5 Best Sights in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, Germany

Stretching for a mile and a half along the Elbe River, this pretty foot and cycling path takes you by the town center and the picturesque village of Postelwitz, with views of the area's famous sandstone cliffs.

A quick way to reach beautiful hiking trails or to just enjoy some spectacular views, this 165-foot-high steel lift, built in 1904 in the art nouveau style, offers stunning panoramas of the town, the Schrammstein cliffs, and the Elbe River.

Covering more than an acre in the town center, the botanical gardens of Bad Schandau has assembled a rich collection of exotic plants and flowers from the world's cooler climes since its opening in 1902. The garden also specializes in species native only to Saxon Switzerland, as well as the region's protected plants, rare poisonous plants, and medicinal botanicals used in medieval times.

Opened in 1898 and now electrified, the Kirnitzschtal tramway traverses a four-and-a-half-mile course from the town center through the lovely Kirnitzsch Valley. Passengers can hop on and off the train for photo or hiking opportunities at any of the eight stops as it winds its way along the valley into the Elbe sandstone mountains and around the Lichtenhain waterfall. In summer, the train leaves every 30 minutes. The embarkation point is at Stadpark, on the Kirnitzchtalstrasse, a short walk from the Tourist Office and the river.

The saline spring waters at Bad Schandau's most popular spa are said to promote health and well-being. The spa offers a huge range of wellness and beauty treatments as well as thermal baths, outdoor pools, several types of saunas, and herbal wraps.