Saxony is the German federal state in the country's southeast, bordering the Czech Republic and Poland, built around the twin poles of Dresden and Leipzig. Dresden, the Baroque capital on the Elbe, was painstakingly rebuilt after its 1945 destruction and today holds the Frauenkirche, Zwinger Palace, and Grünes Gewölbe treasury. Leipzig, once East Germany's publishing and trade-fair hub, is now known for its Bach heritage, the peaceful-revolution history of the Nikolaikirche, and the Spinnerei art complex in a former cotton mill. Beyond the two cities, Saxony holds the sandstone cliffs of Saxon Switzerland National Park, the porcelain town of Meissen, the Sorbian heartland around Bautzen, and the UNESCO-listed Erzgebirge mining region.
Family activities
Engaging experiences for travellers of every age.
Family-friendly hotels
Accommodation designed with families in mind.
Maritim Hotel Dresden
Family features: Family rooms, indoor pool, central Elbe riverside location within walking distance of the Altstadt
Van der Valk Hotel Leipzig-Wachau
Family features: Family rooms, indoor pool, close to Belantis theme park and the Leipzig Neuseenland lakes
Landhotel Moritzburg
Family features: Family rooms, walking distance to Moritzburg Castle and the lakeside path
A&O Dresden Hauptbahnhof
Family features: Budget family rooms and dormitory options, close to Dresden Hauptbahnhof for easy access to Saxon Switzerland and Meissen day trips
Dining with kids
Eating out as a family.
Most Saxon restaurants, including Gasthäuser in Dresden's Neustadt and Leipzig's old town, offer a children's menu (Kinderteller) of smaller, simple dishes for €6-10 (~$6-11)
High chairs (Hochstuhl) are commonly available in restaurants around Dresden's Altstadt and Leipzig's city center; it is fine to ask when seated
Baby-changing facilities are standard at Leipzig Zoo, Belantis, and in Dresden's central shopping areas near the Hauptbahnhof
Saxon dishes such as Eierschecke cake and mild potato-based sides are generally well suited to children's palates
Family travel tips
Practical advice for stress-free family trips.
Combine a morning at Leipzig Zoo with an afternoon at Belantis if staying near Leipzig, since both are within a short tram or bus ride of each other via the city center
Visit the Bastei on a weekday morning if possible — weekends and school holidays draw large crowds to the bridge and uphill trail
Book Belantis tickets online in advance during German school holiday periods to avoid long queues at the gate
Pack a picnic for Moritzburg's lakeside path — the walk around the lake takes about an hour and has few food stops along the way