Dresden

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 and supported artists of worldwide renown.

At the end of World War II in Europe, Dresden suffered catastrophic damage from Allied bombing, and then lost much of its remaining architectural heritage at the hands of East German city planners. However, the city has managed to resurrect some of its charm by rebuilding various landmarks. The reconstruction of the famous Frauenkirche was completed just in time for the what was marketed as the city's 800th birthday in 2006 (dated from the first mention in extant historical documents, as is common in Germany).

Today, Dresden remains a charming, relaxed and in many ways beautiful city and has become a very popular tourist destination, in addition to being a regional economic, political and academic centre. About ten million tourists visit Dresden annually, most from within Germany. International visitors most frequently come from the Czech Republic, the USA and Japan.

History
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. The last Saxon king abdicated in 1918, famously saying "macht doch euern Dregg aleene" (roughly translated from the original Saxon as "do your dirty work yourselves") when he did so.

Three quarters of the historical centre of Dresden was destroyed by Allied bombing on 13 February 1945. Between 20,000 and 30,000 people died in the firestorms; the exact number is unknown. There were fewer victims than those of bombings in other cities, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the population, but Dresden is the only major German city where the air raids are still a major aspect of public debate and city politics. The bombings are still remembered each year in processions and ceremonies, but the anniversary has also been used by Neo-Nazis for demonstrations, which in turn attracted anti-fascist counter-demonstrations. For many years the ruins of the Frauenkirche (now rebuilt) with its gold cross donated by a British charity called the Dresden Trust - acted as a call for peace among the nations of the world. The city's historical centre has largely been restored to its former glory, with other areas still being rebuilt.

During the era of German partition, the area around Dresden came to be known as "Tal der Ahnungslosen" ("valley of the clueless") as it was one of very few parts of East Germany which could not get West German television. Similarly the abbreviation "ARD" for the west German first TV channel was variously interpreted as "Außer Raum Dresden" and "Außer Rügen und Dresden" ("Except the Dresden Area"/"Except Rügen and Dresden").

In 1989 protests erupted in Dresden, especially when people who had taken refuge in the West German embassy in Prague were transported to West Germany via Dresden main station (which was sealed off for the occasion). Protests in Dresden never reached the scale they did in Leipzig or East Berlin, but there is a memorial plaque for the 1989 events in Prager Straße among other places.

Present
The Zwinger was rebuilt in 1964, the Semper Opera house in 1985, and the most famous Dresden landmark, the Frauenkirche, in 2005. When asked what they like most about their city, Dresden citizens will reply: the Old Town (which is quite compact, even though it has a lot of well-known attractions and museums of worldwide importance), Dresden-Neustadt (an alternative central quarter) and the nearby towns like Radebeul, known for its wine (and birthplace of Karl May, a famous German author of wild-west novels), the climbing area of Saxon Switzerland and lots of castles. Architecturally, Blasewitz is the most interesting residential neighbourhood, despite it being a hilly landscape. It has many Gründerzeit buildings, from before the 1871 founding of the German Empire and its first three decades of existence.

Many historic sandstone buildings are black. That's not necessarily a result of fire or pollution, as the local sandstone naturally blackens after a while. You can see this natural phenomenon in the nearby Saxon Switzerland and on paintings of Dresden from the 18th century, where the sandstone buildings are black as well.

Dresden was an important city in the German Democratic Republic and architecture from that era is still very visible in the city. In the city centre, Prager Straße and the Kulturpalast are typical examples of such architecture. If you leave the centre you will find a lot of apartment blocks, called Plattenbau, which are also common in neighbouring Poland, eastern Europe and Russia. Gorbitz and Prohlis especially were (re)-built in the 1970s and 1980s in the then-modern Plattenbau style. Very few traces of World War II are still visible in the city.

The time since German reunification hasn't left too many architectural marks on the city yet, but some, such as the controversial Waldschlößchenbrücke bridge that cost Dresden's Elbe Valley its designation as a world heritage site, are very visible even to the casual observer.



Orientation
Dresden is very much oriented around the Elbe river, which meanders through the city, but not as much as the Seine in Paris, for example. Therefore, it is always easy to distinguish between the left, southwestern bank and the right, northeastern one. In general, the left bank is relatively flat and more densely built-up, while the right bank is hilly and to a large extent covered by the Dresdner Heide forest.

Dresden has, over the years, expanded broadly and swallowed surrounding settlements, so that now the city is larger by area than Munich despite having only roughly a third of its inhabitants. Much of Dresden, however, is of little interest to most tourists. In general, the interesting districts are Altstadt ("old town", on the left bank) and Neustadt ("new town", on the right bank immediately opposite). Their historic cores are the Innere Altstadt and Innere Neustadt, respectively. Äußere (outer) Neustadt is a district with a lot of bars and restaurants and generally known for being inhabited by "alternative" people, students, artists and hipsters. In general "Neustadt" used in a generic sense will refer to the äußere Neustadt. Other districts of interest are Loschwitz and Weißer Hirsch in the eastern part of the right bank, being the city's most exclusive residential areas; the Pillnitz royal residence; and Klotzsche, because Dresden airport is in that district.

Read
Victor Klemperer's diaries, first published in English across two volumes in 1995 as I Will Bear Witness, offer a vivid account of life in Dresden from 1933 to 1945. Klemperer was one of the few people of Jewish descent in Dresden who not only survived the war but decided to stay in Germany after 1945. His book The Language of the Third Reich: LTI—Lingua Tertii Imperii: A Philologist's Notebook is a detailed analysis of how language can be used to manipulate a culture. It's a classic of its kind and still relevant today. Klemperer did not consider himself Jewish, but he was persecuted as one by the Nazi regime. He also wrote diaries during the times before and after the Nazi regime which were also published in book form but are less famous.

Another of Dresden's famous sons is Erich Kästner (Emil and the Detectives, Lottie and Lisa); his book When I Was a Little Boy is about his childhood in Dresden's Neustadt during the 1900s.

Der Turm (published in English as The Tower: Tales from a Lost Country) is a novel about life in Dresden's more bourgeois parts (Loschwitz/Weißer Hirsch) during the last years of East Germany. Written by Dresden native Uwe Tellkamp, it was made into a TV movie with Dresden native Jan Josef Liefers in one of the leading roles.

Tourist information

 * Dresden tourism website

Dresden Airport


The fastest connection from Dresden Airport to the city centre is the local train (S-Bahn),, which takes 12 minutes to reach Dresden Neustadt and 20 minutes to reach the main station. The trains run every 30 minutes. Another option is to take the bus (line 77 or 97) and then change for tram at the Infineon Nord stop (the connection is announced in English and German over loudspeakers).

Other nearby airports
The other airport in Saxony, Leipzig/Halle Airport, has a wider range of international destinations, and a direct railway connection to Dresden. Intercity (direct) and ICE (change in Leipzig) trains take less than 90 minutes to get from the airport to Dresden Main Station (Hauptbahnhof / Hbf), with one-way full-fare tickets at around €30. Slightly slower, but cheaper, is the regional train service. Take the S-Bahn to Leipzig Hbf and then the hourly Saxonia Express RE to Dresden; this takes roughly two hours. If you are in a group of between two and five people, the cheapest price for that connection is the Sachsen-Ticket which costs €25, plus €8 for each extra person (2022). It's valid on all trains except ICE, IC and EC, and most trams and buses throughout Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. There is also a reduced price option for local trains called Regio 120 Ticket that costs €20 for the Leipzig/Halle airport to Dresden main station trip and is available at all times, unlike saver fares for IC and ICE which start at €19 but are subject to limited availability. If you have a BahnCard 25, there is a discount on the IC and ICE saver fare but not on the Sachsen Ticket or the Regio 120 Ticket.

As with the rest of Saxony, the geographic proximity and good road and rail links make it relatively convenient to fly into Berlin Brandenburg Airport, from where there is a direct IC train to Dresden, Prague via Czech highway D8 and German autobahn (150 km), or Wrocław.

From Frankfurt Airport there are various Intercity and ICE trains either direct (from Frankfurt Flughafen Fernbahnhof) or via Frankfurt or Leipzig main stations.

By train


Regular trains arrive from the rest of Germany (Leipzig, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich) and from Prague, Vienna, Zürich, Bratislava and Budapest. Flixtrain serves the city.

Dresden is served by two big stations, which are both called at by most trains running through or terminating in Dresden. The Hauptbahnhof (main train station) is on the left bank of the Elbe, whereas Neustadt station is on the right bank.



For a German city of its size, train connections to Dresden are slow, due to underinvestment during and since the GDR era. The lines from Berlin and Leipzig reach a maximum speed of 200 km/h, though many sections are much slower. The line from Prague traverses the Elbe valley on a stunningly beautiful but curvy, slow and congested route. The line from Wroclaw is only electrified on the Polish side while the line from Nuremberg is only electrified between Dresden and Hof (making a change of trains necessary either in Hof or in Leipzig).

If you're coming from Saxony-Anhalt or Thuringia, the best option might be to use a Länder-Ticket as there's an arrangement between those two states and Saxony, whereby a Land-Ticket from one state is also valid in the other two.

The connection between Dresden and Wrocław has been on and off, but is now served by Trilex for a flat fare of €33 round trip (within 14 days). Group and family discounts are available.

By car
Dresden can be easily reached by car from the rest of Germany. It is well connected with the German autobahn system and there's also a direct motorway to Prague. The network is prone to congestion during school holidays. Try to avoid the Friday and Saturday at the beginning of school holidays in the state you are driving in; the website Schulferien lists school holidays for each state.

By bus


The main operator of long-distance buses in Germany, and by far the biggest operator in Dresden is Flixbus. There are more operators in Dresden than other German cities because it is close to the Czech and Polish borders and part of the Berlin-Prague route (which is not served by high speed rail). This means bus routes to Dresden are still competitive in terms of journey times and price. Other operators with routes to Dresden include RegioJet, Eurolines, Arda Tur, Racic Eurobus and Union Ivkoni.

Most buses stop "behind" the main train station (from the train station looking south, with Prager Straße to your back). The station is easily reachable. Several shops are close to the station, and those in the main station are also open on Sundays and on public holidays. Flixbus has a ticket office opposite the station and you can buy tickets for most of the other operators in the station building.

(However, be sure to check your bus ticket. As of summer 2023, repairs are taking place at the main bus stop, and buses stop instead at the Busparkplatz Ammonstraße - where the Budapester Straße overpass crosses over Ammonstraße, and at the Budapester Straße tram stop. There are no facilities at this parking lot, not even a bench, but the train station is not far away.)

Some Flixbus lines also stop close to Bahnhof Neustadt, which is a less busy station.

A handful of buses also serve Dresden airport, which is really only useful in the unlikely event that you are flying into/out of the airport but are not staying in Dresden. The airport is pretty out of the way and at least 20 minutes by S-Bahn from anything interesting.

On foot
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).

By public transport


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. The Straßenbahn and S-Bahn are two entirely separate networks, although there are tram stops at many S-Bahn stations. The system works very well and connects all points of interest, but can be a little busy at peak times. A common fare system is operated by Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe (DVB), which is part of the larger Oberelbe Transport Network (VVO). (VVO covers 27 municipalities in central Saxony.) VVO tickets are valid on all buses, trams, regional trains and some ferries within a particular zone in the VVO network area. The Sachsen ticket is now valid on buses and trams in Dresden as well so all information to the contrary is outdated.

Most lines run at night but with less frequency (and also slightly different routes, called "GuteNachtLinien") allowing you to get to most places such as restaurants without the necessity of using a car, including to far-flung places like Pillnitz, Radebeul or even Meißen (with the S-Bahn). At night almost all trams and some regional buses meet at Postplatz (called "Postplatztreffen") and wait for each other, to ensure connections. Trams that don't pass through Postplatz usually wait for connections at some other point. These stops are announced in both German and English. As the rerouting of the lines can be a tad confusing and the night-line plan is printed on a black background that is hard to read at night, you might wish to ask the driver or other passengers where the tram is going. Failing that the DVB has an app and offers the possibility to search for your tram in real time online. For the night time lines see here.

By tram (Straßenbahn)
Two tram lines are of particular interest to visitors:
 * Line 4, billed by the operator as Kultourlinie as one that takes you on a tour of cultural and other highlights
 * Line 9, is referred to by the operator as the Einkaufslinie ("shopping line"), connecting the main shopping centres and various areas of Dresden.

A unique feature of the tram system in Dresden was the CarGoTram, which was in service from 2001 to 2020. It ran right through the city centre, sharing tracks with passenger trams, and delivered parts for various Volkswagen models which were produced at the Transparent Factory (Gläserne Manufaktur).

Other modes of transport
DVB operates three ferries on the Elbe:
 * between Johannstadt and Neustadt
 * between Niederpoyritz and Laubegast
 * between Kleinzschachwitz and Pillnitz

There are also two separate cable car systems that go up the Loschwitz hill from the environs of Körnerplatz:
 * a regular funicular goes towards the district of Weißer Hirsch
 * a suspension railway (Schwebebahn) will take you to Oberloschwitz

Both systems were built at the turn from the 19th to the 20th century as a means of the inhabitants of the (then) expensive communities up the hill to get downtown and they still serve the residents of the area as such. However, they are marketed as a tourist attraction as well and a ride on them is not included on a normal day ticket for public transport (you, get a discount, though). Holders of weekly tickets can ride for free. As the system is quite old it is shut down for maintenance and inspection once a year, usually in early spring, so look at the website if you want to avoid going there just to see them not going.

Tickets
Often the best option is to buy a day ticket for, cheaper for anyone 60 years old or older. Or, for families, a family day ticket for. It allows you to use all trams, buses, most ferries and trains (except InterCitys and ICEs) and is relatively cheap. It's valid until the next day at 04:00. You can also get a ticket limited to an hour (€3) and some others, but day tickets are good if you are travelling around and not sure where you will be going and what you will be doing.

You can buy tickets at yellow ticket vending machines in trams or buses, but ticket machines on platforms sell a wider selection of tickets. Ticket machines in trams only accept cards. Vending machines on platforms accept notes as well as coins. Don't forget to stamp your ticket as you enter the vehicle (day tickets only need to be stamped the first time you use them). Stamping machines in Dresden are usually shoe-boxed sized orange boxes near the doors of the tram/bus. Tickets (except the night ticket) bought from vending machines in trams do not need to be stamped.

As with most of Germany, public transport operates on the proof-of-payment system: you can enter any bus or tram you like, but are expected to be able to show a valid ticket if asked. If inspectors (there are always two of them) catch you without a valid ticket, you can be fined €60. The exception is on the buses after 20:00, when passengers are expected to show their tickets to the driver on boarding.

By car
The streets are very good and many roads have been refurbished, especially in the city centre. As in all bigger towns it can be a bit crowded during rush hours. During the Striezelmarkt (end of November till 24 Dec) traffic gets heavier, especially at weekends. A word of caution on driving during Dynamo home games: don't. Streets get crowded and police shut down several roads to allow fans on foot to pass, leading to confusion and congestion for cars. There are many parking lots in downtown Dresden and it should not be a problem to find a place to park, except on Saturdays when everyone goes to town for shopping. As parking can be expensive, consider parking on one of the various park&ride spots outside of town or leaving your car altogether, as public transport is excellent even by high German standards. A number of signs automatically display the number of parking spaces which are still free in lots in the immediate area. Shops are open from around 10:00 to 20:00, sometimes until 21:00 or 22:00. The Neustadt is particularly unfriendly to cars as most of its residential buildings (and thus the street grid) were built in the 19th century and have survived both world wars and overzealous urban planners. People in the neighborhood also have a reputation for burning cars they consider to be too luxurious or "extravagant", but it happens considerably less often than in Berlin.

By bicycle
Bikes are the fastest thing in rush hour traffic for short-to-medium distances and if you're in good shape and not afraid of traffic. Bikes are also good for longer distances as they can be carried (with a separate ticket per day for one zone) in trams. There are many designated cycle paths (marked red on pavements, or with a white bike symbol on a blue background) and most times it's very easy to find a place to park your bike. But, as anywhere else, always use a good lock!

Cobblestone roads and sidewalks are still quite common, particularly in Neustadt as well as the historical parts of Altstadt. As they get slippery with even a little moisture and make for a bumpy ride on most bikes, you might wish to avoid those. Another concern for cyclists are tram tracks, as tyres can get stuck in them if you aren't careful. Crossing them at an angle close to 90 degrees should take care of that problem. It should go without saying that you shouldn't drive on or between the tracks when a tram is approaching.

The main bike-share service in Dresden is called MOBIbike (operated by Nextbike with DVB as the main partner). Their rates are €1 per 15 minutes with a maximum of €15 per (24 hour) day. You need to register before you can rent bikes. For more information on discounts and the technical details see their website.

Alternative transport
Dresden has a lot of cycle rickshaws, mostly operating around the Old Town. They offer a typical (short distance) taxi service and guided city tours. Horse-drawn carriages offer sightseeing.

Operators of bus tours of Dresden include Stadtrundtfahrt Dresden and |Dresdner Stadtrundfahrt – Die Roten Doppeldecker GmbH. Tickets can be bought around the Old Town at various points and indeed online.

See
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.

Dresdner Neustadt
Very nice, lively neighbourhood. Part alternative, part "pseudo-exclusive" and expensive. Check out the Bunte Republik Neustadt festival in June. But you shouldn't leave your bicycle unattended without a good lock, as there can be a serious risk of damage to your bicycle as well as your car, especially on weekend nights.



Part of the SKD
The Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (SKD, Dresden State Art Collections), a state-owned institution, runs 15 museums in Dresden. Museums not listed here are covered above in the Zwinger Palace and the Residenzschloss (Royal Palace). An annual season ticket for all their museums costs €75 (in 2023).

Part of Museen der Stadt Dresden
The municipal museums and galleries are grouped together as Museen der Stadt Dresden. They generally provide free entry every Friday (except on holidays).

Culture

 * Semperoper. Go to a performance or take a tour. Be sure to book in advance. Details are in the listing in the See section.

Sport

 * Rollerblading or rowing in small boats on the Carolasee in the Großer Garten.
 * Rollerblading or rowing in small boats on the Carolasee in the Großer Garten.
 * Rollerblading or rowing in small boats on the Carolasee in the Großer Garten.
 * Rollerblading or rowing in small boats on the Carolasee in the Großer Garten.
 * Rollerblading or rowing in small boats on the Carolasee in the Großer Garten.
 * Rollerblading or rowing in small boats on the Carolasee in the Großer Garten.
 * Rollerblading or rowing in small boats on the Carolasee in the Großer Garten.
 * Rollerblading or rowing in small boats on the Carolasee in the Großer Garten.

Festivals & events




Other

 * Math Adventure Land (website in German). An entertaining hands-on exhibition on mathematics. Suitable for all ages, multilingual. Open Tuesdays to Sundays in the Technology Museum, Junghansstr. 1-3.
 * Math Adventure Land (website in German). An entertaining hands-on exhibition on mathematics. Suitable for all ages, multilingual. Open Tuesdays to Sundays in the Technology Museum, Junghansstr. 1-3.

Buy
The main shopping district in Dresden extends along the pedestrianized Prager Straße, which runs from the Wiener Straße at the feet of the Hauptbahnhof to Dr.-Külz-Ring, and its extension Seestraße, which culminates in the Altmarkt, where the historic core of the city starts. Those streets are mostly filled with modern shopping centres, department stores and street-level retail, as well as national and international restaurant chains. There is nothing unique or exciting on offer, but the area is rather pleasant. More fancy and upmarket shops are generally clustered around the Frauenkirche. The larger stores traditionally cater to wealthy Russians and there is usually someone who speaks Russian and sometimes also Czech. English proficiency has historically been lacking, but Dresden is catching up fast and the more upmarket places will certainly be able to find someone who speaks sufficient English to deal with a potentially lucrative customer.

In the Äußere Neustadt area (north/east of Albertplatz), many small shops sell books, vinyl records and clothing. The Innere Neustadt (between Albertplatz and Elbe, mainly Haupstraße and Königstraße) is rather on a medium-to-fancy level.

Markets
Farmers markets are organized throughout the week, selling regional products at various locations.

Eat


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. You can try it at the zum Wiegebraten restaurant. The most typical fast (and inexpensive) food in Germany those days is doner kebab (Döner Kebap), typically served as a kind of sandwich in pita (flat bread) with salad and sauce. A typical kebab including a large drink should be around €5-6. The next step above doner kebab is Italian food. There are a certain number of ethnic restaurants scattered through the city, and if you go out to the eastern part of town, you will find lots of charming cafés and Volkshäuser that serve good food. As Dresden has a lower number of recent immigrants in general and people of Turkish descent in particular, the ethnic food is more of the Vietnamese or "Asian" variety, as those are the main immigrant groups in Dresden.

Within the historic centre (Altstadt) and especially around the Frauenkirche are a number of restaurants, serving many different tastes. Be aware that, as this is a tourist hotspot, there are many tourist traps here which you may find overpriced and of low quality.

The Neustadt accounts for most of the trendy pubs, bars and clubs, and the majority of the restaurants in the city. You will generally have better luck finding decent food for a reasonable price north of Albertplatz in Neustadt.

The eastern part of the city, toward the Blaues Wunder (the colloquial name of the historic Elbe bridge Loschwitzer Brücke), has a lower density of restaurants than Neustadt, and they tend to also serve as cafés, and the food is generally tasty and cheap.

Historic centre (Altstadt)
You may want to choose one of the various restaurants on the Brühlsche Terrasse adjacent to the river Elbe - especially in summer time this a wonderful place to be. The view and the drinks are very pleasant. Alternatively, you may choose to go to Münzgasse, lying directly beside the Frauenkirche. The little street is full of restaurants, from glamorous and expensive to the cheaper ones.

Eastern Dresden




Altstadt
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.



Neustadt
The Neustadt is a very popular destination, especially for younger people. It has a high number of bars and clubs, with many different styles. Especially the Äußere Neustadt neighborhood north of Albertplatz with its centre Alaunstraße is filled with places to go, but also the Alter Schlachthof and the Hechtviertel neighborhood in the Leipziger Vorstadt district and the Industriegelände in the very north offer several venues.



Sleep
Dresden charges a lodging tax (Beherbergungssteuer), which anyone offering accommodation has to collect from their guests. Often the tax is not listed on booking websites. The charge depends on the cost of the room and is charged per night. It is 6% (as of May 2024). Detailed information is available in English here. Some groups are exempt from paying the tax, including minors. Travellers on a business trip are no longer exempt from the tax.

Since Dresden regained its status as a popular tourist destination, it has also developed a large accommodation base for every taste and budget. There are many new and refurbished properties, and competition is fierce due to slight overcapacity resulting from overly optimistic development. It pays off to research well for good offers even at normally expensive hotels, especially off-season.

When selecting your accommodation, keep in mind that Dresden is actually a very large city by area. Most attractions are all within a very small distance in the city centre on both banks of the Elbe. However, if you choose to base yourself outside the centre, you may find yourself far away from points of interest and with very little to do in the area.

Budget
If you're staying at a youth hostel (IYHF): If you are not a member of DJH or your own country's youth hostel association, you need a €3.50 "welcome stamp" for each night in a hostel.

Splurge
The most luxurious accommodation in Dresden is mostly within the Innere Altstadt area, offering views over and close to the famous historic landmarks. A wide choice between modern design or faux historic charm awaits, but make no mistake: you will need to pay top dollar to stay in the old town - the sections above list some cheaper hotels at a lower price that are not that much farther away.

Stay safe
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 and extreme left 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.

Soccer matches of the local club Dynamo Dresden take place about every second weekend, but not during summer holidays. Supporters of Dynamo Dresden soccer club have a particularly bad reputation, but clashes with the police or other rival supporters are mainly a thing of the past. 99% of the fans are peaceful, sports-loving people. However don't be surprised to see large police forces in anti-riot equipment (think robocop) around the main station and the stadium during so called "Risiko-Spiele" (roughly: high risk games). The (all standing) "K-Block" of Dynamo's stadium has a reputation for having the most hard-core fans and unfortunately racial slurs and homophobic utterances are heard here from time to time, even though most Dynamo fans don't subscribe to either xenophobia or homophobia. If you are (visibly) part of an ethnic or sexual minority and especially if you don't wear Dynamo fan-gear try going to another block rather than this one.

Neo-Nazis are known to congregate in Dresden once or twice a year, most prominently on or around 13 February, when demonstrations are staged by right-wing extremists to recall the bombings of Dresden during the Second World War. The few hundred Neo-Nazis are usually condemned by thousands of peaceful anti-war demonstrators and there is a huge police presence. There have been instances of violent acts during those demonstrations and all sides (police, right wing demonstrators and left wing "Antifa") have been variously blamed. While most demonstrators are peaceful and the police has an indeed very hard job to do, the security as well as the transport situation during large Nazi-demonstrations is far from normal. The whole issue is very controversial in Dresden as well as on a federal level in Germany and the fine points are best not discussed further here.

Connect
The local telephone code is 0351.

Here is a map with free Wi-Fi (search for "Public Wi-Fi Spots" and click "show on map" in the "Themes" section).

Medical




Go next
For departing from the central bus station at the main train station: There are the bus platforms 1 and 2. And at another area are the platforms 5, 6 and 7. For an international ride it's the latter. For a national ride check beforehand.


 * Dresden's "suburbs" in the Saxon Elbland region
 * Radebeul (8 km northwest) is a city west of Dresden which includes the Karl May Museum (dedicated to the famous writer) and its vineyards
 * Moritzburg (14 km northwest) has a beautiful castle that was once used when the kings went hunting. Reachable by a charming historic narrow gauge railway from Radebeul or (more mundanely but faster) by bus from Dresden Neustadt station.
 * Radeberg (16 km northeast) is a small town a short S-Bahn ride away from Dresden. The Radeberger Brewery offers tours throughout the day for €14, including tasting at the end. Phone +49 352 845-4880.
 * Meissen (25 km northwest) has a medieval cathedral and castle and home to the first European porcelain factory. Residence of the Saxon dukes and electors before they moved to Dresden.


 * Nearby regions
 * Saxon Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge) has hiking and crafts (toymaking, especially Christmas toys)
 * Glashütte (30 km south) is the centre of east German watch manufacturing, with various watch factories and a nice watch museum. This town is about 1h from Dresden by train, and part of the journey is beautiful, following a river through the mountains
 * Saxon Switzerland (Sächsische Schweiz) is upstream along the river Elbe is a national park for hiking and rock-climbing
 * Königstein (40 km southeast) has one of the largest and best preserved late medieval fortresses in Europe. The Königstein fortress is situated about 30 km from Dresden and can be reached by almost all means of transport. A trip on the river Elbe in one of the historic paddle-steamers of the "Sächsische Dampfschifffahrt" is also highly recommended


 * Further destinations
 * Bautzen (60 km northeast), a beautiful old city in the east (c. 45 min with car by Autobahn and 1h by train)
 * Leipzig (110 km northwest), an hour away by ICE or intercity train
 * Prague (145 km southeast) is about two hours away (two-hourly Eurocity train connection, frequent intercity buses)