Dresden Airport (DRS): 9km north of city center. Connected by S-Bahn S2 (30 minutes, €2.50) and taxis (€20-25). Limited international connections; main hub for domestic flights.
Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ): Larger airport serving both cities. Airport Express train reaches Leipzig Hbf in 14 minutes (€4.60). Offers more international routes including low-cost carriers. 30km from Leipzig center.
Berlin Airports: Berlin Brandenburg (BER) serves as main international gateway, 2 hours by train from Dresden or Leipzig. Excellent connections throughout Saxony.
Deutsche Bahn operates excellent rail network. Dresden and Leipzig are major hubs connected by hourly trains (70 minutes, €20-35). ICE high-speed trains connect to Berlin (2 hours), Frankfurt (4 hours), and Munich (5.5 hours).
Regional Trains: Extensive network reaches smaller towns. Sachsen-Ticket (€27 for 1 person, +€6 per additional person up to 5) offers unlimited regional travel Mon-Fri after 9am, all day weekends. Exceptional value for day trips.
S-Bahn: Dresden has 3 S-Bahn lines connecting suburbs and nearby towns like Meissen and Saxon Switzerland. Leipzig S-Bahn serves suburban areas.
Dresden: Excellent tram and bus network operated by DVB. Single ticket €2.50, day pass €6. Tram lines 3, 7, 8 serve historic center. Dresden City Card includes unlimited transport plus museum discounts.
Leipzig: Comprehensive tram network (13 lines) and buses operated by LVB. Single ticket €2.40, day pass €5.50. Central ring tram (lines 1, 3, 4, 7, 12, 14, 15) connects main attractions.
Tickets: Buy from machines at stops (English available), drivers, or mobile apps. Validate before boarding. Fines for fare evasion are €60.
Both cities are bicycle-friendly with dedicated lanes. Bike rental available from numerous shops and hotels (€8-15/day). Elbe Cycle Route is one of Europe's most popular long-distance paths, following the river through Saxony.
Rental cars available at airports and city centers (€30-60/day). Recommended for exploring Ore Mountains and Saxon Switzerland. Autobahn network is toll-free. City centers have environmental zones requiring emission stickers (€5-15). Parking in historic centers expensive and limited; use Park & Ride facilities.
Taxis readily available; flag fall €3.50-4, then €1.50-2/km. Uber available in Leipzig; limited in Dresden. Free Now app popular for taxi booking.