Dresden is over 800 years old, having become a city in 1206. Many Saxon princes, dukes and kings called Dresden home, the most famous of them being August der Starke (Augustus the Strong), who was also King of Poland. The many buildings and rich art collections that date from this era, are testimony to the monarchs' extreme wealth. Raphael's Sistine Madonna, a famous oil painting of the Virgin Mary, was bought by the son of August the Strong, and is on display in Dresden. The last Saxon king abdicated in 1918, famously saying "macht doch euern Dregg aleene" (roughly translated from the original Saxon as "do your dirty work yourselves") when he did so.

Three quarters of the historical centre of Dresden was destroyed by Allied bombing on 13 February 1945. Between 20,000 and 30,000 people died in the firestorms; the exact number is unknown. There were fewer victims than those of bombings in other cities, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the population, but Dresden is the only major German city where the air raids are still a major aspect of public debate and city politics. The bombings are still remembered each year in processions and ceremonies, but the anniversary has also been used by Neo-Nazis for demonstrations, which in turn attracted anti-fascist counter-demonstrations. For many years the ruins of the Frauenkirche (now rebuilt) with its gold cross donated by a British charity called the Dresden Trust - acted as a call for peace among the nations of the world. The city's historical centre has largely been restored to its former glory, with other areas still being rebuilt.

During the era of German partition, the area around Dresden came to be known as "Tal der Ahnungslosen" ("valley of the clueless") as it was one of very few parts of East Germany which could not get West German television. Similarly the abbreviation "ARD" for the west German first TV channel was variously interpreted as "Außer Raum Dresden" and "Außer Rügen und Dresden" ("Except the Dresden Area"/"Except Rügen and Dresden").

In 1989 protests erupted in Dresden, especially when people who had taken refuge in the West German embassy in Prague were transported to West Germany via Dresden main station (which was sealed off for the occasion). Protests in Dresden never reached the scale they did in Leipzig or East Berlin, but there is a memorial plaque for the 1989 events in Prager Straße among other places.

The Zwinger was rebuilt in 1964, the Semper Opera house in 1985, and the most famous Dresden landmark, the Frauenkirche, in 2005. When asked what they like most about their city, Dresden citizens will reply: the Old Town (which is quite compact, even though it has a lot of well-known attractions and museums of worldwide importance), Dresden-Neustadt (an alternative central quarter) and the nearby towns like Radebeul, known for its wine (and birthplace of Karl May, a famous German author of wild-west novels), the climbing area of Saxon Switzerland and lots of castles. Architecturally, Blasewitz is the most interesting residential neighbourhood, despite it being a hilly landscape. It has many Gründerzeit buildings, from before the 1871 founding of the German Empire and its first three decades of existence.

Many historic sandstone buildings are black. That's not necessarily a result of fire or pollution, as the local sandstone naturally blackens after a while. You can see this natural phenomenon in the nearby Saxon Switzerland and on paintings of Dresden from the 18th century, where the sandstone buildings are black as well.

Dresden was an important city in the German Democratic Republic and architecture from that era is still very visible in the city. In the city centre, Prager Straße and the Kulturpalast are typical examples of such architecture. If you leave the centre you will find a lot of apartment blocks, called Plattenbau, which are also common in neighbouring Poland, eastern Europe and Russia. Gorbitz and Prohlis especially were (re)-built in the 1970s and 1980s in the then-modern Plattenbau style. Very few traces of World War II are still visible in the city.

The time since German reunification hasn't left too many architectural marks on the city yet, but some, such as the controversial Waldschlößchenbrücke bridge that cost Dresden's Elbe Valley its designation as a world heritage site, are very visible even to the casual observer.

Dresden is very much oriented around the Elbe river, which meanders through the city, but not as much as the Seine in Paris, for example. Therefore, it is always easy to distinguish between the left, southwestern bank and the right, northeastern one. In general, the left bank is relatively flat and more densely built-up, while the right bank is hilly and to a large extent covered by the Dresdner Heide forest.

Dresden has, over the years, expanded broadly and swallowed surrounding settlements, so that now the city is larger by area than Munich despite having only roughly a third of its inhabitants. Much of Dresden, however, is of little interest to most tourists. In general, the interesting districts are Altstadt ("old town", on the left bank) and Neustadt ("new town", on the right bank immediately opposite). Their historic cores are the Innere Altstadt and Innere Neustadt, respectively. Äußere (outer) Neustadt is a district with a lot of bars and restaurants and generally known for being inhabited by "alternative" people, students, artists and hipsters. In general "Neustadt" used in a generic sense will refer to the äußere Neustadt. Other districts of interest are Loschwitz and Weißer Hirsch in the eastern part of the right bank, being the city's most exclusive residential areas; the Pillnitz royal residence; and Klotzsche, because Dresden airport is in that district.

Victor Klemperer's diaries, first published in English across two volumes in 1995 as I Will Bear Witness, offer a vivid account of life in Dresden from 1933 to 1945. Klemperer was one of the few people of Jewish descent in Dresden who not only survived the war but decided to stay in Germany after 1945. His book The Language of the Third Reich: LTI—Lingua Tertii Imperii: A Philologist's Notebook is a detailed analysis of how language can be used to manipulate a culture. It's a classic of its kind and still relevant today. Klemperer did not consider himself Jewish, but he was persecuted as one by the Nazi regime. He also wrote diaries during the times before and after the Nazi regime which were also published in book form but are less famous.

Another of Dresden's famous sons is Erich Kästner (Emil and the Detectives, Lottie and Lisa); his book When I Was a Little Boy is about his childhood in Dresden's Neustadt during the 1900s.

Der Turm (published in English as The Tower: Tales from a Lost Country) is a novel about life in Dresden's more bourgeois parts (Loschwitz/Weißer Hirsch) during the last years of East Germany. Written by Dresden native Uwe Tellkamp, it was made into a TV movie with Dresden native Jan Josef Liefers in one of the leading roles.

• Dresden tourism website

See also: Rail travel in Germany

Regular trains arrive from the rest of Germany (Leipzig, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich) and from Prague, Vienna, Zürich, Bratislava and Budapest. Flixtrain serves the city.

Dresden is served by two big stations, which are both called at by most trains running through or terminating in Dresden. The Hauptbahnhof (main train station) is on the left bank of the Elbe, whereas Neustadt station is on the right bank.

• 51.04027813.7316672 Dresden Hauptbahnhof (2 km from the Old Town, at the southern end of Prager Straße). Trains from nearby towns, such as Meißen and Pirna run from about 04:30 till around midnight. The station has several stores including a supermarket, most of which are open on Sundays. It is very well connected with the local bus and tram network, and can thus be reached very quickly from nearly everywhere in town, even at night.  
• 51.06555613.7408333 Dresden-Neustadt (just north of the New Town). Some trains terminate here and not at Hauptbahnhof. Neustadt is also easily accessible by tram or car.  

For a German city of its size, train connections to Dresden are slow, due to underinvestment during and since the GDR era. The lines from Berlin and Leipzig reach a maximum speed of 200 km/h, though many sections are much slower. The line from Prague traverses the Elbe valley on a stunningly beautiful but curvy, slow and congested route. The line from Wroclaw is only electrified on the Polish side while the line from Nuremberg is only electrified between Dresden and Hof (making a change of trains necessary either in Hof or in Leipzig).

If you're coming from Saxony-Anhalt or Thuringia, the best option might be to use a Länder-Ticket as there's an arrangement between those two states and Saxony, whereby a Land-Ticket from one state is also valid in the other two.

The connection between Dresden and Wrocław has been on and off, but is now served by Trilex for a flat fare of €33 round trip (within 14 days). Group and family discounts are available.

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. The network is prone to congestion during school holidays. Try to avoid the Friday and Saturday at the beginning of school holidays in the state you are driving in; the website Schulferien lists school holidays for each state.

See also: Intercity buses in Germany

• 51.04008913.7302364 Intercity bus station platform 1 and 2. 
• 51.03936813.7318235 Intercity bus station platform 5, 6 and 7. 

The main operator of long-distance buses in Germany, and by far the biggest operator in Dresden is Flixbus. There are more operators in Dresden than other German cities because it is close to the Czech and Polish borders and part of the Berlin-Prague route (which is not served by high speed rail). This means bus routes to Dresden are still competitive in terms of journey times and price. Other operators with routes to Dresden include RegioJet, Eurolines, Arda Tur, Racic Eurobus and Union Ivkoni.

Most buses stop "behind" the main train station (from the train station looking south, with Prager Straße to your back). The station is easily reachable. Several shops are close to the station, and those in the main station are also open on Sundays and on public holidays. Flixbus has a ticket office opposite the station and you can buy tickets for most of the other operators in the station building.

(However, be sure to check your bus ticket. As of summer 2023, repairs are taking place at the main bus stop, and buses stop instead at the Busparkplatz Ammonstraße - where the Budapester Straße overpass crosses over Ammonstraße, and at the Budapester Straße tram stop. There are no facilities at this parking lot, not even a bench, but the train station is not far away.)

Some Flixbus lines also stop close to Bahnhof Neustadt, which is a less busy station.

A handful of buses also serve Dresden airport, which is really only useful in the unlikely event that you are flying into/out of the airport but are not staying in Dresden. The airport is pretty out of the way and at least 20 minutes by S-Bahn from anything interesting.

In the centre, especially in the historic part of the Old Town (Altstadt), everything is easily accessible on foot. (The city centre is not the geographical midpoint of the city). If you want to go to the outer districts (unlikely for most travelers) you will probably have to take a bike or public transport (most tram lines go well into the suburbs).

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 Straßenbahn) and buses. Three ferries cross the Elbe and two cable car systems go up Loschwitz hill. The Straßenbahn and S-Bahn are two entirely separate networks, although there are tram stops at many S-Bahn stations. The system works very well and connects all points of interest, but can be a little busy at peak times. A common fare system is operated by Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe (DVB), which is part of the larger Oberelbe Transport Network (VVO). (VVO covers 27 municipalities in central Saxony.) VVO tickets are valid on all buses, trams, regional trains and some ferries within a particular zone in the VVO network area. The Sachsen ticket is now valid on buses and trams in Dresden as well so all information to the contrary is outdated.

Most lines run at night but with less frequency (and also slightly different routes, called "GuteNachtLinien") allowing you to get to most places such as restaurants without the necessity of using a car, including to far-flung places like Pillnitz, Radebeul or even Meißen (with the S-Bahn). At night almost all trams and some regional buses meet at Postplatz (called "Postplatztreffen") and wait for each other, to ensure connections. Trams that don't pass through Postplatz usually wait for connections at some other point. These stops are announced in both German and English. As the rerouting of the lines can be a tad confusing and the night-line plan is printed on a black background that is hard to read at night, you might wish to ask the driver or other passengers where the tram is going. Failing that the DVB has an app and offers the possibility to search for your tram in real time online. For the night time lines see here.

By tram (Straßenbahn)

[edit]

Two tram lines are of particular interest to visitors:

• Line 4, billed by the operator as Kultourlinie as one that takes you on a tour of cultural and other highlights
• Line 9, is referred to by the operator as the Einkaufslinie ("shopping line"), connecting the main shopping centres and various areas of Dresden.

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. During the Striezelmarkt (end of November till 24 Dec) traffic gets heavier, especially at weekends. A word of caution on driving during Dynamo home games: don't. Streets get crowded and police shut down several roads to allow fans on foot to pass, leading to confusion and congestion for cars. There are many parking lots in downtown Dresden and it should not be a problem to find a place to park, except on Saturdays when everyone goes to town for shopping. As parking can be expensive, consider parking on one of the various park&ride spots outside of town or leaving your car altogether, as public transport is excellent even by high German standards. A number of signs automatically display the number of parking spaces which are still free in lots in the immediate area. Shops are open from around 10:00 to 20:00, sometimes until 21:00 or 22:00. The Neustadt is particularly unfriendly to cars as most of its residential buildings (and thus the street grid) were built in the 19th century and have survived both world wars and overzealous urban planners. People in the neighborhood also have a reputation for burning cars they consider to be too luxurious or "extravagant", but it happens considerably less often than in Berlin.

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. Bikes are also good for longer distances as they can be carried (with a separate ticket €2.20 per day for one zone) in trams. There are many designated cycle paths (marked red on pavements, or with a white bike symbol on a blue background) and most times it's very easy to find a place to park your bike. But, as anywhere else, always use a good lock!

Cobblestone roads and sidewalks are still quite common, particularly in Neustadt as well as the historical parts of Altstadt. As they get slippery with even a little moisture and make for a bumpy ride on most bikes, you might wish to avoid those. Another concern for cyclists are tram tracks, as tyres can get stuck in them if you aren't careful. Crossing them at an angle close to 90 degrees should take care of that problem. It should go without saying that you shouldn't drive on or between the tracks when a tram is approaching.

The main bike-share service in Dresden is called MOBIbike (operated by Nextbike with DVB as the main partner). Their rates are €1 per 15 minutes with a maximum of €15 per (24 hour) day. You need to register before you can rent bikes. For more information on discounts and the technical details see their website.

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.

Operators of bus tours of Dresden include Stadtrundtfahrt Dresden and |Dresdner Stadtrundfahrt – Die Roten Doppeldecker GmbH. Tickets can be bought around the Old Town at various points and indeed online.

• 51.05194413.7416671 Frauenkirche, ☏ +49 351 65606100. 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 €10 (concessions €5; families €22) 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. Free.  
• 51.05305613.7338892 Zwinger Palace, Theaterplatz 1 ( 4   8  and  9  Theaterplatz and  11  am Zwingerteich), ☏ +49 351 49122000, [email protected]. 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). Entry is free to the palace, but to see exhibitions you need a ticket. Combined ticket for all three exhibitions: adults pre-booking €16, reduced €12, under 17 free. (updated Jan 2025)
  • 51.05354213.7347143 Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery). Tu-Su 10:00-18:00, M closed. Also open Saturdays from 18:00-20:00 (more expensive ticket). Masterpieces from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Entrance only with the combined ticket. (updated Aug 2017)
  • 51.052213.73464 Porzellansammlung (Porcelain Collection). Tu-Su 10:00-18:00, M closed. Individual tickets: adults €6, reduced €4.50, under 17 free. (updated Aug 2017)
  • 51.053213.73285 Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon (Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments). Tu-Su 10:00-18:00, M closed. Individual tickets: adults €6, reduced €4.50, under 17 free. (updated Aug 2017)
• 51.05277813.7369446 Residenzschloss (Royal Palace), Taschenberg 2 (Schloßstraße at the corner of Taschenberg), ☏ +49 351 49142000, [email protected]. 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). Adults €16, reduced €12, under 17 free. (updated Dec 2021)
  • 51.052813.73647 Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault). W-M 10:00-18:00, closed Tuesdays. Europe's most splendid treasure chamber museum. You can see the biggest green diamond and the court of Aurengzeb and its precious crown jewels. This is actually two museums, each requiring a separate ticket: Historic Green Vault (Historisches Grünes Gewölbe) is famous for the splendours of the historic treasure chamber as it existed in 1733, while the New Green Vault (Neues Grünes Gewölbe) focuses on each individual object in neutral rooms. €12, including Audioguide, children <16: free. Tickets for the Historisches Grünes Gewölbe have a clearly defined time limit. (updated Aug 2017)
  • 51.0525413.737438 Rüstkammer (Dresden Armoury). W-M 10:00-18:00, Tu closed. With Türckische Cammer (Turkish Chamber) and Riesensaal (New Giants’ Hall). (updated Aug 2017)
  • 51.052713.73699 Kupferstich-Kabinett (Collection of Prints, Drawings and Photographs). W-M 10:00-18:00, closed Tuesdays. (updated Aug 2017)
  • 51.052713.736910 Münzkabinett (Coin Cabinet). W-M 10:00-18:00, Tu closed. (updated Aug 2017)

• 51.05444413.73527811 Semperoper (Saxon State Opera and concert hall), Theaterplatz 2 ( 4 ,  8  and  9  Theaterplatz), [email protected]. Guided tours in English daily 15:00, frequent tours in German. One of the most beautiful opera houses in the world. The acoustics and the Staatskapelle orchestra are marvellous. Its history saw many operas of Wagner and Strauss having their first nights there. Make sure to book tickets in advance. Some last-minute tickets are available from the box office shortly before the performance starts. Seats which do not have a good view are very cheap, and you can sit on benches behind the seats, right at the top of the auditorium, for free. Tours in German are offered throughout the day. Varies for each performance. Guided tours: adults €14, photo fee per person €3. (updated Dec 2021)

• 51.052713.739212 Fürstenzug (Altstadt, near Brühlsche Terasse). 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.  
• 51.052113.746513 Neue Synagoge (New Synagogue), Hasenberg 1 ( 3  and  7  Synagoge). 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. Guided tour: adults €6, reduced €4. (updated Dec 2021)
• 51.05113.738514 Kulturpalast (Palace of Culture), Schloßstraße 2 (Tram Altmarkt), ☏ +49 351 4947390. The Kulturpalast, or Palace of Culture, is 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.  
• 51.05342713.74020615 Brühlsche Terrasse (Brühl's Terrace) ( 4   8  and  9  Theaterplatz). 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.  

Very nice, lively neighbourhood. Part alternative, part "pseudo-exclusive" and expensive. Check out the Bunte Republik Neustadt festival in June. But you shouldn't leave your bicycle unattended without a good lock, as there can be a serious risk of damage to your bicycle as well as your car, especially on weekend nights.

• 51.0611413.7409616 Dresden Baroque Quarter (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.  
• 51.067813.754717 Kunsthof Dresden (Entrance from Görlitzer Straße 21-25 or Alaunstraße 70). 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.  

• 51.06383113.759818 Pfunds Molkerei, Bautzner Straße 79. daily 10:00 - 16:00. 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. (updated Dec 2021)
• 51.06113.74319 Dreikönigskirche, Hauptstraße 23, ☏ +49 351 8124101. For the tower: Mar-Oct: Tu 11:30-16:00, W-Sa 11:00-17:00, Su and holidays 11:30-17:00, M closed. Nov-Feb: W 12:00-16:00, Th-Sa 10:00-16:00, Su and holidays 11:30-16:30, M Tu closed. Last admission 30min before closing. 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. For the tower: adults €5, reduced €4, children €6-17 €1.50, under 10 free. (updated Dec 2022)

• 51.037513.76305620 Großer Garten ("Big Garden") ( 10  and  13  Großer Garten). 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.  
• 51.036913.753921 Dresden Zoo, Tiergartenstraße 1 ( 9   13  and bus 75 Zoo.). One of Germany's oldest zoos.  

• 51.04444413.75555622 Gläserne Manufaktur (The Transparent Factory), Lennestr. 1 (at Straßburger Platz tram stop), ☏ +49 18 0589-6268, [email protected]. M-F 08:00-20:00. The Transparent Factory assembles 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. The Lesage Restaurant is at the same site and offers both lush dinners in the evening and reasonably-priced lunches 12:00-15:00. Until 2016, final assembly for various luxury VW cars took place here. Tour: adults €7, reduced €4.50, families €15.  

• 51.05901913.72685323 Yenidze ("Tabakmoschee", the tobacco mosque) ( 6  and  11  Kongresszentrum/Haus der Presse). 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.  
• 51.05416713.81805624 Schwebebahn Dresden (Dresden Suspension Railway) (take bus 61, 63 or 84 to Körnerplatz  Schwebebahn ). A historic suspension railway link between the low-lying Loschwitz district and the hill of Oberloschwitz. (updated Jan 2017)
• 51.06513.794725 Schloss Albrechtsberg (Albrechtsberg Palace) ( 11  Elbschlösser). 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.  
• 51.064113.797826 Lingnerschloss (Villa Stockhausen) ( 11  Elbschlösser). 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.  
• 51.062413.79427 Elbe Valley. This used to be 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.  
• 51.055613.743328 Elbwiesen (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."  

• 51.008913.870229 Schloß Pillnitz (Pillnitz Castle), August-Böckstiegel-Straße 2 (Bus line 63 stops directly at the castle. Tram line 2 and bus line 88 stop on the southern side of the river and you will need to take the ferry. Paddle-steamers operate on a regular basis to Pillnitz (single from Dresden €13.50, return €17.50).), ☏ +49 351 26 13 260, [email protected]. Park from 06:00 till dusk. 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. There are no entry fees, although there still is a debate about a small fee.  
• 51.025613.788330 Dresden Panometer (Asisi Panometer), Gasanstaltstraße 8b (64 Bus to "Nätherstraße" stop), ☏ +49 341 3555340, [email protected]. M-F 10:00-17:00, Sa Su and public holidays 10:00-18:00. Last admission 1 hr before closing. Huge 360° picture of a bombed-out Dresden imagined as it was in 1945, housed in a former gasworks. You climb a kind of tower in the centre of the gasworks to get a view over the city, with endless details to spot. Adults €13.00, reduced €11, child €6, under 6 free. (updated Jul 2017)
• 51.05361113.81083331 Blaues Wunder (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. (updated Dec 2021)
• 51.089813.658232 Gohliser Windmühle. 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.  

• Semperoper. Go to a performance or take a tour. Be sure to book in advance. Details are in the listing in the See section.
• Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden. 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. Principal conductor is Christian Thielemann. (updated Apr 2018)
• Dresden Philharmonic (Dresdner Philharmonie). Orchestra founded in 1870. Their main venue is located in the Kulturpalast. Its principal conductor is Michael Sanderling. (updated Apr 2018)
• 51.0537813.724811 Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber Dresden (Wettiner Platz 13), ☏ +49 351 4923696. The music conservatoire hosts regular concerts and events at various venues. (updated Apr 2018)
• KlangNetz-Dresden, ☏ +49 351 4923613. A network of orchestras, musicians and ensembles organizing concerts with a focus on new music. (updated Apr 2018)
• 51.075213.74892 Theaterruine St. Pauli, Königsbrücker Platz ( S1   7  Dresden Bischofsplatz), ☏ +49 351 2721 444, [email protected]. 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.  

• 51.0467413.744253 Rollber Blade Night, Lingnerallee (start opposite townhall at the big halfpipe). F 21:00-23:00. Blade Night starts at 21:00 every Friday from April to September, roughly 20 km through the city on blocked roads. Great fun and participation is free - you can rent rollerblades for €5. Free. 
• 51.06083313.7263894 Dresden Monarchs ( 7  Kongresszentrum/ Haus der Presse). Usually Saturday 15:00. 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 51.076513.7415 Bärnsdorfer Straße in Neustadt. (updated May 2016)
• 51.04027813.7477786 Dynamo Dresden, Rudolf Harbig Stadion. 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 3. Liga, the third tier of the game in Germany 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. (updated Aug 2020)
• Dresdner Eislöwen. Ice hockey - Second National League. 
• Dresdner SC. Volleyball women - First National League. 
• 51.07740113.6680737 Elberadweg (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.  
• Ice skating at the JoyNext Arena ( 10 , Bus 94 Krankenhaus Friedrichstadt stop). Indoor and outdoor, daily from the end of October to beginning of March. Skate rental available. "Ice Disco" with a DJ on Saturday evenings. Adults €4.50, children €3.50, €6 for ice disco. (updated Oct 2016)
• Rollerblading or rowing in small boats on the Carolasee in the Großer Garten.
• 51.09115713.6207878 Stauseebad Cossebaude (Stausee Niederwartha), Meißner Straße 26 (Bus 75, 404, 423 Cossebaude An den Winkelwiesen), [email protected]. 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. Adults €4.00, children €2.20. 

• Filmfest Dresden (International Short Film Festival). In April. Short movies are shown throughout the cinemas of Dresden with entrants from a variety of countries, most of them with German or English subtitles. (updated May 2023)
• Dixieland Festival. 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.  
• 51.06593713.7524949 Bunte Republik Neustadt (BRN) ("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.  
• 51.055313.744710 Filmnächte (on the banks of the Elbe, just across the castle on the other side of the river). June to August. 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!  
• 51.07503713.74694711 Hechtfest, Hechtviertel (S-Bahn S1, Tram 7, Bus 477: Bischofsplatz), ☏ +49 176 73190302, [email protected]. 3rd weekend of August. 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. 
• 51.0716513.7128312 Ostrale, Zur Messe 9, ☏ +49 351 6533763. 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. (updated Sep 2017)
• Dresden Night of Museums (Museumsnacht Dresden), ☏ +49 351 4880. At the end of June/beginning of July. 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. Adults €13, reduced €9, under 6 free. (updated Dec 2021)
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