About 3 hours from Berlin, you can visit Germany’s only rock national park – with over 1,000 sandstone formations and around 1,200 km of hiking trails

There are plenty of autumn excursions in and around the city: from Berlin’s largest lake, which offers a green refuge in the middle of the city with its hidden forest retreats, to a 700-meter-long treetop path in Beelitz, which opens up panoramic views like no other. The choice is vast and pumpkin farms can also be a great experience, where you can even discover wooden sculptures like Frida Kahlo. This season is full of highlights – but for true natural wonders, we’d like to introduce you to a place that may be 2.5-3 hours to the east, but is home to Germany’s only rocky national park: Saxon Switzerland with its spectacular Elbe Sandstone Mountains.

Saxon Switzerland

In Saxony, on the border with the Czech Republic, between Dresden and Prague, there is a landscape that looks as impressive as it does in the movies and at the same time offers a multitude of things to do. The Saxon Switzerland National Park is undoubtedly one of the best vacation destinations in Germany, especially in the fall. A trip here gives you the opportunity to discover over 1,200 km of fantastic hiking trails, immerse yourself in over 100 million years of geological history and experience a great selection of art and cultural events. What makes hiking in Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland special is the diversity of the region – there is something to suit every hiking taste.

Hiking in the national park

The national park offers numerous hikes, including the famous Malerweg in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Germany, which once inspired painters to create their works. On this hiking trail, you can discover the Bastei, Königstein Fortress, the Schrammsteine and the Pfaffenstein. There are also suitable tours for families with children. Children can explore the secrets of nature in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, for example the Barbarine rock needle or the Neurathen rock castle. The national park also offers attractive opportunities for cyclists. The Elbe Cycle Path offers the ideal combination of sport and nature experience. Around 500 km of paths are specially marked for cyclists. Of course, there are also barrier-free hiking trails so that active wheelchair users can enjoy the landscape without any problems.

The Saxon Switzerland National Park is a dream destination at any time of year, especially in autumn when the landscape turns gold, red and orange and the views are spectacular. Winter is also a white dream here, with special winter hikes through the majestic rocks and views. Simply wrap up warm, take a thermos flask and set off! And don’t forget: Hiking with your dog is perfectly possible here. Your four-legged companions can enjoy the magnificent landscapes just as much as you – after all, they are avid hikers.

Culture

Of course, such a rich landscape also has a long history, which you can discover in the Saxon Switzerland National Park. European history was written here in the midst of idyllic nature. You can experience it up close in the magnificent palaces, picturesque gardens and legendary castles. The landscape was so impressive that Romantic artists later made the Elbe Sandstone Mountains famous in literature and art. With historical monuments and museums on a variety of topics, there is never a dull moment here.