Things to do in Dresden

Dresden has many quality churches and palaces, most of which suffered allied WWII bombing but have been beautifully restored. The historic centre of Dresden is resplendent, while several city parks offer leisure activities and a place to relax, away from the general bustle. For the culturally-inclined, Dresden’s supply of museums is not to be sniffed at.

Elbwiesen

One of the most favourable parts of Dresden during warm summer evenings, the Elbwiesen (River Banks) are lusciously green and offer great views of the Old Town and pleasant picnic opportunities. This is also a great area for partaking in sports, outdoor cinema and concerts.

Frauenkirche

The Church of Our Lady has been reconstructed owing to the destruction from allied bombings during WWII and has now reopened. The church tower offers fantastic views over the city, while the dome features a golden cross that was donated by the city of Coventry, in England.

Groer Garten

The Großer Garten (Big Garden) is great for families with children, with its leisure options including several small ponds, walking and cycling paths, and a miniature train ride; there is also a zoological garden here. The park is located to the southeast of the city centre and can be reached by tram.

Japanese Palais

The Japanese Palace is located along the Grosser Meissner strasse, near the Blockhaus, and features an elaborate roof. Built in 1715, the palace was originally intended to house a large porcelain collection for the royals, yet this never came about.

Kreuzkirche

The Church of the Holy Cross lies in a corner of the Altmarkt square in the city centre and takes its name from a crucifix relic that dates from the 14th century. Like many other prominent buildings in Dresden, the Kreuzkirche received significant damage during the WWII bombings, when it unfortunately lost its beautiful original Baroque interior. The 300-foot high tower offers fine views.

Semperoper

The Semperoper is one of Dresden’s finest buildings and also one of the world’s most beautiful opera houses. Although the present day operas are not up to the heady standards of the days of Wagner and Straus, there are nonetheless some great productions held here and free bench seats are available right at the top of the auditorium. Tours of the building during none-show days are fascinating.

Taschenbergpalais

Although the early 18th century Taschenbergpalais is a shadow of its former self, having suffered massively at the hands of the Allies during WWII, the rebuilt Baroque palace, now a hotel, is beautiful. The palace was originally built by Pöppelmann and Karcher under Friedrich August I for his mistress Countess Cosel and was extended in the mid-1800s. Today, the façade is rich beyond words.

Zwinger Palace

Perhaps Dresden’s greatest cultural asset, the Zwinger Palace was modelled after Versailles and features many museums with famous art collections and numerous sculptures. Built by Augustus the Strong in the early 1800s, the symmetrical palace was the venue for many major tournaments and was home to several of his mistresses, yet was largely destroyed by the British during the war. Beautifully restored; today, the Zwinger Palace is a must-see for any tourist.

Museums

Of Dresden’s many museums, the Albertinum Museum is the most important, with its fascinating art and sculpture collections of Galerie Neue Meister as well as the Van Gogh pieces. On a different plane, the Schloss und Grünes Gewölbe (the Green Vault) is a magnificent treasure chamber museum which houses the world’s biggest green diamond, the crown jewels and the court of Aurengzeb.