Saxony

A cultural center in eastern Germany, with Dresden's Baroque architecture, Leipzig's musical tradition and the mountain scenery of Saxon Switzerland.

Saxony lies in eastern Germany, bordering Poland and the Czech Republic. The capital, Dresden, has the Frauenkirche, the Zwinger and the Semperoper, and is known as the "Florence on the Elbe." Leipzig has deep ties to Bach and Mendelssohn and was a key site of the 1989 Peaceful Revolution. The sandstone mountains of Saxon Switzerland National Park and the Bastei Bridge are spectacular, Meissen is famous for its porcelain, and the mining region of the Ore Mountains is a World Heritage site. Spring through autumn is good for sightseeing and hiking, and the Christmas markets in winter have a long history. Dresden and Leipzig both have airports and high-speed rail connections.

Destinations

• Dresden
• Leipzig
• Chemnitz
• Görlitz
• Saxon Switzerland

Itineraries

• Classic East Germany Cities Rail Journey – Travel west by train from Berlin, connecting Dresden, Leipzig, Weimar, Erfurt, and Wartburg Castle.
• Eastern Saxony & Upper Lusatia Road Trip – Based in Dresden and Görlitz, explore the porcelain capital, ancient towns, a UNESCO-listed park, and scenic highlands.
• Saxony Christmas Markets & Ore Mountains – Travel from Dresden via the woodcarving village of Seiffen and Annaberg to Leipzig, exploring festive markets and artis…
• Berlin, Dresden & Prague Rail Journey – Connect three historic capitals along the Elbe Valley railway, with a stop to see the Bastei, crossing Germany and Czec…
• Luther & Protestant Reformation Trail – A road trip tracing Martin Luther's life from Wittenberg via Torgau and Eisleben to Erfurt and Wartburg Castle.
• Bauhaus & Modernism Journey – Follow the migration of the Bauhaus school from Weimar and Chemnitz to Dessau and Berlin, visiting iconic campuses and…
• Berlin and Day Trips in – Four days in central Berlin, plus day trips to Potsdam, Dresden and the Spreewald
• Prague and Three Day Trips in – Three days in the city, then day trips to Kutná Hora, Karlovy Vary and Bohemian Switzerland National Park.
• Saxon Switzerland Sandstone Hiking – Base yourself in Rathen and Bad Schandau along the S1 rail line to hike the Bastei, Königstein Fortress, Schrammsteine…
• Berlin Cold War and East German History – The Berlin Wall, a Stasi prison and sites of Leipzig's Peaceful Revolution: four days to understand a divided Germany
• Prague Christmas Markets and Dresden – Christmas markets at Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, plus a day trip to Dresden's Striezelmarkt.