Things to do in Dresden / Travel Guide

Dresden in Saxony looks back on a rich past and fascinates with architecture, culture and history in equal measure. We introduce you to the top 10 sights in the city!

Centuries-old buildings that still inspire both visually and culturally, numerous exciting museums and historical sites that are worth visiting, idyllic parks for relaxing walks and on top of that the opportunity to try out the culinary highlights of Germany – all this awaits you in Dresden . And on top of that, the city in the middle east of the country can also be reached in a short time from anywhere else in Germany. We have looked at the ten best sights in Dresden for you in detail!

1. Zwinger, inner old town

One of the most famous and probably also the most beautiful sights in Dresden is the starting point: the Zwinger, which was originally built in the 18th century as an orangery and later as a festival area. Even today, the wonderful baroque-style castle still serves as a venue for a series of glamorous concerts and exhibitions against a wonderful backdrop and, thanks to its idyllic gardens, also as a local recreation area, where orange trees have even been growing since 2017.

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Admission to the inner courtyard, the outer galleries and the Zwinger gardens is free of charge; the museums in the building complex, including the Semper Gallery, require separate admission from 9 euros. It is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Nov – Mar) or 10:30 p.m. (Apr – Oct).

2. Frauenkirche, inner old town

We continue straight away with the next unmistakable sight in Dresden, the Frauenkirche on Neumarkt. The Evangelical-Lutheran church is not only known for its wonderful exterior and impresses with its Baroque architecture including a huge stone dome, it is also the largest sandstone building in the world. The Frauenkirche was originally built in the first half of the 18th century, but was completely destroyed in World War II and then rebuilt in its current form in the 1990s. Today it still serves as a functional church as well as a venue for various events, including concerts and lectures. An exhibition on the history of the Frauenkirche can also be visited during the daily open church. Admission is free.

3. Semperoper, inner old town

Dresden – Semperoper, Germany

Located directly between the Zwinger and the Elbe, there is another sight in the historic city center of Dresden that you should not miss when visiting the city: the Semperoper. The Semperoper has been rebuilt several times over the years and rebuilt after war damage; the building that we know today is the third building that was built from 1977 and finally opened in 1985. The opera hosts around 300 events a year with a capacity utilization of over 90 percent, making it an extremely successful music theater. The pieces that are regularly performed here include classics such as The Magic Flute, Carmen or Nabucco, but also more modern works and productions.

4. Residential Palace, Inner Old Town

The Dresden Residenzschloss, built in the Renaissance style, is also located in the inner old town of Dresden and was first mentioned in documents as early as the 13th century. From the 16th century it initially served as the residence of the Saxon electors, and from the early 19th century it was also the royal residence before it unfortunately burned down during the Second World War. The residential palace has been rebuilt since 1980 and today, in addition to the art library and the general management of the Dresden State Art Collections, houses a total of five exciting museums: the City’s Historical Museum, the New Green Vault, the Coin Cabinet, the Copperplate Cabinet and the Armory with the Turkish Cammer. The museum is open daily except Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Combination tickets are available from 21 euros, with under-17s paying no admission.

5. Brühlsche Terrasse, Inner Old Town

If you feel like some fresh air after all the visits to interesting buildings, you should not miss a walk along the next top sights in Dresden: the Brühlsche Terrasse. The terrace stretches along the Elbe for around 500 meters between the Augustus and Carola bridges and not only offers great views over the river, but also lots of architectural gems. For example, the terrace leads past the Art Academy and the Albertinum, but also offers a view of the Hofkirche and the Semperoper as well as many a monument or memorial, including those in honor of Gottfried Semper, Ludwig Richter and Caspar David Friedrich.

6. Catholic Court Church, Inner Old Town

With the Catholic Hofkirche, Dresden offers another baroque building that is absolutely worth seeing and that should definitely be on the must-see list when you visit here. The wonderful church was built in the mid-18th century by the master builder Gaetano Chiaveri on behalf of Elector Friedrich August II of Saxony and has also served as the cathedral of the Dresden-Meissen diocese since 1964. Not only the balustrade of the court church and its beautiful nave are particularly worth seeing here, but also the impressive Silbermann organ and the burial vault of the cathedral deserve attention.

7. Great Garden, Old Town

Dresden also has a lot to offer apart from its architectural wonders – and so the city also comes up trumps when it comes to green spaces with a very special sight: the magnificent Great Garden with zoological garden, palace, botanical garden, puppet theater, two ponds and more. The beautiful park covers a total of around 1.8 square kilometers and is ideal for forgetting the stressful everyday life for a few hours on a leisurely stroll between sculptures, flowering beds and interesting buildings. During the warm season, the Great Garden is also the scene of (mainly rock) concerts, which take place in the so-called “Junge Garde”.

8. Procession of Princes, Inner Old Town

When strolling through the old town, you should stop by another attraction: the impressive procession of princes. The porcelain mural stretches over a full 102 meters and depicts a cavalcade depicting the 34 margraves, dukes, electors and kings of the Princely House of Wettin who ruled Saxony between 1127 and 1873. The procession of princes is the largest picture of its kind in the world and is located on Augustusstraße, which you can reach on foot from all the sights mentioned so far in a few minutes.

9. Moritzburg Castle, Moritzburg

If you are not afraid to go on excursions into the surrounding area of ​​the city when visiting Dresden, you should also put Moritzburg Castle, almost 13 kilometers north-west of the Dresden city limits, on your bucket list. The former hunting lodge in its current form dates from the 18th century and enchants visitors with its baroque architecture as well as its many pretty sculptures and the idyllic castle park, which is ideal for peaceful walks in the countryside. The castle is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Entry costs 8 euros (between 1 and 6.50 euros with concessions).

10. Pillnitz Castle, Pillnitz

And another castle worth seeing is located just outside the city center, namely Pillnitz Castle in the district of the same name in the south-east of Dresden. The palace consists of three palaces – the Wasserpalais, the Bergpalais and the Neues Palais – and with its location directly on the Elbe invites you to exciting excursions into the history of the palace as well as relaxing excursions into the magnificent landscape of the complex. In several museums you can learn more about the building and its history yourself or be enchanted by various works of art while you enjoy the beauty of the local nature in the baroque pleasure garden, in the Chinese garden with pavilion or in the palm house.