Discovering the Beauty and History of Dresden
Curated By
Iryna Apperson
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Arts & Culture
City Travel
Solo Travel
Family Travel
Dresden
Germany
History
Archaeological
Architecture
Curator’s statement
Dresden is a less popular German city than Berlin or Frankfurt, but it is a beautiful one with a rich history and cultural heritage. It is a city that has been destroyed and rebuilt several times and still retains its original beauty. It's a great destination for art and architecture lovers as well as nature lovers as it's situated on the picturesque Elbe River.
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Insider knowledge
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Where to stay in Dresden
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Things to do in Dresden
Visit the Old Town (Altstadt)
Here you will find landmarks like the Zwinger Palace, the Frauenkirche and the Dresden Castle. Explore the charming narrow streets lined with shops, cafes and galleries.
Visit the Museums
Dresden has many interesting museums. Some of my favorite ones are: Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister - here you can see the works of renowned artists like Raphael, Rembrandt, Vermeer and others .
Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault) - The museum itself is an intricate work of art and is a beautiful example of Baroque architecture. Here you will find an impressive collection of art and historical artifacts.
Deutsches Hygiene-Museum (German Hygiene Museum) - This one is quite different from the first two. This unique museum offers thought-provoking displays on topics such as the human body, health and society.
Enjoy a ballet or opera performance at the Semper Opera House - A magnificent example of neo-Renaissance architecture. The opera offers a variety of different music genres.
Discover the Neustadt District (New Town)
Cross the Elbe River from the Old Town, and you'll find this vibrant, bohemian neighborhood. Neustadt great if you like trendy cocktail bars or want to see street art and quirky stores.
If you're visiting around Christmas time, make sure you don't miss Striezelmarkt, a magical Christmas market that offers many traditional German foods and glühwein (mulled wine). There are also handmade crafts you can buy for friends and family back home.
Places to eat & drink in Dresden
MAX Dresden - Located in Neustadt. I had wonderful potato gnocchi with salmon here.
Restaurant & Café Luisenhof - The restaurant serves both German and international cuisines and the terrace overlooks the Elbe River.
Raskolnikoff - A cozy bar in Neustadt. I like it for its great selection of cocktails and live music.
Travel Advisor
Iryna Apperson
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This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to Germany.