LEIPZIG DAY TRIPS

Dresden // Berlin // Nuremberg // Erfurt // Weimar // Wittenberg // Saxon-Switzerland National Park

Dresden

  • Dresden is the state capital of Saxony, and lies on the Elbe River. Most known for its destruction by the Allied powers during WWII, Dresden has become a symbol for addressing, “fundamental questions of peace, humanity and our own responsibilities,” (City of Dresden).

    • Go to the top of the Frauenkirche (pictured left) and see 360-degree views of the Old Town.

    • Visit the Royal Palace (Residenzschloss)

    • Visit the Porcelain Museum (Porzellansammlung)

    • Striezelmarkt Christmas Markets (November-December)

    • Brühl’s Terrace: nicknamed the “Balcony of Europe” along the Elbe.

  • Dresden is nicknamed “Florence on the Elbe” and “Jewel Box” for its stunning scenery along the Elbe river and being home to “the largest collection of treasures in Europe, and probably in the world, is held in Germany’s Grünes Gewölbe, also known as “Green Vault”,” (Meininger Hotels).

  • Although Dresden lost its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site (due to the construction of a modern bridge), the city holds immense cultural, historical, and scientific significance to Germany.

 
Travel Time: ~1 hour, 15 minutes by ICE train

Berlin

  • Berlin is the capital of Germany! The establishment of the city dates back to 1183, and since its inception, Berlin has been a central hub for Europe. In 1701, Berlin became the royal residence for the King of Prussia, Friedrich III.

    • Berlin Wall Museum

    • East Side Gallery

    • Museum Island (Museum Insel):

      • Pergamon Museum

      • Alte Nationalgalerie

      • Neues Museum

    • Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom)

    • Checkpoint Charlie

    • Unter den Linden:

      • Brandenburg Gate

      • Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe

      • Siegesäule.

    • Tiergarten

    • Tour the Reichstag (Requires an appointment ahead of time)

    • Berlin Zoo

    • Tempelhof Feld

  • The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II and Captain America: Civil War were filmed in Berlin! There are also more museums in the city (180) than there are rainy days (106) in an average year in Berlin.

  • Berlin has played an important role in European history. Rick Steves says that in Berlin, “the fine line between history and current events is excitingly blurry. Even non-historians find Berlin captivating, lively, fun-loving, all-around enjoyable — and easy on the budget.”

 
Travel Time: ~1.5-2 hours by ICE train

Nuremberg

  • Nuremberg is the second-largest city in Bavaria, and is the location of the Nuremberg Trials following WWII. It is a city that began in the Middle Ages, and, “Nürnberg was one of Europe's leading cities around 1500. The Imperial Castle marked it as a stronghold of the Holy Roman Empire,” (Rick Steves’ Europe). The city has a century-long culinary tradition of sausages and gingerbread.

    • Palace of Justice (Site of the Nuremberg Trials)

    • The Imperial Castle

    • Albrecht Dürer’s House

    • Visit the Old Town

    • Weissgerbergasse

    • St. Lorenz’ Church

  • The city’s importance made it an Allied target in WWII. Nuremberg is also venue for a six-day International Toy Fair, one of the world’s best annual events showcasing toys and leisure pastimes.

  • Visiting the site of the Nuremberg Trials will give you more context for international law as it is interpreted today, based on the events of the Holocaust and WWII. You will also get a glimpse into the unqiue regional culture of the state of Bavaria by visiting Nuremberg.

 
Travel Time: ~2.5 hours by ICE train

Erfurt

  • Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia. Martin Luther studied here to become a monk, planting the roots that set into motion the Protestant Reformation. The city remained relatively unscathed from WWII.

    • Cathedral of St. Mary (pictured furthest right)

    • Kramerbrücke, medieval arched bridge lined with shops

    • Alte Synagoge, one of the oldest and best-preserved medieval synagogues in Europe.

    • Protestant Augustinian Monastery

    • Egapark

    • Cathedral Steps Festival (August)

  • Erfurt has been a major trading hub for centuries, since medieval times. The city is also known for its Easter traditions, including the famous Easter Market that attracts visitors from all over Europe and the world.

  • “Erfurt was once lauded as the City of Towers in reference to the lofty spires of the city's 25 parish churches, 15 abbeys and monasteries and ten chapels that stretch their way up to the heavens,” (Germany Travel).

 
Travel Time: ~1 hour by ICE train

Weimar

  • “Weimar is the star of Germany's and Europe's intellectual past,” (Germany Travel). Weimar is the central focal point for the German Enlightenment, and the birthplace of the German literary movement, Weimarer Klassik (Weimar Classicism). Weimar was home to the two most famous German authors, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller, whose friendship formed the basis for some of the most beloved pieces of German prose. Weimar is most commonly known for being the place where the constitution for the Weimar Republic (1918-1933) was drafted during the Nazi era.

    • Duchess Anna Amalia Library

    • Johann Wolfgang von Goethe‘s House and Goethemuseum

    • Buchenwald Concentration Camp

    • Bauhaus Museum

    • Schiller Museum

    • City Palace (Stadtschloss)

    • Nietzsche Archive

  • Weimar has been added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites twice!

  • “Both Weimar Classicism and the Bauhaus movement remain beacons of the extraordinarily rich cultural life that you will encounter throughout the city, (Germany Travel). It is also important to understand the places that shaped Germany’s darkest period of history, and the opportunity to visit Weimar is like no other.

 
Travel Time: ~1.5 hours by ICE train

Wittenberg

  • Wittenberg is the birthplace of the Protestant Reformation, where Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses to the door of Castle Church on October 31st, 1517, condemning the Catholic Church’s sale of indulgences.

    • Castle Church

      • 95 Theses

      • Martin Luther’s Grave

    • Martin Luther’s House (Lutherhaus)

    • University of Leucorea

    • Wittenberg Castle

    • Cranach Courts (Cranachhöfe)

    • Town Church of St. Mary

  • Various places in Wittenberg were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1996.

  • It was the residence of the the Dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg, and was later renowned for the University of Leucorea. In those days, it was so famous that Shakespeare used it as the setting for Hamlet's studies in the play. The chance to see where the Protestant Reformation began and the city that changed the world is like no other.

 
Travel Time: ~1 hour by S-Bahn

Saxon-Switzerland National Park

  • Saxon Switzerland is Germany’s only rock National Park. The landscape of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, eroded to picturesque rugged scenery. It is home to a multitude of rare animals and plant species.

    • Hiking

    • Königstein Fortress

    • Sonnenstein Castle

    • Seasonal festivals

  • Saxon-Switzerland National Park is the birthplace of free-climbing! The sport began after an event in March 1864, when five Schandau gymnasts conquered Falkenstein mountain with the help of tree trunks.

  • Take a day trip to hike through the easternmost part of Germany! According to the park’s official website, the national park consists of 1,200 km of trails that run through lush green forests, valleys over lofty heights, and bizarre rock formations that lead to breathtaking panoramic views.

 
Travel Time: ~2.5 hours by ICE train