© Thomas Schlorke

Children & Youth Travel

School trips, holiday camps, club outings

A world of adventures for young people ...

Saxony has much to offer to children and youths: the breathtaking rock formations in Saxon Switzerland, dense forests and MTB trails in the Ore Mountains and the Vogtlandcycle routes, swimming lakes and water sports possibilities in the region around LeipzigUpper Lusatia and Dresden Elbland. Additionally, the three cities of DresdenLeipzig and Chemnitz are simply teeming with life. 

The region's range of sights and attractions provide ample material for a wide range of educational and recreational programmes for young people. A large variety of high-standard group accommodations provides room and board at fair prices with healthy, varied food and great leisure equipment.

Wide range of options for

  • children and youth groups

  • school classes

  • clubs

  • families

Youth hostels

In between Saxony’s cultural, natural and historic variety, you will find our 24 association-managed youth hostels. Some small and cosy, e.g. in a former mill in Grumbach, some modern and conveniently located as in Görlitz or Chemnitz, or with international connections, e.g. at Colditz Castle near Leipzig, in Sayda, and Dresden. Youth hostels are places of community. They offer (free) space for creative development and sporting challenges, and provide opportunities for social gatherings, exploration, and adventures. With integrated programmes for experiential education, we create a lasting experience for our guests – from students and teachers to groups and families.

Kinder hocken in einem Wald bei einem KiEZ. Ein Mann zeigt ihnen etwas in einem Buch.© Thomas Schlorke
Learning by experience

KiEZ – Holiday Centres for Children and Youths

Like school, but totally different: As extracurricular places of learning the so-called KiEZ facilities organise curriculum-oriented programmes, with experiences in nature and as part of a community. They encourage working in a team and an active lifestyle with sports, exercise, and healthy food. Naturally, fun and recreation are also part of the programme, with excursions, disco, and campfire. Professional supervision is provided by the department »Bildung und Programm« (Education and Programme) of the state association Landesverbandes KiEZ Sachsen e.V. At the KiEZ, (almost) everything is united in one location, including modern group accommodations with large recreational, game, and sports facilities, and varied (seminar) room offers.

School Camps

The so-called “Schullandheime” (school camps) look back on more than 80 years of tradition, and one of their places of origin is Saxony. Today, the focus mainly lies on 5-day stays at the school camps. They offer interdisciplinary and curriculum-oriented projects, which are executed by pedagogical or social education staff. In the field of youth welfare, school camps provide offers for children and youth recreation as well as international youth work. The 15 member school camps can accommoate between 30 and 90 children each – for holiday camps, retreats, training or choir camps. Aside from school classes, youth groups and clubs, families are welcome as well!

 Kinder auf einem Klettergerüst in der Christlichen Ferienstätte HAUS GERTRUD Jonsdorf© Tobias Glaubitz
Heavenly hostels

Christian Recreation Centres

The Christian recreation and conference centres are not only open to Christian groups. They welcome everybody who values respect and appreciative interaction with others. In 20 self-catering houses and 37 houses with board and lodging, children, youths, families, and adults will find welcoming accommodations. During retreats, seminars, choir training camps, conferences or class trips, the groups are mostly alone in the house and can absolve their programme without disturbance. The wheelchair-accessible homes are perfectly suited for inclusive projects or camps for participants with disabilities. You can design your programme flexibly and schedule your day individually.

Our top tips for Saxony’s holiday regions

Upper Lusatia

  • Raft adventure Lusatian Lakeland 
  • UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Upper Lusatia Heath and Pond Landscape
  • Haus der Tausend Teiche (“House of a Thousand Ponds”) in Malschwitz
  • Narrow-gauge railways
  • Dinosaur park Bautzen
  • Christmas stars show workshops in Herrnhut
  • Zoo in Görlitz
  • Elementarium Kamenz
  • "Stone zoo" in Zittau mountains
  • Water park Großschönau
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Dresden

  • Grand Garden with park railway
  • Technical Museum
  • German Hygiene Museum 
  • Transport Museum
  • Scavenger hunt across Dresden
  • City tour
  • Dresden Xperience 
  • Dresdner Heide city park
Show more!

Vogtland region

  • World’s largest brick-built bridge Göltzschtalbrücke
  • Mountain bike paradise Schöneck 
  • Pohl dam
  • Musical instruments Museum in Markneukirchen
  • One of Germany’s largest falconries in Plauen
  • German Space Travel Exhibition in Muldenhammer
  • "Vogtland Arena" ski jump arena in Klingenthal
  • Regional open-air museum in Eubabrunn
  • Syrau Dragon’s Cave
  • KinderspielhausKispi in Grünbach (large indoor and outdoor playground)
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Dresden Elbland region

  • Paddle steamer ride on the Elbe
  • Cycling along the Elbe between Dresden und Torgau 
  • Show workshop at MEISSEN porcelain factory
  • Narrow-gauge railways
  • Tharandt Forest
  • Moritzburg Castle
  • Oskarshausen in Freital
  • Karl-May-Museum
  • Water park in Meissen
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Saxony Switzerland

  • National park with view from Bastei rock
  • Kirnitzschtal tramway
  • Rubber dinghy tours on the Elbe 
  • Cycling along the Elbe between Schmilka and Pirna  
  • Königstein Fortress
  • National Park Centre in Bad Schandau
  • Boat ride Kirnitzsch gorge
  • “Waldhusche” forest discovery site in Hinterhermsdorf
  • Show mine "Marie Louise Stolln" in Bad Gottleuba-Berggießhübel / OT Berggießhübel
  • Candle making in Krietzschwitz
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Leipzig region

  • Rafting in Markkleeberg canoe park
  • Rubber dinghy tour on the Mulde
  • Geopark Porphyrland in Grimma
  • Quad bike and bike tours in Leipzig New Lakeland
  • Spotting beavers in Düben Heath
  • Spa and leisure swimming pool RIFF Bad Lausick
  • Mildenstein Castle in Leisnig
  • Rochsburg Castle in Lunzenau
  • Maze in Frohburg
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Erzgebirge

  • Ore Mountains-Vogtland Ridgeway
  • UNESCO world heritage Ore Mountains/Krušnohoří Mining Region
  • Mines and miners’ parades
  • Palaces and castles
  • Ore Mountains wooden arts and crafts
  • BLOCKLINE mountain bike route
  • Incense cone making in Crottendorf
  • “terra mineralia” Freiberg
  • Aqua Marien water park in Marienberg
  • August Horch Museum Zwickau
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Chemnitz

  • Saxon Museum of Industry
  • Smac museum for archaeology
  • Historic railways at “Schauplatz Eisenbahn”
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Leipzig

  • Zoo Leipzig
  • BELANTIS theme park
  • GRASSI Museum for Applied Arts
  • City tour
  • Canoe tour on Leipzig’s canals
  • Monument to the Battle of the Nations
Show more

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