June 15-16, 2015 ---- I put Dresden on our "Around Germany" tour because it is one of the must-see cities in Eastern Germany and it was on our way to Berlin from Prague. Dresden has a long history as the capital and the royal residence of the Kings of Saxony. It was devastated during World War II. However, many important historical buildings were reconstructed post war, and now Dresden has become a major cultural center of historical memory.
Accommodation: We stayed at Holiday Inn Express for one night while touring around the city for two days. The hotel is located in the Old Town area and very convenient to walk to all attractions. The room was very clean and comfortable, and the breakfast was great.
Transportation: If you stay in the Old Town area, I don't think you need to take any public transportation. There are trams and buses running around the city, but we rarely used them. The historical city center is about a 10-15 minute walk from the train station. The New Town is just across the river and very walkable.
Food and Restaurants: There are numerous restaurants in Dresden. I picked to dine at Sophienkeller im Taschenbergpalais because it got pretty good reviews on Yelp. They served tasty local food and beer, and the service was exceptional. There was a young man doing magic at our table while we were waiting for our food and he was very entertaining. People also speak excellent English here, so that's a plus for being in Germany.
Attractions: There is a lot to do in Dresden, and you can spend two full days there just visiting all the sites in the Old Town area. Buy the "Dresden Welcome Card" at the Tourist Information located at the train station and visit all the famous sites with no further cost. The main attractions are the Royal Palace, Zwinger Palace, and a few churches. There are many exhibits in each palace, so make sure you get to see them all.
Our Trip Itinerary:
Day 1
Afternoon: Dresden Royal Palace (New Green Vault, Turkish Chamber, etc.), Procession of Princes, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Semper Opera House, Augustus Bridge, Elbe River, Neustadt, Golden Horseman, Dreikönigskirche
Dinner: at Sophienkeller im Taschenbergpalais
Day 2
Morning: Zwinger (Old Master Picture Gallery, Porcelain Collection, etc.)
Afternoon: Dresden Frauenkirche, Brühl's Terrace, Albertinum, Dresden Kreuzkirche
Nathan and I liked Dresden a lot. We were surprised how attractive the city is and really enjoyed this part of the country. People seemed friendly, services were good, and the palaces were all worth visiting. I highly recommend anyone who is interested in Eastern Germany to put Dresden on your itinerary.
Procession of Princes (Fürstenzug)
Dresden Royal Palace (Residenzschloss)
Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (Kathedrale Sanctissimae Trinitatis)
Semper Opera House (Semperoper)
Zwinger
Dresden Frauenkirche
Brühl's Terrace (Brühlsche Terrasse)
Albertinum
Augustus Bridge and Elbe River
The view from Augustus Bridge
Golden Horseman (Goldener Reiter)
Neustadt
Three Kings' Church (Dreikönigskirche)
Church of the Holy Cross (Dresden Kreuzkirche)
Dinner at Sophienkeller im Taschenbergpalais
