The 9 Best Day Trips From Meissen Germany

Once you have explored Meissen’s porcelain heritage and lovely museums, sipped lots of wine and walked its lush vineyards, you might want to seize the advantage of its convenient location and branch out to nearby exciting cities. You are really spoiled for choice for day trips from Meissen, here are some of the best.

Dresden

Dresden, often referred to as the Florence of the North, is an opulent city famous for its long history, stunning architecture and rich art and music scene. It will take at least a week to explore its globally reputed museums, lovely riverside and stunning buildings; but a day would certainly give you a feel of the city and leave you determined to come back. When in town for a day, don’t miss the Zwinger, the neo-Renaissance Royal Palace, the art collection at Albertinum and the captivating Frauenkirche.

Distance from Meissen: 18.3 mi /29.5 Km

The super-cool Leipzig is lately trending among travelers as the place for a thrilling city escape. Leipzig’s skyline is made of elaborate, historic architecture like the Federal Administrative Court, the Monument to the Battle of the Nations, Gohlis Palace and City Hall, among others. Much like Dresden, Leipzig has a rich music history and hosts world-famous music events and festivals.

Distance from Meissen: 69.5 mi /112 Km

Radebeul

For wine connoisseurs, a day trip from Meissen can’t get more perfect than Radebeul. This beautiful town is the queen of Saxony’s wine region, and its history of viticulture can be traced back to the 1300s. From elegant castles (like Castle Wackerbarth) to small family-run businesses, Radebeul boasts excellent wine-tasting spots as well as lush vineyards to explore.

Distance from Meissen: 9.3 mi /15.1 Km

Görlitz

The Saxon city of Görlitz is the easternmost city of Germany and the shooting location for famous movies like The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Reader and Inglourious Basterds. This charming medieval city is home to a series of architectural gems like the Schönhof, St. Peter and Paul Church, St Marienthal Abbey and Fat Tower and interesting museums such as Senckenberg Museum für Naturkunde, Görlitz Spielzeugmuseum, Schlesisches Museum and more.
Distance from Meissen:75 mi /121 Km

Bautzen

At Bautzen, sitting shyly by the River Spree, nothing much has changed in the last several centuries. Its most famous landmarks are Ortenburg Castle, Alt Wasserkunst, and St Peter’s Cathedral, all of which are beautiful sights worth exploring. Saurierpark Kleinwelka, home to dinosaur replicas, is invariably a big hit for families with children.

Distance from Meissen: 46.3 mi /76.4 Km

Saxon Switzerland National Park

The wild expanse of Saxon Switzerland National Park promises a wonderful tryst with nature, plus some mind-boggling architecture. The icon of the national park is the surreal Bastei Bridge, which gives the illusion of being a natural part of the imposing Elbe Mountain Range, and offers panoramic views across the national park.

Distance from Meissen: 47 mi /76 Km

Wittenberg

The medieval town of Wittenberg is famous as the birthplace of Martin Luther, the greatest figure in the history of Protestant Reformation. Wittenberg’s pride for its great son is evident in the monuments dedicated to Martin Luther. His residence and place of work is now a museum (Lutherhaus Museum) open to public tours. You can also visit the Castle Church on the door of which Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses in 1517 and the St. Mary’s Church where he once preached. Another highlight of Wittenberg is the beautifully preserved medieval old town, dominated by its stunning town hall.

Distance from Meissen: 117 mi /189 Km

Chemnitz

The icon of Chemnitz is the massive heavy-duty 13-meter tall bronze sculpture of the head of Karl Marx. Alongside, the quaint medieval Rabenstein Castle, the excellent Saxon Railway Museum, the fine arts museum Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz and the State Museum of Archeology make Chemnitz a perfect destination for a day trip from Meissen.

Distance from Meissen: 45.5 mi /73.3 Km

Zwickau

The town of Zwickau is rather under-hyped, though it’s a popular destination for automobile enthusiasts (for the famous August Horch Automobile Museum) and admirers of the works of German composer Robert Schumann. However, a day exploring the magnificent St. Mary’s Church, admiring the art collection at the century-old Max-Pechstein-Museum and tracing the life and works of Robert Schumann is bound to be immensely enjoyable.

Distance from Meissen: 69 mi /111 Km

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.

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