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.
Saxony's transport backbone runs through VVO around Dresden and MDV around Leipzig, both regional transit authorities that unify local trams, buses, and regional RE/RB trains under their own ticketing systems, bridged nationwide by the Deutschlandticket at €58/month. ICE high-speed trains connect Dresden and Leipzig to Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, and Prague, while Dresden Airport (DRS) and Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) both offer direct rail connections into their respective city centers in under 25 minutes.
Transport at a glance
- Public Transit
- Rating 5 · Notes The VVO and MDV networks are dense and well-integrated, reaching nearly every Saxon town of any size via regional trains and buses
- Taxis
- Rating 3 · Notes Reliable in Dresden and Leipzig; sparse and better pre-booked by phone in small Saxon Switzerland and Ore Mountains villages
- Biking
- Rating 4 · Notes The Elberadweg and Mulderadweg offer excellent long-distance cycling, though the Ore Mountains' terrain is hillier than Brandenburg's flat lake district
- Walkability
- Rating 4 · Notes Dresden's Altstadt/Neustadt and Leipzig's city center are highly walkable; rural areas between attractions require transit, cycling, or a car
- Driving
- Rating 4 · Notes Roads are well-maintained and largely uncongested outside Dresden and Leipzig's ring roads, though a car is not necessary for either city or the main Saxon Switzerland trailheads
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
- Overview
- Both DRS and LEJ are well connected to their respective city centers by direct S-Bahn or regional train, all covered by standard VVO or MDV tickets
- Items
- S2 S-Bahn (20-25 minutes) · RB/RE regional train (12-15 minutes) · RE regional train (Approximately 15-20 minutes)
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Items
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Overview
- Taxis are readily available in Dresden and Leipzig, but are far less common in small Saxon Switzerland and Ore Mountains villages, where advance phone booking is more reliable than hailing on the street.
- Items
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Operator
FlixBus and Deutsche Bahn long-distance (ICE/IC/EC)
Website
https://www.flixbus.de
Overview
FlixBus connects Saxony's larger towns, particularly Chemnitz and Zwickau, to other German cities at low fares; Deutsche Bahn ICE and EC trains serve Dresden and Leipzig as the main long-distance hubs, with EC trains continuing to Prague from Dresden.
Items
- Route
- Leipzig to Dresden (FlixBus)
- Price eur
- €6-14
- Duration
- 1h 30min-2h
- Route
- Dresden to Görlitz (FlixBus)
- Price eur
- €8-16
- Duration
- 1h 30min-2h
Terminals
Dresden Hauptbahnhof and Leipzig Hauptbahnhof both have adjacent long-distance bus stops serving FlixBus and other intercity coach operators
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Buy the Deutschlandticket (€58/month) if combining Dresden and Leipzig for a week or more — it covers every VVO and MDV train, tram, and bus in the region
Validate any paper single ticket before boarding — VVO and MDV operate an honour system with spot checks and fines for invalid tickets
DRS's direct S-Bahn and LEJ's direct regional train both reach their city centers in under 25 minutes, so there is no need for a taxi from either airport
Regional trains carry bicycles for a small supplement, making one-way cycling trips easy to plan along the Elberadweg
Book ICE tickets between Dresden, Leipzig, and Berlin well ahead for the cheapest Sparpreis fares
In rural Saxon Switzerland and Ore Mountains villages, book taxis by phone in advance rather than expecting to hail one on the street