Things to do in Dresden

Dresden is the capital of Saxony, on the Elbe, about two hours from both Prague and Berlin. Allied bombing in February 1945 flattened the old centre. Most of what you see inside it has been rebuilt.

The old town, on the south bank

The main sights stand within a ten-minute walk of each other.

• Frauenkirche. The Baroque church fell in 1945, lay in ruins for decades and was rebuilt from 1994 to 2005. Its stone dome can be climbed.
• Zwinger. Augustus the Strong's Baroque palace of courtyards, begun in 1709. The Old Masters gallery inside holds Raphael's Sistine Madonna.
• Semperoper. The opera house on Theaterplatz, reopened in 1985 after the war.
• Fürstenzug. A mural of Saxon rulers about 100 m long, laid in Meissen porcelain tiles on the Stallhof wall.
• Brühl's Terrace. The promenade above the Elbe, with the Albertinum's modern art at its eastern end.

Across the river

The Neustadt is the other Dresden. On the north bank, it has courtyards, bars along Alaunstraße and a gilded statue of Augustus the Strong on horseback.

Where the road leads

Private transfers run from Dresden to Prague, Berlin and Munich, and some include a stop at Meissen or a two-hour sightseeing break. The S-Bahn is cheaper. It follows the Elbe to Meissen one way and to Saxon Switzerland, the sandstone rock country, the other.

Practical

• Weather. July highs reach about 24C and a heatwave can push past 30C. January days stay near 3C, with frost most nights.
• Getting here. The airport is on the S-Bahn, about 20 minutes from the centre. Trams cover the old town and the Neustadt.
• Museums. Several state museums close on Mondays, so check before planning.
• Advent. The Striezelmarkt, held since 1434, fills the old town with crowds and Stollen.
• Cash. Cards work in most places, but keep some euros for small cafés and bars.