Things to do with kids in Saxony

Dresden, the capital of Saxony, is the perfect urban jungle for families with curious children. There’s something to explore everywhere here – boredom is simply not an option. At the German Hygiene Museum, for example, you can explore all aspects of being human in the “Human Adventure” exhibition, whilst the Children’s Museum is a place where children can sharpen all five of their senses. Puzzle lovers will have a blast at Dresden Technical Collections where visitors get to explore maths through play, step inside musical instruments and a giant soap bubble, and experiment at 100 other play and experiment stations. Another highlight for almost all children is the Transport Museum, where kids can design their own boat, uncover the secrets of flying and become train drivers themselves.

Vibrant Leipzig is great fun with children: how about a canoe trip to get a feel for the place? Seriously, the city is a wonderful destination for water sports enthusiasts, with around 200 kilometres of waterways accessible across eight different routes. Particularly popular are paddling on the White Elster, sightseeing on the city’s waterways and trips to the beaches of Leipzig New Lakeland. Tip: paddle over to Lake Cospuden from Leipzig where the kids can play on Saxony’s longest beach. 

From the Bistumshöhe tower, a fantastic view opens up over the Neue Harth woodland and the BELANTIS adventure park – a great day-out for daredevils of all ages. Back in Leipzig, Leipzig Zoo is another highlight. Over 850 animal species live in natural enclosures, breathtaking playgrounds are waiting to be explored, and various exhibits invite you on a journey to distant regions of the world. A boat travels through the tropical Gondwanaland, giving visitors a closer look at the flora and fauna of the tropical forest.

Welcome to Saxon Switzerland, home to the wild, romantic and picturesque Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The region’s bizarre rock formations are captivating and raise questions. These are answered at the Bad Schandau National Park Centre. Why did the sea suddenly turn into rocks? What distinguishes a natural forest from a commercially managed forest? This is, of course, the perfect preparation for a visit to the Waldhusche, an open-air forest site in the national park near Hinterhermsdorf. A ride on the nostalgic Kirnitzsch Valley Overland tram from Bad Schandau to the Lichtenhain Waterfall rounds off the day trip.

Would you like to start looking forward to the most wonderful time of the year whilst on holiday? Saxony offers more than enough reasons to do so. There are plenty of places where you can get creative with Christmas crafts all year round. For example, at the ‘Zum Weihrichkarzl’ workshop in Neudorf or at Incense Cone World in Crottendorf where the whole family can try their hand at making the popular incense cones.

Creativity and dexterity are also called for at the Wendt & Kühn World in Grünhainichen where you can virtually design one of the famous “eleven-dot angels”. To complete your Christmas decorations, there’s one more stop: in the Discovery World of the Herrnhut Star Manufactory (Moravian Stars Manufactory), families can make their own decorative star for the festive season. Armed with all your new skills and the decorations you’ve created, you’re sure to be looking forward to the festive season in December by the end of this holiday.