Schloss & Park Pillnitz
The royal summer residence on the Elbe
Where the Elbe, the vineyards and courtly garden art meet lies the former summer residence of the Saxon electors and kings: Schloss Pillnitz. With its unique blend of Baroque and chinoiserie, it is one of the most unusual and atmospheric excursion destinations around Dresden.
“Where the Elbe, the vineyards and courtly garden art meet”
Palace garden & camellia
The first impression is given by the spacious palace garden, which embraces the buildings like a green jewellery box. Among artfully laid-out beds, old trees and flowering borders, the magnificent camellia unfolds its full splendour here in spring – a botanical highlight that enchants countless visitors year after year.
Historic palace rooms
The historic palace rooms invite you on a journey through the courtly past. Especially worth seeing are the palace church with its solemn atmosphere and the original copper kitchen, which offers a rare insight into everyday life behind the scenes of a royal residence.
Wettin ancestral gallery
A particular gem is the Wettin ancestral gallery. Part of the permanent exhibition „Vom Spielschloss zur Sommerresidenz“ (‘From Toy Palace to Summer Residence’) in the palace museum in the Neues Palais, it shows prints and busts of Saxon rulers of the House of Wettin – the electors and kings of Saxony. In this way, the figures who shaped Pillnitz over centuries become tangible.
Domed hall in the Neues Palais
The crowning finale is the domed hall in the Neues Palais – also known as the festival and dining hall and the only Classical domed structure in all of Dresden. Characteristic are the Corinthian columns – six on each side of the square room – supporting the coffered suspended dome, as well as the wall paintings by Carl Christian Vogel von Vogelstein in the Nazarene style. The hall was consecrated in 1823.
Further impressions
Practical information for your visit
Frequently asked questions
Do I need different tickets, or does one ticket cover everything?
One ticket is valid for the entire palace and park complex, including the palace museum, palm house and park. Please note: the Museum of Decorative Arts (in the Berg- und Wasserpalais) remains closed in 2026.
What can I see in the palace museum in the Neues Palais?
The highlights include the Classical domed hall (festival and dining hall), the historic Royal Court Kitchen (copper kitchen), the palace chapel and the Wettin ancestral gallery as part of the permanent exhibition „Vom Spielschloss zur Sommerresidenz“ (‘From Toy Palace to Summer Residence’).
When is the palace park at its most beautiful?
The park is delightful in every season. In spring, magnolias and other trees and shrubs blossom especially splendidly. A botanical rarity is the more than 230-year-old camellia, which flowers roughly from mid-February to mid-April in its mobile glasshouse.
Is the palace museum open in winter too?
For conservation reasons, the palace museum is closed during the winter half-year. In November, February and March, however, it opens at weekends for tours – for example through the court kitchen, domed hall and chapel. The park and palm house are accessible all year round.
Are dogs, bicycles or drones allowed?
Dogs on a short lead are permitted in the park, but not in the buildings (with the exception of assistance dogs). Bicycles are not allowed in the palace park, nor are drones. Private photography is welcome; commercial shots require a permit.
How do I get there and where do I park?
Pillnitz lies just a few kilometres outside Dresden’s centre, directly on the Elbe. Especially atmospheric is the journey by historic Elbe paddle steamer; alternatively you can reach the palace by bus or car (parking nearby). Wheelchair users should please report to the ticket desk in the „Alte Wache“ visitor centre at the east entrance.
Fancy courtly splendour on the Elbe?
Book your room — we’re happy to help with travel (including by Elbe paddle steamer), tickets and planning your day.