Best Things to Do in Dresden, Germany

WHAT TO DO IN DRESDEN IN 1-4 DAYS

If you are planning your Dresden itinerary, you might be wondering about the best things to do in Dresden. If so, then this post is for you. Here you will find what to do in Dresden along with many travel tips for a great trip – whether you stay 1 day in Dresden or longer.

TRAVEL TIPS FOR YOUR DRESDEN ITINERARY

Dresden is beautiful! Yes, it is! Dresden, the capital of the state of Saxony, is one of the prettiest cities in Germanyif not the prettiest.

Nicknamed the Florence of the Elbe, Dresden is full of gorgeous architecture and a beautiful riverfront. It took me many, many years to finally visit (I will share with you later why that was the case), but now I can say that it is reallypretty! And not only is Dresden pretty but also the surroundings are pretty – from castles along the Elbe River, which is just a stone‘s throw away, to fortresses and the unique landscapes of Saxon Switzerland.

But before talking about the top Dresden activities, here are a few tips for your trip.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means I might earn a small commission when you buy a product/service via my link (at no extra cost to you). More about it here

Is Dresden Worth Visiting?

Yes, Dresden is worth visiting. It is a beautiful city that is rich in history, stunning architecture, lively nightlife, gorgeous places to visit nearby, and much more.

Dresden History at a Glance

Dresden has a long history that played an important role in the regionreflected in numerous castles in and near Dresden that served as palaces for kings and queens When we talk about the previous Saxon rulers, Augustus the Strong will probably be the one you will hear/see the most about. He was Elector of Saxony from 1694 as well as King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He belonged to the Albertine line of the House of Wettin and had a lasting influence on Dresden and the many buildings you will see in Dresden.

During the Second World War, the center of Dresden was largely destroyed by bombs dropped by the Allies – and worldfamous buildings like the Frauenkirche burnt down.

Due to its location in eastern Germany, it became part of East Germany (the DDRor GDR in English) and fell under Soviet occupation after World War II. While parts of Dresden were rebuilt up until the 1990s (when West and East Germany reunited), many buildings were actually only rebuilt after the reunification.

Big rock of Frauenkirche
Shares

The destruction of Dresden and its main sights, along with the partition of Germany, will be the main topic of recent historyalong with a disastrous flood in 2002 that also destroyed many buildings. The flood is also the reason for some construction worke.g. around the Zwinger.

There is much more about the history of Dresden to talk about, but we will leave it for now and have some bits of history here and there when we talk about the sights. But to really get a grasp of the history, I highly recommend doing some guided tours in Dresden.

HOW TO GET AROUND

Many sights are either located in the old town in Dresden or the new town. Since this post also serves as an itinerary, I clustered the attractions so that you reduce the amount of time walking. Within the old town, you can walk to most sights, and in the new town as well.

However, there are some areas where you will need a bike, car, public transportation, or a sightseeing bus.

  • Make sure to wear comfy shoes – many parts of Dresden are best explored on foot and the cobbled-stone streets are not made for high heels!
  • I got a ticket for a sightseeing bus and used it for the old town because the views from the doubledecker bus, along with some information, are nice, but also because I wanted to get outside these two areas and thus, a sightseeing bus was the best choice for me. Also, the sightseeing bus company I chose offered free walking tours, including a night watchman tour. Check out their prices here.
  • Cycling around Dresden is a great ideagetting around by bike, especially along the Elbe River, is a very popular way to see Dresden. And on sunny days, it’s actually a popular activity.
  • I got to Dresden in my van, but did not really use it to get around, and rather booked a guided tour to Saxon Switzerland to avoid traffic and searching for parking spots.
  • Boats are also a great mode of transport for some spots on this itinerary – especially when visiting some areas outside the old and new town – like Pillnitz Castle – you should consider using a boat.
  • For each day, I will give you some tips on what mode of transport is best.

HOW MANY DAYS IN DRESDEN?

I stayed 4 nights in Dresden, but wish I‘d had a few more days. Two days in Dresden is a minimum in my opinionif you want to explore nearby places, then 3 days in Dresden are a must. If you can stay longer, even better, but with two days, you can see the main attractions. I try to cluster the sights, so you can use this as a Dresden itineraryso, whether you are spending 2 or 3 days in Dresden, this is your post!

TOP THINGS TO DO IN DRESDEN

There are several parts of the old town (Altstadt) and new town (Neustadt) that I will focus on, as well as the Dresdner Heide and Saxon Switzerland.

DAY 1 – ALTSTADT –  OLD TOWN

The old town is on the lefthand bank of the Elbe River. It houses most of the “historical“ sights and is the main tourist magnet. For day 1 in Dresden, this will be our main focus. Most buildings were completely destroyed during the Second World War, but the most important buildings have been rebuilt, so it is full of attractions. If you stay in the old town of the city, you can just walk to the sights. They are located so close to each other that you will just have to walk a few kilometers to cover the sights.

Old Town of Dresden, Arzo Travels
Shares

Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche) + Dome Ascent Frauenkirche

The Frauenkirche has probably become the most famous symbol of WWII in Dresden. The original church, a Protestant church that replaced an earlier Catholic church, was constructed between 1726 and 1743. It was almost completely destroyed during World War II and was rebuilt in the 1990s and then reconsecrated in 2005.

Neumarkt Square with Frauenkirche in the background
Shares

It is located on the Neumarkt, surrounded by pretty buildings, yet the Frauenkirche stands out because of its size and because the church itself looks stunningfrom the outside as well as the inside.From the outside, you might notice some darker stones in between the sandy stonesthese are original stones that were reused for the reconstruction of the church.

Frauenkirche interior in Dresden, Arzo Travels-3
Shares

Also, in front of the church, you will see one giant rockit was part of the Frauenkirche before it fell off during the airstrikes.Now, it serves as a reminder.

It is free to go inside and look around – the interior is a replica of the previous church which git destroyed.  You can also go to the top of the church and enjoy some phenomenal views of Dresden from up there.

Views of Elbe River from Frauenkirche, Arzo Travels
Shares

View from Frauenkirche in Dresden, Arzo Travels
Shares

  • The church is free to visit. Check out opening hours before your visit (there might be weddings and opening hours might change).
  • You can also do guided tours of the church.
  • The Dome ascent is 10. There are almost 300 steps to the top, but you could use an elevator and then only have to climb another 123 steps.

Neumarkt SquareNeumarkt Platz

The Frauenkirche, located at Neumarkt Square, is one of the liveliest and most central squares in Dresden. 

Neumarkt Sqaure in Dresden, Arzo Travels
Shares

And it is considered quite enormous for a square by German standards. While there is still some reconstruction going on, the pastelcolored buildings make it pictureperfect  – with statues, shops, restaurants, and sights.

Transport Museum (Verkehrsmuseum)

In Neumarkt Square, you will find one of the main museums in the city. The Transport Museum displays vehicles of all modes of transport, including railway, shipping, road, and air travel. This museum is probably perfect for families or anyone interested in different modes of transportalso a perfect option for rainy moments.

Fürstenzug  (Procession of Princes) + Stallhof (Stable Yard)

Then head to the Fürstenzug, which is just a few minutes away from the museum/Neumarkt. The 101-meter tiled mural depicts the rulers of Saxony, and this unique sight is behind the Royal Palace, outside the Stallhof.

Fürstenzug in Dresden, Arzo Travels
Shares

This artwork was completed in the 19th century as a sgraffito on the outside wall of the Langer Gang to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Wettin Dynasty, Saxonys ruling family.

Weather conditions made the work quickly fade, and so it was transferred to Meissen porcelain tiles between 1904 and 1907 to preserve it. More than 24,000 tiles were used to represent the 35 margraves, princes, and kings, as well as 59 scientists, artisans, craftsmen, and farmersmaking it the biggest porcelain mural in the worldA guided tour with information about certain rulers might be very helpful to understand more about the history of Saxony.

Behind the Fürstenzug, you have the Stallhof. The Stable Yard is a 16thcentury courtyard that was used for games and tournaments and is now known for its Christmas markets in December.

Stallhof in Dresden, Arzo Travels
Shares

It actually is part of the royal palace complex, but I felt that many people skipped it even though it is worth going through.

  • Both attractions are free to visit and are open 24/7.

Royal Palace (Residenzschloss

The reason for the many palaces and castles in Saxonyespecially Dresden’s Royal Palace – is that it was once the hub of power for the Saxon princes and kings. This big castle complex was first mentioned in the 14th century, and the fourwing palace structure was developed in the 15th century.

Royal Palace, Church and more Theaterplatz in Dresden, Arzo Travels
Shares

It had been destroyed twiceonce by fire in 1701 (and then reconstructed under Augustus the Strong) and again during WWII by air strikes. About 500 halls and rooms burned down to their foundation and most of the valuable interior furnishings were lost. Reconstruction started in 1985, and now it houses several museums, a tower with great views, and more.

Royal Palace is one of the best things to do in Dresden, Arzo Travels
Shares

These are the museums of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, inside the Royal Palace.

  • Royal State Apartments of August the Strong  the Porcelain Cabinet
  • Cabinet of Prints and Drawings
  • Coin Cabinet
  • New Green Vault (Neues Grünes Gewölbe)
  • Renaissance Wing
  • Giant´s Hall of the Armory
  • Turkish Chamber

There is also the Historical Green Vault-  the museum was founded in 1723 by Augustus the Strong, and it features a variety of exhibits in styles from Baroque to Classicism.

  • Tickets for all museums cost 14€ 
  • For the Historic Green Vault, you need an extra ticket, which is an additional 14. When I visited, tickets for the day were already sold out.
  • On busy days (bank holidays or the main season), buy your tickets in advance if you want to visit this museum.

Visiting all the museums would probably take 2 days or so. If you have a limited amount of time, then you have to focus on a few museums (or skip them altogether).

Another highlight of the Royal Palace is the Schlosshofthis courtyard is now open to the public and you will have some gorgeous, gorgeous buildings to admire. Like many parts of the country, this area was destroyed but now has been rebuilt and just opened to the public in 2022.

Hausmannsturm in Dresden in Court
Shares

View from Hausmantower in Dresden
Shares

  • You can also climb the 232 steps of the Hausmannsturm to enjoy some great views of the courtyard and the surroundings.
  • There is an entrance fee of 5€ for the HausmannturmI think the views are worth it.

Sanctissimae Trinitatis Cathedral (Katholische Hofkirche)

One of the most recognizable buildings in the old town is the cathedra..Known as the Catholic Court Church, it is located between the Semperoper, the Zwinger, and the Fürstenzug.

View of Theaterplatz in Dresden from Semper Oper
Shares

It is Saxonys largest ecclesiastical building, and its crypt contains 49 sarcophagi of the Wettin princes and kings, as well as their relatives. It is also the resting place of the heart of Augustus the Strong.

It was built by Chiaveri in the Baroque style in the 18th century. Since 1980, it has been the cathedral of the DresdenMeissen diocese.

  • It is open to the public, but make sure to check out the opening hours.

Semper Opera House (Semperoper)

After the Frauenkirche, the Semper Opera House is the most famous building in Dresdenand the most famous opera house in Germany.It is named after Gottfried Semper, who built the opera house between 1838 and 1841.

In 1945, it was hit by the Allied air attacks and burnt downit has been rebuilt and can now be visited (even if you are not planning to see an opera). The Semperoper started as a theater and this is why you have the statues of Goethe and Chiller in front of the opera, but later became an opera exclusively.

Semper Opera in Dresden arzotravels.com
Shares

It houses the Saxon State Orchestra, one of the world’s oldest and bestknown orchestras.To get inside the Semper Opera, you can either book a ticket for an opera or you can book a guided tour. These normally take about 45 minutes and you get to see the stunning inside (Spoiler: basically, all you see there is a reconstruction).

  • The tour costs around 13€ and there is an additional 3€ fee if you want to take pictures inside. You can buy tickets online here.
  • Tickets for an opera start at around 11depending on the play, seat, and the day of your visit.

Zwinger Palace (Zwinger)

Another mustsee in Dresden is the most significant building of the late Baroque period (built between 1710 and 1728)) the Zwinger. It is a composite work of art combining architecture, sculpture, and painting, and you could spend a full day here exploring the outer area and the museums.

View from Zwinger of Royal Palace and Zwinger
Shares

Zwinger in Dresden a main sight, Arzo Travels-2
Shares

Originally designed as an orangery and a setting for court festivities, it was, however, later used for exhibitions. Like most other places in Dresden, it was destroyed during the Second World Warbut got rebuilt laterThere is a lot of construction work going on due to the flood in 2002 that destroyed parts of DresdenNow, the Zwinger houses several museums like the Old Masters Picture Gallery, the Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments, and the Porcelain Collection.

But even if you do not visit any museumsall the sculptures and buildings themselves are art.

Water fountain in Dresden, Arzo Travels-2
Shares

Make sure to also walk the upper pathway and walk to the more or less hidden water fountain. The little, chubby sculptures were probably my favorite sculptures to photograph.

Zwinger in Dresden is a top activity, Arzo Travels
Shares

Brühls Terrace (Brühlsche Terrassen)

A great way to end your day in Dresden is with a walk and then a drink at Brühls TerraceThis beautiful, elevated “pedestrian street“ is located on the Elbes banks and was laid out in the mid-18th century as Count Brühls private pleasure gardens.

Views from the Brühle´s Terrace in Dresden
Shares

The views of the Elbe River, the righthand side of the river, and stunning architectural buildingsespecially the Art Academy and the sculpturesare impressive and make it a perfect place to spend some time.

Start your walk at Theaterplatz and go all the way to Brühlischen Gartenit is just a few hundred meters with some greenery at the end. From the terrace, you can access the Art Academy, Dresden Fortress, and the Albertinum.

Albertinum

The Albertinum is a modern art museum in a Renaissance revival building on Brühls Terrace – amongst art lovers, the Alberzinum, named after King Albert of Saxony is a must-see. 

Albertinum in Dresden, Arzo Travels
Shares

It hosts 1) the New Masters Gallery with some amazing paintings, and 2) the Sculpture Collection of the Dresden State Art Collections (featuring some very famous sculptures). 

Terrassenufer

Below Brühl´s Terrace, you have the Terrassenuferit is another beautiful place for nice walks, with views of the Elbe. Also, this is the place where boat cruises start/end.

Terrace at the Elbe, Dresden
Shares

You could walk all along the Terrassenufer and even continue your walk along the Elbe for several kilometers.If you plan a boat cruise, this is most likely where you will either embark or disembark (more on boat cruises from Dresden later).

More Things to See in the Old Town of Dresden

Here are a few more places in Dresden/activities you could add to your first day.

Festung/Fortress Experience

Just below the Brühl´s Terraces, you have the fortress of Dresden. Here at this 17thcentury fortress, European porcelain was invented. But these days it is home to a rather unique experience with 360-degree projections and 3D audio technology.

Dresden Xperience Fortress
Shares

Duke Maurice will guide you through the 450-yearold ruins and tell you all about his adventures in what used to be the most modern bastion fortress in GermanyI enjoyed my experience, though I would not recommend it if you are on a tight budget or have just 1 or 2 days in Dresden.

  • The entrance fee is 10 (including the audio guide). I booked my ticket together with my hop-on and hop-off ticket here.

Night Watchman Tour

Learn about the sights with a historical night watchmanspooky Dresden by night is beautifulThe best way to experience it might be via a Night Watchman TourLearn about the sights with a historical night watchmanspooky stories and amusing anecdotes included.

  • Tours take about 90 minutes, and even if you did the walking tour during the day, this will be a different experience. You can book tours here.

If you have a ticket for a hopon and hopoff ticket, night watchman tours are included.

Guided Walking Tour

A fantastic way to learn about a placewhether here or anywhere else in the worldis via guided walking tours. These tours are often led by locals or people who have been living in the place for a long time, and who can give you tons of tips for main attractions and also some insider information.

There are different tour operators, but most cover the same places and the same route.

I booked my “walking tour with a coffee,“ which started inside the mall next to the Frauenkirche (and the tourism office). If you wonder when you‘ll get that coffee during the walk, you will receive a voucher that you can use for a cafe inside the mall. Check out the guided tour I did.

Later I found out that there is a walking tour included in the hop-on and hop-off bus ticket.

DAY 2 IN DRESDEN

The New Town is the main focus of day 2 in Dresdenit is the district on the righthand bank of the Elbe. Though it is a new town, you will find many historic sights hereactually, this district was the oldest in the city to be destroyed by fire in the 17th century. Under Augustus the Strong, it was created as a Baroque Quarterhome now to beautiful buildings, statues, and alleyways.

Also, this is the more hip area, with many cafes and quirky attractions. However, we will start with a main attraction at the eastern end of Dresden.

Pillnitz Castle (Schloss Pillnitz)

Pillnitz Palace is a mustsee in 2 days in Dresden. This restored baroque castle is located on the bank of the Elbe River, in the former village of Pillnitz, which is now part of Dresden. On your way there, you will see its picturesque location in the Elbe Valley with its vineyardsIt is easy to see why Saxon rulers chose this place to reside during the summer months.

Pillnitz Castle in Dresden, Arzo Travels
Shares

A gorgeous combination of baroque and oriental architecture, with even more gorgeous parks to discover, Pillnitz Palace is a great place to start your day!

The main wings, built by Augustus the Strong in the early 18th century, are today the home of the Museum of Decorative Arts, where you can also visit the Palace Museum with its royal kitchen, domed hall, and chapel.

Stroll the English, Dutch, and Chinese Gardens, and then visit the Palm House, where a 250-yearold camellia is kept in a greenhouse in the winter months. You could surely spend a full day herebut there are many more places to visit in Dresden, so you might want to continue.

There are different ways to get to Pllinitz Castle: Get there by boat, car, or local bus – or enjoy a scenic bike ride from the old town along the Elbe River.

  • There is an entrance fee for the parks of 3€ for adults (totally, totally worth it).
  • The entrance fee for the museums “Place Museum and Museum of Decorative Arts” is 8€ and the entrance fee for the Palm House is 3€.
  • Check out opening hours and more here.

Loschwitz Bridge (Blaues Wunder)

The Loschwitz Bridge is a cantilever truss bridge over the Elbe that connects Dresden´s districts of Blasewitz and Loschwitz. These two affluent residential areas are amongst the most expensive in Europe.

Blaues Wunder in Dresden, Arzo Travels
Shares

For more than 125 years, the bridge has been one of the main landmarks in Dresdenand if you are wondering why its name is the Blue Bridge in German, it’s because the steel of the bridge is blue (I seriously would not have noticed without this piece of extra information).

You can walk, cycle, or drive the bridge. It is heavily frequented, and when I passed it on the sightseeing bus, I missed the chance to enjoy the views from the bridge.

Lingnerterrasse

Here it is about beautiful views! The 19thcentury palace, which is under renovation at the moment, still offers a great panorama from its terraced garden, restaurant, and cultural events.

Views from Lingern Terrace in Dresden
Shares

Also, prices for the outdoor cafe are very reasonable. Just watch that they do not overcharge you, as they did with me. I only noticed later that they charged me for a large drink when I only had a small one

The Lingnerterrasse is a gorgeous stopeasily accessible by car, sightseeing bus, or tram line 11.

Pfunds Molkerei

Continue your journey and head to the next stop by tram or bus.Known as the most beautiful dairy/milk shop in the world, this store is located in New Town and has become a tourist magnet.

Pfunds Molkerei in Dresden, closed, Arzo Travels
Shares

Personally, I try to avoid dairy products, however, I did want to mention it because it is really pretty and is often named one of the top 10 sights in Dresden.With 247.9 m² of handpainted tiles from the company Villeroy & Boch (one of Germany´s leading manufacturers of ceramics), the store tells the story of the Pfund brothers, who opened the shop in 1892.

There are now also two additional shops next door, selling soaps and regional products, including vegan food. The shop is closed on Sundays and bank holidays (this is why I could not enter and could only look through the window). There is no entrance fee.  

Callejón del Arte (Kunsthofpassage)

From there, you can walk (about 15 minutes) to a rather quirky sight in Dresden: Neustadt. This area is full of charming, alternative, quirky, but also beautiful, cafes and restaurantssome of them you will find within the Kunsthofpassage, which is a network of decorated courtyards housing outdoor cafes, artistsstudios, and independent boutiques.

Kunsthofpassage in Dresden
Shares

House of the Church of Dresden (Dreikönigskirche)

The main church, you will notice, (though it is not the only one in this area) is the  Dreikönigskirche, which was built in the 18th century. Its neo-baroque tower was added about 100 years later.

Dreikönigskirche in Dresden Arzo Travels
Shares

After it was destroyed in World War II, it got reconstructed. You can now visit the church itself, as well as the tower, from which you can enjoy nice panoramas, including the Canaletto View (more on that in a bit).

  • The entrance fee is about 5€ for the tower.
  • The church is free to visit.

Hauptstrasse

After visiting the church head (back) to the main alleythe Hauptstrasse.It is a gorgeous pedestrian street with plants, patrician houses, restaurants, and shops, and also inner courtyards (which often have restaurants or boutiques inside them) that make this place a perfect one for great strolls.

Hautptstrasse Alley in Dresden
Shares

Golden Horseman (Goldener Reiter

The Statue of Augustus the Strong has been located in the New Town market since 1736.

Golden Horseman in Dresden, Augustus the Strong, Arzo Travels
Shares

If you walk down the beautiful alley (with a short detour to the Dreikönigskirche), you will see the huge monument for Augustus the Strong, who together with his son Frederick Augustus II, gave rise to those baroque buildings and unique art collections, which earned the Elbe metropolis the  nameFlorence on the Elbe.“ This is why he is one of the people you will come across the most when you hear about the history of Dresden

Canaletto View From the Beach Area

After you pass the Golden Horseman statue, walk to the bridge. But before you actually reach it, turn right and walk towards the Elbe River. Here you have a great panoramaalso known as the  Canaletto View.

Canaletto View of Dresden, Arzo Travels
Shares

A court painter of Augustus III (son of Augustus the Strong), Canaletto created a series of 14 largesized views of the baroque Dresden in the mid-18th centuryearning Dresden the name “Venice on the Elbe“ (to later become “Florence on the Elbe“). The view of some of the most gorgeous sights like the Frauenkirche, the Hofkirche, and moremakes it a mustsee. Also, you can enjoy some time at the “beach.“ 

This section of the Elbe River is quite popular amongst locals and tourists alike, and perfect for dipping your toes into the water! Then you can have your drink/dinner in this area or head back to the old town by walking the Augustusbrücke (Augustus Bridge).

More Activities for Day 2 in Dresden

Here are a few more activities you could combine with above-mentioned sights.

Elbe River Cruise

A boat cruise on the Elbe River is very popular. It is not necessarily an activity in Neustadt, but I added a boat cruise for this day, as you can get to Pillnitz Castle by boat and explore before taking a local bus or boat to continue your journey.

You can also combine your trip to Königstein Fortress or Meißen with a boat cruise, or just do a “random“ boat cruise on the Elbe River.

Day 3 in Dresden

If you are in Dresden for a couple of days, you should explore the nearby nature. The pretty vineyards near Dresden are worth a visitbut if you head further east, then some of the most unique rock formations in Germany will await you.

Saxon Switzerland – Bastei & Bastei Bridge 

Saxon Switzerland  A mustsee near Dresden is Saxon Switzerland. This unique area is a national park around the Elbe Valley, southeast of DresdenTogether with Bohemian Switzerland in the Czech Republic, it forms the Elbe Sandstone Mountainsit has nothing to do with the actual country of  Switzerland, except for its beauty!

Shares

The Bastei and the Bastei Bridge are the most famous sights therefor good reason. The unique rock formation looks absolutely stunning!

The bridge can be walked (for free) and there are several viewing platforms from which you can enjoy an actual view of the bridge. Hikers will have plenty of options to go on shorter or longer hikes, but even if you are not really fit, you can get to the vista points with only a little physical effort.

Shares

If you do the tour I did, you will have about 2 hours here, which is more than enough to stroll the area, take pictures, and have a snack from the stall restaurants nearbyYou can get to the Bastei in about 1 hour from Dresden.

While I mostly travel independently and organize everything myself, I opted for a guided tour a) because it is quite affordable (just 20), and b) because it can be quite nice to relax, not worry about parking, etc.

You can do this tour by yourself, tooeither by getting around in your own car or by taking local buses. Local buses also go there and there is a parking lot about 1 kilometer from the bridge where you can leave your ca. If you want to check out the tour I did, click here.

  • There is just a small entrance fee (about 2.5) for the extra viewing platform – you can pay by card.

Königstein Fortress  

This huge, hilltop fortress about 35 km from Dresden has more than 50 imposing buildingslike the barracks, casemates, deep well, gardens, and morewhich make it an amazing stop for people of all ages.

Königstein Fortress near Dresden, Arzo Travels
Shares

Elbe River from Königstein Fortress
Shares

From the parking lot, a lift will take you up and you can walk the 1.7-kilometerlong panorama walk along the fortressand enjoy some really stunning views of the mountains and the Elbe River. For the smaller ones, there are canons, museums, and more. You could spend a day here, but even 2 hours will be enough to enjoy the panoramas, visit a museum or two, and have a coffee before heading back to Dresden.

  • The cost for the entrance is 13which is not a little.

But there is quite a lot to do and see, and I think that it was worth it after all

Day 4 in Dresden  – Meissen (Albrechtsburg) and Moritzburg

If you stay 4 days in Dresden, you can add a few more castles to your itinerary. For one, there is the very cute town of Meißen, just 20 km west of Dresden, with a famous castle known as Albrechtsburg.

Meissen Castle Albrechtsburg
Shares

The Albrechtsburg is a late gothic and early Renaissance castle from the 15th centuryIt is located on a hill above the Elbe  River in Meissen, adjacent to the Meissen Cathedral.

Though the best views of the castle are from the other side of the Elbe River (just cross the bridge), you might want to check out the castle itself as well before visiting the Cathedral and exploring the small town center with its pretty and colorful buildings.

  • There is an entrance fee for the castle, the cathedral, and its tower. 13€ for a combined ticket (cathedral and castle), plus 2€ for the tower.
  • You can get to Meissen by car, bus, or boat.
  • Check out river cruises to Meissen here.

Moritzburg Castle

Moritzburg Castle is another beautiful castle worth a visit. It is named after Duke Maurice, who built it as a  hunting lodge for himself in the 16th century. In the 18th century, Augustus the  Strong converted it into a baroque castle in the middle of a large pond and park

Moritzburg Castle near Dresden, Arzo Travels
Shares

You can see one of the most important collections of hunting trophies in Europe, ornate gilt leather tapestries, and the “Feather Room,“ which includes over a million colored feathers!

  • The entrance fee for the castle is about 10.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE BEST DRESDEN ACTIVITIES

Dresden is a gorgeous city, offering plenty of activities for its visitors. Whether you are in Dresden for 2, 3, or 4 days, you surely will not get bored because there are many things to do in Dresden

Enjoy and stay safe!

Pin It on Pinterest

Shares