Tips for visiting Dresden, the Florence of the Elbe in eastern Germany

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Views from the dome of the Dresden Frauenkirche

If there is a city that arouses great tourist interest in the east of germany, in the regions that were part of the disappeared German Democratic Republic, that is without a doubt Dresden.

Until my recent trip to this German city, I knew that Dresden it was a city with a great historical heritage and great beauty, which explains its nickname of The Florence of the Elbe.

And above all he was aware of the great drama he lived Dresden after the great bombing suffered weeks before the end of the WWII, with a fire that almost completely destroyed its historic center.

Frauenkirche church in the historic center of Dresden

Now to visit Dresden I have discovered a city that is still immersed in the long process of recovering its historical heritage.

The best example of this is the completion in 2005 of the Frauenkirche church, which has become the symbol of the reconstruction of the city.

Indeed, currently walking through the Dresden historic center You will be surprised once again by the great strength of the German people, and the works that are being carried out are a clear invitation to revisit this city in the future.

With all that said you can ask yourself the reason whyDresden not part of the list of Patrimonies of Humanity of the Unesco.

Dresden Royal Palace Tower

As a curiosity I will tell you that, in fact, he joined that list in 2005, but due to the construction on a bridge that crosses the Elbe river, the Unesco He took that recognition from the city.

Curiosities history of Dresden

It is in 1206 when the city of Dresden, which during the fifteenth century became the residence of king of saxony.

Soon it was run by the electing princes (members of the electoral college that elected the Emperor of the Holy Roman German Empire).

The relationship of the Dresden city with the great fires it is not limited to the drama lived during the WWII.

In 1685 the city already burned completely, which led to a great subsequent boom under the government of August the Strong.

Opera House from the tower of the Royal Palace in Dresden

It was at this time when inDresden a large part of its architectural heritage was built and began to gain the reputation of being a cultural city.

Subsequently Dresden he was involved in several wars, specifically against revolutionary France and of Napoleon, but instead did not suffer the First World War.

While already during the time of the German Democratic Republic they began to rebuild some of the historical buildings, the great Dresden heritage recovery It has been carried out after the German reunification ... and still continues.

What to see and do in Dresden in one day

Dresden it is a city that usually visit in one day, but I already tell you that it has areas with enough interest to justify two or even three days of stay.

Bridge in the Royal Palace in Dresden

If you can only spend one day, my advice is to focus on the visit of the historic center, which you can do walking in a very comfortable way, because its most important historical heritage there is very concentrated.

Guided tour of Dresden

As always we recommend in city ​​breaks, the best way to start a city tour is to sign up for a guided tour.

Specifically, aguided tour in Spanish It will take you two hours during which you will get to know the most prominent corners of the historic center, and it will help you to locate yourself in the city and then deepen on your own in the visit of the sites of greatest interest.

Here you have all the information about Guided tours of Dresden in Spanish whose price is only 15 euros.

Climb to dome of Frauenkirche

Ideally, start your visit climbing to the dome of the Fraunkirche, the great baroque church which was rebuilt in 2005, and which you find in the central Neumarkt square.

Procession of the Prince in the historic center of Dresden

From the top of its imposing dome you will have the best panoramic views of Dresden and its surroundings, with the Elbe river As a great protagonist.

Dresden Royal Palace

In this walk through the historic center you must also visit the royal palaceor Dresden Residential Palace.

It is a palace complex in which the treasure museum, with their baroque halls of great artistic wealth, the most prominent corner being known as Green Vault.

On this visit you also have the option of climb the tower of the royal palace,

From this viewpoint you will have the opportunity to see panoramic views of the Dresden Catholic Cathedral, or the Semperoper, headquarters building of the State Opera of Saxony, built in 1878.

Zwinger in the historic center of Dresden

Prince Procession

On your walk you will also see other beautiful corners, such as the Prince Procession (Fürstenzug), a large wall in the street of more than 100 meters in length built with 24,000 tiles, which shows all the rulers of Saxony from 1123 to 1904.

Or the bridge that unites the Royal Palace to another nearby building, which will remind you of Bridge of Sighs of Venice.

Zwinger Palaces in Dresden

Nor should you stop visiting the Zwinger, a complex of baroque architecture palaces of the early eighteenth century, whose best way to appreciate them is from its large landscaped interior courtyard, and which house various museums.

And you must also walk through the Brühl terrace that runs on a section of the old wall, on the banks of the Elbe river.

Brühl terrace in Dresden

What to see and do in Dresden in two days

If you are going to dedicate more than one day to visit Dresden, you will have the opportunity to discover other facets of this German city, after which your image of it will be much wider and more diverse than that of a set of Baroque monuments.

Dresden City Tour

The best way to expand your vision of Dresden is to get on panoramic city tour bus (20 euros) with which you will not only tour the historic center, but, above all, will allow you to discover the most rural facet of the city.

In addition, in recent years various towns have been incorporated into the municipality of Dresden that extend along the Elbe river, some of which you will see in the tour bus tour, which lasts for an hour and a half.

Tourist bus City Tour in Dresden

Thus, you will travel the Blasewitz neighborhood, with stately villas of the nineteenth century.

Or the palaces of the Elbe, three palatial buildings that are located successively on the forested hill that rises next to the river.

From the bus you will also see a residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Dresden, whose buildings are older than those in the city center because they did not suffer the bombings of the WWII.

You can also see a 19th-century iron bridge or the oldest funicular in Europe, and you will pass through the Dresden Great Garden, a large landscaped park.

And surely the modern factory building will also catch your attention. Volkswagen where the luxurious model is produced Phaeton, with all the glass facades, and where the workers go with white coats and gloves.

Another advantage dedicate more than one day to visit Dresden is that you can make a very interesting excursion.

Steamship cruise ship to Pillnitz Palace in Dresden

Elbe cruise in Dresden

Its about Elbe cruise to Pillnitz Palace, which you do in a historical wheel steamboat in which in a very relaxed way you can see that other more residential and rural face of Dresden.

In this excursion that will take you five hours in total, you will arrive at the aforementioned baroque palace of Pillnitz, which you can visit before returning back to Dresden.

Staying in Dresden will also let you know the Neustadt neighborhood, which will show you a very different image of the city.

It is an alternative neighborhood of young people, with more than 150 bars and restaurants, a kind of micro-republic with many houses occupied after the fall of the wall.

The street art It has a great role in the neighborhood, and if you want to deepen its history and idiosyncrasy, you can sign up for the night guided tours of Neustadt that carries out Danilo, a passionate neighbor of the neighborhood.

Winery and vineyards in Radebeul near Dresden

Wine tourism in Dresden

On the other hand, did you know that Dresden It is part of the Sächsisches Elbland wine areawhich extends to both banks of the Elbe river?

This allows you to give added guidance to your Dresden visit, beyond visiting its baroque monuments.

So, for example, in the nearby town ofRadebeul, where you arrive in just 15 minutes by suburban train, you can visit the one known as Wine Street, with several small wineries that follow each other on the side of a hill covered with vineyards.

In the case of my recent trip to Dresden It coincided with the open day.

In this way I could spend a day of wine tourism enjoying the pleasant outdoor terraces of the wineries, tasting various wines of the area surrounded by beautiful landscapes of vineyards.

Villa Sorgenfrei in Radebeul near From

Finally for sleep in Dresden I can recommend the very modern and comfortable QF Hotel (from 99 euros) located in the historic center, in the aforementioned Neumarkt square.

And if you prefer a charming hotel in the vineyard area around Dresden, I recommend theVilla Sorgenfei, on whose terrace you can enjoy a nice author dinner.

Excursions to Dresden

You should know that, due to its location, the city of Dresden can be an extension of your trip toBerlin or Prague, because it is halfway between the two, so that by car you will arrive in just under two hours.

For that ease in reaching this city, you also have the option to sign up for a private excursion to Dresden from Prague or one private tour from Berlin.

Pillnitz Palace near Dresden

How to get to Dresden

For get to Dresden, currently you do not have direct flights from Spain, so you will have to fly with scale in some other German city like Frankfurt or Munich, which will take you between four or five hours.

Here you have information about transfers from Dresden airport that will allow you to reach the center in the most comfortable way.

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Video: Germany's Dresden and Leipzig (March 2024).