The Wanderbus, popular with hikers in the Czech-German border area, operates from April through October.

Bus line 217 runs on weekends and holidays from the beginning of April through October.

Our tip: Hop on the bus at Tisa or Sneznik and head for Rosenthal, where there’s a nice hike past the “pillars of Hercules,” Grenzplatte, Ostrov, and the Tisa rocks back to the village of Tisa for a total of 12 to 14 km (depending on your route).

Another tip is to head for Konigstein to see the fortress. And while you’re there, you can also visit Lilienstein, a flat-topped mountain in Saxon Switzerland (on the German side of the border). Lilienstein is a ferry ride from Konigstein across the Elbe.

Bus 217 can also accommodate cyclists; it has capacity to carry up to 16 bicycles. If you are a group of more than five, it’s a good idea to reserve ahead.

The Wanderbus accepts the Elbe-Labe pass, or you can pay your fare in Euros.

Timetable below: