Dresden Steam Festival
Holiday Highlights
- Dresden Steam Engine Festival, including evening photographic session at Roundhouse 1
- Return journey on Kirnitzschtal tramway
- Return journeys on the Weisseritztalbahn & Loessnitzgrundbahn steam railways
- Travel by paddle steamer on the Elbe River
- Public transport ticket for central Dresden
Tour Date:
October 2021
The Dresden Steam Festival is an ideal event for a family or private group trip who are rail and steam enthusiasts. If you are a member of a railway society or group, consider taking the train to Dresden to enjoy its annual Steam Festival. We run an escorted tour to the festival each year for individuals, but we can also arrange a dedicated private tour for your family or group. Below is an itinerary of our escorted tour which can be adapted to suit your needs. If you wish to attend the festival only we can arrange all travel and accommodation for the duration of the event.
ITINERARY
Day 1 – Aachen
Early afternoon Eurostar from St Pancras London to Brussels where you connect to the high speed train to Aachen. Your hotel for tonight, the Ibis Aachen am Marschiertor, is just a short walk away.
Day 2 – Onwards to Dresden
Travel via regional services and ICE from Aachen to Dresden. Your hotel for the next 5 nights is the InterCityHotel which is situated adjacent to the main station in Dresden.
Days 3 & 4 – Dresden Steam Engine Festival
You have 2 full days to spend at the festival, as well as tickets for a special photography event on the Friday evening. Exact details of the festival’s programme are to be confirmed by the festival’s organisers closer to the time, but we can expect informative presentations, fascinating displays, steam loco cab rides, diesel engines at the Verkehrsmuseum, model trains and both historic and modern locos. You will have access to the festival area around the railway museum and the Dresden traffic museum, as well as an evening, illuminated photo session of steam locomotives at Roundhouse 1, with commentary, and a steam journey ‘special’ (route details are still to be confirmed).
Day 5 – Weisseritztalbahn & Loessnitzgrundbahn
Today you make a return trip on the two local steam railways located on the outskirts of Dresden, the Weisseritztalbahn and the 17km Loessnitzgrundbahn line from Radebeul.
Day 6 – Paddle Steamer up the Elbe
A journey up the Elbe River by paddle steamer. You take a morning paddle steamer from Dresden to Bad Schandau, stopping off at Pillnitz en route. At Bad Schandau you board the historic Kirnitzschtal tramway which runs through the valley of the Kirnitzch River to the Lichtenhain Waterfall. The return journey to Dresden is by S-bahn (local train).
Day 7 – Cologne
Morning departure to Cologne via ICE train. Following a change of trains in Frankfurt, you arrive in Cologne early evening. Your hotel is ideally located in the station building.
Day 8 – Homeward Bound
Morning ICE to Brussels and change on to the Eurostar to London. Arrive back in London mid-afternoon.
Tour Route
Selected Hotels
Hotel Ibis Aachen am Marschiertor, Aachen
InterCityHotel, Dresden
Ibis Köln am Dom, Cologne
Please note - hotels can be subject to change
Price Includes
- All rail travel as stated in standard class
- 2-day entry to Dresden Steam Festival
- Accommodation in good quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
- Excursions as stated
Price per person
Price available upon request
24/7 Support
Ffestiniog Travel provides 'out of hours' support for all independent travellers in the event of an emergency.
