Welcome to Saxony

Discover a German region like no other

Saxony is a place where 1,000 years of cultural history meet scenic beauty. Discover top-class art and culture, world-famous traditional handicraft and a unique musical landscape. The region's historic towns and cities are charming destinations full of character and stunning castles, palaces and gardens delight with their splendour and beauty. Saxony is also home to historical steam trains and has a long and fascinating history of automobile manufacturing which makes for special visitor experiences. 

For travellers looking to relax, unwind and support their well-being, Saxony's famous health and spa resorts offer high-quality wellness and health holidays, and the region's varied nature provides ample grounds for active breaks and fun-filled family holidays. Saxony also features a wide range of accessible travel options. In other words: #VisitSaxony!

 

2024: 250th anniversary of Caspar David Friedrich

Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840) spent most of his life in Dresden. He travelled extensively in Saxony, preparing sketches and watercolours in his Dresden studio that became masterpieces. In total, he created 150 paintings. Always out and about on foot, he was a kind of early "slow traveller", with a keen eye for nature that his imagination translated into great works of art. Often misunderstood during his lifetime, Caspar David Friedrich is today regarded as the most important German painter of the Romantic period. His most famous painting is probably "Wanderer above the Sea of Fog" (Der Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer), which was inspired by the wildly romantic landscape of Saxon Switzerland. Saxony will host two big exhibitions starting in August in Dresden but it is definitely worthwile to explore Saxony on his tracks all year!

„Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Mark Twain

Spring in Saxony:

Read our top tips for things to do and see

  • Saxony is known for its unique Christmas traditions but Easter time is no less special. Head to Upper Lusatia in eastern Saxony where festive customs of the Sorbs, a Slavic minority, are kept alive. This includes Easter processions on horseback, artistically decorated Sorbian Easter eggs and a traditional game called Eierschieben in German which involves rolling eggs down a hill, to be witnessed in the town of Bautzen.

  • Pillnitz Palace & Park near Dresden is home to a splendid camellia, which which can be admired in full bloom until mid-April. The plant is over 250 years old and thought to be the largest and oldest of its kind north of the Alps. When in full bloom, thousands of delicate bell-shaped, carmine-red flowers adorn the almost nine-metre-high camellia – and as the purpose-built camellia house has two floors, this special sight can be enjoyed from all sides and even above.

  • More for flower lovers: From 9 March to 28 April, thousands of them will be in full bloom at Königstein Fortress in Saxon Switzerland. Visitors will be presented with a colourful and fragrant work of art, made up of tulips, hyacinths, crocuses, daisies, forget-me-nots and more. There are also oversized figures of butterflies, giant tulips and planted containers, making for excellent photo opportunities.

  • Immersive Monet experience in Dresden

    Immersive art is having a moment – and from 7 March to 24 April 2024, Dresden visitors will be able to dive into “Monet’s Garden” and go on a 360-degree journey through the history and works of the French Impressionist master. The multisensory experience, combining installations and projections with music, makes Monet’s art, including his iconic flower paintings, come alive and tangible for viewers. Make sure to put this inspirational highlight on your Dresden agenda!

  • In 2024, Caspar David Friedrich's 250th birthday will be celebrated with exhibitions and events throughout Germany. Nature was the main source of inspiration for Germany's greatest Romantic painter who spent the majority of his life in Saxony and was known to enjoy a wander in the region‘s outdoor paradise Saxon Switzerland near Dresden. The Caspar David Friedrich Trail is a relaxed half-day tour that will take you to the most idyllic places where the painter paused for his sketches. It was reopened in 2024 with new signage and information boards. Follow in Friedrich’s footsteps and see the best of Saxon Switzerland in Spring!

Our highlights

Cities and towns

© Tomy Heyduck

Castles and palaces

© Franco Cogoli

Easter Traditions

© Rainer Weisflog

Saxony in 3, 5 or 7 days

© Nikolai Schmidt

Event Highlights

© Oliver Killig

UNESCO World Heritage

© Dirk Rueckschloss

Nature and activities

© Philipp Herfort Photography

10 good reasons for a trip to Saxony!

© DZT Francesco Carovillano

Our highlights in Saxony´s holiday regions

Upper Lusatia

  • Baroque Castle Rammenau
  • Zittauer Lenten cloths
  • UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Upper Lusatia Heath and Pond Landscape
  • Narrow-gauge railways Zittau and Bad Muskau
  • Dinosaur park in Bautzen
  • Christmas stars show workshop in Herrnhut
  • Zoo in Görlitz
  • Elementarium museum Kamenz
  • "Stone zoo” in the Zittau mountains
  • Water and leisure park “Trixi” in Großschönau
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Dresden

  • Semper Opera and Saxon State Orchestra
  • Dresden Residential Palace
  • Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady)
  • 14 museums of the State Art Collections of Dresden
  • Grand Garden with park railway
  • German Hygiene Museum 
  • Transport Museum
  • City tours
  • ZwingerXperience and FortressXperience multimedia time travel
  • Rides on historic steamboats
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Vogtland

  • World’s largest brick-built bridge Göltzschtalbrücke
  • Poehl dam lake - water sports and recreation
  • Musical instrument Museum in Markneukirchen
  • Musicon Valley - Europe`s center of musical instrument manufacturing
  • Dragon Cave in Syrau
  • Leisure Park Plohn
  • One of Germany’s largest falconries in Plauen
  • Plauen Lace Museum
  • German Space Travel Exhibition in Muldenhammer
  • "Vogtland Arena" ski jump arena in Klingenthal
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Dresden Elbland

  • Albrechtsburg Castle in Meissen
  • Show workshop at MEISSEN porcelain manufactory
  • Moritzburg Castle
  • Karl May Museum in Radebeul
  • Saxon Wine Route
  • Wackerbarth Castle in Radebeul
  • Winery Hoflößnitz in Radebeul
  • Hartenfels Castle in Torgau
  • Narrow-gauge railways
  • Elbe Cycle Trail
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Saxon Switzerland

  • National park with view from Bastei rock
  • Malerweg Hiking Trail
  • Kirnitzschtal tramway
  • Cycling along the Elbe between Schmilka and Pirna  
  • Königstein Fortress
  • National Park Centre in Bad Schandau
  • World of Railways in Rathen
  • Richard Wagner Sites in Graupa
  • Kneipp spa Bad Schandau
  • Rafting on the Elbe
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Leipzig Region

  • White water rafting in Markkleeberg canoe park
  • Kriebstein Castle
  • Colditz Castle
  • Rochlitz Castle
  • Leipzig New Lakeland recreation area with water sports
  • Luther Trail
  • Monastery Church Grimma
  • Mildenstein Castle in Leisnig
  • HEIDE SPA Hotel & Resort in Bad Düben
  • Spa and leisure swimming pool RIFF Bad Lausick
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Ore Mountains

  • UNESCO World Heritage Site Ore Mountains/Krušnohoří Mining Region
  • Ore Mountains wooden arts and crafts
  • Christmas traditions
  • Cathedral and “terra mineralia” exhibition in Freiberg
  • Manufaktur der Träume (Manufactory of Dreams) in Annaberg-Buchholz
  • Thermal baths Wiesenbad and Warmbad
  • König-Albert-Turm Lookout Tower in Grünhain-Beierfeld
  • World of Wendt & Kühn in Grünhainichen
  • Fichtelberg Schwebebahn – Suspended Railway in Oberwiesenthal
  • Mountain biking at Stoneman and BLOCKLINE Trails
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Chemnitz-Zwickau

  • Chemnitz Art Collections
  • Villa Esche Chemnitz at the European Henry van de Velde Route
  • Saxon Museum of Industry Chemnitz
  • Smac Museum for Archaeology Chemnitz
  • Wasserschloß Klaffenbach - Moated Castle Klaffenbach
  • August Horch Museum in Zwickau
  • Schumann House in Zwickau
  • Augustusburg Castle with motorbike museum
  • Sachsenring racing circuit Hohenstein-Ernstthal
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Leipzig

  • Bach Museum
  • St. Thomas Church and St. Thomas Boys' Choir
  • St. Nicholas Church - Peaceful Revolution
  • Leipzig Music Trail
  • Leipzig Zoo
  • Old Town Hall and Municipal Museum of Leipzig
  • Auerbachs Keller restaurant
  • BELANTIS theme park
  • GRASSI Museum for Applied Arts
  • Monument to the Battle of the Nations
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#Visitsaxony

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