Areas and places
Saxony area by area
Each area has its own page, with its own character, plans and map.
51.05° N · 13.74° E
Dresden
Car-freeBy plane
51.34° N · 12.37° E
Leipzig
Car-freeBy plane
51.16° N · 13.47° E
Meissen
Car-freeBy planeBy car
50.92° N · 14.15° E
Saxon Switzerland
Car-freeBy plane
Plan the trip
Saxony, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Saxony
From April to October, with steamers on the Elbe and a green Saxon Switzerland. In December, the Christmas markets of Dresden, among the oldest in Germany.
How you travel
Saxony your way
The ways of travelling that suit Saxony. We are writing a guide to each one: where to stay, how to get around and which services you will need.
By carBy planeCar-free
Nearby
Near Saxony
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
52.13° N · 13.40° E
Brandenburg
By carBy planeCar-free
51.95° N · 11.70° E
Saxony-Anhalt
By carBy planeCar-free
48.38° N · 11.59° E
Bavaria
By carBy planeBy campervanCar-freeBy bike
54.00° N · 12.80° E
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
By carBy planeCar-free
Saxony is the state in the south-east of Germany, bordering the Czech Republic and Poland, and one of the richest in art in the country: the Electors of Saxony, such as Augustus the Strong, filled Dresden with palaces and collections, and Leipzig was for centuries the great city of fairs and music. For a traveller flying into Berlin, Saxony is one to two hours by train to the south, and it makes the best city break from the capital.
What to see
Dresden, the capital, is the baroque city on the Elbe that rose again after the war: the rebuilt Frauenkirche, the Zwinger, the Green Vault with the treasure of Augustus the Strong, and paddle steamers on the river. Less than two hours by train from Berlin, and better with a night.
Leipzig is a little over an hour from Berlin by ICE: St Thomas Church, where Bach worked and is buried, St Nicholas Church, where the 1989 demonstrations that brought down the Wall began, the Stasi museum and Faust's Auerbachs Keller.
Meissen, 40 minutes from Dresden by S-Bahn, is the birthplace of European porcelain: the manufactory with its open workshop, Albrechtsburg Castle and the cathedral above the Elbe, surrounded by vineyards. From spring to autumn you can get there from Dresden by steamer.
Saxon Switzerland, south-east of Dresden, is a landscape of sandstone towers and plateaus above the Elbe, partly a national park, with viewpoints such as the Bastei Bridge and a climbing tradition of its own.
How do you get there from Spain?
By air to Berlin, which has direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona and other Spanish cities. Dresden (DRS) and Leipzig/Halle (LEJ) have airports, but with very few flights from Spain. From Berlin there are direct trains to Dresden, taking between an hour and three quarters and two hours, and ICE trains to Leipzig in a little over an hour.
When to go
From April to October, when the Elbe steamers sail, the gardens are in flower and Saxon Switzerland invites you to walk. In December, the Christmas markets of Dresden, such as the Striezelmarkt, and those of Leipzig fill the squares. In winter the museums open as usual.
How to combine it
A classic three-night getaway: Dresden as a base, one day to Meissen by S-Bahn or boat and another to Saxon Switzerland, also by S-Bahn. Leipzig is best done as a separate day trip from Berlin, or as a stop on the way back.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Which Saxon city is closest to Berlin?
Leipzig, a little over an hour by ICE; Dresden, less than two.
Can you see Dresden in a day from Berlin?
The essentials, if you leave early; with a night you will enjoy it far more.
How do I get from Dresden to Meissen?
On the S1 S-Bahn, less than 40 minutes, or on the L21 steamer from the end of March to October.
Do you need a car in Saxony?
No: there are trains and S-Bahn between Dresden, Meissen, Leipzig and Saxon Switzerland.