are captivating. The spa town of Bad Schandau is a perfect place to spend the night.

DAY 3: Dresden - Meißen  26 mi. (42 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 27 mi. (44 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  41 mi. (66 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 31 mi. (50 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 25 mi. (40km)​​​​​​​

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, 31 mi. (50 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 1 year 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.

     Reply

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