Travel Guide Dresden

From city lovers to in general, world travelers who love to walk around authentic European small towns with traditional architecture, small shops, great museums, history exhibitions and hipster coffee houses should start searching. Dresden will absolutely satisfy you, so don’t hesitate, because the city welcomes its guests with open arms.

Dresden, the capital city of Saxony state in Germany apart from its obvious beauties has amazing views of the river, delicious cuisine, street art and a new generation of young people who are creating a melting pot of new and old traditions and styles that are adding a lot of life to the city and making it vibrant. Here in this guide apart from the best things to do and see and the top attractions, we will also share practical information on how to get to Dresden, where to stay, where to park, how to get around etc.

Best things to do in Dresden

Here are some best things to do in Dresden:

ALBERTINUM

Albertinum is a modern art museum. However, even if you do not plan to go inside, it is an interesting place to visit. This building, which was built at the end of the 19th century, is on the Brühl Terrace right by the road and if this is the first stop on your list of things to see in Dresden, you will be astonished for sure.

BRÜHL’S GARDEN

The famous Brühl’s Terrace, to which you are just about to come, has adjacent small garden with the same name. It is more like a small city park where you will find few sculptures and a couple of nearby paths leading you to the terrace.

BRÜHL’S TERRACE

A big terrace provides an elevated view of Elbe River. The place is not only for tourists but also for the locals who all relax and walk around while looking at the views. The Brühl’s Terrace provides about 500 meters with a great view of the river and many bridges across it as well as the neoclassical Academy of Fine Arts Dresden. The terrace is called the Balcony of Europe. It was first constructed as a fortress in the 16th century and might be the oldest Renaissance structure in Dresden. Except buildings, the Brühl’s Terrace is lining by benches, and when weather is nice, this place a favorite one in the city for people sitting and relaxing.

KATHOLISCHE HOFKIRCHE

Dresden Cathedral Alias Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (Hofkirche in German) sits at the end of the Brühl’s Terrace on the bank of Elbe River. The cathedral is one of the most famous sights in Dresden indeed thanks to its superb architecture. The city center of Dresden is so compact that even when time is of the essence, you cannot miss this landmark. When we were in front of Dresden Cathedral, you will experience an overwhelming feeling of closeness to the Prague Castle. It is not surprising that it is the biggest church in Saxony state. During the early 18th century, the majority of Dresden’s population consisted of Protestants, however, the rulers remained Catholics.

FÜRSTENZUG

Fürstenzug, better known as the Procession of Princes is a mural on the walls along both sides of Augustusstrasse. The mural shows all 35 rulers of the House of Wettin. The mural was originally simply painted, but a few years later, in the early 20th century, the simple color on the walls was substituted by Meissen porcelain tiles. Because of this action, we can admire the beautiful landmark just the way it is today.

As many as 25 000 tiles are said to have been used on this mural. The wall is made of porcelain, painted or rather tiled, and currently, it is the largest porcelain piece of artwork in the world. In most cases, the Procession of Princes is at its best when it is not cloudy, and it highlights the colors. To the right from the wall depicting the procession is Stallhof, which is a lovely courtyard. 

NEUMARKT

Neumarkt is the real heart pulse of the city, and in summertime, you will definitely feel the strong vibe of the bustling city. In the February, the square was calm despite the absence of people. They hardly go to Frauenkirche, but they go to Neumarkt to see the Transport Museum.

On top of that, Neumarkt is full of hotels and restaurants; hence, it does not surprise that it is one of the busiest parts of the city. But no matter how much we liked Neumarkt, we do have one drawback. Dressing up in giant pandas’ costumes shouldn’t be in the city center or are we just strange that we do not see the beauty in it? These living statues were indeed outlawed from Prague’s city center, and we believe that Dresden should set the same trend.

FRAUENKIRCHE

Frauenkirche also known as Church of our Lady is one of the most unique Baroque structures in the whole of Germany. The Protestant church stands at the wonderful Neumarkt, which is the epicenter of Dresden. Frauenkirche is remarkable from the outside, so take advantage, but do not forget to check out the inside as well. Frauenkirche, which is one of those buildings that suffered mass destruction during the bombing, has since been restored through careful restoration.

RESIDENZSCHLOSS

The Dresden’s Royal Palace alias Residenzschloss is the oldest building in the city. The rooftop was lost during the bombing, but it is now one of the must-see sights of Dresden. Schloss Residenz is full of museums that you can visit with the combined ticket at the price 14 EUR. Don’t forget that the complex is closed on Tuesday. One of the most popular things in Residenzschloss is the Green Vault, the royal treasure chamber, but at the moment it is closed until further notice, so the visitors are able to see the New Green Vault instead.

THEATERPLATZ

There is Theaterplatz, a big square in front of Dresden’s Opera. Soon you arrive at the Zwinger, the culmination of Dresden’s glories. In the middle of the square there is a bronze statue of John of Saxony. The place called Theaterplatz also gives you an opportunity to buy a city tour. But if you want to see all the top things plus you prefer to learn something more about Dresden’s difficult history from a local guide, you can have a guided tour.

SEMPEROPER DRESDEN

The gem of Theaterplatz, Semperoper is still another stunning historical edifice in the center of Dresden. Not only the outside of the building is beautiful, but it is also the home of the most famous opera of the world. The building is a perfect example of two different architectural styles fused together, the Clacissism and neo-Renaissance. You can, of course, take a Semperoper Guided Tour to observe the décor, there is even a special tour for the younger ones. Finally, if you have an opportunity to buy a ticket for the evening show, whether it is an opera, theatre play or ballet, do not hesitate to choose any of them.

ZWINGER

Dresden’s most noteworthy Baroque architecture, the Zwinger, is the must-visit place whenever you are in the city. Zwinger was constructed for the highborn with an idea to dazzle, when designing the complex, they had the Versailles in the back of their minds. At one time the Zwinger was an orangery, and today the huge halls and pavilions present numerous exhibitions.

Where to Stay in Dresden?

Dresden, which is a very hospitable city, has all the accommodations a visitor could need. Certainly, the closer you are to the city center, the better, but not surprisingly, the price near the historic center is higher. If you are seeking a vibrant nightlife with open bars and restaurants throughout the night, look for a hostel or a hotel in Neustadt area.

If the low price is your main priority when looking for accommodation, you can stay far away from the center. The public transport in Dresden is trusted and you will get to the most prominent tourist attractions even from the suburbs.

How to get around Dresden?

Dresden is best covered on foot. The town center is really compact, but Neustadt and even the top things to see and do are within walking distance. If you want to see every location that we visited in Dresden, then you might have to use public transportation, because the fact is that navigating all this takes a lot of physical strength. On the bright side, public transport in Dresden is well organized. Busses and trams go around in the center every half hour or so; the single ticket is 2.40 EUR while tourist one-day fares begin with 6 EUR.

When to Visit Dresden?

Regardless of season, Dresden is always worth of visit. The winters between December and February are freezing, sometimes come with rain. Meanwhile, the city is not crowded (apart from the weekends in December), and the sightseeing is quite tranquil. You can escape the bad weather by hiding in one of the museums scattered throughout the city. The spring in Dresden is so very magical, the trees are in bloom, the days are longer and the weather is quite pleasant.