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Capital city of Saxony, Germany
Photo: Bgabel, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Dresden is the capital of Saxony (Sachsen). It's often referred to locally as Elbflorenz, or "Florence on the Elbe", reflecting its location on the Elbe river and its historical role as a centre for the arts and beautiful architecture – much like Florence in Italy. While Florence flourished during the early renaissance, the Golden Age of Dresden was in the 18th century when, under August the Strong and his son, Friedrich August II, Saxony was a rich and important state and the rulers invested in lavish architectural projects in their capital and supported artists of worldwide renown.
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The original Church of Our Lady was completely destroyed during World War II; however, it has been reconstructed. The City of Coventry, which was raided by the Luftwaffe in WWII, donated the golden cross for the dome of the church. Check out some ruins in the basement. For €12 (concessions €7; families €24) you can walk up to the viewing platform on the dome and enjoy a great view of the city. You must have good walking shoes, otherwise you might not be admitted. As well as being a working church (with services once a month in English), there are also regular concerts. Tickets tend to be expensive but sell out quickly, so try to book ahead of time. The seating can be a little hard.
The baroque palace features a nympheum, many sculptures of Permoser, a bell pavilion and famous art collections. Do not miss the "Alte Meister" - you'll find Rafael's famous Sistine Madonna with its well-known angels there. Three separate exhibitions are housed in the Zwinger. (See below.) The Zwinger is part of the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD).
Old Masters Picture Gallery
A highly regarded collection featuring around 700 European works from the 15th to the 18th century. It is particularly known for its focus on Italian Renaissance and Baroque art, including Raphael's Sistine Madonna, as well as a significant selection of Dutch and Flemish masters and works by Lucas Cranach the Elder.
Porcelain Collection
A unique collection showcasing the obsession with "white gold" during the 18th century. It features thousands of exquisite pieces from China, Japan, and the first European porcelain factory in Meißen, founded by Augustus the Strong.
The collection will be closed for renovation from 07 September to 30 October 2026.
Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments
A collection of historical scientific instruments from the 18th century. It features a variety of early precision tools, including telescopes, clocks, and celestial models that reflect the scientific interests and technological advancements of that era.
Royal Palace
During the bombing of Dresden in February 1945 the interior of the palace was almost completely destroyed by fire. Only the part that is now the Historisches Grünes Gewölbe (and the basements) was unaffected. Due to lack of money and political will during the GDR and despite the efforts of volunteers and local organizations, restoration only took place after reunification in the 1990s. It is now a palace for art and science. The Royal Palace is part of the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD).
Green Vault
One of the most significant collections of European goldsmith's work and decorative arts. The museum is divided into two sections, each requiring a separate ticket. The Historic Green Vault (Historisches Grünes Gewölbe) preserves the treasury as it was arranged in 1733, featuring items like the crown jewels of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The New Green Vault (Neues Grünes Gewölbe) focuses on individual objects in a modern, neutral setting, including the famous green diamond. Visitors are advised to book time-slot tickets for the Historic Green Vault in advance.
Dresden Armoury
This collection displays ceremonial weapons, costumes, and equipment used for courtly hunting and representation during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Key highlights include the Türkische Kammer (Turkish Chamber), which showcases Ottoman art, and the Riesensaal (New Giants’ Hall). The exhibition documents aspects of Saxon, European, and global history through the lens of court life and technology.
Collection of Prints, Drawings and Photographs
One of the world’s oldest and most significant museums specializing in drawings, prints, and photographs. The collection spans from the Middle Ages to the present day, featuring works by renowned masters such as Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt, and Caspar David Friedrich. Due to the sensitivity of the paper-based materials, the items on display are changed regularly in special exhibitions.
Coin Cabinet
A specialized collection focusing on the history of coinage, medals, and monetary systems. The archive holds an extensive array of specimens from ancient times to the present day, with a particular emphasis on the development of currency in Saxony. The exhibition provides insight into the history of minting techniques and the cultural significance of coins as both economic tools and artistic objects.
Saxon State Opera and concert hall
This opera house is known for its architecture and the Staatskapelle Dresden orchestra. Its history includes the premieres of several operas by Wagner and Strauss. Tickets should be booked in advance, though some last-minute tickets are available at the box office shortly before the performance starts. Seats with restricted views are available at a lower price. Guided tours in German are offered throughout the day.
This biggest porcelain painting of the world shows (almost) all Saxon princes, electors and kings on their horses and splendid parade uniforms. (There is only one female person at the painting, find her.) It leads to the "Stallhof" - the last preserved tournament place contained in a European castle. In winter, the Stallhof is the location of a medieval style Christmas market with a big fireplace.
New Synagogue
The New Synagogue is on the site of what was the Semper Synagogue. The old one was designed by Gottfried Semper, who also designed the Semper Opera in Dresden. Erected in 1840 and destroyed by the Nazis in the pogroms of November 1938. Unlike the buildings in the Altstadt destroyed during the war, the synagogue was deliberately not rebuilt in the original style, Instead, a new, starkly modern synagogue was built in 2001, when Dresden's Jewish community (now around 700 members) had grown enough to justify a synagogue. The building is made of concrete made to look like the sandstone which is typical of the area. The worship hall has sharp angles and the complex includes a smaller building and stone courtyard. The design in striking in an austere way both on the outside and the inside. There are regular guided tours (in German), times listed here.
Palace of Culture
A socialist era building finished in 1969, standing right in the middle of the gradually reconstructed Altstadt, in stark contrast to the historic buildings surrounding it and supplanting some of the old buildings that closed the Altmarkt from the north before the second world war. It was originally planned to be a super-tall, ornate structure in the mould of the Palace of Culture in Warsaw, but ended up being a large concert hall with height on par with surrounding buildings, in an austere Bauhaus-inspired style. It is now a protected architectural monument, along with a giant socialist-realism themed mosaic on its western wall, facing Schloßstraße. Between 2012 and 2017 the Kulturpalast was completely renovated and now houses a concert hall, the city's main library and a Kabarett venue.
Brühl's Terrace
The "Balcony of Europe" stretches for 500 m along the River Elbe, some 10 m over the water table, and being up to 20 m wide. Freely open to the public since 1814, it provides space shielded from the danger of flooding, as well as from motorized traffic (which runs directly below over the Terassenufer) for walking, relaxing and enjoying a meal or a drink to locals and visitors, with views of the picturesque Elbe and an impressive backdrop of historic buildings at its back.
Barockviertel Königstraße
Real baroque houses. The quarter reaches from the "Heinrichstraße" up to the "Albert Platz". On the Heinrichstr and in the surroundings you will find a lot of antique stores. It is the quarter where you will find different nice and small shops where the owner will serve you. It is the quarter of individuality.
Two buildings in the middle of Neustadt with many small stores and some bars, many of them in the artistically decorated inner courtyards. The complex also has public artworks, art galleries, shops selling art, as well as coffee shops.
A dairy shop which is in the 1998 Guinness Book of World Records as the most beautiful dairy in the world. Decorated with 247 m² of handmade tiles. The shop is on the ground floor; there is a restaurant behind a door and one flight up that is very pleasant and has excellent cheese assortment plates but takes cash only.
You get a nice view of the whole city and the price of admission to climb the tower is lower than at the more famous Frauenkirche. There are also some nice pieces in the church that were not destroyed in the World War II bombings, and also look for temporary exhibitions of modern sacred art, etc.
"Big Garden"
Recommended for relaxing and sports (rollerblades are very common). It's Dresden's "green lung" and can be reached easily by tram. You can also go on a ride on a seasonal miniature train through the park.
One of Germany's oldest zoos.
The Transparent Factory
The Transparent Factory previously assembled the electric version of VW's Golf car. Visitors can test drive VW electric cars for 30 minutes (except Sundays). Tours three times a day in English M-Sa, once on Sundays. Until 2016, final assembly for various luxury VW cars took place here.
"Tabakmoschee", the tobacco mosque
A unique building - once a cigarette factory - inspired by Ottoman architecture, including a mosque-like dome and a chimney shaped like a minaret. Nowadays an office building with event space. There is a restaurant in the upper floor.
Dresden Suspension Railway
A historic suspension railway link between the low-lying Loschwitz district and the hill of Oberloschwitz.
Albrechtsberg Palace
The neoclassical castle above the Elbe river in Dresden's Loschwitz district was erected in 1854 and can be viewed best from the south side of the Elbe river.
Villa Stockhausen
The castle above the Elbe River was built from 1850 tom 1853 by Prince Albert of Prussia. The castle houses a restaurant and an outdoor terrace with beer garden that offers a fantastic view over the Elbe River and Dresden.
This was on the UNESCO World Heritage List, until the government decided to build the four-lane highway Waldschlösschen Bridge through the heart of it! So now it has joined Oman's Arabian Oryx Sanctuary as "one of only two un-UNESCO'd sites in the world" and is still a tourist attraction.
Elbe River Banks
Go to the (mostly) green river banks, especially on hot summer evenings/nights for a very nice view of the old parts and lot of people playing sports, having barbecues and parties. There are often big concerts and a huge movie screen offers "outdoor cinema."
Pillnitz Castle
Pillnitz is the old garden residence of the Saxon kings, built at the end of the 18th century in a Japanese but also English style outside of what was then-Dresden, as the closest out-of-town residence of the kings. Pillnitz was the summer residence of the Saxon kings till 1918, today it hosts concerts and cultural events.
The site consists of the English garden, a Chinese garden and Chinese pavilion (with Chinese style buildings) and the Orangerie. During summer you will also see all kinds of tropical plants in pots standing in the gardens, but in winter they are all transferred into the Orangerie. There are however, many other indigenous and foreign plants to be discovered. A big attraction is the camellia. Imported at the end of the 18th century from Japan is it now the oldest in Europe. It flowers beautifully in spring. It stands in the open during summer, but is put in a mobile glass house for winter.
The castle became known worldwide for the Declaration of Pillnitz by Emperor Leopold II and Frederick William II of Prussia. Calling on European powers to intervene, this declaration was intended to serve as a warning to the French revolutionaries not to infringe further on the rights of Louis XVI, and to allow his restoration to power. It helped begin the French Revolutionary Wars.
Asisi Panometer
A huge 360° picture of the Great Barrier Reef, housed in a former gasworks. Previously they have shown a picture of Dresden in 1945, Baroque Dresden or the Amazon
Loschwitz Bridge
The bridge is almost universally referred to as Blaues Wunder ("Blue Wonder"). The name is generally thought to be a reference to the colour of the bridge and to the fact it was considered a technical marvel when it opened in 1893.
This beautiful old windmill was built in 1828 and is now a museum and tavern. It includes a beer garden; best reached using Elberadweg cycle route south of the Elbe river.
The "New Masters" collections feature a wonderful range from romantic painters like Caspar David Friedrich to Rotloff and Van Gogh. The Albertinum is part of the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD).
Impressive building for the arts constructed in the 19th century. The Kunsthalle is part of the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD).
The palace was bombed out and in its partially restored state houses several small museums, including a museum of natural history of the region and a display of assorted exotic garments (ethnological collection). The palace is part of the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD).
Stadtmuseum Dresden
An additional webpage describes the museum in English.
Closed for renovations until 2028
Dedicated to Dresden's most famous composer. Part of the Dresden City Museum. An additional webpage describes the museum in English.
An exhibition hall for contemporary art. They also hold concerts, lectures, workshops and show movies. This additional webpage also describes the museum.
The building was used as a studio and museum by the artist Eduard Leonhardi (late Romanticism) until he died in 1905. From 1963 to 1990, contemporary art exhibitions showing works from progressive GDR artists were held despite many attempts by the Stasi to prevent nonconformist art. Nowadays it contains a permanent collection of works by Leonhardi, and changing contemporary exhibitions.
Städtische Galerie Dresden
Art from Dresden and the region with a main focus on the 20th century to the present. The collection also contains pieces of art dating back until the 16th century. Originally the collection was part of the Dresden City Museum in the same building, but was established as a separate museum in 2005. An additional webpage describes the museum in English.
Kasematten
The remains of the old fort. Gives you a glimpse of what a fort in a medieval European town was like.
Verkehrsmuseum Dresden
The museum is housed in the Johanneum at the Neumarkt, near Frauenkirche.
Dedicated to author, poet, screenwriter and satirist Emil Erich Kästner, known primarily for his humorous, socially astute poetry and children's literature such as Emil and the Detectives who was born and grew up in Dresden.
Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr
Exhibits relating to Germany's military history - and the country's complicated relationship with its armed forces and warfare. 20,000 m² of indoor and outdoor exhibition space and a collection of 1.2 million exhibits.
A comprehensive museum dedicated to "science, culture and society", a truly vast scope including all aspects of the human body, sickness, health, stages of life and sexuality. Don't be put off by the old-fashioned name. The children's section and special/temporary exhibitions are also well worth checking out. Has signage in English as well as German, but the permanent exhibitions are mostly labelled in German only. The museum also engages in a lot of well-merited self-criticism for its history of eugenicism and racism before World War II and its efforts on behalf of the Nazis' mass murder campaign against disabled people, and that history is interesting, too. Allow 2-3 hours for a visit.
Referred to colloquially as the Staatskapelle Dresden, it is one of the oldest orchestras in the world, founded in 1548. Its home venue is the Semperoper. The principal conductor is Daniele Gatti.
Dresdner Philharmonie
Orchestra founded in 1870. Their main venue is in the Kulturpalast, the principal conductor is Donald Runnicles.
Wettiner Platz 13
The music conservatoire hosts regular concerts and events at various venues.
A network of orchestras, musicians and ensembles organizing concerts with a focus on new music.
This ruin of a former Lutheran church that was bombed out in World War II is used as a theatre and concert venue nowadays and represents the cultural centre of the Hechtviertel district.
Dresdner Nachtskaten
Various Roller Blade routes through the city on selected Fridays from April to September, roughly 20 km. Great fun and participation is free - you can rent rollerblades for €5.
American Football - German Football League. Founded in 1992 they are the only "true eastern" (i.e. apart from Berlin) American Football team to play in the first division. A first division team since 2002 they have made the playoffs every year since 2003 with exceptions of 2007 and 2011. They lost the final of 2013 by one point - which remains their biggest success as of 2015. The season starts around May and the playoffs are in September. They play most of their home games in Heinz Steyer Stadion right across the street from Yendize. In most seasons at least one game is held in the "big stadium" where Dynamo usually plays. Expect more announcements than usual for this game in particular. Occasional games, all youth games and some special events are also held at their training grounds at Bärnsdorfer Straße in Neustadt.
One of the best soccer teams of what was East Germany, they have been struggling on and off the field. They were relegated in 2020 and now play soccer in the Second Liga, but are still fervently loved by their fans who have a sort of rowdy reputation in other parts of Germany. Their home stadium (capacity 32,000) is 1 km southeast of city centre.
Ice hockey - Second National League.
Volleyball women - First National League.
Elbe Cycle Route
Do a bicycling tour on this popular cycle route along the Elbe river that offers spectacular views. The Elberadweg is a 1220-km-long cycleway, and within Dresden it follows the Elbe river on both sides from the very southeast to Niederwartha in the very northwest.
Indoor and outdoor, daily from the end of October to beginning of March. Skate rental available. "Ice Disco" with a DJ on Saturday evenings.
Stausee Niederwartha
On hot summer days, go swimming or windsurfing at this public bathing pool at the Stausee Niederwartha reservoir. Also includes a long waterslide and beach volleyball courts.
This very well organized 3-day festival encompasses much of the Innere Altstadt and parts of Neustadt. There are hundreds of food and drink booths, representing a very wide variety of German and international cuisine from 6 continents, loads of products and services on offer, many carnival rides, several stages with musical performances (consider bringing earplugs for the volume), and a great fireworks show at the end. It's very pretty to see tall rides lit up near the banks of the Elbe. Canaletto estimates that 600,000 people attended the 2026 festival. The 2027 festival is scheduled to take place from 20 to 22 August 2027.
International Short Film Festival
Short movies are shown throughout the cinemas of Dresden with entrants from a variety of countries, most of them with German or English subtitles.
Europe's biggest jazz festival. It normally takes place in the second week of May and attracts bands and visitors from all over Europe, America and the rest of the world. A great deal of the music is played on the top decks of paddleboats in front of the Old Town.
"Colourful Republic Neustadt"
A massive yearly street festival that consumes the Neustadt part of Dresden in June. The festival consists of many stages featuring local musicians of different styles. The festivities run very late into the night with plenty of booths offering a wide variety of food and drink. If you plan to overnight, it is advisable to book accommodation outside of the Neustadt area during BRN.
A huge movie screen offers cinema (in German) in a beautiful setting and there are also many concerts with popular stars. Again, it is the biggest event of its kind in Europe!
This annual three-day alternative street festival in Dresden's trendy Hechtviertel district offers dozens of street and backyard concerts, street raves, food stands, flea market, art and interactive performances, and attracts thousands of visitors from Dresden and beyond. The festival spans all streets in the Hechtviertel, with Rudolf-Leonhard-Straße and Hechtstraße being the main arteries.
One of Germany's biggest expositions of contemporary art, the Ostrale was begun in 2007 on the Ostragehege, a former abattoir. The area is located on a peninsula created by the river Elbe, and is in the heart of the former world heritage site. The buildings are in strong need of restauration, which means that it is unclear whether the next exposition can return to these original grounds. This is amongst the reasons the organizers have decided to change it into a biennial starting with the 2017 exposition. In the years without an exposition in Dresden, the Ostrale will be guest in foreign cities.
Museumsnacht Dresden
An annual event opening many museums for one night (between 18:00 and 24:00). The ticket gives access to all participating museums, and provides free public transport.
One of Germany's oldest Christmas Markets. Located at the Altmarkt, all kinds of stalls selling among other things mulled wine (Glühwein) - delicious! Expect to pay a deposit for the mug/glass. Expect crowded streets and traffic jams. Avoid driving in the inner city around that time if you can to preserve your sanity. There are plenty of other Christmas markets in Dresden, including the medieval market at the Stallhof.
Best start your tour from the main pier at the castle and go down to Meissen or up to Pillnitz or Saxon Switzerland.
Download the free map and audio tracks (in English) and take yourself on a walk covering the history of Jewish life in Dresden from 1933 to 1945. You will need several hours.
Tiny bar/restaurant. Claims to have the "best currywurst" in Dresden. Also sells breaded cauliflower.
Small Asian fast food restaurant
Delicious fries, delicious curry sausage, friendly service and with a pleasant Dresden dialect. Also great for Frankfurter and Krakauer sausages. Plus Saxon charm.
Doner kebab, staff, seating... all great. Nice, suitable atmosphere. The Dürüm is a dream.
Try traditional Vietnamese pho. Good, freshly prepared food. Simply authentic.
All you can eat for one hour. Dishes travel past most tables on conveyor belts, allowing you to take what you want. Tasty and varied.
great quality sushi; Japanese-style murals on the walls.
The best burgers in the Neustadt. Just grab one and eat at the corner where all the people sitting and have beer from the Späti (like an off-licence with longer opening hours).
Serves currywurst, a Berlin invention, with several flavours of sauce. Best fries in the city. Also has vegan wursts and ice cream. There is also one in Schillerplatz.
At the "entrance" of Neustadt, this pizza place may not look like much, but the pies (30 cm) are good value for the money. Also try the "Pizzabrötchen", small rolls filled with various ingredients. They offer call for pickup but no delivery.
Best pizza at the edge of the Neustadt. Some people say it's actually in the Hecht district, but you can walk there and it's worth it!
Kumpir is a kind of Turkish baked potato
A kebab place with a good reputation. They have several outlets throughout town.
Reputed as one of the best kebab joints in town. This is the original site of the reputed Dürum Kebap Haus, now also found in Prager-Straße 32 (Prager Zeile) in the Altstadt.
An expensive café and restaurant on the backside of the Frauenkirche.
One of the most stylish places in town - the baroque pavilion features various restaurants decorated with old paintings and furniture. The prices are higher than elsewhere, but still affordable. Go for the cakes!
Italian food with locally made pasta.
Fast casual burgers in all kinds of variations. A Germany-wide franchise.
German (Bavarian and Saxon) food. The beer is from famous brewery in Munich and is especially good.
Hearty vegetarian and vegan food in a family-friendly and comfortable environment, also serves a wide variety of free trade teas and coffees.
This farmhouse-restaurant is not so easy to find. It lies behind the "Herzogin Garten" (which is a ruin) and behind the opera-house. The large Biergarden is a very relaxing place, has good food and good prices and is very pleasant.
Restaurant, offering many vegetarian dishes, and pub.
Very good Italian restaurant right in the middle of the Königstraße baroque quarter. Also known for its colourful porcelain figurines.
Late 19th century brewery, ballroom, restaurant and beer garden with a nice view over the Elbe river.
Traditional German cuisine with a taste of beer brewed on site. Located on a hill with a splendid view over Elbe riverside from the garden. The food is recommended if you want to experience what German cuisine should taste like.
Once a very alternative restaurant, it now features sand on the floors, a red lamp in front of the door and a very nice garden with a fountain. In summer it is difficult to get in. Food and prices are good.
A café bordering one of the public rose gardens of Dresden's riverside park, with plenty of outside seating in nice weather. The food is acceptable, but nothing special. The view is gorgeous. Worth a stop for a hot chocolate or an ice cream.
Popular bar, café and restaurant right at the heart of the trendy Hechtviertel district with Sunday brunch and a large outdoor area.
A good Italian restaurant, with a wood fired pizza oven. You can get a pizza or pasta, or a full multicourse meal. Generally very busy, and the food is excellent.
One of their three locations in Dresden and is a great place to go to taste Saxon cuisine. Their own-brew beer is fantastic.
Thai Restaurant Dresden Hot Shüzzle
Real Thai street food. With a chef from Thailand, Hot Shüzzle has the most authentic Thai food in Dresden.
"The barn" is a restaurant with a large beer garden in an alternative style - Don't be shocked by the punks in front. On warm summer nights you will have trouble finding a free spot. Good prices. Serves Indian food. Lots of concerts and events.
Large beer garden right south of the Blaues Wunder bridge with a fantastic view over the Elbe river and regular live music events.
As one of the oldest inns in Dresden, its history can be traced back to 1573 - long enough for the road to be named after it.
Reservations recommended. Yes, all the tour buses pull up here, but that doesn't stop the locals from heading to SchillerGarten either. A good selection of German cuisines, including an excellent schnitzel. In the summer, there is a huge biergarten along the Elbe and nice views of the Blaues Wunder.
A simple local eatery and café right on the river. The food tends to be stereotypically German (schnitzel, sausages, and the like) and is generally good. Their fried potatoes are excellent, though their green vegetables are overcooked. Has a nice view of the Elbe and outside seating.
A pleasant café with a pastry shop (Konditorei) and a restaurant. The cakes are gorgeous and will help you understand why the café is famous. The décor is fairly new, given the very long history of the place (it was named after Louise von Toscana, the run-away princess who divorced the King of Saxony). The terrace is beautiful and overlooks the river and the famous "Blaue Wunder" bridge. Generally it's full of locals on Saturday afternoons who come to chat.
Excellent food, excellent ambiance. Italian food done really well. Reservations strongly recommended. Try to get it on the first floor with its views of the Elbe and the Blaues Wunder, or out on their garden.
Located in a former industrial area in the east of Dresden, this restaurant has been awarded a Michelin guide star.
Small, cozy bar is located at the corner of the Hilton overlooking the Elbe. Peanut shells are scattered on the floor and as the name suggests, peanuts are the central theme. Cocktails and beer are the main draws here, along with the spectacular view.
This popular student club is a good choice for its full schedule of nightly activities, including readings, live music, and discussions.
Homely club in the Löbtau district with a living-room-atmosphere, three floors and an outdoor area. Various events from indie to house music.
One of Dresden's largest nightclubs, hosting parties, raves, concerts and festivals in a former coal-fired power plant.
Popular beer hall selling a selection of well-brewed local and regional favorites. A full menu is offered, and outside seating is available.
The pub is managed by a local events group and features a wide selection of drinks along with a regular slate of activities and entertainment. Good menu of regional beers and mixed drinks, as well as non-alcoholic drinks and coffees. Live music is frequently featured.
Popular concert venue in an old slaughterhouse building from the 19th century.
Bar-club and restaurant in a former casino fitted with vintage furniture and radios. Offers good meals, live DJs, dance parties and concerts.
This is the Dresden Jazz point. In the web page you may find the schedule of concerts. There is always very good music. This is a place to sit and enjoy good music. The scotch bar has very good drinks to enjoy during the concert.
This popular nightspot is considered one of the best in the city for its ambience, friendly service, and selection of drinks.
This full-service nightspot features a café, wine bar, and pub.
This pleasant café and bar is a great choice for a pre-dinner cocktail or late-night snack. The café closes only one hour a day, so stop by any time. In addition to great drinks, the menu also features a full breakfast menu, which young locals and visitors appreciate after a late night on the town.
Fancy minimalistic techno club in a decommissioned electrical substation with a high-class international DJ lineup.
Concert venue in the Leipziger Vorstadt district, hosting mostly German bands.
Beach bar with electronic music, a nice view over the Elbe river, and the option to play beach volleyball.
The most popular club in the Neustadt. They play mostly mainstream/top 40/1980s music. If this place isn't your scene, you can always go upstairs to Groove Station.
Sits on top of Downtown and has more alternative music. They often have live bands.
This pub is quite popular with locals, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. The old East German furniture gives it a cozy and retro feel. Beer is cheap and there's a small dance floor for those who feel like dancing.
If you're walking around Neustadt, you can't miss the beer garden at Katy's Garage. It's a great place to have a drink when it's warm outside. When the beer garden closes at around 22:00, you can make your way into their night club, which consists mostly of rock music.
Techno club in an old slaughterhouse in the Leipziger Vorstadt district.
A tiny bar themed after the movie The Big Lebowski. Several TVs show it on a constant loop (with subtitles and muted sound).
Located a few meters from Katy's Garage, this beer garden is only open when it's warm outside. You can come here and relax with a Lenin's Hanf, a delicious beer brewed in the Neustadt.
This city centre nightspot features a Mexican theme and a full menu, along with plenty of beers and well-mixed drinks.
Industrial-style techno club in the northern industrial area of Dresden.
Ost-Pol (translation: East-Pole) is a bar with a retro East German feel to it. They often have live bands, but the place is still good to go for a beer when there's no live music. The beer is pretty cheap, and is one of the few places with Pilsner Urquell on tap. There might be a cover charge on some nights, though.
Pinta specializes in cocktails. It is very popular on Friday and Saturday nights. When the place is busy, the service is slow.
This quaint bar and restaurant is in a refurbished wine cellar. The drinks menu is extensive and served by energetic staff.
Club in the northern industrial area of Dresden, focusing on techno, house and psytrance parties, but also staging art and theater events. Many guests use drugs.
The best cocktails in town are available here. Located on the 2nd floor, it is a little bit hard to find. From the entrance, go into the main floor bar and straight to the back. There is a staircase that leads up to the second floor. Smoking is allowed here.
Good selection of beers and the tastiest Long Islands you've had since college.
Popular live music club in an old warehouse furnished with airline seats in Dresden's northern industrial area.
"living room"
This cozy retro café and bar right at Alaunstraße, which is fitted out with vintage furniture, offers cocktails and cake and on Sundays from 17:00 live concerts from indie to electronica.
formerly ETAP hotel
This ibis Budget is in the Altmarkt-Galerie shopping centre. Rooms featuring an extra third bunk bed also available. Rooms are very basic, with the shower accessible directly from the room and the sink/vanity right in the room.
A youth hostel (IYHF). A few minutes by foot from the historic city centre. This large 480 bed hostel is in a former GDR boarding school. The hostel has small 2 & 4 bed bedrooms.
A youth hostel (IYHF). 900 m from the Hauptbahnhof in the quiet Swiss Quarter. Includes two dining rooms, two seminar rooms, a club room, terrace and cellar bar.
Near the main train station, so it is very easy to get there and the prices are usually attractive. The rooms aren't equipped that well. No kitchen. Free and easy internet access.
Very good and clean hostel in the Neustadt district within a few minutes walking distance of the Dresden Neustadt train station. A kitchen, hammock, bar, lawn and computers are situated are at this hostel.
Very clean and bright rooms from 10-bed dorm rooms up to en suite doubles with balcony and TV. Lounge, bar, and a self-service kitchen.
Member of the I-hostels network. This homey hostel offers a well-equipped kitchen, nice rooms, and free (old) bike rental. The bikes come in handy because it's in the north area of the Neustadt. On their website and on Hostelworld it's 2 nights minimum, on booking.com it can be booked from 1 night.
The apartment is suitable for up to three adults or a family with two children. Bus stop right in front of the house. Safe parking available. Nice apartment with lovely garden. €55 (May 2022)
Near the Elbe and historic centre with outstanding view.
Contemporary art gallery hotel with restaurant and bar as well as a healthclub and free Wi-Fi access.
244 rooms, huge wellness area, 14 conference rooms
One hotel in two buildungs on Prager Straße, near the Hauptbahnhof. In addition to the standard rooms, they offer studios for up to three people and apartments for up to four people.
True to its name, the InterCityHotel faces the Hauptbahnhof.
The more expensive Motel One in Dresden is on the edge of Innere Altstadt, and indeed reasonably close to the Zwinger, even if you won't see it from most rooms. Like every other Motel One, it features modern design and a very predictable, standardized experience.
Halfway between the airport and the old town, this hotel is a considerable distance from most points of interest.
On the outskirts of Dresden, right on the river Elbe. It has 103 rooms with Wi-Fi access, which is also available in the public areas.
The other Motel One is in the Neustadt, on the Palaisplatz right beside the Japanese Palace the hotel's name refers to. For €10 less, you get pretty much the same experience, a longer walk or a tram ride to the Altstadt, but a more convenient location in terms of rail travel, as the Neustadt station is only a short walk away.
a modern business hotel, situated in Neustadt at the Hansastraße, a thoroughfare connecting the city with the A4 motorway. 269 rooms.
In a remote southern district of Reick, this inexpensive hotel from the Russian chain expanding rapidly in Germany is hard to miss thanks to its bright red façade.
In a business district of Neustadt, shares the office block with some institutions and company offices.
On the southeastern outskirts of Dresden.
In the southeastern suburban district of Laubegast, halfway between Loschwitz and Pillnitz but on the eastern bank of the river.
formerly Interhotel Dresdner Hof
Next to the Frauenkirche. Try to get a room with a view of the Elbe river.
The newest upmarket hotel in Dresden, all about modern design, with views of surrounding historic buildings.
A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Experience the gourmet terrace with its view of the dome of Frauenkirche.
The new NH opened in 2010, completing the southern façade of the Altmarkt. Rooms feature large windows with views of the Altmarkt and Kulturpalast, while others face the Kreuzkirche across a narrow street. Some of the rooms in the top floor have sloping roofs and small dormer windows, so make sure you know which type of room you are booking. Not to be confused with NH Hotel Dresden Neustadt
The Baroque Taschenberg Palace from the early 18th century was reconstructed as a luxury hotel of the Kempinski chain in 1995 after being almost completely destroyed in 1945. At its launch, it was the first five-star hotel in Saxony. Monarchs, heads of state and international celebrities have stayed here during their visits to Dresden and even the Bilderberg Conference was once held in it.
This beautiful castle above the Elbe river was built from 1859 to 1861 and is now a hotel visited by 35.000 guests annually.
formerly Mercure Dresden Newa, Interhotel Newa, Pullman Newa
The former Mercure was upgraded in name mostly, as there's not much of a difference (you only get coffee/tea facilities in deluxe rooms). The 319 room property is in a prime location right at the Prager Straße and 300 m from the railway station and rooms offer floor-to-ceiling windows with views of either (depending on side), as well as reasonably modern and upmarket fixtures and furniture. The hotel often undercuts its upmarket competition in the Altstadt in room rates.
formerly Radisson Blu
The baroque 18th-century Gewandhaus (cloth hall) was rebuilt in the late 1960s as a hotel. The interior design, fixtures and furniture echo the building's history. Marketed as part of the Autograph (=Marriott) chain since 2015.
Part of a German upmarket chain, the hotel is in a reconstructed historic building (which was also previously a hotel). The interiors are decorated in various shades of beige and brown. The most expensive rooms are on the floors in the sloping roof, meaning that not all the surface area can actually be used.
formerly Swissôtel
The Hyperion is indeed "am Schloss", facing the Residenzschloss on the one side and the Kulturpalast (or rather the empty plot of land in front of it) on the other. Inside, you will find a mixture of modern design, historic references and folk motifs, all in a white/beige/red/green theme. The cheapest rooms are on the top floors, with sloping roofs and dormer windows.
The only luxury hotel in Dresden on the "other" side of the river (in Neustadt), right at the riverbank, next to the Japanisches Palais. Opened in the 1980s as a part of the East German state-owned chain Interhotel, it was privatized in the 1990s. While the hotel uses photos of the reconstructed baroque building in its marketing, most of the rooms are in the much less impressive expansive wings. The "belle vue" the hotel name alludes to is the view of the Innere Altstadt, that some rooms provide sweeping vistas of, while the others offer views of the much less picturesque Hotel Maritim on the other side of the river and the rooms with a "Neustadt view" face communist-era blocks across the busy Große Meißner Straße.
A huge shopping centre which practically fills the western side of Seestraße and has an appearance of being many separate buildings, but they are in fact all interconnected. You can find everything from premium boutiques to very affordable shops there, as well as a fitness centre and even an ibis budget hotel (see "Sleep" section of this guide).
Shopping centre built on the site of a "Centrum Warenhaus" (an East German department store chain, from which the present-day shopping centre also takes its name), which was demolished and rebuilt with some exterior elements reminiscent of the original building. Now hosts east Germany's first Primark, which seems to be a huge draw for shoppers. In the summer there is an (artificial) beach on the roof where soccer matches and "Tatort" are shown. There is no cover charge but expect to be searched for beverages as they sell drinks to recoup costs.
Dresden's largest shopping centre, close to the Dresden-Neustadt exit of the A9 Autobahn. The shopping area includes an Ikea, a Möbel Höffner, a Media Markt and an UCI Kinowelt cinema.
formerly Karstadt
The quintessential German department store, covering everything from apparel and footwear through groceries and delicatessen.
One of the longest residential buildings in Germany. Some shops on the ground floor.
Building in reference to the Dresden spherical house (Kugelhaus), which was destroyed by the Nazis in 1938.
Well-known record store that was founded shortly after the Peaceful Revolution and offers new and second-hand vinyl.
A market hall.
By train
Regular trains arrive from the rest of Germany (Leipzig, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich) and from Prague, Vienna, Zürich, Bratislava and Budapest. Flixtrain serves the city.
By car
Dresden can be easily reached by car from the rest of Germany. It is well connected with the German autobahn system and there's also a direct motorway to Prague.
By bus
The main operator of long-distance buses in Germany, and by far the biggest operator in Dresden, is Flixbus.
By public transport
Dresden has an extensive reliable and high quality (even by German standards) public transport system consisting of regional railways (called S-Bahn, historically Schnellbahn), trams (called…
By car
The streets are very good and many roads have been refurbished, especially in the city centre. As in all bigger towns, it can be a bit crowded during rush hours.
By bicycle
Bikes are the fastest thing in rush hour traffic for short-to-medium distances and if you're in good shape and not afraid of traffic.40 per day for one zone) in trams.
Alternative transport
Dresden has a lot of cycle rickshaws, mostly operating around the Old Town. They offer a typical (short distance) taxi service and guided city tours. Horse-drawn carriages offer sightseeing.
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Dresden · International · DRS
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