Dresden is the capital of Saxony (Sachsen). It's often referred to locally as Elbflorenz, or "Florence on the Elbe", reflecting its location on the Elbe river and its historical role as a centre for the arts and beautiful architecture – much like Florence in Italy. While Florence flourished during the early renaissance, the Golden Age of Dresden was in the 18th century when, under August the Strong and his son, Friedrich August II, Saxony was a rich and important state and the rulers invested in lavish architectural projects in their capital an…
Dresden is over 800 years old, having become a city in 1206. Many Saxon princes, dukes and kings called Dresden home, the most famous of them being August der Starke (Augustus the Strong), who was also King of Poland. The many buildings and rich art collections that date from this era, are testimony to the monarchs' extreme wealth. Raphael's Sistine Madonna, a famous oil painting of the Virgin Mary, was bought by the son of August the Strong, and is on display in Dresden.
In the centre, especially in the historic part of the Old Town (Altstadt), everything is easily accessible on foot. (The city centre is not the geographical midpoint of the city). If you want to go to the outer districts (unlikely for most travelers) you will probably have to take a bike or public transport (most tram lines go well into the suburbs). Dresden has an extensive reliable and high quality (even by German standards) public transport system consisting of regional railways (called S-Bahn, historically Schnellbahn), trams (called Straßenbahn) and buses. Three ferries cross the Elbe and two cable car systems go up Loschwitz hill.
Dresden is a very beautiful, light-spirited city, especially in summer, when you can appreciate the serene setting of the historic centre. Although Dresden is larger than Munich when measured by area, the historic centre is quite compact and walkable. 1 Frauenkirche, An der Frauenkirche, ☏ +49 351 65606100. The original Church of Our Lady was completely destroyed during World War II; however, it has been reconstructed. The City of Coventry, which was raided by the Luftwaffe in WWII, donated the golden cross for the dome of the church. Check out some ruins in the basement.
Semperoper. Go to a performance or take a tour. Be sure to book in advance. Details are in the listing in the See section. 1 Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden. Referred to colloquially as the Staatskapelle Dresden, it is one of the oldest orchestras in the world, founded in 1548. Its home venue is the Semperoper. The principal conductor is Daniele Gatti. (updated Apr 2018) 2 Dresden Philharmonic (Dresdner Philharmonie). Orchestra founded in 1870. Their main venue is in the Kulturpalast, the principal conductor is Donald Runnicles. (updated Apr 2018) 3 Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber Dresden (Wettiner Platz 13), ☏ +49 351 4923696.
Dresden is particularly famous for its Stollen (a Christmas cake made from yeast dough with raisins, butter and almonds) Locals perennially discuss which bakery bakes the best Stollen. Another speciality is Dresdner Eierschecke, a cake with three layers: a thin base of yeast dough, a layer of quark pudding in the middle, and a broad layer of egg yolk cream on top. Dresdner Wiegebraten is a mixture of minced pork, beef, white bread, eggs and spices. It is usually served with boiled or fried potatoes and sauce, often with vegetables.
The area around the Frauenkirche and Dresden Castle is very popular with tourists. Some fine restaurants are located there. The Weiße Gasse is just around the corner of the Altmarkt near the shopping centre and the historical town. A good alternative if you do not want to go to the Neustadt. Bar Peanuts, Brühlsche Terrasse, ☏ +49 351 8642838. Small, cozy bar is located at the corner of the Hilton overlooking the Elbe. Peanut shells are scattered on the floor and as the name suggests, peanuts are the central theme. Cocktails and beer are the main draws here, along with the spectacular view. 1 Bärenzwinger, Brühlscher Garten 1, ☏ +49 351-495-1409.
Dresden is a safe place to be, just like the rest of Germany. Avoid visiting the Alaunpark in the night. Be careful in the Neustadt after midnight; don't use small dark streets. Media reports will point out that extreme right parties are relatively popular; however, these are very small groups (a few hundred people) who have little to no effect on everyday life for most people. Although it is difficult to pinpoint the exact places where the right-wing extremists of Dresden live the relatively poor high-rise ("Plattenbau") neighborhoods of Gorbitz and Prohlis have a reputation of being inhabited by more Nazis than other parts of town.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Sep, Dresden typically sees ~20°C daytime highs and 14 rainy days.
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