© Michael Bader

Saxony for beginners

Dresden, Meissen, Görlitz, Bautzen and Leipzig

All highlights in 4 days

Explore Saxony from Dresden and surroundings to Leipzig. A 4-day trip that touches the main destinations and will make you discover and appreciate the Saxon culture.

Brief details about the tour

Route Dresden – Meissen – Bautzen - Görlitz - Leipzig
Distance 370 km (with car)
Duration 4 days on tour
What to expect Explore Dresden & Pillnitz, Meissen, Bautzen & Görlitz, Leipzig
Best time to visit During the lovely seasons of spring, summer and autumn
Suitable for Visitors travelling to Saxony for the first time.
© Dittrich

The cultural capital of Saxony

Day 1 in Dresden & Pillnitz

Culture, culture, culture

Dresden

Guided city tour through the streets of the historic center of Dresden to see the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), the Semper Opera, the Zwinger, the Fürstenzug (mural depicting the procession of princes), the Dresden Xperience, the palace Residenzschloss etc. Visit the prestigious Old Masters Picture Gallery where you can admire Raphael's "Sistine Madonna" and numerous other masterpieces.

© Andrzej Budnik / Los Wiaheros

Summer residence of many Saxon rulers

Pillnitz

Visit Pillnitz Castle, the former favorite summer residence of many Saxon rulers. Arrive there on the oldest steamboat fleet in the world and enjoy a scenic journey through the beautiful Elbe valley past castles, villas and vineyards.

Discover the culture of Dresden

Cultural highlights in Dresden

  • Open detail page 'Dresden Kreuzkirche'
    A full orchestra plays in a spacious, artfully lit church hall.
    © Oliver Killig | AI-optimized
    Dresden Kreuzkirche
    Church
    Altmarkt, 01067 Dresden
  • Open detail page 'Albertinum – New Masters Gallery and Sculpture Collection of the Dresden State Art Collections'
    © David Pinzer Fotografie, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden/David Pinzer
    Albertinum – New Masters Gallery and Sculpture Collection of the Dresden State Art Collections
    Museum/art collection
    Tzschirnerplatz 2, 01067 Dresden
  • Open detail page 'Dresden Church of Our Lady'
    Frauenkirche on Neumarkt in Dresden in daylight, surrounded by historic buildings.
    DMG, Michael R. Hennig | AI-optimized | CC-BY
    Tip Dresden Church of Our Lady
    Church
    Neumarkt, 01067 Dresden
  • Open detail page 'Dresden Porcelain Collection'
    © Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden/Jürgen Lösel
    Dresden Porcelain Collection
    Museum/art collection
    Zwinger, 01067 Dresden
  • Open detail page 'Dresden Semper Opera'
    Sylvio Dittrich_Semperoper
    © (©)TMGS/Dittrich , Sylvio Dittrich | AI-optimized
    Tip Dresden Semper Opera
    Venue
    Theaterplatz 2, 01067 Dresden
  • Open detail page 'Dresden State Art Collections'
    Semperbau of the SKD
    © Oliver Killig | AI-optimized
    Tip Dresden State Art Collections
    Museum/art collection
    Taschenberg 2, 01067 Dresden
  • Open detail page 'Großer Garten Dresden'
    Frank Exß (DML-BY) | CC-BY
    Großer Garten Dresden
    Park/garden
    Hauptallee, 01219 Dresden
  • Open detail page 'Historical Green Vault – State Art Collections Dresden'
    © Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
    Historical Green Vault – State Art Collections Dresden
    Museum/art collection
    Taschenberg 2, 01067 Dresden
  • Open detail page 'Staatsschauspiel Dresden – Schauspielhaus (Playhouse)'
    © DMG/Christoph Münch
    Staatsschauspiel Dresden – Schauspielhaus (Playhouse)
    Culture and event venue
    Theaterstraße 2, 01067 Dresden
  • Open detail page 'Kupferstich-Kabinett (Collection of Prints, Drawings and Photographs) - State Art Collections Dresden'
    © Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Kupferstich-Kabinett
    Kupferstich-Kabinett (Collection of Prints, Drawings and Photographs) - State Art Collections Dresden
    Museum/art collection
    Taschenberg 2, 01067 Dresden
  • Open detail page 'Städtische Galerie Dresden – Art Collection'
    © Museen der Stadt Dresden/David Brandt
    Städtische Galerie Dresden – Art Collection
    Museum/art collection
    Wilsdruffer Straße 2, 01067 Dresden
  • Open detail page 'The Royal Palace Dresden'
    © HC-KRASS
    The Royal Palace Dresden
    Museum/art collection
    Taschenberg 2, 01067 Dresden
  • Open detail page 'The Salon of Mathematical and Physical Instruments in Dresden - State Art Collections Dresden'
    © SKD, H. C. Krass, SKD, Hans Christian Krass
    The Salon of Mathematical and Physical Instruments in Dresden - State Art Collections Dresden
    Museum/art collection
    Zwinger, 01067 Dresden
  • Open detail page 'DEUTSCHES HYGIENE-MUSEUM Dresden (THE HUMAN ADVENTURE)'
    © DHMD, David Brandt
    Tip DEUTSCHES HYGIENE-MUSEUM Dresden (THE HUMAN ADVENTURE)
    Museum/art collection
    Lingnerplatz 1, 01069 Dresden
  • Open detail page 'Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra'
    © Rittershaus / Pauly, Rittershaus/ Pauly
    Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra
    Venue
    Schloßstraße 2, 01067 Dresden
  • Open detail page 'HELLERAU – European Centre for the Arts in Dresden Hellerau'
    Tanzfest „Tanz in den Mai“ Festspielhaus Hellerau
    © HELLERAU – Europäisches Zentrum der Künste, Anja Schneider
    HELLERAU – European Centre for the Arts in Dresden Hellerau
    Venue
    Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 56, 01109 Dresden
© Daniel Bahrmann

"Cradle of Saxony"

Day 2 in Meissen

Meissen

Also known as the "Cradle of Saxony", take a guided city walk, climb up to Albrechtsburg Palace and discover its many firsts. The first royal palace in Germany and residence of the first Saxon rulers, it was also the first site of production of the “white gold”, the precious Meissen porcelain.

Visit the Meissen Cathedral, one of the most valuable monuments of medieval ecclesiastical architecture in Saxony. Guided tour of the state-owned Meissen State Porcelain Manufactory that has been produced for over 300 years. You participate in the exhibition workshops and assist in the creation of the precious porcelain artifacts.

  • Dresden - Meissen: 25 km

© Daniel Bahrmann

Highlights in Meissen

  • Open detail page 'Albrechtsburg Castle in Meissen'
    City view of Meissen
    © Daniel Bahrmann | AI-optimized
    Tip Albrechtsburg Castle in Meissen
    Museum/art collection
    Domplatz 1, 01662 Meißen
  • Open detail page 'Church of Our Lady Meissen (Frauenkirche Meissen)'
    PhilippHerfort, Dresden Elbland | CC-BY
    Church of Our Lady Meissen (Frauenkirche Meissen)
    Church
    An der Frauenkirche, 01662 Meißen
  • Open detail page 'Market place of Meissen'
    © Tourist-Information Meißen
    Market place of Meissen
    Market square
    Markt 3, 01662 Meißen
  • Open detail page 'Meissen State Porcelain Manufactory – Erlebniswelt MEISSEN'
    A cheerful family with two children in front of a modern building with large glass windows.
    © MEISSEN / ELLEN-Fotografie, MEISSEN / ELLEN TUERKE | AI-optimized
    Meissen State Porcelain Manufactory – Erlebniswelt MEISSEN
    Museum/art collection
    Talstraße 9, 01662 Meißen
© Philipp Herfort

Visit to Upper Lusatia

Day 3 in Bautzen & Görlitz

City of towers

Bautzen

Bautzen, the city with over 1,000 years of history and center of Sorbian culture. Guided tour of the city and St. Peter's Cathedral, the only interdenominational church in East Germany.

Visit to the St. Marienstern Convent in Panschwitz-Kuckau. The day ends with a traditional Sorbian wedding menu and home-brewed beer.

  • Dresden - Bautzen: 60 km

  • Bautzen - Panschwitz-Kuckau: 20 km

© Tobias Ritz
Die bunt restaurierten Häuser säumen die Brüdergasse in der Altstadt von Görlitz.
© Europastadt Görlitz/Zgorzelec GmbH

Easternmost city in Germany

Görlitz

Easternmost city in Germany, home to 4,000 architectural monuments from five different eras and a cityscape that has hardly changed since 1945. Guided tour of the city and the Peterskirche church, which houses the famous “Sonnenorgel” (solar organ).

  • Dresden - Görlitz: 110 km

  • Bautzen - Görlitz: 40 km

© Leipzig Travel

Trade fair and music city

Day 4 in Leipzig

Get to know Leipzig

Guided city tour through the thousand-year-old city of trade and music with the St Niclas Church, the Bach Museum, the St. Thomas’ Church and much more in the centre. Visit the Monument to the Battle of the Nations. Culinary break in the famous restaurant “Auerbachs Keller” – in the footsteps of Goethe, Faust and Luther.

  • Dresden - Leipzig: 115 km

© Philipp Kirschner
© Holger Stein Fotografie

Shopping

Shopping tour in lively districts, characterized by arcades and carefully restored internal courtyards in which the commercial life of the city flowed in one of the heydays.

Tips:

  • Leipzig Zoo

  • contemporary art galleries Spinnerei (former spinning mill)

  • relaxing boat ride on the canals of Leipzig

Search for accommodation

© Philipp Herfort

Gourmet events and more in Saxony

Events in Saxony

© TVE / Dirk Rückschloss [pixore]

Relax in Saxony

Vitality and wellness holiday