The Best Things to do When You Visit Königstein

Last updated on November 21st, 2022 at 03:21 pm

Chances are you’ve never heard of this tiny little village in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. But, Königstein truly is a treasure with much to offer visitors. The advantage of having fairly easy access to options in both the city and countryside make this an even more desirable location. It is well positioned in the Elbe Mountains and close enough to Dresden to make a reasonable day trip. So, if you are looking for a quiet place with a variety of activities, Königstein might just be the place you need to visit next. In this post, I will provide you with the information you need to plan your trip. I will also highlight some of our favorite things we did on our trip to this beautiful region of Germany.

***Disclaimer: Be sure to check all entry requirements for Germany and any activity you would like to participated in before booking any part of your journey.

How to Get to Königstein

The nearest airport to Königstein is Dresden airport. From here, you have the option to rent a car, take public transport, or take a taxi.

Personally, I think that renting a car would be the best option. It allows for the most flexibility, especially if you want to visit more remote places in the Saxon Switzerland National Park. (**Please note that this national park is in Saxony, Germany and not at all close to Switzerland)

That said, public transport is also an option. The train will take about 1.5 hrs to reach Königstein. You can explore the options further using this website.

Where to Stay in Königstein, Germany

We stayed in the most wonderful little AirBnb apartment in Königstein. It is best if you are able to drive here, but if not, it is also walkable from the train station.

Some things we really enjoyed about this little apartment was the reasonable cost, a well-stocked kitchen where we cooked some meals, a cozy bedroom, and a nice bathroom. It was also just a few minutes walk to access the walking path which leads up to Festung Königstein. This walking path continues on to connect with the Malerweg.

If you are interested in booking this lovely Königsteiner Stübchen for your visit, please click here.

Things to do in Königstein

1. Visit Festung Königstein (Königstein Fortress)

View Looking out From Königstein Fortress in Germany

This magnificent fortress is one of the top points of interest in the immediate area. Therefore, you will not want to miss out on the opportunity to stop in on your visit to Königstein. Here, you will discover more about the history of the area as well as the many uses of the fortress over the years.

A Little History of Festung Königstein

The presence of a castle in Königstein was first mentioned in writing in the year 1233. Over the course of time, this fortress took on many roles. Some of these include: a place of refuge, prisoner of war camp, spa hospital for wounded soldiers, youth reform camp. Nowadays, it serves as a military and historical museum.

Once you enter, there are many buildings that you are free to explore at your own pace. In the Well House, you can learn all about the evolution of water pump system that has helped supply the fortress with water since the 17th century. The well at Königstein Fortress is 152.5 meters deep, making it one of the deepest in Saxony. You can also stop in at the Garrison Church, explore the history of the fortress at George’s Castle, or view the rooms where the commandant lived. Another point of interest includes the wine cellar beneath Magdalena’s Castle. Here the giant 238,000 litres wine cask of August the Strong was stored.

Of course, this is only the tip of the iceberg. For your convenience, I have included the website’s link in the section below. So, check be sure to check it out before you go!

Yellow Building at Königstein Fortress in Germany

Planning Your Visit to Festung Königstein

If you plan to visit Festung Königstein by car, there is a parking lot nearby. Alternatively, it is about a 30 minute hike up the hill from the village of Königstein.

In total, we spent about 1.5 hours at the fortress and it was not nearly enough. We got to see the main highlights, including the museum area. But, I would recommend 2-3 hrs if you plan to visit the entire place.

For more information about the fortress, opening hours, and ticket prices, please visit the Festung Königstein official website.

2. Explore the Malerweg (Painter’s Path)

Wooden Steps Along Painter's Pat in Germany

Resting Place Along the Painter's Path in Germany

Narrow Passageway Through Rocks on the Painter's Path

The Malerweg, or Painter’s Path in English, is an extremely popular hiking trail for backpackers. In 2007 it was voted the most beautiful hiking trail in Germany. Altogether, it is circular path which is just over 100 km (~70 miles). To hike the entire path typically takes approximately 8 days to complete. Alternatively, you can choose to hike portions of it (which is what we personally chose to do).

Some Facts About the Malerweg

The concept of the Painter’s Path dates back to the 18th century. During this time, painters and artists took special interest in exploring the beautiful wilderness and interesting rock structures of this region of Saxony. Johann Carl August Richter, Johann Alexander Thiele, and Caspar David Friedrich are just a few who painted along the path. Over the years, many other creatives of the European Romantic era (Richard Wagner, Mary Shelley, Hans Christian Anderson, and more) also visited this region. Eventually, the trail became known as the name “Painter’s Path”.

Points of interest along the trail include Königstein Fortress, Pfaffenstein, Barbarine, Kuhstall, Affensteine, Schrammsteine, Kirnitzschtal, Hohnstein Castle, Rathen Open-Air Stage, and the Bastei Brücke.

If you are interested in hiking the entire path or even just learning more about the Malerweg’s history, points of interests, and more please click here.

3. Walk Across the Famous Bastei Brücke (Bastion Bridge)

This is one of the most famous and iconic spots along the Malerweg (Painter’s Path). You will certainly not want to miss out on an opportunity to enjoy this incredible view for yourself. There is also a Panorama Restaurant which is part of the to Berghotel Bastei, located 194m above the Elbe river. From here, you have the opportunity to enjoy a meal and the view from the top all at once. While we did not personally eat here, it might be worth check out on a nice day.

To get to the Bastei Brücke, you can either choose a long hike or you can drive and do a shorter hike. Either way, you will still have to take the ferry. I have included a section below with the information for both of these options.

Some History of the Bastei Brücke (Bastion Bridge)

This strategically placed bridge connects some of the most rugged and beautiful rock formations in the Elbe Mountains. Originally, visitors had to climb a grueling 487 stairs from Rathen to reach this impressive view point. Later, in 1826, a small wooden bridge was constructed to help make things easier for visitors. And, as tourism increased, it was eventually replaced in 1851 with the current stone bridge. Nowadays, it is much easier to access these glorious and sweeping views of the Elbe River and surrounding areas.

How to Get to the Bastei Brücke (Bastion Bridge)

Below I have included a map of the hiking route that we chose to take. Please note that we actually started our journey in the morning with a stop at the Festung Königstein. From there, we continued on the Malerweg.

Google maps suggests that it will take just over 4 hrs to complete the entire route. But, because we took stops to eat a picnic lunch, take lots of photos, as well as time to sit admire the Bastei Brücke, it took us closer to 5/5.5 hours to complete the whole route. (This not including our 1.5 hour stop at the fortress.)

***Please note that the route includes a ferry, so be sure to have cash on you (preferably coins)!

Alternatively, if you are not much of a hiker, it is possible drive to a nearby parking lot, or take the train to Kurort Rathen. From here, you will have take the ferry across the Elbe River and then hike 20 minutes uphill to the Bastion Bridge. ***Just be sure to have cash/coins on you to pay for the ferry!!

4. Visit the Historical City of Dresden

Dresden is the capital of the German state of Saxony. While the story of this city is long and complex, the bombing of Dresden in 1945 is one of the more recent events that has significantly transformed its landscape. As you make your way through the city, blackened buildings will probably catch your eye. You might initially imagine that they are that color due to air pollution. But, in fact, they stand as emblems of the past, bearing their scars of the fire that raged after the bombing of Dresden.

By pure coincidence, my husband happened to read Slaughterhouse 5 right before our trip. As we walked around, he was reminded of scenes which were described throughout the book. I think having those insights helped deepen our experience. If you have the chance, or desire to read this book before your visit, I would recommend it.

A Brief List of Points of Interest in Dresden:

Dresden Royal Palace and Green Vault
The Frauenkirche Dresden
The Zwinger
The Dresden Opera House
Kunsthofpassage (Art passage in New Dresden)

How to get to Dresden from Königstein

It will take about 45 minutes to get from Königstein to Dresden by car. Once there, you can park in one of the many parking areas/lots which are available.

By train, it will take between 40 minutes to 1 hr to arrive in Dresden (depending on your route). There are a couple of different options, but we found that taking the local S1-Bahn was the easiest and most direct route. You will want to board the train at Bahnhof, Königstein (Sächs.Schw.) and get off at Hauptbahnhof, Dresden.

When choosing train tickets, there are two options available to you. The first is to purchase two one-way tickets (one going and one returning). The second is to buy a day-ticket that includes the return journey. Honestly, I think the cheapest would be to buy the day-ticket. But, it’s always good to look at both. To learn more about prices, timetables, and ticketing, please click here.

In Conclusion

I hope that this post has given you some great ideas to help plan your visit to Königstein, Germany. I would love to hear from you in the comments below!

Happy Travels,
<3 Christine