By rail
Dresden Hauptbahnhof, ~2 h from Berlin
Europe · Germany
Dresden, Germany
Baroque splendour on the Elbe
Getting there
By air
Dresden (DRS), ~10 km
Best time to visit
May to September; December for the Striezelmarkt
Don't miss
The Frauenkirche
The Zwinger
The Semperoper
The Brühl's Terrace
Things to do
The Frauenkirche
The Zwinger
The Old Masters gallery
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Kolossos · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Layers
A quieter corner
Saxon Switzerland's Bastei bridge
Questions travellers ask
How do I get to Dresden from Berlin?
By train to Dresden Hauptbahnhof, about 2 hours from Berlin. If you're flying, Dresden (DRS) airport is about 10 km away.
When should I visit Dresden?
May to September, or December for the Striezelmarkt — pack layers either way.
Which Dresden sights shouldn't I miss?
The Frauenkirche, the Zwinger and the Semperoper, plus the Brühl's Terrace and the Old Masters gallery.
What's a hidden gem near Dresden?
Saxon Switzerland's Bastei bridge. Afterwards, treat yourself to Stollen or Eierschecke.
About Dresden
- Riverside
Where it is
Dresden is the capital of the state of Saxony in eastern Germany, spread along both banks of the Elbe river in a broad valley, with the sandstone hills of Saxon Switzerland to the south-east and the Czech border beyond.
History
First recorded in 1206, Dresden was for centuries the residence of the Electors and Kings of Saxony, and under Augustus the Strong and his successors it became a Baroque showpiece nicknamed Florence on the Elbe. Allied bombing in February 1945 destroyed much of the city; after the East German era the Frauenkirche was rebuilt from its ruins and completed in 2005.
People
Dresdeners speak German with the local Upper Saxon dialect. Music runs deep, from the Staatskapelle orchestra, founded in 1548, to the Kreuzchor boys' choir, and at Christmas bakers make Dresden Stollen, a rich fruit bread, while porcelain from nearby Meissen is a centuries-old local craft.
Known for
- The rebuilt Frauenkirche
- The Zwinger palace and its Old Masters gallery
- The Semperoper opera house
- The Green Vault treasury
- The Striezelmarkt Christmas market
Did you know?
Dresden's Striezelmarkt, first held as a one-day market in 1434, is considered the first genuine Christmas market in the world.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.