Dresden, Germany is a beautiful city with SO much to offer and some great things to do. It is located in a region called Saxony Switzerland (which is weird, because it isn’t in Switzerland), but nonetheless, it is an amazing and picturesque region with such a unique landscape. Dresden also has a rich history and was heavily bombed during World War II.
I visited Dresden once while on a backpacking trip throughout Europe. I stopped here in between Berlin and Rathen, and loved visiting. I cannot wait to get back and see even more!
Below are 15 of the best things to do in Dresden when you visit!
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Quick Facts About Dresden
- The main currency in Dresden is the Euro (€)
- Dresden is a 2 hour bus ride from Berlin
- Nicknamed “Florence of the Elbe” – Dresden is BEAUTIFUL
- It is the second largest city on the River Elbe
![Streets of Dresden with pretty architecture leading up to the Dresden Cathedral](https://i0.wp.com/endlesswonder.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/dresden-germany-architecture.jpg?resize=870%2C580&ssl=1)
Explore Dresden By Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
You can absolutely do a self-guided walking tour of Dresden to see all of these spots. Dresden is very walkable and pretty easy to navigate!
If you’re not interested in navigating yourself around though, consider booking a spot on the Hop-on Hop-Off bus! It will take you to 22 stops around Dresden, and included some entrance tickets as well!
Check availability for the Dresden Hop-on Hop-off Bus Here
15 Things to do in Dresden, Germany
![Gardens of the Zwinger in Dresden](https://i0.wp.com/endlesswonder.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/dresden-germany-zwinger.jpg?resize=580%2C870&ssl=1)
1. Visit the Zwinger
The Zwinger is a free thing to do in Dresden, with incredibly picturesque architecture and an incredible garden area – right in Dresden’s downtown! The architecture is an amazing example of Baroque architecture, and was almost completely destroyed by bombing during WWII.
Today, it’s a beautiful spot to spend an afternoon taking pictures, enjoying a picnic, or just taking in the views, and is home to a ton of lovely art and other museum pieces.
If you’re interested in classical music, you can also purchase tickets for a Gala Concert in the Zwinger.
2. Visit the Dresden Striezelmarkt (Christmas Market)
The Christmas Markets in Europe are so much fun, and Dresden has an incredible one called Dresden Striezelmarkt! It is one of the oldest Christmas Markets in Europe, and regularly voted a favourite by German-speaking countries.
Since it is a short train ride from Berlin, it’s an easy market to get to, especially if you’re hopping from market to market. If you’re visiting Europe in late November – December, don’t miss this!
![Brühls Terrace from across the River Elbe](https://i0.wp.com/endlesswonder.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/bruhles-terrace-dresden-germany.jpg?resize=870%2C580&ssl=1)
3. Brühl’s Terrace
Bruhl’s Terrace is known as the “Balcony of Europe”. It’s an area along Dresden’s riverbank and it is beautiful at any time of the day. Pick up some ice cream and spend time strolling down the terrace and along the River Elbe – it’s incredible and so picturesque!
4. Albertinum Modern Art Museum
The Albertinum is a Modern Art Museum that is located on Bruhl’s Terrace. Even if you aren’t interested in museums, the building itself is stunning!
I had limited time in Dresden, so I was unable to go into the Albertinium, but I enjoyed admiring the architecture from the outside! If you’re interested in Modern Art, it may be worth a visit, otherwise I would prioritize other things!
![Dresden Castle](https://i0.wp.com/endlesswonder.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/dresden-castle.jpg?resize=870%2C580&ssl=1)
5. Dresden Castle (Residenzschloss)
I love Dresden Castle! No need to travel far and wide for another castle in Europe – it is located right in Downtown and is soo easy to get to! It’s a great site to see and so beautiful. The Dresden Castle is one of the oldest buildings in Dresden and has been reconstructed a few times. It has gone through a fire as well as attacks during the Second World War.
Today you can go inside the castle, or just admire the architecture from the outside!
6. Kunsthof Passage Dresden
I learned about this spot after I had visited Dresden, but essentially it is a passage of different courtyards with unique themes and art on the buildings. There are different restaurants and shops here, and looks like a super fun spot to take photos in Dresden!
![Yellow porcelain tiles with horses and men in a huge wall mural on the side of a building in Dresden](https://i0.wp.com/endlesswonder.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/procession-of-princes-dresden-germany.jpg?resize=870%2C580&ssl=1)
7. The Procession of Princes (Fürstenzug)
This is a huge mural (also located centrally in Dresden) that you can’t miss! It’s made out of 23,000 porcelain tiles which is pretty incredible, and features all of the past rulers of Saxony. This is the largest porcelain mural in the world and is super cool to see!
In the photo above, you can see just how big the mural is compared to the people beside it.
For the best photos of the Procession of Princes, make sure to get here early in the morning to try to avoid the crowds!
8. Castle Moritzburg
This castle is a 20 minute drive out of the city of Dresden, so it might require a bit more time and travel on your end, but it is a cool castle to visit and not actually that far away, compared to other castles around Europe!
Castle Moritzburg is really cool because it has a moat (it’s on an island surrounded by water!) and was first built to be used as a Hunting Lodge. Today, you can explore the castle and see the collection of super old red deer antlers on the wall in the Great Dining Hall, a large porcelain collection, tapestries, and more!
![the front of the Dresden Cathedral with both old bricks (black) and new ones (beige), one of my favourite things to do in Dresden!](https://i0.wp.com/endlesswonder.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/dresden-germany-Frauenkirche-cathedral.jpg?resize=580%2C870&ssl=1)
9. Frauenkirche – Dresden Cathedral
The Dresden Cathedral is super cool, and one of my favourite cathedrals that I’ve seen in Europe! It is located in the centre of Dresden and is so stunning.
The bricks that it is made out of are black and white, and this is one of the reasons why I love it. The darker stones are old stones from when the Cathedral fell from the Dresden bombing. The brighter stones are new stones that are mixed in when the cathedral was rebuilt.
I think this is such a unique way to preserve and rebuild something and it is a super cool thing to see in person.
10. Explore Dresden by Night
Once the sun sets, a lot of the buildings in Dresden light up which makes them stand out against the night sky and have a really interesting look to them. They look so pretty in the dark and it is a different energy at night.
If you’re spending a night in Dresden, make sure to go out and explore again during the nighttime!
![Top of the Semperoper with Baroque architecture](https://i0.wp.com/endlesswonder.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/dresden-germany-opera-house.jpg?resize=870%2C580&ssl=1)
11. The Opera House (Semperoper)
The Opera House is located right near the Zwinger by the River Elbe and is a stunning building! If you are travelling to Europe and are a fan of architecture, the Semperoper is the perfect place to go!
The ballet is supposed to be incredible here, or you can book a guided tour of the Opera House to see inside.
Check availability for a Guided Tour of the Opera House (Semperoper)
12. Cruise the River Elbe
Another fun thing to do in Dresden is to book a boat tour and cruise along the River Elbe.
You can take a leisurely cruise down the river and enjoy a lot of sites from the boat that are located along the riverside. Check availability here!
Or, join a cruise where you can see the sites, as well as use it as a form of transportation to get to Pillnitz Palace, where you will have a short amount of time to admire the Palace from the boat before heading back. Check availability here!
![The bastei bridge - a beautiful bridge built out of bricks amongst pretty rock formations, with trees below and a large hill in the background](https://i0.wp.com/endlesswonder.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kurort-rathen-germany-bastei-bridge.jpg?resize=870%2C580&ssl=1)
13. Take a Day Trip to the Bastei Bridge!
The Bastei Bridge is absolutely amazing! It is can be done in a day trip from Dresden and I think it is so so worth it.
You do have to hike to get there and the trail head is in a small German town where they don’t speak much English – but it is so cool and so worth the trip! The Bastei Bridge was a highlight of my Europe trip.
14. Take a Day Trip to Devil’s Bridge (Rakotzbrücke)
The Devil’s Bridge is iconic and incredible. If you have ever seen a photo of that perfectly circular bridge with the reflection in the water, this is Rakotzbrücke.
And the good news is, is it is only a 1.5 hour drive from Dresden! This place is a travel photographer’s dream and definitely worth a visit if you have time!
![The streets of Dresden, Germany with old architecture buildings on either side and cobblestone streets.](https://i0.wp.com/endlesswonder.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/dresden-germany-pretty-streets.jpg?resize=870%2C580&ssl=1)
15. Just Explore!
Walking the streets and just exploring was one of my favourite things to do in Dresden. The streets, the architecture, and just everything is so so beautiful. The city is so unique and filled with so much history – so leave time to just wander and take it all in!
Things to do in Dresden Summary
I highly recommend adding Dresden to your itinerary if you’re exploring Germany. There are so many great things to do in Dresden, with incredible architecture and rich history.
Make sure you don’t miss the Dresden Cathedral and the Procession of Princes while exploring.
You need at least a day to explore, but more is always better 🙂 .
Hopefully, this list has helped you plan your trip or gave you some inspiration for travelling to Dresden!
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Hey! I’m Kat. Based in Alberta, Canada I love to travel to the Rockies and explore new places around the world. Follow along on my adventures and find inspiration and tips for your own travels.
Nora says
I need to visit Dresden for sure! I’ve only driven by, just stopped to buy pretzels. I love the architecture and Bastei Bridge looks awesome 👌