Updated by Tara on July 19, 2025
Planning a family-friendly Christmas getaway from Dresden? While the city’s 10 Christmas markets are magical, there’s so much more to explore in Saxony during the festive season.
From star-making workshops to gingerbread festivals and handcrafted toys, these day trips are packed with wonder and kid-friendly charm.
Here are my top three Christmas-season day trips that will delight the whole family—especially if you’re living abroad or visiting Germany with kids.
LOVE the Christmas Spirit of this region? Read more about the surprising Christmas traditions of Dresden and its surrounds.
How do I judge family-friendliness?
If my kids loved it, then I’d recommend it!
These Advent activities for families in Saxony can be easily reached, are inexpensive and offer a variety of activities for your family to enjoy.
You’ll see at a glance what facilities are on offer to help you make the right decision for your family.
Family Christmas trips near Dresden
Dresden is home to the oldest Christmas market in Germany, so it’s no surprise that Christmas here is a BIG deal.
You‘ll find 10 Christmas markets in Dresden, turning the city into a magical wonderland.
Three things you’re guaranteed to see at every Christmas market in Dresden and beyond are:
- Herrnhuter Stern (Morovian star)
- Pulsnitzer Pfefferkuchen (locally made Gingerbread)
- Wooden nutcrackers, candle arches and smoking men.
But why just see these products at the market when you can meet their makers?
This post suggests three things to do near Dresden with kids in December.
Let’s dive in and explore Saxony, Christmas edition.
Festive Family Day-Trips at a Glance
| Destination | Travel Time | Best For Ages | Indoor/Outdoor Mix | Recommended Time |
| Herrnhut | 1.5 hrs | All ages | Balanced | 2–3 hours |
| Pulsnitz | 40 min | All ages | Outdoor-focused | Half or full day |
| Seiffen | 1.5 hrs | All ages | Mostly outdoor | Full day |
Herrnhut – home of the Herrnhuter Star
This tiny town of 6,000 people is famed for the Herrnhutter Star (also called the Morovian Star). It adorns windows and buildings across Saxony year-round and brings an extra magic twinkle in the darker months.
Best experienced with kids aged . . .
All ages! Younger children can enjoy the indoor play areas while the older can create a star of their very own.
Why it’s great for families
| Free entry? | ✅ |
|---|---|
| Public toilets | ✅ |
| Change tables | ✅ |
| Water to refill bottles | ❌ |
| Accessible with prams | ✅ |
| Can I bring my own food? | ✅ |
| Outdoor areas to burn energy | ✅ |
| Indoor areas for the colder months | ✅ |
| Playground | ✅ |
| Kid-friendly food for sale | ✅ |
| Low stimulus areas for tired kids | ✅ |
| Lots of reading and learning | ❌ |
| Information in English | ✅ |
Don’t Miss:
Make your own star
This is the main attraction. For €16 (price based on my experience in 2024) you can create a star with the colours of your choice and in the cosiest hut. Staff will assist if needed. This is a popular spot with locals, so get there early to avoid queuing in the cold.
Indoor playground
It’s as good as any of Dresden‘s adventure playgrounds. Themed as the Herrnhuter Star workshop, children can explore the maze of tunnels across three levels. There are also books and colouring-in materials for those wanting a calmer experience.
Watch the artisans in action
Staff are constantly busy hand-crafting the delicate paper stars. You can watch their production, free of charge, and see each step of the creation from start to finish. If you’re lucky, the children may even receive a memento from the creators.
Food and Drinks
There are both indoor and outdoor eating options, offering all the local favourites to keep little tummies full. If you’re organised, you’ll easily find a bench to sit on and eat your packed lunch.
Herrnhuter Museum
This small museum, featuring a film about the history of the Herrnhuter Star adds depth to your visit. Sadly, I missed it – we were too busy in the playground!
Getting There
By Car
Taking approximately 1.5 hours on the A4, it’s worth considering a car-sharing or hire-car for the day if you don’t have your own.
Public transport
I do not recommend this option unless you‘re staying overnight.
With multiple transfers, a one-way trip from Dresden will take around three hours.
Check the train connections to Herrnhut via DB Navigator
How long do I need?
At least 2 hours here will allow you to enjoy everything the Herrnhuter Stern factory has to offer.
If your family can handle more than one destination, why not pair this activity with a city tour of Bautzen or Görlitz?
Check the Herrnhuter Star’s website to confirm opening times and prices before your arrival.
Sound like fun? Read my guide to a Family Day Trip to Herrnhut’s Moravian Star Workshop.
Pulznitzer Pfefferkuchen Festival – if you like Gingerbread
Pulsnitzer Pfefferkuchen is some of the most famous and dare I say, delicious!
This tiny town is famous for creating its signature variety of gingerbread since the 1500s and you too can get among the celebrations once per year in the lead-up to Christmas where you can purchase this delicious not-quite-cake not-quite biscuit by the kilogram.
Best experienced with kids aged . . .
All ages! With so many sweets on offer, baking classes, biscuit decorating, puppet shows, pony rides and so much more – there really is something for everyone here.
Why it’s great for families
| Free entry? | ✅ |
| Public toilets | ✅ for a fee |
| Change tables | ❌ |
| Water to refill bottles | ❌ |
| Accessible with prams | ✅ |
| Can I bring my own food? | ✅ |
| Outdoor areas to burn energy | ✅ |
| Indoor areas for the colder months | ✅ |
| Playground/s | ❌ |
| Kid-friendly food for sale | ✅ |
| Low stimulus areas for tired kids | ✅ |
| Lots of reading and learning | ❌ |
| Information in English | ❌ |
Don’t Miss:
Decorate your own Pfefferkuchen
For only a few euros, you can decorate your very own heart, star or car-shaped gingerbread with freshly made icing. These are big, too!
Sample fresh Pfefferkuchen straight from the oven
Watch as Pfefferkuchen dough is made, rolled out and lovingly cut into hearts and stars.
If you wait long enough, you’ll be greeted by the smell of freshly baked Pfefferkuchen as the door opens to sell what’s just come out of the oven.
A bag of 6 biscuits in 2024 was only €2.
Enjoy the Festivities
This open-air street festival offers more than just Pfefferkuchen!
With hundreds of vendors, performers and attractions across three days, you’ll wish you had given yourself more time to enjoy it all.
Getting There
By Car
Driving from Dresden to Pulsnitz will take you around 40 minutes, although leave yourself extra time to jump aboard the Park & Ride shuttle service.
Kids are free and the tickets even have a Gingerbread man on them. SO CUTE!
In 2024, this service cost €3.50 return per adult.
Public Transport
Taking the S-bahn from Dresden will take around 40-minutes and deliver you directly into town.
How long do I need?
Make it a day to remember.
I recommend checking the festival’s program before heading to Pulsnitz so you can enjoy everything on offer, including bakery tours, puppet theatre performances and other exhibitions.
Pulsnitzer Pfefferkuchen Festival will take place in 2025 between 07 – 09 November.
Seiffen – a Christmas Wonderland South of the North Pole
Known as Toy Town Seiffen, this tiny Mountain town is home to the handcrafted wooden pieces seen at every Christmas market: the candle arches, the nutcrackers and the smoking men.
Seiffen is a Christmas Wonderland, year-round, but it turns it up to 11 during the Advent Zeit.
Best experienced with kids aged . . .
This town is for the young and the young at heart.
Why it’s great for families
| Free entry? | ✅ | |
| Public toilets | ✅ | For a fee |
| Change tables | ✅ | Located in the Toy Museum |
| Water to refill bottles | ❌ | |
| Accessible with prams | ✅ | |
| Can I bring my own food? | ✅ | |
| Outdoor areas to burn energy | ✅ | |
| Indoor areas for the colder months | ✅ | Hide away from the biting cold in the Toy Museum or the shops from the Master Craftsmen. |
| Playground/s | ❌ | |
| Kid-friendly food for sale | ✅ | |
| Low stimulus areas for tired kids | ✅ | |
| Lots of reading and learning | ❌ | |
| Information in English | ❌ |
Don’t Miss
Toy Museum
This hands-on and very interactive museum is dedicated to the history of toys and toy-making. It offers an escape from the crowds and the cold!
Town Square and Main Street
The town square is marked with a giant Christmas Pyramid and candle arches where you can purchase Bratwurst and Gluhwein – staples of a Saxon Christmas!
Meanwhile, the main street is lined with permanent Christmas-themed street lights.
Watch the artists at work
Many of the shops are directly attached to the workshops where the Master Craftsmen (yes, they have a certificate to certify their skill level) create their delicate pieces.
Getting There
By Car
Driving is your best option to reach this remote mountain village.
Taking around 1.5 hours, this drive is windy as you come through the mountains. Parking can also be hard to find if you don’t arrive in town early.
Public Transport
Unless you’re making this a weekend getaway, I do not recommend public transport with kids.
Like the connections between Dresden and Herrnhut, this journey will take approximately 3 hours in one direction.
How long do I need?
Make it a full out to really soak up the spirit of the place. If you’re visiting Seiffen during the Adventzeit (the First Advent is on November 30 in 2025), it will be busy and cold. Plan accordingly.
Time for a Christmas day trip from Dresden
II hope you now have inspiration for your festive family day trips out of Dresden. Enjoy what Saxony has to offer and soak up the unique traditions from this part of the world.
Have you visited any of these locations before? Share your experiences in the comments below!
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