Dresden Tourist Information and Tourism

(Dresden, Saxony, Germany)

The capital of Germany's Saxony state, Dresden is an important city and enjoys a particularly scenic setting, within a valley and alongside the snaking River Elbe. A city where Baroque architecture is so common that it is often overlooked, Dresden has rebuilt itself on a grand scale following the bombings of WWII, with no expense spared when it came to renovation projects.

Nearby to Dresden's historic Altstadt district, otherwise known as the Old Town, the contrasting New Town (Neustadt) is equally appealing for tourists and home to a huge concentration of nightspots and entertainment. Tourism here is an integral part of the area and many visitors to Dresden choose to purchase one of the city's discount cards.





These include the Dresden City Card and the Museums Day Card, both of which offer great savings and are available from the city's tourist information centres. The tourism offices are located on the Bautzner Strasse, Prager Strasse, Theaterplatz and also at the Hauptbahnhof (main train station).

Dresden Tourist Information and Tourism: Top Sights

The city of Dresden has much to boast about in the way of tourist attractions. Highlights include the Stolpen Fortress - an imposing medieval fortress featuring a prison and torture chamber; Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche) - a restored local church dating back to the 18th century; Residenzschloss - better known as Dresden Royal Palace and originating in the 12th century; Zwinger - a grand palace with a stunning German Baroque facade and large collection of porcelain pieces; and also the Grosser Garten (Great Garden) - home to beautifully landscaped gardens and hundreds of animals at Dresden's popular zoo. More information about Dresden Tourist Attractions.

With a true Baroque atmosphere and many historic landmarks, tourists visiting Dresden will find plenty of sights to see. Of particularly interest is the Altmarkt - the Old Market, a historic public square, surrounded by many Baroque-style beautiful buildings; Brühlsche Terrace - the 'Balcony of Europe', boasting breathtaking views over the Elbe Valley; the 19th-century Blaues Wunder - better known as Dresden's Blue Wonder Bridge, named after its bright turquoise colour; Schloss Moritzburg - the Castle Moritzburg, offering four dramatic round towers and an important collection of paintings; and the Schloss Pillnitz - the Pillnitz Castle, located on the outskirts of Dresden and famous for its fairytale appearance. More information about Dresden Landmarks.

If you are visiting Dresden during the summer, lookout for the popular 'Dresden Museum Summer Night', when many of the local museums stay open all night and host an array of exciting events. Dresden's main museums and art galleries include the City Museum (Stadtmuseum) with its information about the evolution of Dresden, the celebration of a famous German musician at the Richard Wagner Museum, the Museum of Zoology with its many stuffed animals and natural history exhibits, the superb art works at the acclaimed Old Masters Gemaldegalerie Art Museum, and Albertinum, a museum split into four main zones and boasting paintings by both Van Gogh and Monet. More information about Dresden Museums and Dresden Art Galleries.

Close to Dresden, those choosing to travel outside of the city will discover plenty of appealing tourist attractions. Famous all around the world for its outstanding porcelain, the city of Meissen stands to the north-west of Dresden and is worth a look, while within the same area, the market village of Moritzburg is home to a particularly awesome lakeside castle. Also worth noting and famed for its high concentration of wineries and vineyards, neighbouring Radebeul offers a true Mediterranean-style atmosphere. More information about Dresden Attractions Nearby.

More Dresden Information / Fast Facts and Orientation

• Country: Germany (East Germany)
• Location: German Federal Free State of Saxony / Central Saxony
• Status: city, state capital
• Area: approximately 127 square miles / 330 square kilometres
• Population: approximately 520,000
• Currency: Euro (EUR)
• Time zone: GMT + 1 hour
• Electricity: 220 Volts AC, 50 Hz - flat two-pin plugs or third round pin are used, adaptors may be necessary in Germany
• Country dialling code: +49
• Telephone area code: 0351
• Religion: many Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Protestant churches
• Average daily Dresden January temperature: 2°C / 36°F
• Average daily Dresden July temperature: 23°C / 73°F