Before my trip to Berlin, I searched for nearby places to visit, and the Bastei Bridge in Saxon Switzerland National Park immediately caught my eye! It was one of my favorite things to see on our trip.
The Bastei Bridge was constructed in 1851 to replace an earlier wooden bridge from 1824 to allow visitors to appreciate the area’s natural beauty, rock formations, and panoramic views. It spans 76.5 meters (251 feet) and sits 194 meters (636 feet) above the Elbe River. Some ruins of Neurathen Castle, which once stood on the Bastei rocks, are also nearby (but temporarily closed).
We initially planned to drive from Berlin, which takes about two hours. However, we changed our plans and took a short road trip from Berlin to nearby cities. This led us to drive from Dresden to the Bastei Bridge, which was only a 45-minute drive.
Quick Information
Location: Bastei Bridge
Website: www.saechsische-schweiz.de
Entrance fee: Free
Free Parking: No
Paid Parking: Yes, two paid parking lots.
Kid Friendly: Yes
Dog Friendly: Yes
Map
This map shows the two parking locations and the viewpoints we saw in the park, including the order in which we saw them.
Parking options
There are two parking lots to use when visiting the Bastei Bridge, Parkplatz Bastei and P+R Bastei. We parked in Parkplatz Bastei, closest to the Bastei Bridge, but it was crazy busy when we arrived around noon on a Saturday. Many people were circling, trying to find spots, but the parking fairy was with us that day! Someone was leaving at the perfect time and even gave us their parking pass, which was good until 2:30 p.m.!
When driving to the Bastei Bridge, you’ll come to a Y intersection. The parking lot closer to the bridge, Parkplatz Bastei, is to your right, and the P+R Bastei Lot is on your immediate left (you’ll see a small building and lift gates).
My advice is to try parking in Parkplatz Bastei, and if you are unsuccessful in finding a spot, return to the P+R Bastei lot. It’s a bigger parking lot, and you can take a shuttle from there or walk 3.3 kilometers (2 miles) if you’re a real go-getter!
One more parking lot is even closer than Parkplatz Bastei, and it’s for hotel guests. Avoid parking there unless you’re staying at the hotel.
List of parking lots
| Parking Lot Location | Distance to Bastei Bridge | Shuttle to/from lot |
|---|---|---|
| Parkplatz Bastei | 700 meters (0.43 miles) | No |
| P+R Bastei | 3.3 Kilometers (2 miles) | Yes. See details below. |
| Hotel Parking (for guests) | 600 meters (0.37 miles) | No |
Shuttle information and times
The table below shows the shuttle departure and return times for the P+R Bastei parking lot.
For updated shuttle times, go to the shuttle website, scroll down to the City of Welhen-Bastei (Bastei-Kraxler), and expand the section. Then, view the times for the P+R parking lot Bastei.
| Shuttle Departure Times | Shuttle Return Times |
|---|---|
| 9:30 | 9:43 |
| 10:25 | 10:38 |
| 11:25 | 11:38 |
| 13:00 | 13:38 |
| 14:25 | 14:38 |
| 15:15 | 15:28 |
| 16:15 | 16:28 |
The best time to visit
I am an early bird gets the worm type of person, but this was not the case with our nine-hour time difference in Germany.
I read that the Bastei Bridge is usually quiet before 9 a.m., so I wanted to arrive before then, but we got there at 11:50 a.m., which seemed the busiest possible time. When we left at 2 p.m., most of the crowd was gone, and the Parkplatz Bastei lot was half empty. I suggest arriving before 9 a.m. or around 2 p.m. to avoid midday crowds.
Even though we arrived at a peak time, walking around with the crowd wasn’t terrible. The pathways are wide enough, and you can still take great pictures from all the outlooks.
Exploring
There are numerous paths and vistas to explore, offering sensational views of the Bastei Bridge, Elbe River, and rock formations.
All of the outlooks were spectacular. Since there were lots of people, we had to take turns at some of them, but the wait times were short. Some require climbing steep, narrow stairs, which can slow things down when crowded.
We didn’t use a map while wandering around because the paved paths made it easy to find the lookouts. Overall, we spent a good two hours at the Bastei Bridge, and that included enjoying beers and brats at the Panorama Biergarten.
Hiking in this area is unforgettable. If you have extra time, there are several trails nearby.
Elbe River Panoramas
The Elbe River views we saw included the Bastion View, Kanapee View, and Tiedge View.
You’ll reach the Bastion View before crossing the Bastei Bridge, which offers the best view of the Elbe River and towns in the distance.
After you cross the bridge, you’ll get a chance to see the Kanapee and Tiedge views.
Bastei Bridge Outlook
The Ferdinandstein View has the BEST sight of the Bastei Bridge, so get your camera ready! This was our last stop and a great way to end our walk before heading to the Biergarten.
Crossing the Bastei Bridge
Walking across the Bastei Bridge feels like crossing a castle bridge in a show like Game of Thrones! We loved it. It was built in 1851, so it’s very old, but it feels like it’s from medieval times.
Paths and Stairs
Aside from picturesque viewpoints, the paths and stairwells connecting everything are gorgeous, with bright green foliage and unique rock structures.
A little bit of a warning that there are a lot of stairs after you cross the bridge and head toward the Kanapee and Tiedge views. The stairs head downward initially, so you’ll eventually climb the stairs on your way back to the bridge. We definitely witnessed some huffing and puffing!
Panorama Biergarten
The Panorama Biergarten is another fabulous lookout over the Elbe River. After all the walking, it’s a great place to relax and have a beer or beverage. They also have food, but we weren’t very impressed with the brats we ordered.
Even if you don’t order anything, go up and take a look before leaving.
Another option for food is the Panorama restaurant near the Biergarten. We didn’t eat there, but the menu looks good.
Restrooms
If you need to use the restroom, pay up! It will cost half a euro, so make sure you have coins. This is common in most places we visited in Germany. The restrooms are near the Biergarten and restaurant.
Where to stay nearby
If you’re interested in staying nearby, there’s the Mountain Hotel (Berghotel) at the Bastei Bridge. You can also check out some more hotels along the Elbe River, like the Steiger Hotel Rathener Hof.
Related posts to help you plan a trip to Germany
- Exploring Germany: 7 Amazing Day Trips from Berlin By Car
- Berlin City Walk Tour: The Best Way to Explore Berlin in One Day
- How to Visit The Devil’s Bridge: A Fairytale Adventure in Germany
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