8 Best Things to Do in Dresden

Residenzschloss (Royal Palace) is an extravagant Renaissance palace in Dresden’s Inner Altstadt. It’s home to the 16th-century Green Vault (Grünes Gewölbe), where you can find 2 permanent exhibits with a total of 3,000 treasures made of gold, silver, gemstones, ivory, mother-of-pearl, and amber. The palace also has an armoury (Rüstkammer) filled with intricate armour, weapons, and saddles, many of which were collected between the 7th and 18th centuries. Tickets to Residenzschloss and Grünes Gewölbe cost around €12 and are sold separately, so purchase the combined ticket for a reduced rate.

Zwinger is a Baroque palace with elegant pavilions and galleries dating back to the early 18th century. Located in Theaterplatz, the complex has 3 museums displaying artefacts and paintings from Dresden’s vibrant past. The southeast end of Zwinger’s courtyard is home to the Glockenspiel House, a carillon with 30 bells made of Meissen porcelain. The Galerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery) displays over 750 paintings by renowned Italian, Flemish, Spanish, and Dutch artists. One of its most prominent artworks is the Sistine Madonna by Raphael Sanzio.

Frauenkirche is a fully-reconstructed Lutheran cathedral that serves Dresden’s Christian community. One of its most impressive features is its stone dome, which has a 67-metre-tall viewing platform. The basement level consists of an exhibition hall displaying original documents and photographs detailing the process of rebuilding Frauenkirche after World War II. Audio guides in German, English, French, Italian, Japanese and Russian are available for about €2.50. If you want to climb to the viewing platform, admission tickets start from €8.

Dresden’s central square of Theaterplatz is home to many historical monuments, Baroque palaces, and extravagant museums. One of the most walkable districts in the city, you’re bound to snap plenty of beautiful photos throughout the day. A prominent landmark here is the Fürstenzug, which is a 102-metre-long mural dating back to 1870s. Its porcelain tiles depict 35 former rulers and prominent figures of Germany. Among the many buildings worth visiting in Theaterplatz are Zwinger Palace, Hofkirche (Dresden Cathedral), and Semper Opera House.

Brühlsche Terrasse is a 500-metre-long terrace with plenty of benches overlooking the Elbe River. Also known as The Balcony of Europe, the terrace features medieval structures and monuments such as the Dresden Fortress, the Bärenzwinger Vault, and a statue of Gottfried Semper. Here you can also find impressive displays of modern artwork at the Academy of Fine Arts (Kunstakademie) and the Albertinum. Brühlsche Terrasse is found along the western banks of Elbe River, about a 5-minute walk of Frauenkirche (Dresden Cathedral).

Grosser Garten, located 3.5 km southeast of Theaterplatz, is the largest green space in Dresden. The botanical park is home to Sommerpalais, a reconstructed Baroque palace that was originally built in the 17th century. For a leisurely way of exploring Großer Garten, the Dresden Park Railway features steam locomotives that runs every 10 to 30 minutes on a 5.6 km route. The garden also hosts a variety of open-air concerts, exhibitions, and fireworks displays during the summer.

Kunsthofpassage (Art Courtyard Passage) features an array of quirky shops, art installations, galleries, cafés and bars. Set within the artistic Neustadt district, it’s divided into 5 courtyards with independent boutiques selling unique handicrafts, vintage clothes, flowers, and local specialities. A must-see when you’re visiting Kunsthofpassage is the Singing Drain Pipes, an intricate funnel system attached to a turquoise-coloured building, which makes music during rainfall.

The Semperoper is a grand opera house in the Theaterplatz square of Dresden. The Italian Renaissance concert hall was originally designed by Gottfried Semper in 1841 and features intricate statues of famous figures such as Shakespeare, Molière, and Goethe and Schiller. You can watch regular symphonic performances by the Saxon State Orchestra, which is one of the world’s oldest orchestras. The opera house also hosts a variety of classical and contemporary concerts throughout the year. Guided tours in English and German are available if you want to learn about the history of the Semperoper.