Only about 24 kilometres northwest of Dresden lies the beautiful porcelain city of Meißen. Visitors are mainly drawn to the city because of the world-famous porcelain manufactory, but a holiday in Meißen offers much more.
Meissen is one of the oldest towns in Saxony. Around 928, King Henry I built a fortress here against the Slavs. The town was once the seat of a bishop and you can still visit an imposing cathedral and castle here today.
Meissen is known worldwide for its porcelain, which has been produced here for over 300 years. A visit to the Meissen State Porcelain Manufactory is a must! In the porcelain experience world, you can experience the creation of this precious material up close – from production to artistic painting. The exquisite exhibits tell the story of this traditional craft.
Meissen’s landmark, the imposing Albrechtsburg Castle, is considered Germany’s oldest castle and towers majestically over the city. With its late Gothic architecture and fascinating exhibition on the history of the castle, it is an absolute highlight. Directly adjacent is Meissen Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. The filigree towers and the impressive art treasures inside make it another architectural highlight.
A stroll through the alleyways of the old town, a hike along the vineyards or an excursion to Dresden or nearby Moritzburg Castle. Vacations in Meissen are varied and highly recommended.
Meißen lies in the heart of the Saxon wine-growing region, the smallest and one of the most northerly in Germany. The sunny slopes around the town produce first-class white wines, which you can sample in the region’s numerous wine taverns and wineries. The Meissen Rieslings, Müller-Thurgau and the Goldriesling are particularly popular and impress with their fine elegance and freshness.
Holiday in Meißen – what can you discover?
City tour of Meißen
Meißen is great to discover on foot. The distances on a city tour are not particularly long and there is a lot to see.
A castle that is actually a palace - Albrechtsburg Castle
In Meissen, Albrechtsburg Castle stands high above the city. It is said to be Germany's first castle building and is now a protected architectural monument.
The subject of porcelain has fascinated mankind for many years. Meissen is famous for its beautiful and exquisite Meissen porcelain, so a visit to the Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen GmbH is simply part of a visit to the city.
A visit to Meissen Cathedral and a climb up the tower
Meissen Cathedral bears the name of St. Johannis and St. Donatus. Together with Albrechtsburg Castle, it rises high above the city and is Meissen's landmark, visible from afar.
One of the oldest private breweries in Saxony can be found in Meißen. The private brewery Schwerter Meißen GmbH not only sells its beer in shops, but also has a brewery that is located in a commercial area.
Once upon a time … that's how the story about the Meissen Fummel begins. You soon find out exactly what it's all about when you're out and about in the Saxon city.
By plane
Dresden Airport is about 30 kilometres from Meißen. Domestic and intra-European scheduled flights land here.
From the airport you can take the S-Bahn via Dresden-Neustadt to Meißen.
By train
The town is only connected to Dresden, Pirna and Saxon Switzerland by one S-Bahn line (S1). The city has the S-Bahn stations: Meißen, Meißen-Altstadt and Meißen-Triebischtal (near the porcelain manufactory).
By car
From Dresden, the city can be reached via the Bundesstraße 6.
Travellers coming from the west and south should take the A14 motorway to Nossen-Ost and then continue on the B101. From Berlin, we recommend taking the A13 to Radeburg and then the S177 to Meißen.
By boat
The Elbe runs through the city area. You can travel from Dresden or Seußlitz to Meißen with the Sächsische Dampfschifffahrt.
By bike
The Elbe cycle path runs through the city.
On the way in...
On the way in ..
By car
The city centre is quite compact and in large parts also signposted as a pedestrian zone.
There are large pay-and-display car parks on both banks of the Elbe. There is also a car park at the Porzellanmanufaktur.
Local public transport
Bus lines run through the city. There is even a tourist line that goes to the most important places.
Tourist tax
Guest tax
A guest tax has been levied in Meissen since January 1, 2019. This serves to finance tourist infrastructure and to promote and maintain tourism in the city. The amount of the guest tax is:
1.50 euros per person per night
(for people aged 18 and over)
Children and young people under the age of 18 as well as certain groups of people (e.g. travelers for professional reasons or severely disabled people with appropriate proof) can be exempt from or reduced the guest tax.
The guest tax is usually charged directly at your accommodation (hotel, guesthouse, vacation apartment, etc.) together with the overnight stay. It is charged per overnight stay and is shown separately on the invoice.
