Pillnitz Castle, also known as Schloss Pillnitz Dresden or Pillnitz Palace, is a beautiful baroque riverside retreat set on the banks of the Elbe, just outside Dresden. With its mix of oriental and neoclassical architecture, surrounded by a 28-hectare park, it’s the perfect place to slip away from the city and live like royalty – if only for a while!
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While not the largest or grandest castle I’ve visited in Germany, Pillnitz was still great to explore. The Chinese influence on some of the architecture was really interesting and the grounds are great to wander around. It’s one of the easiest castles in Dresden to visit, plus, its beautiful setting on the Elbe is always a bonus!
Pillnitz Castle: Your ULTIMATE guide to Dresdens Baroque Palace
What you need to know
- Is Pillnitz Castle in Dresden? Yes, It’s just on the eastern edge of the city.
- How old is Pillnitz Castle? The oldest parts are just over 600 years old
- How long does it take to visit? I spent around 2 hours here but would have stayed longer on a sunny day.
How to get to Pillnitz Castle
Sat on the banks of the River Elbe on the eastern edge of Dresden, Pillnitz Castle is super easy to get to! Here’s how:
- By car: Parking facilities are located close to the castle. Both the Lohmener-Strasse parking lot and Leonardo-da-Vinci-Strasse parking lot offer paid parking, there are also disabled parking spots available just outside the castle.
- By public transport: Coming from Dresden city centre take the 63 bus to Leonardo-da-Vinci-Strasse or Pillnitzer Platz. This takes around 30 minutes, it’s then just a 2 minute walk to the castle itself.
- On foot: If you’re up for a walk it is quite a simple, but long walk to the castle. It takes around 2 and a half hours but all you have to do is walk along the banks of the Elbe on the opposite side to Dresden Altstadt and you’ll reach Pillnitz!
Opening times
Pillnitz Castle has the following opening hours:
- 29th March 2025 – 2nd November 2025
- Mon-Sun: 9 am – 5 pm
The Palace Museum opens at 10 am with the last admission at 4:40 pm. The park itself is accessible freely from 6 am till 9 am and then 5 pm till dark.
Entry fee
Pillnitz Castle has the following entry fees. Entry fee grants you admission to all areas of the park including the Palace Museum and Palm House.
- Adult: 8€
- Children (6-16 years old): Free
- Reduced rate (Students, disabled etc.): 7€
- Groups over 10 people: 7€ per person
As Pillnitz is part of Schlösserland Sachsen and Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Baden‑Württemberg, if you buy a schloesserlandCARD you get free entry to Pillnitz as well as other palaces and castles in the area.
A brief histroy of Pillnitz
A residence has stood on the site of Pillnitz Castle since the early 1300s, but it gained renown in 1694 when it passed into the hands of the House of Wettin, Saxony’s royal family. Elector John George IV acquired it in a trade, intending to gift it to his mistress. Unfortunately, the Elector died shortly afterwards and the property passed to his brother, Augustus the Strong, who also gave it to one of his mistresses.
Under Augustus the Strong, Pillnitz became a hub of grand weddings, extravagant parties, and riverside festivities. Between 1720 and 1725, Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann oversaw the construction of the Hillside Palace (Bergpalais), the Riverside Palace (Wasserpalais), and the Venus Temple.
By 1765, Pillnitz had become the official summer residence of Elector Frederick Augustus I of Saxony and remained the Wettin family’s summer retreat until 1918.
In 1818 the Renaissance palace (Now the New Palace) was completely burnt down but has since been rebuilt and today houses the Palace Museum.
What to do at Pillnitz Castle
Palace Museum
Housed within the New Palace, the Palace Museum invites you to step back in time as you explore several reconstructed rooms, including the kitchen, chapel, and dining hall. The museum offers insights into the history of Pillnitz Castle, the story of its ownership, and how life at the castle evolved over the centuries from a place of entertainment to a summer residence.
Palm House
Home to species from New Zealand, South America, and Australia, the Palm House adds an exotic flair to the baroque palace. Originally built in the mid-1800s, it’s packed with all kinds of beautiful plants and palms, my personal favourites were the incredible birds of paradise flowers! And here’s a little tip: keep your eyes peeled when you first step inside – when I visited, there were some tiny (and very cute!) birds running around near the entrance.
Over 200-year-old Camelia
The ancient Pillnitz Camellia has become something of a legend on the grounds of Pillnitz Castle. Thought to have been brought back from Japan by a Swedish botanist, it’s believed the Camellia arrived here around 1779. Fast forward to today, and this remarkable plant has grown to nearly 9 metres tall with a diameter of almost 12 metres, and during blooming season, it puts on quite the show with over 30,000 flowers!
These days, it’s carefully protected in a glasshouse to ensure the perfect conditions. You’re able to walk around the house over two floors to take in the Camelia in all its glory.
Palace Park
The baroque garden of Pillnitz Castle is made up of different sections. Visit the English Garden to see the pavilion and pond. Up past the palm house, you can find a Chinese garden and its own pavilion. WIthin the gardens you’ll also find a replica of Gondola used by Frederick Augustus I to travel between pillnitz and Dresden.
Summary
For me, Pillnitz Castle was well worth the short trip out of Dresden city centre. It’s a beautiful castle with peaceful grounds with some quite unique things to see and do. I’d really recommend a visit if you’re in Dresden!
