The 10 Best Day Trips From Leipzig

Leipzig, apart from being a delightful place to explore, is situated conveniently close to many awesome points of interest. In fact, you would run out of time faster than you would run out of day trip choices from Leipzig. From toy factories to historically significant cities, from castles to nature – here is our compilation of the most incredible day trips you can take to make the most of your Leipzig holiday.

Dresden

Dresden’s treasure trove of history, art, and architecture ideally require and deserve several days to explore. However, if it’s a choice between visiting for a day and not visiting at all, don’t miss this sensational city. If you start early and are ready for a busy day, it’s impossible to tour the highlights of Dresden in a day – Dresden Castle, Opera House, Zwinger, the Baroque Catholic Hofkirche, and a stroll along the Brülsche Terrasse. If time permits, take your pick from the incredible museums and galleries in the city.

Distance from Leipzig: Approximately 122 km (75.8 miles)

To delve deep into German culture, head to Weimar. This East German city has been home to several legendary figures from German literature, music, art, and philosophy, including Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It was in Weimar that the Bauhaus movement began, evolving into a full-fledged revolution in art, design, and architecture. Weimar is very walkable, and a mere stroll along its Old Town will reward you with as many as ten historic buildings and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Distance from Leipzig: Approximately 129 km (80.15 miles)

Colditz Castle

Colditz Castle stands testimony to over 1000 years of history, including its tenure as a gruesome prisoner-of-war camp during the Second World War. A guided tour of this castle walks visitors through the escape tunnels accessed by the Allied POWs in 1940-1945. It also displays original uniforms and artifacts from that time, and a special exhibition dedicated to Poland during the Second World War.

Distance from Leipzig: Approximately 59 km (36.6 miles)

Freiberg

Not to be confused with Freiburg in the Black Forest, Saxony’s Freiberg is a historic university and silver-mining town, with an 800-year-old history of mining and smelting. The most popular sights in Freiberg are the Terra Mineralia Science Museum, St. Marien Dom, the Freudenstein Castle, the City and Mining Museum, and the silver mines.

Distance from Leipzig: Approximately 115 km (71.4 miles)

Meissen

The skyscape of Meissen is dominated by the Gothic Albrechtsburg Castle, the Frauenkirche (“Church of Our Lady”), and the Albrechtsburg (Castle). The Old Town is a charming spot to explore. This quaint town by the Elbe River is known for its porcelain production, so a visit to the Porcelain Museum is a must during a trip to Meissen.

Distance from Leipzig: Approximately 112 km (69.5 miles)

Erfurt

Erfurt is an attractive university city with over 1,200 years of history. The most notable landmarks in Erfurt are the 742 AD St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Erfurt Synagogue built in the 1100s, St. Severus Church from 1121, the 13th-century Augustinian Monastery, and the Angermuseum.

Distance from Leipzig: Approximately 146 km (90.7 miles)

Wörlitzer Park

Wörlitzer Park is one of the first and among the largest landscape gardens in Germany. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this park houses the ornate Wörlitz Castle, stables, a kitchen building, a synagogue, a late Romanesque Church, the Temple of Venus, the Pantheon architecture, artificial ruins of a vault and several other interesting structures. The vast expanse of the garden itself is stunning in its botanical diversity.
Distance from Leipzig: Approximately 82 km (51 miles)

Moritzburg Castle

The romantic Moritzburg Castle is perched on an artificial island of geometric symmetry. Originally built as a Renaissance hunting lodge in the 1500s, it was later refurbished as a Baroque pleasure palace in the 1700s. Today, the palace is open to public tours that walk visitors through its stunning interiors and lush parkland. Don’t miss the shell-pink Little Pheasant Castle near the Moritzburg Castle.

Distance from Leipzig: Approximately 127 km (79 miles)

Burg Stolpen

Burg Stolpen is sure to appeal to the romantic in all visitors, reminding them of childhood fairy tales involving inaccessible towers and imprisoned princesses. Countess Cosel was held prisoner in this awe-inspiring fortress for over 50 years, as a punishment for being privy to royal secrets, and she breathed her last behind its impenetrable walls. Visitors learn more about the history of the castle, its basalt foundation, and the sad story of Countess Cosel as part of the guided tour.

Distance from Leipzig: Approximately 160 km (99.4 miles)

Seiffen

If you ever wondered who creates the adorable wooden toys and nutcrackers that you see in Christmas markets and souvenir shops, you have your answer right here. Seiffen, a tiny town in Ore Mountains, is the heart of wooden toy production in Germany. On a trip to Seiffen, you get a chance to see gifted wood carvers at work and pick up a few authentic souvenirs to remember your Germany trip. Also, this romantic, snowy town dazzles in lights and transforms into a magical land during Christmas.

Distance from Leipzig: Approximately 141 km (87.6 miles)

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.