Idyllic river meadows extend for miles along the Elbe. Storks and cranes land on the colorful meadows while you admire the picturesque river landscape with yellow sandbanks and tree-lined banks. Unforgettable moments like these await you along the Elbe Cycle Path in Saxony-Anhalt.
In this Collection, we present the 224-mile (360 km) Elbe Cycle Route in nine stages. Thanks to the flat, well-developed cycle paths in Saxony-Anhalt, the route is suitable for everyone, whether you are a hobby cyclist or an ambitious long-distance rider.
The starting point of the Elbe Cycle Path through Saxony-Anhalt is just south of Pretzsch near Priesnitz. You can travel here on public transport with the bus 333 from Lutherstadt Wittenberg.
The route takes you northwards through beautiful countryside along the Elbe and its surroundings. You pass unique nature such as the Middle Elbe and Elbe River Landscape biosphere reserves.
You can cycle the Elbe Cycle Route in both directions. We’ve chosen to cycle northwards, following the river’s flow. But if you ride from north to south, you can enjoy tailwind most of the way. You can choose whether you prefer to cycle with the wind or the water.
In addition to fabulous nature, there is also plenty of culture to discover. Visit the Bauhaus city of Dessau, explore Magdeburg’s magnificent cathedral, or wander the streets of the island city of Havelberg.
Your adventure finishes in Schnackenburg in Lower Saxony. From here, you can continue on the Elbe Cycle Path or take the 944 bus from nearby Lanz to Wittenberge, where you can connect to long-distance trains.
There are overnight stops and refreshment facilities at all stage destinations. Beautiful campsites are also dotted along the cycle path as well as charming villages with pleasant cafés to take a break.
To start your bike tour on the Elberadweg through Saxony-Anhalt, the best way to get from Wittenberg is by bus 333 to Priesitz. You can take your bike with you on the bus for free. Here you can directly enter the Elberadweg or cycle about three kilometers to the south, where the Elberadweg crosses the border between Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.Here you can stop off at the restaurant "Zur Schah Mühle" before you start your bike tour on the Elberadweg through Saxony-Anhalt.From the border you cycle past the Lausiger ponds, pass Priesitz and meet the Elbe at Pretzsch for the first time. On a flat route you always drive north near the river through a beautiful field and meadow landscape. Idyllic villages invite you to take a break.At Elster, the Elbe flows in a sweeping curve to the west. You follow her and thus reach the goal of the first stage, Lutherstadt Wittenberg.
From Lutherstadt Wittenberg you cycle along the loops of the Elbe through wide meadows and beautiful riparian forests to the west.After about half of the route you will reach Wörlitzer Park. Here you can take an extensive break and let the highlights in the park, such as the falconry, the palm garden or the labyrinth, take effect on you. From here it is also worth a short detour to the town center, where you can find various places to stop for a bite to eat.Freshly strengthened, you swing back on your bike and ride on a flat route through enchanted forests and the picturesque Elbe river to the stage finish in Dessau.
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At the start of the third stage, you drive comfortably through Dessau and can make stops along the way at Georgium Castle and the Bauhaus master houses. Then you make a short detour to the banks of the Elbe and then cycle past the Kühnauer See to Aken, where you cross the Elbe by ferry.You cycle through wide meadows and extensive forests on the other side of the Elbe to Walternienburg. Past the old moated castle it goes to the banks of the Elbe. Here you take the ferry to Barby, today's stage destination.
From Barby you can either take the ferry back to the other side of the Elbe or take the Elbe bridge north of Barby.Through the wonderful nature of small forest areas and the wide Elbe meadows you drive towards Dornburg. After a scenic dangle along the Dornburg Alte Elbe, you follow the happy loops of the main river again.In Schönbeck you have completed a little more than half the stage and can take a well-deserved break. There are nice places to take a break right on the banks of the Elbe.With new strength you drive through picturesque meadows and fields over Randau back to the Dornburger Alte Elbe. Passing the beautiful nature of the Kreuzhorst forest area, through which the river meanders, you reach the stage destination Magdeburg with its impressive cathedral.
After you have left beautiful Magdeburg, you cycle long distances directly along the banks of the Elbe to Hohenwarthe. Here you not only completed half of the stage, but also about half of your bike tour on the Elberadweg through Saxony-Anhalt.In Hohenwarthe you will find various places to stop for refreshments. In addition, the Mittelland Canal flows here on a bridge over the Elbe, which looks very impressive.After your stop in Hohenwarthe, you follow the Mittelland Canal to the Niegripper connecting canal. On the way you will pass fascinating locks and can watch huge ships. Along the Elbe you cycle through fields, meadows and meadows to the Rogätz Elbe ferry, which takes you to the destination of the same name.
From Rogätz the Elberadweg leads you through the rural Altmark, where you can enjoy a lot of nature. You cycle along the Elbe through enchanted forest and wonderfully wide meadows. You can always let your eyes wander across the lush meadows to the water.On the way there are cozy resting places on the banks and charming villages that invite you to take a relaxing break.Shortly before the stage, you cycle past the nature reserve "Bucher Brack-Bölsdorfer Haken", where you can climb a lookout tower and let the vast landscape work its magic on you from above. You then drive the last kilometers along the Elbe to the stage destination Tangermünde.
At the gates of Tangermünde you can expect the magical Elbe meadows, over which you can let your gaze wander far into the distance. Passing Storkau Castle and along a very well-developed cycle path, you come to Arneburg, where you can enjoy an unforgettable view of the Elbe and its meadows from a viewing platform.A little off the river you cycle past colorful fields and lush meadows through the wonderful country idyll, which is decorated here and there by small, charming villages.In the Hanseatic city of Werben, you have the opportunity to take a leisurely break in the old town before heading the last few kilometers to the beautiful Havelberg, the milestone.
After you have left the island town of Havelberg, you follow the course of the Havel through small towns, vast fields and picturesque forests to the mouth of the Elbe. Here you can take an extensive look at the now very wide river and the wonderfully natural banks.Then you cycle across the border to Brandenburg and ride some dangling through the beautiful landscape of the biosphere reserve "Elbe River Landscape". With a little luck, you can spot majestic storks on the wet meadows.Through the untouched nature on the banks of the Elbe you drive comfortably to the stage destination Wittenberge. On the way there you will always find inviting places to stop for refreshments in the dreamy villages through which you come.
After you have spent the night in Wittenberge in Brandenburg, you cross the Elbe on a railway bridge at the start of the last stage and return to Saxony-Anhalt. As you cross the river you will enjoy fascinating views of the beautiful Elbe landscape.Through beautiful nature it goes a little away from the Elbe to Wahrenberg, where you meet again on the water and can take a leisurely break in the river café. Then you cycle through a lovely field and meadow landscape, pass charming villages and approach the former German-German border between Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony. At the Stresow Memorial, you can immerse yourself in the history of that time.On the Lower Saxony side you cycle through idyllic landscape towards Schnackenburg, where you meet the Elbe again. Here you have reached the goal of your bike tour through Saxony-Anhalt and can end the day comfortably.The best way to leave is by bike on the Elbe Cycle Path. Alternatively, you have the option of taking the bus to Dannenberg in 1944, where you have access to regional rail services, or you can take the ferry across the Elbe and cycle to Lanz. Here you take the bus 944 to Wittenberge, where you have access to the long-distance train service. You can take your bike with you if there is enough space on the buses.