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Things to do in Meissen

Our most recommended things to do in Meissen

Tickets to the Meissen Porcelain Factory

1. Tickets to the Meissen Porcelain Factory

Explore the fascinating world of the famous MEISSEN porcelain factory and discover the various steps of porcelain production. Over centuries, the human hand has remained the main tool at the porcelain factory. The demonstration workshops invite you to experience how the famous MEISSEN porcelain takes shape before your very eyes. See close-up how cups are made and how many individual pieces make up a typical figurine. Observe the principal stages of the manufacturing process: molding and throwing, the crafting of figurines (“repairing”), and both underglaze and overglaze decorations.  The tour of the demonstration workshops is accompanied by an audio guide. The Museum of MEISSEN Art takes you on an enticing journey through 300 years of porcelain history. Numerous pieces from the year 1710 to the present day, drawn from the manufactory’s vast stocks, are displayed chronologically to illustrate design developments throughout the ages.

Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Meissen

2. Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Meissen

Explore the picturesque Saxon Wine Route on a boat trip from Dresden to Meissen and back. On board the boat you can discover interesting facts about the cathedral town, the cozy wine taverns, and the wine villages in the region. Set off on the paddle steamer in the morning and reach Meissen at midday for a break of 3 hrs. Even from a distance you can discover the silhouette of the town characterized by its castle hill and surrounded by the hills in the Elbe Valley. In the town itself, you can visit the Albrechtsburg with its cathedral. Heading from the pier, simply take a right turn down under the bridge and you'll reach the castle after a 10-minute walk or by using the lift. Take a stroll through the town with its historical wall and visit the town museum or the porcelain factory. Meissen's Frauenkirche is also worth a visit. The church, built in the 15th century, is located in the center of the town, a few minutes walk from the Albrechtsburg. Ride on the paddle steamer back to Dresden and reach the city in the evening.

Meißen: Guided Wine Tasting Tour with J.F. Böttger plus Menu

3. Meißen: Guided Wine Tasting Tour with J.F. Böttger plus Menu

Begin your tour at the Ratskeller Meißen, near the Altstadtbrücke. Meißen is famous for being the frist place in Europe where porcelain produced. So who better to show you around then the man who invented European hard porcelain, the alchemist, J.F. Böttger. Walk with your prestigious guide through Meißen, a town with a rich 1000-year old history. Stroll down the romantic streets. Climb to the top of the Cathedral. Enjoy phenomenal views of the city while you sip delicious local wine. As you explore the city, you’ll stop to taste 2 different wines. Return to Meißen’s old town and sit down for a 2-course meal at the Ratskeller restaurant. As you enjoy your food chat with “J.F. Böttger,” and ask him any questions you have about Meißen or his wonderful porcelain.

Dresden: Boat Cruise with Wine Tasting and Snacks

4. Dresden: Boat Cruise with Wine Tasting and Snacks

Take a boat cruise on a traditional steam paddler from Dresden to Diesbar-Seußlitz. Admire the views of the magnificent old castles and the Saxon vineyards on your 3-hour cruise. The impressive Albrechtsburg with the cathedral in Meißen can already be seen from far away while you make your way to the scenic wine villages on the shores of the Elbe. After your arrival, hike through the vineyards and explore one of Germany's smallest wine regions with its distinctive wines. Enjoy snacks with your wine tasting in the heart of the vineyards and sample 5 different wines from the region. Some of the local grape varieties can only be found in Saxony. Their rarity has made them a sought-after product. End your tour in a rustic winegrower's house and afterward drive back to Dresden.

From Dresden: Saxon Wine Route Steamer Day Cruise

5. From Dresden: Saxon Wine Route Steamer Day Cruise

Discover the Saxon Wine Route on a Paddle Steamer boat tour. Start the tour in Dresden's old town and travel through the heart of the famous Saxon wine-growing region on the River Elbe. Travel past Radebeul and Meissen and see the famous Meissen Cathedral and the grand Albrechtsburg Castle. Around noon reach the charming wine villages of Diesbar and Seusslitz. After a short stop in each village, the steamer will return to Dresden.

From Meissen: Paddle Steamer Tour to Dresden

6. From Meissen: Paddle Steamer Tour to Dresden

Discover the vineyards of Saxony from the water after a day in Meissen. Take in the famous Saxon Wine Route as you sail by paddle boat to Dresden, with a stop in Radebeul, a town well-known for its viticulture. Enjoy a one-way trip that lets you explore more of Saxony during your vacation. After exploring Meissen, head to the pier to board the steamboat. Indulge in a relaxing trip along the Elbe River. Travel along the Saxon Wine Route, discovering the vineyards growing the grapes for famous Saxon wines. Listen to the onboard audio commentary as you sail to get more from your trip. Stop in Radebeul, where you can admire beautiful vineyards and half-timbered houses. Climb back on board to continue to Dresden. As you approach the city, marvel at the unique silhouette in the evening glow and the famous Canaletto view. On arrival, disembark to explore the Old Town.

Meissen: Scavenger Hunt Self-Guided Walking Tour

7. Meissen: Scavenger Hunt Self-Guided Walking Tour

The City Game Box contains 11 sealed and numbered envelopes with puzzles that need to be solved. Guided by clear directions, make your way on foot through the porcelain city of Meissen. Solve the puzzles and let the clues lead you to the next destination. Each solved puzzle will yield a number that will tell you which envelope to open next. You will not know in advance what order the scavenger hunt city envelopes need to be opened in. The envelopes will also contain detailed background information of each attraction - its history, its current use and much more. Decide for yourself when to start your Scavenger Hunt City Tour and how much time to spend at each location. Embark on an enigmatic and extraordinary tour and take a break from your City Game whenever you feel like it, or even continue your scavenger hunt on a different day – it’s completely up to you. The game will take you first to the romantic Old Town of Meissen with its many beautifully restored buildings. From Heinrichsplatz with its former Franciscan church, move on to the Market Square. The main attractions here will be the Meissen City Hall, the Bennohaus and the Bahrmann brewery. Climb to the top the tower of Meissen Frauenkirche, from where you will be able to enjoy wonderful views over Meissen and the Elbe Valley. On your tour through Meissen, you will also discover the Burgberg (Castle Hill) with the cathedral and Albrechtsburg Castle. If you have some spare time on your hands, these sights are definitely worth visiting inside. Not to be missed on your tour through Meissen will be the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory, where the famous porcelain is still produced today. A tour of the manufactory is much recommended. You will also have the opportunity to purchase porcelain here. No need to schedule your Scavenger Hunt City Tour for a certain date, simply order the City Game Box and have it delivered to your home, or make an appointment to pick it up in Dresden within the opening hours and you’re good to go.

Dresden Regio Card for 1, 2, or 3 Days

8. Dresden Regio Card for 1, 2, or 3 Days

Explore the capital of Saxony the easy way with the Dresden Regio Card. Experience the culture and leisure, concerts and restaurants of the city. Take advantage of free travel on local buses, trams, and trains in Dresden and the surrounding area as well as discounts at museums and other tourist attractions such as bus tours, walking tours, concerts, theatre, gastronomy, and shopping. Choose between the Dresden Regio Card and the Regio Card Plus for individuals or families. Examples of discounts: Museums and exhibitions Dresden Transport Museum (- €1) Dresden City Museum (- €1) Carl-Maria-von-Weber-Museum (- €1) Schiller Pavilion (free) Asisi Panometer Dresden (-€1.50) Many more City tours Bus tour with 22 stops (- €2) Comedy Tour Dresden (- €7) Tour of the Semperoper Dresden (- €1.00) Tasty Dresden – Culinary Guided Tour (- €1) Walking tour of the Dresden Information (- €2) Concerts and theatre Herkuleskeule (-10%) Staatsschauspiel (-10%) Dresden Frauenkirche (-20%) Many more Leisure activities in Dresden Dresden Zoo (- €1) Dresden Suspension Railway (- €1.50) Dresden Frauenkirche Tower (- €2) Many more Leisure activities in the region Karl-May-Museum Radebeul (- €0.50) Wackerbarth Castle wine tour (-10%) Guided tour of Meissen (- €1.50) Radebeul–Radeburg railway (-50%) Kirnitzschtal tramway (-50%) Lessing Museum Kamenz (- €1.50) Many more You also receive discounts on dining options. You can also purchase the Dresden Regio Card Plus for 2 days. This includes additional discounts for the Dresden State Art Collections. Dresden Regio Card Plus Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (- €10) Dresden Porcelain Collection (- €6) Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments (- €6) New Green Vault (- €12) Turkish Chamber (- €12) Dresden Armory (- €12) Coin Cabinet (- €12) Collection of Prints, Drawings and Photographs (- €12) Hausmannsturm (- €12) Galerie Neue Meister (- €10) Sculpture Collection (- €10) Exhibition hall of the Lipsiusbau (- €5) Dresden Museum of Ethnology (free) Museum of Saxon Folk Art and Puppet Theatre Collection (- €5) Wine Experience World Meissen (-10%)

From Dresden: Trip to Meißen and Moritzburg

9. From Dresden: Trip to Meißen and Moritzburg

Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of porcelain and lean all about the production of this white gold in the Meißen porcelain factory. On the way from Dresden to Meißen, see the incredible Gothic cathedral and the Albrechtsburg, the icon of Meißen. Stroll through the picturesque old town to the world-famous porcelain factory. Enjoy a tour of the factory and visit the museum, then indulge in a real Meißen porcelain cup of coffee and maybe purchase a piece or 2 for yourself. After a short midday break, tour the Moritzburg hunting lodge with its sumptuous leather wallpaper, incredible antler collection and stately decor before heading back to Dresden.

From Berlin: Round-Trip Guided Tour of Dresden

10. From Berlin: Round-Trip Guided Tour of Dresden

Start your Dresden city tour from the comfort and convenience of your accommodation in Berlin. Your friendly and informative guide/driver will pick you up here at the start of the day, ensuring you skip any of the hassle of catching public transport. The distance from Berlin city center is about 190 km, making the drive to Dresden a relaxing and scenic 2 - 2.5-hour journey. Sit back and relax during your journey in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle and let your driver/guide do all the work for you.  Upon arrival in Dresden, your tour guide will be sure to show you all the major landmarks of the city, providing you with fascinating historical information at the same time. Some of the places you will get to see are the Semper Opera, the castle, Frauenkirche, Zwinger, Turkish Well, Brühl's Terrace, Cathedral, Pfunds Molkerei shop, the Golden Horsemen and the Princes Parade. Additional hours are available optionally and in addition, the tour can be combined with a visit to the porcelain factory of Meissen. Enjoy a relaxing end to your day of adventure with a lift back to Berlin city, right to the doorstep of your accommodation. 

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What people are saying about Meissen

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 709 reviews

We traveled with our children and grandchildren. Both grandchildren felt very comfortable. There was a lot of interesting things to see. The service was super nice. The prices for food and drink were also reasonable. No excessive prices. We look forward to the next time.

A very informative and interesting exhibition about Meissen porcelain. Special appreciation of all employees involved in the manufacturing process! Now you also know how to classify the high price.

Very impressive and worth seeing exhibition. Tickets were accepted with no problems.

A very relaxed and yet very informative way of exploring a city in a group.

Just nice, to include a relaxing day in your holiday.