Practical tips for visiting Dresden

Dresden straddles both banks of the Elbe River, so you shouldn't miss a boat trip. In Dresden, they are proud of their White Fleet. You can take a ride on one of nine historic steamships from 1879-1929 or one of four modern motor ships. They often organize family celebrations here on board cruise ships. You can sail as far as Bad Schandau on one side or as far as Meissen on the other. The surrounding landscape is unusually undulating by the standards of Saxony. You can also eat well and relatively cheaply on the ships, and of course also drink.

They organize one of the most famous and popular Christmas markets in Germany here. They are open from the end of November until Christmas Day. If you want to stay overnight, it is better to book your accommodation well in advance. The main market Striezelmarkt is located on the Altmarkt square. If you arrive by train, the entire route from the main station to the square is beautifully decorated for Christmas.

You can easily walk through the historic center of Dresden, if you want to see more distant parts, you can use public transport or buy a Dresden City Card directly, that already includes the public transport fare plus you have discounts on entrances to various monuments.

If you want to enjoy the nightlife in Dresden, you should not miss the Neustadt (New Town) district, where there are over 150 pubs, bars and restaurants.

👍 Our tip: Kunsthofpassage art passage in the bohemian district of Äußere Neustadt. It is a labyrinth of inner courtyards decorated with original art installations with thematic motifs (e.g. the game court, the court of elements or the court of light). The greatest rarity is the so-called House with musical gutters (Regenwasserspiel) - on the facade of the house you will see a system of variously intertwined gutter pipes that play a special melody during the rain. If you want to avoid the crowds, come in the morning or possibly during the rain, when you can better enjoy the house with gutters.