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!

Chemnitz European Capital of Culture 2025

Once the richest city in Germany, then for decades not really making an appearance and only remembered by many as the "former Karl Marx City" - Chemnitz has set out to represent Germany as the "European Capital of Culture" in 2025. In the Capital of Culture 2025, undiscovered places will be brought to life and the invisible made visible in projects in line with the motto "C the Unseen". The focus will be on Europe's movers and shakers, weaving the thread of history into the future. Here you can find all of the approximately 100 projects and around 1,000 events are planned for 2025. The good news: Visitors don't have to wait until 2025 to explore the undiscovered in Chemnitz and the Cultural Region.

Autumn time in Saxony

Our tips for unsettled days

  • Wellness and Spa days are the best treat when the weather is getting wet and chilly. Saxony offers you a variety of options.  From certified thermal springs and health spas to Spa Hotels in Saxony's towns and cities, luxury Spa resorts in Upper Lusatia and an Eco village retreat with Spa in Saxon Switzerland- the opportunities will warm the Spa lovers heart.

  • A great season to fall into an art frenzy. Visit the current Caspar David Friedrich exhibitions or the Dresden State Art Collections. Lovers of contemporary art will find plenty galleries at "Alte Spinnerei" in Leipzig where once Europe largest Cotton Mill was turned into Art Studios. Find your art digest here.

  • Beat the blues by indulging yourself. Numerous restaurants from regional to high end cuisine are available and waiting for you. Discover the taste of Saxony by for example trying a piece of a local cake speciality called "Dresdner Eierschecke". And why not try a little wine tasting. The wine growing estate "Wackerbarth Castle" in Radebeul just outside Dresden can easily be reached by tram and is open for visitors daily. 

  • Brand building isn’t just a modern corporate phenomenon. The current “Impulse Rembrandt” exhibition at Leipzig’s MdbK (3 Oct 2024 - 26 Jan 2025) showcases how the 17th-century master cultivated his brand through a large workshop, influencing numerous pupils who contributed to his legacy. Over 120 works highlight his innovative teaching and artistic impact.

© Sebastian Rose

Not long to go and it’s Christmas time again. A perfect reason to visit Saxony - the magical Christmas Wonderland - to get into the festive spirit. Come and join us at the oldest Christmas market for some mulled wine and other  Christmas delights.

Sunny autumn days

Take a look at our top outdoor tips:

  • Follow the path of Caspar David Friedrich along the Painters' Way, which is winding  through the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. Breathtaking nature makes it a popular hiking trail. Look forward to some amazing panoramic views. You can hike the 116 km long trail in single stages according to your timetable. Hotels and B&Bs around the trail offer plenty of overnight facilities. The starting point Pirna is only a 20 minute train ride from Dresden.

  • The Zittau Mountains are another location that inspired Caspar David Friedrich. This beautiful small mountain area in South-East Saxony with its magical castle in Oybin is located directly on the borders to Poland and the Czech Republic. Discover romantic hiking trails, scenic villages or take a ride with the lovely narrow-gauge railway starting from Zittau Station. Zittau can be reached directly by train from Dresden in approximately 1.5 hours.

Our highlights

Cities and towns

© Tomy Heyduck

Castles and palaces

© Franco Cogoli

10 good reasons for a trip to Saxony! 

© DZT Francesco Carovillano

Saxony in 3, 5 or 7 days

© Nikolai Schmidt

Christmas season

© Dieter Knoblauch

UNESCO World Heritage

© Dirk Rueckschloss

Nature and activities

© Philipp Herfort Photography

Typical Saxon

© Meissen

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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