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Things to do in Saxony

Our most recommended things to do in Saxony

Leipzig: City History Canal Sightseeing Tour on a Motorboat

1. Leipzig: City History Canal Sightseeing Tour on a Motorboat

Cruise along the winding canals of Leipzig and admire the city views from the water on this guided tour. Watch the history of Leipzig unfold as you pass important districts, including Plagwitz and Palmengartenwehr. Begin your tour at the picturesque city harbor of Leipzig with its famous beach bar. Relax on board a motorboat as you embark on a sightseeing tour of Leipzig's historical and modern sights along the waterside. See the villa of the famous publishing Baedeker family who is well-known among travelers around the globe. Continue to the Palmengartenwehr, a vital part of Leipzig's public flood protection facilities. Head to the western territories, enjoy a brief moment of silence, and admire the nature surrounding the area. Admire the architecture of the textile factories of the Buntgarnwerke, a former yarn mill building built in the late 19th century. It is one of the largest Wilhelminian-era industrial sites in Germany. Making your way to the Karl Heine Canals, you will explore one of the most beautiful canals in Leipzig, meandering through the old industrial district of Plagwitz. Karl Heine, a lawyer, entrepreneur, and industrial pioneer played a key role in the urban development of Leipzig’s western areas. See the striking Stelzenhaus at the last stop of the tour before heading back to the harbor where you can enjoy a cold drink at the beach bar. The harbor is perfectly located if you wish to explore further sights of Leipzig after the tour.

Dresden: Semperoper Tickets and Guided Tour

2. Dresden: Semperoper Tickets and Guided Tour

Visit the Semperoper in Dresden with its long history and elegant architecture. Embark on a guided tour through this historic opera and uncover the prestige and history behind each turn. Begin at the beautiful Semperoper in Dresden and admire the magnificent architecture in the style of the Italian Renaissance. Explore ornate rooms, reconstructed in the original style. Discover the great acoustics in the elaborate auditorium and learn about the rich history of this grand building. Experience the atmosphere in one of the most beautiful and prestigious opera houses in the world, a truly unforgettable experience.

Dresden: The Original Night Watchman Tour in Lantern Light

3. Dresden: The Original Night Watchman Tour in Lantern Light

Explore the beautiful Old Town of Dresden with a historical night watchman. Sip on Schlummertrunk, a small alcoholic drink before visiting the main highlights like Semper Opera House, Dresden Frauenkirche, and more. Begin your tour with rings of the watchman’s horn in narrow alleys, and the light of his lantern which penetrates the darkness. With his halberd, he protects the honorable citizens from vagabonds and shady characters even in the darkest corners. Look forward to an entertaining tour with spooky stories and juicy anecdotes from centuries past. Furthermore, take a look at the beautiful sights of the city. See the Semper Opera House and the famous Zwinger, walk over the palace square, and get a glimpse of the Brühlschen Terrassen.

Dresden: River Sightseeing Boat Cruise

4. Dresden: River Sightseeing Boat Cruise

Discover Dresden's charm and history on a boat cruise down the Elbe River. See the Elbe Valley's most beautiful landmarks and the historic old town of Dresden on this sightseeing boat cruise. Begin at the Terrassenufer and discover the three Elbe palaces: Albrechtsberg Palace, Eckberg Palace, and the Lingner Palace. Travel to the Loschwitz Villa Quarter and pass four of the famous Elbe Bridges, including Loschwitz Bridge, affectionately known as the "Blue Wonder".

Dresden: City & Semperoper Guided Walking Tour

5. Dresden: City & Semperoper Guided Walking Tour

Discover the historic city of Dresden on a guided walking tour and visit the iconic Frauenkirche. Enjoy a guided tour of the elegant Dresden Zwinger gardens and see where royalty once lived on a tour of Dresden Castle. Explore the history of music on a tour of the Semperoper opera house.  Begin your trip at Dresden Castle and head to the most famous landmark of the entire city: Frauenkirche. Marvel at the elaborately restored church from the outside and have a look at its splendid interior. Continue to the Procession of Princes, a crucial part of Saxon history, and to the Stables Courtyard of Dresden Castle. Get an idea of what these impressive buildings look like inside and see the Taschenbergpalais. Undoubtedly, a walking tour through Dresden would not be the same without seeing the Zwinger. Hear interesting and entertaining stories about Augustus II the Strong, before the tour ends at the theater square with its cathedral. Next, explore the famous Semperoper, the Saxon State Opera, and court opera, on a guided tour. Learn the history behind each turn as you tour the magnificent rooms.

Dresden: 1-Day Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour

6. Dresden: 1-Day Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour

Experience Dresden, the capital of the beautiful state of Saxony, on a double-decker bus and get off as often as you like at any of the 22 stops to see the sights there. Take advantage of several activities included with your ticket, such as an evening cruise, a night watchman tour, or a children's city tour, as well as entrance fees to various monuments. Begin your journey at the main Postplatz/Zwinger stop or any of the other stops. Decide for yourself whether you would like to take part in a continuous 90-minute city tour past Dresden's most important monuments, or choose to hop off the bus at any point of interest and take a closer look at the respective attraction or monument. Visit the world's most beautiful dairy shop, Pfunds Dairy. Continue to enjoy a guided tour of the Dresden Zwinger, a baroque building complex with gardens that was one of the most important buildings of its time. Another highlight of your excursion is the visit to the Fürstenzug, a monumental image of a cavalcade on 23,000 ceramic tiles considered the largest porcelain image in the world. What's more, listen to interesting explanations about the famous Dresden Frauenkirche, which you will get to know during an outdoor tour. On sunny days, enjoy impressive views of historic Dresden and the Elbe from the open roof of the bus, a perfect position for taking dreamy souvenir photos.

Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Pillnitz Castle

7. Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Pillnitz Castle

Discover the historic old town of Dresden aboard a ship and admire the most beautiful sites of the Elbe Valley. Start off at Terrassenufer and see the three famous castles: Albrechtsberg, Eckberg, and Lingner Castle, along the Elbe on the way to the villa quarter Loschwitz. Pass the 4 famous Elbe bridges, whose histories affect the city up until now. The most memorable bridge is called Blue Wonder, which gets its name because of the color. Soak up the views of the impressive Pillnitz Palace as your boat drops anchor for roughly twenty minutes. It was built in the 18th century under the Elector of Saxony August the Strong and is now the site of the Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Arts and Crafts) as well as the Schlossmuseum (Castle Museum).

Dresden: Guided Tour of the Church of Our Lady

8. Dresden: Guided Tour of the Church of Our Lady

After meeting your guide in front of the Church of Our Lady, or the Frauenkirche, you’ll head right into the marvelous structure for a thorough tour. After being all but completely destroyed by bombing during World War II, the ruins of the church were left standing for decades. However, after the reunification of Germany, an ambitious campaign was mounted to reconstruct it. After over a decade of construction based on George Bähr’s original plans from the 1720s, the Church of Our Lady was restored to its former glory in 2005. Ever since, its ornate interior and expansive cupola have beckoned visitors to see its glorious tale of rebirth. During your tour, you’ll gain exclusive access to the church’s gallery, and pick up countless insights into the structure that stands representative of Dresden’s progress as a whole.

Leipzig: 1.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour in German

9. Leipzig: 1.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour in German

On this exciting walking tour, discover facts about Leipzig with live German commentary. Learn why the Central Train Station was made up of two halves, hear the interesting story about the fountains, discover how Greenlanders end up in Leipzig, and find out what is interesting about Shakespeare’s stockings. This tour is ideal for visitors who want to discover the city in an entertaining way. During the tour, see the Opera House, the Gewandhaus concert hall, the university, the Mädler Passage, the Old Town Hall, and St. Thomas Church. Along the way, your tour guide will recount anecdotes and legends from the city’s history.

Leipzig: 1.5-Hour Tour with Night Watchman Bremme

10. Leipzig: 1.5-Hour Tour with Night Watchman Bremme

Go on the night watchman tour, which is led by the night watchman Bremme®, one of the most popular tours of the old town of Leipzig. This historical figure is now a permanent feature of Leipzig’s nocturnal cityscape. In the late hours, follow the night watchman light his lantern and lead you on a path through secluded places and dark alleys, past the most beautiful sights in Leipzig. Listen as your guide – in historical costume – shares exciting and curious stories from Leipzig’s past. Hear interesting stories about famous celebrities including Goethe, Schiller, and the infamous Mayor Romanus. During the tour, take a look at the Nikolaikirchhof, the Alte Nikolaischule, the old town hall, and the market with the old stock exchange.

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What people are saying about Saxony

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 42,871 reviews

I was lucky since my guide Joseph has a background in geography. He is very knowledgeable and introduced the formation of the park in a way of easy understanding. I was the only customer in this trip but didn’t feel awkward at all as Joseph treated me like a friend while in the same time he took care everything very well. I strongly recommend this tour if you are a nature lover and want to see different scenery.

Great tour - learn about the construction and history of the building and get to see the daytime activities of the opera house (rehearsal, stagecraft, setting etc.) Be sure to buy a photo licence from the main entrance before the start time of the tour!

The river cruise experience was special, which passed by some greatly beautiful spots around it with comfortable piano melodies. The foods were fine. Overall, we enjoyed it, and was a great memory.

It was a very beautiful evening. We bought the CD ourselves to remember this great concert.

Excellent musicians, very good acoustics, comparatively small frame. Great experience!