It is situated on the western edge of Saxon Switzerland, on the right bank of the Elbe, 6 km east of Pirna, and 23 km southeast of Dresden (centre).

Wehlen includes the following subdivisions: Stadt Wehlen station, on the Dresden S-Bahn and the Dresden to Prague railway, is located on the south bank of the Elb and is connected to the town centre, on the north bank, by the frequent Stadt Wehlen passenger ferry.

Also on the north bank, an infrequent bus service connects the town to Pirna.

Both ferry and bus are operated by the Regionalverkehr Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge.

Königstein is also a stop for the Sächsische Dampfschiffahrt ships, including historic paddle steamers, operating on the Elbe between Dresden and the Czech border.