A short trip to the salmon-pink Baroque hunting palace on its own island lake, reachable by the seasonal Lössnitzgrundbahn narrow-gauge steam railway.
Moritzburg lies about 13 km northwest of Dresden, reachable directly by regional bus in 30-40 minutes or via the seasonal Lössnitzgrundbahn narrow-gauge steam railway from Radebeul Ost. The salmon-pink Baroque palace, rebuilt for Augustus the Strong in the early 18th century as a hunting lodge, sits on its own small island in an artificial lake and is widely known in Germany and the Czech Republic as the filming location for the 1973 fairy-tale film Three Wishes for Cinderella, with a small exhibition inside the castle dedicated to the film. A lakeside path circling the water gives the classic reflection view of the castle's four round towers, best in the stiller water of early morning. The smaller Fasanenschlösschen (Little Pheasant Castle) nearby has its own miniature harbor and lighthouse follies, worth the short walk for those with extra time. The site suits a half-day visit and combines easily with a stop in Radebeul for those arriving via the steam railway.
| Distance | 13 km from Dresden |
|---|---|
| Travel time | About 30-40 minutes by regional bus, or up to 1 hour combining the narrow-gauge steam railway |
| Getting there | Regional bus 477 from Dresden-Neustadt station direct to Moritzburg Schloss |
| Difficulty | easy |
| Address | Schlossallee 3, 01468 Moritzburg, Germany |
How to get there
- Method
- Regional bus 477
- Journey
- Dresden-Neustadt → Moritzburg Schloss (about 30-40 minutes)
- Cost eur
- Covered by Deutschlandticket (€58/month, ~$63)
- Method
- Lössnitzgrundbahn steam railway
- Journey
- Seasonal narrow-gauge steam train from Radebeul Ost to Moritzburg (about 40 minutes)
- Cost eur
- €10-14 (~$11-15) one-way
Suggested itinerary
- Morning: bus or steam railway to Moritzburg, then walk the causeway to the castle
- Midday: tour the castle's hunting-trophy halls and Cinderella-film exhibition
- Afternoon: walk the lakeside path for the reflection view, then visit the Fasanenschlösschen before returning to Dresden
Weather through the year in Germany
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Germany.
Location
Schlossallee 3, 01468 Moritzburg, Germany
51.1961, 13.6994 View on map
Highlights
- Baroque hunting palace on its own lake island
- Fasanenschlösschen (Little Pheasant Castle) and its miniature harbor
- Lakeside walking path with a full castle reflection view
- Seasonal Lössnitzgrundbahn narrow-gauge steam train
Tips for visiting
- Take the regional bus 477 direct from Dresden-Neustadt for the simplest route
- Ride the seasonal Lössnitzgrundbahn steam train from Radebeul Ost for a scenic add-on, checking the current seasonal timetable first
- Visit the lakeside path early for the calmest water and clearest castle reflection
- Combine with a stop in Radebeul if arriving via the steam railway
When to visit
Early morning for the calmest lake reflection; autumn for foliage color around the lakeshore.
Accessibility
The lakeside path is flat, packed gravel; the castle's causeway approach is paved and step-free, though the palace interior has some stairs between floors.
Visit, book or contact
Frequently asked questions
Why is Moritzburg associated with a Cinderella film?
The castle was the primary filming location for the 1973 Czech-East German film Three Wishes for Cinderella, and a small exhibition inside the palace covers the film's connection to the site.
Is the steam railway running year-round?
No, the Lössnitzgrundbahn narrow-gauge steam railway runs on a seasonal schedule; the regional bus from Dresden-Neustadt operates year-round.