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Ffestiniog Travel · Escorted tour

Dresden Steam Festival

Eight-day German rail tour centered on Dresden Steam Festival with heritage railways

Illustration of Dresden Steam Festival

Ffestiniog Travel's eight-day escorted tour combines the Dresden Steam Engine Festival with heritage railway and river experiences in Germany. Starting with Eurostar from London to Brussels, the tour travels by high-speed train to Aachen for an overnight stay, then continues via ICE to Dresden, where you spend five nights at the InterCityHotel adjacent to the main station. Days 3 and 4 are devoted to the festival, with access to locomotive cab rides, the Verkehrsmuseum's diesel engines, and model trains. Day 5 includes return trips on two narrow-gauge steam railways on the outskirts of Dresden. Day 6 features a paddle steamer journey up the Elbe River to Bad Schandau with a stop at Pillnitz, followed by a historic tramway through the Kirnitzsch valley to Lichtenhain Waterfall. The tour concludes with travel via ICE to Cologne for an overnight stay and a morning return to London via Brussels on Eurostar. A tour leader from Ffestiniog Travel accompanies the entire journey. All rail travel in Standard Class, accommodation with breakfast, the welcome dinner in Aachen, and all stated excursions are included in the price.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure is currently listed: April 2027
  • Exact festival programme will be confirmed by the festival organisers closer to the date
  • First Class rail upgrade is available on request but subject to availability

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Aachen

    Aachen

    Early afternoon Eurostar from St Pancras London to Brussels where we connect to the high speed train to Aachen. Our hotel for tonight, the Ibis am Marschiertor, is just a short walk away. Dinner is included.

  2. Day 2overnight: Dresden

    Onwards to Dresden

    Travel via regional services and ICE from Aachen to Dresden. Our hotel for the next 5 nights is the IntercityHotel which is situated adjacent to the main station in Dresden.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Dresden

    Dresden Steam Engine Festival

    We have 2 days to spend at the festival. Exact details of the festival’s programme will 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. We will have access to the festival area around the railway and Dresden traffic museums and entry also includes 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).

  4. Day 4railovernight: Dresden

    Dresden Steam Engine Festival

    Second day at the festival, with access to the festival area around the railway and Dresden traffic museums.

  5. Day 5overnight: Dresden

    Weisseritztalbahn & Loessnitzgrundbahn

    Today we 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.

  6. Day 6overnight: Dresden

    Paddle Steamer up the Elbe

    A journey up the Elbe River by paddle steamer. We take a morning paddle steamer from Dresden to Bad Schandau, stopping off at Pillnitz en route. At Bad Schandau we 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.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Cologne

    Cologne

    Morning departure to Cologne via ICE train. Following a change of trains in Frankfurt, we arrive in Cologne early evening for an overnight stay.

  8. Day 8rail

    Homeward Bound

    We take a morning ICE to Brussels and connect to the Eurostar to London. Arrive back in London mid-afternoon.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Day 3: The Dresden Steam Engine Festival opens with access to locomotive cab rides, historic and diesel engines at the Verkehrsmuseum, and model trains
  • Day 5Day 5: Return trips on the Weisseritztalbahn and the 17-kilometer narrow-gauge Loessnitzgrundbahn line from Radebeul
  • Day 6Day 6: A paddle steamer journey up the Elbe River from Dresden to Bad Schandau, stopping at Pillnitz, followed by the historic Kirnitzschtal tramway to Lichtenhain Waterfall

Included

  • All rail travel as stated in Standard Class
  • Entry to Dresden Steam Festival
  • Accommodation in good quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
  • Welcome dinner in Aachen
  • Excursions as stated
  • Local taxes/fees
  • Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour

Questions travellers ask

Is all train travel included?
Yes. All rail travel is included in Standard Class, from Eurostar London to Brussels, high-speed trains to Aachen and Dresden, heritage railways, and the return Eurostar to London.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Ffestiniog Travel provides a tour leader from London throughout the eight days.
What accommodation is provided?
Three nights in different hotels: one night at the Ibis am Marschiertor in Aachen, five nights at the InterCityHotel in Dresden (adjacent to the main station), and one night at CityClass am Dom in Cologne. All rooms include bed and breakfast.
What is included in the price?
All rail travel in Standard Class, entry to the Dresden Steam Festival, accommodation with breakfast, a welcome dinner in Aachen, all stated excursions including the paddle steamer and heritage railways, local taxes and fees, and the tour leader's services.
What are the heritage railways on the itinerary?
The Weisseritztalbahn and Loessnitzgrundbahn steam railways near Dresden, the Kirnitzschtal historic tramway from Bad Schandau to Lichtenhain Waterfall, and a paddle steamer on the Elbe River.
How much walking is involved?
The itinerary includes standard city walking in three towns and boarding and alighting trains, boats, and trams, but no hiking or high-altitude sections.

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