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.
Top spas
Curated picks for treatments and day spas.
Toskana Therme Bad Schlema
Germany's largest radon thermal bath, built on the site of former uranium mining operations in the Erzgebirge town of Bad Schlema, with Tuscan-village-styled bathing halls and an extensive sauna area.
Vitalwelt Wiesenbad
A modest thermal and sauna facility in the Erzgebirge spa village of Wiesenbad, drawing on the same naturally radon-bearing spring water found in nearby Bad Schlema, with a low-key, local atmosphere.
Wellnesshotel Erzgebirgsblick, Oberwiesenthal
A wellness-focused hotel in Oberwiesenthal, Saxony's highest town and a year-round base for Erzgebirge hiking and winter skiing, with an indoor pool overlooking the surrounding mountain forest.
Radisson Blu Park Hotel & Spa, Radebeul
A hotel spa on the edge of Dresden overlooking the terraced Elbe Valley vineyards near Radebeul, paired with the hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant, giving guests a wine-country wellness stay close to the city.
Wellness travel tips
Get the most from your wellness experience.
Book treatments in advance — popular slots fill up quickly during peak season.
Hydrate well before and after treatments, especially massages and saunas.
Communicate any allergies or skin sensitivities before treatments begin.