Elberadweg from Dresden to Magdeburg. Cycling Germany

While the Elbe Cycle Route is ideal for an extended cycling adventure, its excellent rail and road links also make it perfectly suited for shorter holidays or even weekend getaways in Germany. Many cities along the route naturally lend themselves to convenient and engaging trip segments. The journey begins near the river’s source, with a first leg stretching from Prague (initially along the Vltava) to Dresden – roughly 240 kilometers – mostly on the Czech side, winding through the dramatic Elbe canyon and the striking landscapes of Saxon Switzerland. The section described in this article follows next: Dresden to Magdeburg, covering around 300 kilometers. For a shorter, weekend-friendly option, consider riding from Magdeburg to Wittenberge (not to be confused with Lutherstadt Wittenberg) in northern Brandenburg – a 150-kilometer stretch well connected to Berlin at both ends. And finally, there’s the segment from Wittenberge to Hamburg (about 190 kilometers), with the possibility of extending your trip all the way to the North Sea and linking up with EuroVelo 12, the North Sea Route.