The Dresden Travel Guide

Mike Buckman

Daytime at the Zwinger, nightime at the Blue Note in the Neustadt. Dresden was a great place to spend a few days.

Angie Adams

Dresden is one my stops in Germany next week. I've been there before and it is one of my favorite cities.

Ingrid Rowe

Definitely worth a trip, beautiful city and chocolates, what more does one want?

Florinda Grossman

I love Dresden; been there twice!

Claudia Murray

The Stritzelmarket in Dresden is the oldest in Germany and just as charming!

The Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony (Katholische Hofkirche)

Katholische Hofkirche with Semperoper on the right.
[ source: Wikipedia ]

Also known as the Cathedral of St. Trinitatis, the Hofkirche stands as one of Dresden's foremost landmarks. It was built by architect Gaetano Chiaveri from 1738 to 1751. The church was commissioned by Frederick Augustus II, Elector of Saxony and king of Poland, and contains the heart of his father, king August the Strong as well as the remains of 49 other members of the Wettin family as well as people who married into the family, such as Princess Maria Carolina of Savoy, wife of Anthony of Saxony who is also buried there.

The church was badly damaged during World War II and was restored during the mid-1980s under the East German regime. Today it is the cathedral of the diocese of Dresden-Meißen. It has Silbermann's last and biggest organ and is the largest church in Saxony.

Semper Opera House

Semperoper in Dresden
[ source: Wikipedia ]

The Semper Opera is one of the most important historic buildings in Dresden and at the same time the most beautiful opera houses in the world. It is the home of the Saxon State Opera Dresden (German: Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden) and the concert hall of the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden in Dresden, Germany. It was built in 1841 by architect Gottfried Semper; it is the only theater in Germany that bears the name of its architect.

The building style itself is debated among many, as it has features that appear in the Early Renaissance style, Baroque and even features Corinthian style pillars typical of classical Greece (classical revival). Perhaps the most suitable label for this style would be Eclecticism, where influences from many styles are used- a practice most common during this period.

The Semper Opera House displays incredible beauty inside as well. All rooms and corridors are richly decorated with paintings and stucco. The auditorium in the stalls and offers four tiers of seats for about 1,300 visitors. The acoustics are great at each place and will even surpass that of La Scala.

Outside of both rehearsal and performance times, it is possible to take a guided tour in English on almost a daily basis for 8 &euro adults and 4 &euro concessions.

Dresdner Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady)

Frauenkirche Dresden
[ source: besuchen-sie-dresden.de ]

The Frauenkirche is undoubtedly one of the most famous landmarks of Dresden. Built in the 18th century, the church was destroyed in the firebombing of Dresden during World War II. It has been reconstructed as a landmark symbol of reconciliation between former warring enemies. Once a month, an Anglican Evensong in English is held in the Church of Our Lady, with clergy sent from St. George's Anglican Chaplaincy in Berlin.

The church may be visited during open hours with services, devotions, vespers and various other events, for free. Guided tours and a (strenuous) ascent to the Dome are available on a fee basis.

Zwinger Palace

Aerial view of the Zwinger palace and grounds
[ source: Wikipedia ]

The Zwinger (Der Dresdner Zwinger) is a palace in Dresden and a major landmark of German baroque architecture. The location was formerly part of the Dresden fortress of which the outer wall is conserved. The name derives from the German word Zwinger (outer ward of a concentric castle); it was for the cannons that were placed between the outer wall and the major wall. The Zwinger was not enclosed until the neoclassical building by Gottfried Semper called the Semper wing was built to host the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister art gallery. The gallery is famous worldwide and boasts a fine collection of world masters including works by Albrecht Dürer, Hans Holbein, Lucas Cranach, Rafael and Tizian. The Zwinger also contains the Armoury (Rüstkammer), Porcelain Collection and Glockenspiel, Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon, and Zoological Museum.

The Zwinger grounds are open daily from 6am - 11pm; museum hours and admission prices vary.

Garden City of Hellerau

The Festspielhaus Hellerau
[ source: Wikipedia ]

The Garden City of Hellerau, at that time a suburb of Dresden, was founded in 1909 according to the principles postulated by the British reformer Ebenezer Howard. It was built by renowned architects and artists, amongst them Hermann Muthesius, Heinrich Tessenow, Theodor Fischer and Wilhelm Kreis. In 1911 Tessenow built the Hellerau Festspielhaus (festival theatre) for the Swiss music educator Émile Jaques-Dalcroze and Hellerau became a centre of modernism with international standing until the outbreak of World War I. During the Third Reich, this area was infamous.

In 1950 Hellerau was incorporated into the city of Dresden. Today the Hellerau reform architecture is recognized as exemplary. In the 1990's the garden city of Hellerau became a conservation area.

Dresden Castle

Dresden Castle (Residenzschloss) seen from Theaterplatz
[ source: Wikipedia ]

Dresden Castle (Dresdner Residenzschloss or Dresdner Schloss) is one of the oldest buildings in Dresden and has been the residence of the Electors (1547–1806) and Kings (1806–1918) of Saxony. One of the most fascinating qualities of the castle is the multitude of architectural styles found in it, from Romanesque to Baroque.

Most of the castle was reduced to a roofless shell in an air attack in 1945. The Heraldic Room, Jewel Room, Silver Room and Bronze Room were all destroyed. Fortunately the collections survived, having been taken to the Königstein Fortress in the early years of the war. In the first 15 years after the end of the Second World War no attempts were made to restore the building except the installation of a temporary roof in 1946. During the 1960's, reconstruction began with the installation of new windows. Since then an amazing amount of restoration has occurred. The famous Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault) was re-opened in 2005 containing, among other priceless items, the treasures of the Saxon Monarchy. The rebuilding of the castle is not yet complete.

Hours: April to October: daily 10am - 6pm. November to March: daily 10am - 5pm.

Admission: Adults 4 €, Concessions 2 €.

Green Vault (Grünes Gewölbe)

The Green Vault, Dresden
[ source: Germany Tourism ]

The famous Green Vault in Dresden – founded in around 1560 by Elector Augustus – is Europe's richest, most magnificent treasure chamber museum. Since it reopened in 2006, visitors to the Royal Palace can once again admire the collected treasures of the Electors and Kings of Saxony in an even more splendid setting.

Treasure chamber of the Electors and Kings of Saxony: The secret repository comprising seven rooms was established ~ 1550. It is thought to have become known as the Green Vault after 1572 because of the malachite green on some of the architectural elements. The collection here includes masterpieces of jewelery and goldsmithery, exquisite amber and ivory treasures, jeweled vessels and elaborate bronze statuettes. The New Green Vault is on the first floor of the west wing; the Historical Green Vault is on the ground floor. The priceless treasures in the historical rooms are displayed on wall consoles and ornamental tables, allowing visitors to experience the splendors of the treasure chamber, in itself a baroque work of art, at close quarters.

Hours: Open daily, except Tuesdays, from 10 am - 7pm (last admittance at 6 pm).

Admission: For the old green vault, Please note that a ticket reservation is necessary.The number of visitors is restricted to 100 persons per hour with regard to the mode in which the exhibition is presented. Admission is at a fixed time, on the full and the half hour, with a time frame of 15 minutes. Fee: 12 € (incl. advance booking fee and audio-guide) per visitor,. There are no reductions except for children under 7 years and severly handicapped admitted free. The new green vault, does not require a reservation or ticket.

Saxon Fok Art Museum with Puppet Theatre Collection

Saxon Fok Art Museum with Puppet Theatre Collection
[ source: ]

Opened in 1913, the Museum of Folk Art in Saxony is housed in Jägerhof Palace in Dresden Neustadt, just a stone's throw from the Elbe River. Spread across three floors, it gives a rich and varied insight into the region's customs and traditions. Items on display include: hand-crafted wooden furniture, metal-forged objects, tin castings, pottery, glass-blowing art, wood-turnings, carvings, miners' arts and crafts, lace and bobbin cloths from the Erzgebirge, traditional Sorbian costumes and Seiffen toys. The puppet theatre collection is one of the largest in the world, with over 50,000 exhibits from Europe and Asia. Exhibits range from 200-year-old marionettes and hand puppets used at local fairs, to characters used in Bauhaus theatre and modern-day figurative puppets. For a special treat, visit the museum's popular Christmas and Easter exhibitions.

Hours: Closed on Mondays. Guided tours on request. Please note that the museum is closed Feb. - Nov. 2010 for remodeling.

Admission: Adults 3 €, Concessions 2 €, Children under 16 years free.

Steamer trips on the Elbe

Steamer trips on the Elbe
[ source: Dresden ]

Steamer trips on the Elbe are offered by the Saxon Steamship Company. With eight historical paddle steamers it possesses the oldest and largest fleet of paddle steamers in the world. Two modern salon ships complete the fleet. The section of the river covered stretches from Seusslitz near Meissen via Dresden to Decin (Czech Republic).

The trips on offer include panorama cruises through the Saxon Switzerland and the Saxon Elbe Land, short cruises to Pillnitz Palace, city tours, jazz and Dixieland cruises, and summer-night cruises with dancing. Further attractions are afternoon coffee cruises with as much coffee and cake as you please, and special surprise tours, where the destination remains a secret until the steamer casts off.

Check the Sächsische Dampfschiffahrts website for timetables and ticket prices.

Cable Railways

Schwebebahn Dresden
[ source: Wikipedia ]

Because of its scenic beauty and magnificent view of the Elbe valley, the Elbe slopes in Loschwitz have always been one of Dresden's most favorite residential areas. Körnerplatz is the starting point for two cable railways: the aerial railway (Schwebebahn), which was built from 1898 until 1901, is considered the oldest aerial railway of the world and takes the passenger in four and a half minutes to the lookout point Schöne Aussicht. In the funicular railway (Standseilbahn) the day tripper reaches the popular restaurant Luisenhof in Weißer Hirsch, a part of the city that is situated 100 metres higher up than Körnerplatz.

Fares/Times: Roundtrip fares are 4 € adults, 3 &euro concessions. Consult the website for timetables.

The Grand Garden of Dresden (Großer Garten)

The Grand Garden of Dresden (Großer Garten)
[ source: Dresden Tourism Bureau ]

The Großer Garten (English: Great Garden) is a baroque style park in Dresden. It is oblong in shape and covers an area of about 2 km² in a central location of the city. Established in 1676 as a hunting preserve, it has been a public garden since 1814. Pathways and avenues are arranged symmetrically throughout its area. The Palace at the point where the avenues meet is a jewel of early Baroque. It is still used today for festive events in the middle of green surroundings. In the summer, the open-air stages and the puppet theater are always popular. Other attractions include the Botanical Garden and the zoo, while Volkswagen's manufacture of luxury cars in its Transparent Factory on the edge of the park is a symbol of the modern. For the journey into the wide landscape of experience, visitors young and old like to use the park railway, which is traditionally operated by Dresden schoolchildren.

Pillnitz Palace and Park

Pillnitz Castle and Park
[ source: Dresden Tourism Bureau ]

Pillnitz is a delightful amalgamation of romantic river and vineyard scenery, an idyllic park and a trio of unique, fascinating buildings. The Upper Palace is set on the upper side of the park like a reflection of the impressive Riverside Palace. Both buildings offer a blend of late baroque and Chinoiserie styles. The two Asian-style palaces stand either side of the New Palace built by architect Christian Friedrich Schuricht. Its most enchanting interior features include the domed hall in the purest of classical styles and the decorative wall and ceiling paintings. Together, the three buildings form an impressively harmonious architectural ensemble.

But the most beautiful aspect of Pillnitz is its wonderful park, which has remained true to its original design as a pleasure garden. Despite being continually altered down the years, the 28-hectare grounds have lost nothing of their former splendour and stand as a vibrant and delightful monument to landscape gardening over the centuries. The forerunner to its intimate hedged gardens, a labyrinth of trimmed hornbeams just opposite the New Palace, was designed by the unfortunate Countess of Cosel herself.

The Weinbergkirche (Vineyard Church) is a charming building with a high hip roof that rises impressively out of the vines. The most scenic route to Pillnitz Palace is by boat along the river Elbe, as in the era of Augustus the Strong. One glimpse of the building's reflection in the water will take you back in time to the glittering days of baroque splendor.

Hours and Admission vary by attraction.

Dresden (official home page)