Leipzig is a delightful place to visit for a holiday in Germany. With its castles, old town, and beautiful museums, the city has a lot to offer visitors.
Moreover, Leipzig is a neighbor to some of the most fantastic attractions in Germany. If you have explored the city enough, take a day off and visit some places just a few hours away from Leipzig.
From museums to castles and significant buildings, here is a beautiful compilation of the best day trips from Leipzig. Choose the places that work great for you and your family.
Most of the below-mentioned trips are easily accessible through local buses and trains. However, if you think you can hire a car, do that. A vehicle of your own allows you to explore the surroundings freely. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about ending your day trip at a fixed time.
However, the choice is yours. You may find a train journey way more economical than hiring a car. Now that we are done choosing a means of transport let’s explore what ten places this list has for you.
Day Trips From Leipzig, Germany
Dresden
Dresden is almost 122 km from Leipzig and is a worth-visiting town. An hour-long train ride from Leipzig will work perfectly to reach this stunning city.
If you are an art and history lover, traveling to Dresden can become one of your top-day trips from Leipzig. From castles to museums, the city has a lot to offer.
The best way to commence this tour is by starting early, or otherwise, it would be almost impossible to visit all the highlights in one day. Start your tour with Dresden Castle. This castle has exhibits representing Dresden’s history and culture.
A room-to-room tour will take you through famous monuments and ancient art pieces. While in the castle, don’t forget to explore its beautiful flower gardens and drool-worthy scenic views from the top.
Once done with Dresden Castle, head over to Dresden’s Opera House. While you may not have time to watch a show, taking a trip through the main halls of the Opera House will make you quite happy.
The beautiful ceilings and painted walls of this place are pretty mesmerizing. Dresden also has some very famous art galleries and museums.
While the New Master Gallery is a remarkable art collection space, the Old Master Gallery features unique pieces from some renowned painters and sculptors.
The Deutsches Hygiene Museum is also fun to visit with your family. Dresden is a great city to explore. However, if you think you haven’t done the city much justice, extend your stay for a memorable experience.
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Weimar
Leipzig is an excellent representation of German culture. However, if you want more, head to Weimar and make one of the short trips from Leipzig.
Weimar is only 129km from Leipzig but is a more culturally vital town. This city has been home to Germany’s renowned poets, socialists, artists, and philosophers. While in Weimar, get a Weimar card. This card allows you to enjoy all museums and public transport of the city for free.
However, since Weimar is pretty much walkable, you can enjoy the city by being on your foot. But only if your footwear is comfortable.
Weimar’s most highlighted places are the Goethe House, Bauhaus Museum, and the elegant Dower Palace. Goethe House was once home to Germany’s famous writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and is now a museum showcasing his work.
Bauhaus Museum is a tribute to a famous art movement initiated in 1919. The museum exhibits some of the founder’s pieces and his students’ work. Dower Palace is a home turned museum of a famous Duchess, Anna Amalia.
This house was central to many festivals and activities in this town, but now it is a pretty awesome museum. While in Weimar, walk around the Old Town to absorb this city’s vibe and enjoy regional cuisines and wine.
Freiberg
Freiberg is a small university town near Leipzig. This place is famously known as a silver-mining town with 700 years of history. Freiberg is just 115km from Leipzig. You can easily find a direct train to arrive at your destination.
While in Freiberg, visit its Old Town to explore some fantastic places. The Terra Mineralia is a museum that houses thousands of minerals and gemstones from around the world.
This museum is set within the Freudenstein Castle and holds annual exhibitions. Moreover, for your history love, tour Dom St. Marien. This church is the central location in Freiberg and holds an exalted status in the locals’ hearts. This church uniquely represents Freiberg’s history, from huge ceilings to painted walls.
During your visit to Freiberg, don’t miss a tour of a mining factory. Silberbergwerk Freiberg is one of the oldest mining hubs in town.
From learning about smelting and mining to experiencing it on its own, this place has many activities for visitors from around the world. You can also tour the City and the Mining Museum to polish your knowledge of the city’s economy and dependence on the mining industry.
Meissen
Going to Meissen as one of the short trips from Leipzig will be a great way to create memories for the porcelain lover in you. Meissen was one of the first few towns that got a royal commission to initiate porcelain production in Germany.
The best way to visit Meissen is by train from Leipzig’s city center. Since it is just 112 km away, the train will drop you off within an hour. While in Meissen, you will come across plenty of art pieces and monuments. However, the porcelain bells of Frauenkirche will catch your attention.
Albrechtsburg Castle in Meissen is also a great place to explore the history and culture of this town. A room-to-room tour of the castle will take you through a remarkable journey of this town’s birth and what it went through to achieve its status as a porcelain hub.
Meissen’s Old Town is a beautiful place to sit and soak in the city’s vibe. Meissen is a charming little dreamland from narrow alleys to colorful houses and restaurants. Before you end your tour, sit in a local restaurant and enjoy a fresh German beer, and endeavor some regional cuisines.
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Colditz Castle
Regarding where to make day trips from Leipzig, visiting Colditz Castle is one of the first options that come to mind. Located 59 km from Leipzig, Colditz Castle is one of the most attractive locations in Germany. From 1000 years of history, this castle accurately represents Germany’s culture and struggles during World War II.
Colditz Castle served as a camp for prisoners during the Nazi regimen. The dark walls of this place and the gruesome ambiance of some sections speak horrific secrets of that tenure.
The best way to fully understand the hidden secrets of this place is by taking a guided tour. You can always book the tour online to avoid any mishaps.
The tour guide will take you through dark escape tunnels inside Colditz Castle. It also features various artifacts and hosts many interesting art exhibitions annually.
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Erfurt
Thanks to Leipzig’s central location, Erfurt is another town that makes it to the list of trips you can do in one day from Leipzig. It is a small university town with some of the most beautiful buildings and attractions.
The most famous landmarks in Erfurt are the Erfurt Synagogue, St. Severus Church, and St. Mary’s Cathedral. If you love churches and the spiritual energy surrounding them, this town can become your dream place.
Traveling to Erfurt is pretty convenient. You can take an hour’s bus from Leipzig’s city center or travel by train. Either way, you will get to enjoy the scenic views that fall between the two cities.
Wörlitzer Park
For a romantic getaway with your partner, plan a visit to Wörlitzer Park, the most romantic day trip from Leipzig. This park is almost 82 km from Leipzig, and a car ride will be a smooth option.
Wörlitzer Park is a little paradise. It has the most significant landscape in Germany, and the vast garden is home to diverse wildlife, animals, and flowers.
This park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with some of the most beautiful attractions. The Wörlitzer Park Castle is a lovely and luxurious building with many artifacts exhibiting its history and culture.
The Temple of Venus and the Romanesque Church are two vibrant and unique representations of Wörlitzer Park’s jaw-dropping beauty. A few hours spent in Wörlitzer Park will make your mind fresh and buzzing with positive energy.
Moritzburg Castle
When looking for fun day trips from Leipzig on the internet, you will probably come across Moritzburg Castle. An excellent portrayal of stunning architecture and the Saxon Empire, this castle is 127 km from Leipzig’s city center.
This castle has everything. From beautiful ponds to a charming exterior, the castle building will mesmerize you as soon as you set your feet on its gates. Moritzburg Castle dates back to the 16th century and is home to some of the most exquisite artifacts.
Initially owned by King Augustus the Strong, this castle is now one of Germany’s most-visited museums. Each wall in every room has a story to tell. To understand what each corner represents, book a guided tour beforehand.
After enjoying this castle’s interiors, don’t forget to sit and spend some time in the castle’s beautifully designed French Gardens. Moreover, if you still have some free time left, finish your day with a visit to a much smaller Pheasant Palace nearby. Before leaving the castle, enjoy local food from the nearest cafes and restaurants.
Burg Stolpen
Another place that deserves a spot on this list of best day trips from Leipzig is Burg Stolpen. This place will surely bring back memories of enchanted towers and captured princesses.
Located only 160 km from Leipzig, Burg Stolpen tells a rich story with a horrible ending. To reach Burg Stolpen, a train ride will be an economical option. However, you can also drive your car and reach the destination more conveniently than public transport.
This tower kept Countess Cosel in prison for more than 50 years. She was captured as a punishment for revealing royal secrets to her lover. Every wall of this awe-inspiring fortress represents her story of survival and her last days before death.
Don’t forget to book a guided tour to better understand this trip. The tour will take you through the history of the fortress and will make you visit its basalt foundation.
Seiffen
Approximately 114 km from Leipzig lies a small village, Seiffen. Famously known as the Toy Village, visiting this place can easily be labeled as one of the most fun day trips from Leipzig. Seiffen is a 14th-century town and is famous for its wooden handicrafts. Moreover, the locals here take pride in their traditional lace works and weaving methods.
Seiffen is a great town to stop by and buy some beautiful Christmas ornaments and decoration pieces. The little shops at Seiffen are filled with adorable art pieces, from candles to nutcrackers.
Another place Seiffen is famous for is its Toy Museum. It is a delightful place for kids of all ages and has some great activities planned for its visitors. You can take a train or ride an inter-city bus to arrive at Seiffen. However, the best option is to travel by car and enjoy the views.