Photo: Netopyr · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Dresden
A baroque old town rebuilt on the Elbe, with palaces, treasures and great art.
Saxony's capital on the Elbe: a baroque old town of palaces, domes and royal treasures, rebuilt after its destruction in 1945, facing a lively, cheaper Neustadt across the river. The sandstone cliffs of Saxon Switzerland, with the Bastei bridge, are a day trip by S-Bahn (check).
Places to see
ZwingerSight · A great baroque courtyard of lawns and fountains framed by pavilions and galleries…Free
Old Masters Picture GalleryMuseum · Room after room of European paintings from the Renaissance and baroque, from Rembrandt…≈ A$25
Historic Green VaultMuseum · A row of mirrored, gilded baroque rooms inside the royal palace, crowded with jewels,…≈ A$26
When to go
- Jan3° / -3°Some rainQuiet
- Feb5° / -2°Some rainQuiet
- Mar10° / 1°Some rainQuiet
- Apr15° / 4°Some rainBusy
- May20° / 9°Some rainBusy
- Jun23° / 12°Some rainBusy
- Jul25° / 14°Some rainVery busy
- Aug25° / 14°Some rainVery busy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
The Altstadt. The rebuilt baroque old town: the Zwinger, the royal palace, the Frauenkirche, the Semperoper and Brühl's Terrace above the river. Central, with some hostels.
The Neustadt. Across the Elbe: the riverside meadows, then the Äußere Neustadt's street art, cheap food and bars. The best area for budget beds and evenings out.
Flying in
Dresden (DRS): S-Bahn line S2 to Hauptbahnhof, about 25 min, ≈ A$6. About every half hour; a single ticket for the Dresden fare zone, usually about €3.30 (check). Many budget flights land at Berlin or Prague instead.
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Dresden; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
You can walk everywhere. A single ticket is ≈ A$6. The old town, the river and the Neustadt are an easy walk apart; trams run from the station to both. Paddle steamers on the Elbe charge their own fares (check).
Day ticket (Dresden zone) (≈ A$16, 1 day): Pays off with three tram or bus rides in a day (check).
Tourist tax
Dresden's accommodation tax is a percentage of the room price: usually about €1–2 a night in a dorm and about €2 each in a shared private room (check).
