By train
Pirna is on the S-Bahn line S1, which runs directly from Dresden Hauptbahnhof every 30 minutes. The journey takes about 25 minutes and costs a standard zone fare. This is by far the easiest way to arrive — the station is a short walk from the old town.
Regional trains (RB and RE services) also stop at Pirna on the Dresden–Děčín line, continuing up the Elbe valley toward Bad Schandau and the Czech border. These are useful if you are coming from further afield or heading deeper into Saxon Switzerland.
By car
Pirna is on the A17 motorway between Dresden and the Czech border. From Dresden, take the B172 along the Elbe valley — the scenic option, though slower. There is parking on the edge of the old town near the Elbe.
By boat
From May to October, the paddle-steamers of the Sächsische Dampfschifffahrt run scheduled services between Dresden and Bad Schandau, with a stop at Pirna. The journey upstream from Dresden to Pirna takes around two hours — slow, but the river scenery makes it worthwhile. Downstream takes a little over an hour.