We often travel around the world to marvel at impressive landscapes and destinations. And that although we can also find fantastic destinations on our doorstep. Therefore, I have made it my mission to explore my home Saxony – one of the 16 states in Germany. These are my personal highlights in Saxony that you should not miss!
Map with the best highlights in Saxony:
The best highlights & destinations in Saxony
The Saxon Switzerland
Whether it’s extended hikes or picnics at sunset, the Saxon Switzerland National Park is rightly one of the absolute highlights in Saxony.
These are the spots you should not miss in Saxon Switzerland:
The Bastei Bridge
The Bastei Bridge is the most famous spot in the entire national park and although a walk across the more than 170 year old stone bridge is beautiful, it is especially the view of the bridge itself which always takes my breath away!
This is how you find my favorite viewpoint on the Bastei Bridge:
From the parking lot at the Bastei you follow the signs on the hiking trails not to Bastei, but about 5-10 minutes in the direction of the Schwedenlöcher, until you reach a sign with “Viewpoint”. If you follow this branch, you will reach a viewing platform which unfortunately does not look onto the bridge. When you are in front of the platform, you will see a small path on your left that leads into the forest, which is signposted as a climbing path. Behind the small fence you follow the path for a few minutes until you arrive directly at this point! Attention – there is NO barrier here, so this viewpoint is not suitable if you are traveling with children or dogs. Please don’t go too close to the precipice and pack everything you brought with you – there are no trash cans here.
Book the best activities in the area here:
The Upper Sluice Gorge (Obere Schleuse)
Did you know that you can go boating on the border between Germany and the Czech Republic? Welcome to the mystical Kirnitzschtalklamm – an absolute insider’s tip in Saxon Switzerland and especially in autumn simply fantastic!
You can reach the boat station “Obere Schleuse” after a relaxing 45-minute hike from the small town of Sebnitz in Saxony. A boat ride takes about 25 minutes and costs 8€ per adult or 13€ round trip. However, I recommend you get off at the other end of the crossing and walk back to the parking lot on the beautiful hiking trail for about 45-50 minutes.
Boats leave every 20 minutes, daily from 9:30am – 4pm, but only between Easter and the end of October. Alternatively, you can cross the gorge outside of the opening hours for free on a hiking trail along the water!
Other highlights in the Saxon Switzerland are:
- Schrammsteinaussicht
- The Kleine Winterberg & Idagrotte
- The Lilienstein during Sunset
Palaces & Castles in Saxony
Saxony is also known as the “land of castles”. This is due to the fact that there are more than 3,000 castles, fortresses, manors, palaces and palaces to explore throughout the Free State. Of course, it is impossible to visit ALL of them, so here are my favorites of the most beautiful castles and palaces in Saxony:
The Moritzburg Castle
Known from the fairy tale movie “Three Wishes for Cinderella”, Moritzburg Castle reminds of a real fairy tale castle in reality as well. It is a popular excursion destination to Dresden, as it is located only 30 minutes outside the city center. Moritzburg Castle served the former Elector of Saxony, August the Strong, in the 18th century as a hunting and pleasure palace, where extensive celebrations were celebrated. The castle and the surrounding forest park are therefore particularly spacious and lush!
The sunsets at the lake, with the reflection of the castle are particularly dreamlike, so a visit in the late afternoon is worthwhile. Keep your eyes open for “Cinderella’s shoe”, which is located on the steps next to the castle.
The inside of the castle is also worth exploring! Admission costs €12 per adult and provides a glimpse into the magnificent halls and private chambers of Augustus the Strong. The park, on the other hand, can be visited for free at any time.
Plan extra time to explore the castle’s surroundings, such as the small pheasant castle, the Moritzburg game reserve or relax in one of the many cafes & restaurants.
The Pillnitz Castle in Dresden
Pillnitz Palace is my favorite palace in Dresden and can best and most beautifully be reached from the old town by an Elbe river steamer across the Elbe.
It served as a pleasure palace and summer residence of the king in the 17th century until the beginning of the 20th century.
The architectural style is clearly different from that of other castles. Pliinitz Castle has some Asian features and is decorated with tropical, oriental & Asian details. The king wanted to have “something different” here to enjoy the sunny days.
Already during his reign, there were lots of potted plants from all over the world in the gardens, which were brought back from the colonies and during trips to Germany at that time. It is unbelievable to think that many plants today still date from that time – such as the giant camellia, which can be circled on stairs when in bloom.
A tour of the interior of the castle is also highly recommended, as you are transported back to a pompous time long gone.
The Albrechtsburg Castle in Meißen
Pillnitz Palace is my favorite palace in Dresden and can best and most beautifully be reached from the old town by an Elbe river steamer across the Elbe.
It served as a pleasure palace and summer residence of the king in the 17th century until the beginning of the 20th century.
The architectural style is clearly different from that of other castles. Pliinitz Castle has some Asian features and is decorated with tropical, oriental & Asian details. The king wanted to have “something different” here to enjoy the sunny days.
Already during his reign, there were lots of potted plants from all over the world in the gardens, which were brought back from the colonies and during trips to Germany at that time. It is unbelievable to think that many plants today still date from that time – such as the giant camellia, which can be circled on stairs when in bloom.
A tour of the interior of the castle is also highly recommended, as you are transported back to a pompous time long gone.
Hubertusburg Castle
The castle is located in the small town of Wermsdorf about 1h drive from the center of Dresden. Therefore, it is left out by many tourists, although it is the largest hunting lodge in Germany.
August the Strong and later his son used this large castle as a residence during the hunting season.
In a very nice exhibition of the Dresden State Art Collections, it is shown how splendidly the rulers resided at that time, until the castle was plundered by the Prussians during the Seven Years War in the 18th century. The only room that was spared during the raid was the castle chapel, which still shines in its former glory.
Waldenburg Castle
The small and lesser-known Waldenburg Castle is an insider’s tip and is worth a trip from Chemnitz. Since only a few visitors “get lost” in the dreamy village of Waldenburg, you will most likely be alone in the castle. The history of Waldenburg Castle goes back to the 12th century. Over the centuries, it was destroyed and expanded again and again, until it finally attained its present beauty in the 19th century.
Mystical Ruins in Saxony
The Castle and Abbey Ruin Oybin
A place where time seems to stand still! The castle and monastery ruins in Oybin are an absolute insider tip in Saxony. The ruins from the 12th century are located on the rock Oybin, near the Czech border. Therefore, before visiting, you have to hike a short distance, or take the paid shuttle. But the climb is worth it: the ruins take their visitors back to a bygone era and thanks to the special location on the rock, they also offer impressive views of the valley and the sandstone cliffs.
The Altzella Abbey
In the Middle Ages, the monastery in Altzella was the largest and most powerful in Central Germany. Today only the ruins remind of this magnificent time. The grounds and the garden are very peaceful and especially beautiful in autumn, when the deciduous forest wraps itself in bright colors. The mausoleum, which is located on the site of the former church, was lavishly restored and serves many Saxon rulers from the Wettin family, as a final resting place.
Dresden
The state capital Dresden is the most beautiful city in Saxony – and one of the most beautiful in Germany! Especially the historic Old Town with its gorgeous silhouette is a feast for the eyes at any time of the year!
The center of Dresden was significantly shaped during the reign of August the Strong 1694 -1733. He loved the art, the baroque architectural style and the display of his wealth, which is reflected in many buildings.
For my beautiful hometown, I have written a separate post and you can find my personal highlight in Dresden in this blog post:
Book your stay in Dresden for the best price:
Leipzig
Auch Leipzig ist eine Stadt, welche uns immer wieder begeistert. Meiner Meinung nach hat sie besonders in Sachen Gastronomie, Bars und Events deutlich mehr zu bieten als Dresden, weswegen sie besonders bei jungen Menschen beliebt ist!
I hope this post with the most beautiful highlights in Saxony could also inspire you to visit this beautiful and much too underestimated state! If you have any questions, feel free to write me a comment or send me a message on Instagram!
This post has been produced in cooperation with Simply Saxony.
For more information about the State of Saxony and more highlights, visit → simply-saxony.com