Dresden, Germany: travel guide
A rebuilt baroque showpiece on the Elbe, rich in art and music
The Florence of the Elbe — a Baroque jewel whose royal showpieces were largely destroyed in the 1945 firebombing and painstakingly rebuilt.
About Dresden
Dresden is the capital of Saxony, a baroque city on the Elbe that was heavily damaged in the Second World War and painstakingly restored. The domed Frauenkirche, the Zwinger Palace and the Semper Opera House stand within a short walk of the river terrace.
Things to do in Dresden include visiting the art collections of the Zwinger and the Residenzschloss, walking the Brühl Terrace, riding a paddle steamer on the Elbe and exploring the livelier Neustadt district across the water. The region around the city, with the sandstone cliffs of Saxon Switzerland, is within easy reach.
Dresden suits culture lovers and short city breaks. Spring to early autumn is best for the river and the outdoors, and December brings a long-established Christmas market.
- Country
- Germany
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Berlin
- Nearest airport
- DRS
Last updated
Top places to visit in Dresden
Semper Opera House (Semperoper)
opera house · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
One of Europe's most beautiful opera houses — a neo-Renaissance masterpiece built by Gottfried Semper (1878), destroyed in 1945, rebuilt identically and reopened in 1985. The tiered horseshoe auditorium with its red velvet, gold…
Frauenkirche Dresden
Baroque church · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h · free entry
Dresden's most beloved building and a symbol of postwar reconciliation — a Baroque Lutheran church with an 8,680-tonne stone dome (the 'Stone Bell') destroyed in the February 1945 firebombing, left as a war memorial under East German rule…
Zwinger Palace (Dresden Zwinger)
Baroque palace complex · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Augustus the Strong's showpiece Baroque court — a palace complex of curved galleries, pavilions and fountains wrapped around a grand courtyard, built 1710–1728 by Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann. The Semperbau wing houses the Old Masters…
Dresden Royal Palace — Green Vault (Grünes Gewölbe)
royal treasury · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Europe's most spectacular jewellery and treasury collection — assembled by Augustus the Strong (1670–1733) and his successors. The Historic Green Vault (Historisches Grünes Gewölbe) showcases 3,000 objects in 10 rooms decorated exactly as…
Kunsthofpassage (Neustadt Art Courtyards)
art courtyards · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Five interconnected art courtyards in the bohemian Neustadt neighbourhood, each conceived by a different artist collective: the Court of the Elements (a façade of drainpipes forming a musical instrument when it rains), the Court of the…
Dresden Brühl's Terrace
riverside-terrace · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Brühl's Terrace (Brühlsche Terrasse) — known as the "Balcony of Europe", the spectacular Elbe-side promenade with the historic Hofkirche, the Albertinum, and the magnificent panoramic views over the river.
Dresden Saxon Switzerland
national-park · 4.9 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
The Saxon Switzerland National Park — the spectacular sandstone mountain landscape east of Dresden, with the famous Bastei Bridge, the dramatic rock formations, the deep gorges, and the picturesque Elbe Sandstone Mountains.
Dresden Old Masters Picture Gallery
old-masters · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · entry €18 (≈ ₹1,920)
The Old Masters Picture Gallery (Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister) — the spectacular Zwinger Palace gallery with Raphael's Sistine Madonna, Vermeer's Girl Reading a Letter, Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens, and Canaletto.
Dresden Christmas Striezelmarkt
christmas-market · 4.9 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Striezelmarkt — Germany's oldest Christmas market (since 1434), held at Altmarkt, with the famous Dresden Stollen Festival, the giant Christmas pyramid, and the legendary Saxon Christmas traditions.
Dresden Bastei Bridge
sandstone-bridge · 4.9 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Bastei Bridge — the spectacular 76m-high sandstone rock formation with the iconic 19th-century stone bridge connecting the rocks, the most famous viewpoint in Saxon Switzerland.
Dresden Frauenkirche Climb
dome-climb · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · entry €12 (≈ ₹1,280)
The dome climb of the Frauenkirche — Germany's famous Baroque cathedral rebuilt after WWII destruction, with the panoramic 360-degree views of Dresden from the spectacular dome viewing gallery.
Dresden Frauenkirche Inside
baroque-church · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h · free entry
The Frauenkirche interior — the spectacular reconstructed 18th-century Baroque church, destroyed in WWII and rebuilt 1994-2005, with the climbable dome offering panoramic views of the Elbe Valley.
Things to do
- Dresden Baroque Altstadt Guided Tour Cultural · 2.5 h · from EUR 25 per person
Where to stay in Dresden
- Altstadt about EUR 145 per night
The most prestigious Dresden address — within walking distance of the Frauenkirche, Zwinger and Semperoper. Premium prices but unmatchable cultural proximity.
- Neustadt about EUR 85 per night
Dresden's bohemian alternative to the Altstadt — independent galleries, street art, the Kunsthofpassage and the best restaurant scene in the city. Mid-range prices and 15 minutes walk to all Altstadt sights.
Hotels
- Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden 5-star · EUR 350 to EUR 2,600 per night
- Hostel Kangaroo-Stop Dresden 2-star · EUR 18 to EUR 75 per night
- Steigenberger Hotel de Saxe Dresden 4-star · EUR 155 to EUR 320 per night
Where to eat
- Sophienkeller im Taschenbergpalais German, Saxon · about EUR 35 per person
- Raskolnikoff Eastern European, German, International · about EUR 18 per person
Getting to Dresden
Airport: Dresden (DRS)
Getting around
- Tram
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Neustadt Bar Overcharging
Neustadt bars and clubs, Dresden, late night
Some Neustadt bars add unrequested table covers, service charges or inflated prices for 'cocktail of the day' specials. Examine the bill carefully before paying.
How to avoid it: Ask for the Speisekarte (menu) before ordering and confirm prices for specials. Ask 'Was kostet das?' (how much does that cost?) for anything not listed.
More in Germany
Frequently asked questions about Dresden
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Dresden?
- The highest-rated places in our Dresden guide are Dresden Saxon Switzerland, Dresden Christmas Striezelmarkt, Dresden Bastei Bridge, Semper Opera House (Semperoper), Frauenkirche Dresden.
- Where should I stay in Dresden?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Dresden: Altstadt, Neustadt.
- How do I get around Dresden?
- Ways to get around Dresden covered in our guide: Tram, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Dresden?
- Scams reported to us for Dresden include Neustadt Bar Overcharging. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- Which airport is nearest to Dresden?
- The nearest airport to Dresden has the code DRS.