Tucked into the borderlands of Saxony, the Vogtland region offers rolling hills, soothing spa towns and some of Germany’s best-kept outdoor escapes. It’s the perfect destination for walking, cycling or simply unwinding and it’s an underrated gem for UK visitors!
Here’s my guide to Vogtland in Germany, including the best places to stay and the best things to do in Vogtland.
Best areas to stay in Vogtland
There are plenty of hotels in Vogtland to choose from but my recommendation would be to stay in Schöneck.
Schöneck and surroundings areas
Perched on a hilltop, Schöneck is often called the “balcony of Vogtland” thanks to its sweeping views across the Ore Mountains. This area is especially appealing if you enjoy hiking and cycling in summer or skiing in winter. Families will find plenty of well-marked trails, adventure parks and gentle slopes to keep everyone entertained.
Schöneck is also a practical base for exploring nearby Klingenthal, a centre for winter sports and traditional music-making.
Bad Elster and Bad Brambach
The spa towns of Bad Elster and Bad Brambach are steeped in history and relaxation. Known for their mineral-rich thermal waters, both towns have long attracted those seeking rest and recuperation. Elegant parks, ornate bathhouses and calming woodland surroundings set the scene for a slower pace.
Bad Elster’s cultural calendar is surprisingly lively, with concerts staged in its historic theatre, while Bad Brambach is renowned for Germany’s strongest radon springs. Together, they offer the most restorative corner of Vogtland.
Plauen
As the largest town in the region, Plauen mixes cultural appeal with practical convenience. It is famously linked to Plauen lace, a craft still celebrated in local workshops and museums. The compact centre is pleasant for wandering, with cafés, shops and squares that capture Saxony’s small-town charm. Thanks to good transport links, Plauen also makes a handy base for day trips across the wider Vogtland.
Things to do in Vogtland
Exploring Vogtland is largely about getting outdoors. A well-maintained network of trails makes it a popular place for hiking and cycling with gentle riverside paths to hillier routes that test the legs. Popular viewpoints such as the Aschberg near Klingenthal or the Adlerfelsen cliffs offer incredible panoramas over valleys and forests.
The region also boasts unique landmarks. The Göltzschtalbrücke is the world’s largest brick-built bridge, an extraordinary feat of 19th-century engineering with 26 million bricks and over 500 arches. It remains a symbol of Vogtland and is easily reached on a day trip.
Close by, the Pöhl Dam is a hub for watersports, sailing and lakeside picnics, great for summer afternoons.
Music lovers will appreciate the craftsmanship of Markneukirchen, where violins, trumpets and guitars have been produced for centuries. The town’s instrument museum gives fascinating insight, while some workshops welcome visitors keen to see artisans at work.
Getting to Vogtland and around
Vogtland is well connected by regional trains, though the best way to explore is by car. Driving from Dresden takes around two hours and about the same from Leipzig or Nuremberg so, from the UK, it’s easiest to fly into one of these cities and pick up a hire car when you arrive.
Within the region, journeys between main towns are fairly short, Plauen to Bad Elster is about 40 minutes by car, while Schöneck to Markneukirchen is just half an hour. Having a car gives flexibility to string together spa visits, scenic walks and cultural stops at your own pace.
Best time to visit Vogtland
Each season has its appeal in Vogtland.
- Summer is the best time for hiking, cycling and lake swimming, with mild temperatures and long evenings.
- Winter transforms Schöneck and Klingenthal into small but lively skiing areas, popular with families and beginners.
- The shoulder seasons of spring and autumn suit those seeking quieter spa breaks, colourful landscapes and fewer crowds.
Whenever you visit, Vogtland’s blend of outdoor adventure and gentle relaxation makes it an inviting escape.
Spas and wellness centres to visit in Vogtland
Bad Elster – Albert Bad (Historic Bath and Wellness Centre)
The Albert Bad in Bad Elster is one of Vogtland’s most distinguished spa facilities. Set in a historic building it blends baroque and Art Nouveau architecture with modern wellness amenities.
You’ll find natural moor mud baths, mineral healing water, physiotherapy and medical wellness, plus a spacious pool and sauna area. The décor in parts (ornate cupola, copper tubs, bows and tiling) gives a nostalgic feel, but the spa treatments are modern and varied. It’s ideal for those seeking tradition, therapy and ambience in equal measure.
Bad Elster – Soletherme and Saunawelt
Also in Bad Elster is the Soletherme and Saunawelt, part of the Saxon State Spa network. It offers three brine pools with varying salinity (up to 15?%), plus indoor and outdoor saunas, relaxation and light-and-sound bathing, steam rooms and themed bathing rituals. The experience emphasises weightlessness in brine water as well as overall rest and restoration. This spa is well-suited for people wanting a thermal or saline bath experience plus sauna facilities.
Bad Brambach – Radon?Mineralheilbad (Wettinquelle)
Bad Brambach is famous for its Wettinquelle, the world’s strongest radon spring. The spa here focuses on radon combination therapies (bathing, drinking, inhaling), believed to help with chronic pain conditions, joint/musculoskeletal ailments, and more.
There is also a “sauna village” outside with classic saunas, steam and heat/cold therapy. The setting is tranquil, with forest air and spa parks around. If your concern is therapeutic healing rather than just relaxation, this one is especially notable.
Bad Elster – Moor Mud and Mineral Spa
This facility in Bad Elster specialises in moor-mud treatments in addition to mineral (spring) waters. The moor is a natural peat substance used in wraps, baths and compresses and they’re often aimed at musculoskeletal and rheumatic complaints.
Combined with drinking treatments from mineral springs, this spa offers a holistic and historic cure tradition, now updated with medically supervised programmes and modern therapy, wellness and preventive care. Also, the setting in the spa-town with park landscapes makes it particularly gorgeous!
Bad Brambach – Bath and Sauna World
The Bath and Sauna World at Bad Brambach is more of a wellness facility than a pure thermal bath, but it complements the Radon-Mineralheilbad. It has indoor and outdoor pools (approx. 32°C), multiple sauna types (Finnish sauna, herbal, steam etc.), a sauna village with infusions, relaxation spaces, large windows offering views of green landscape, and massage/shower features. This is a good pick for a balanced wellness day: swim, sauna, and simply unwind.
Saunalandschaft Bad Brambach (“Sauna Village”)
At the same Bad Brambach location, the Saunalandschaft is a focused offering for sauna lovers. Here you’ll find several types of saunas, both inside and outdoors, often with infusions, thematic sauna events, and a “fireplace lodge” for resting.
For many visitors this is a chance to enjoy high-quality sauna culture in a peaceful spa-town environment, wrapped in forested tranquillity. Perfect when you want heat, steam and a slower rhythm.
IFA Schöneck Hotel and Ferienpark – Spa / Wellness Oasis and Aqua World
In Schöneck, the IFA Schöneck Hotel and Ferienpark houses a large wellness offer for the whole family. There’s an Aqua World with pools (including adventure/wave pools etc.), a wellness oasis with various treatments, multiple saunas, relaxation areas, and a “Fish Spa” (Garra Rufa pedicure / manicure style). It’s a good option for families or mixed groups, where some want more active fun (water slides) and others want calm spa-treatments.
Waldbaden (“Forest Bathing”) Experiences in Vogtland
While not a spa in the traditional sense, forest bathing (Waldbaden) is increasingly promoted in Vogtland as a wellness and health offering. These guided or self-guided sessions in the woods (around Bad Elster, Bad Brambach, Pfaffengut etc.) aim to help you rest your mind, practice mindfulness, breathe in forest air and enjoy nature quietly. It’s also low-cost or free, a lovely complement to spa days, especially in shoulder seasons.
When will you visit Vogtland?
With its mix of hilltop trails, serene spa towns and a proud cultural identity, Vogtland offers a side of Saxony that feels both refreshing and unhurried. Whether you’re planning a family-friendly walking holiday, a winter ski trip, or a restorative week of thermal baths, this corner of Germany is well worth adding to your list.
For more practical details and events, visit the official Vogtland tourism site.