Dresden City Guide: Things to Do & Is It Worth Visiting?

Dresden in Germany is a special place to visit, especially the old town area where there are lots of things to do. Attractions include the castle, iconic palaces and pretty churches.

They completely rebuilt the old town area after the bombings of the Second World War. In the main, we found Dresden to be rather dog-friendly, with good options for walks.

Dresden in Germany

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Dresden is the capital of the German state of Saxony. It has many art museums and the classic architecture of its reconstructed old town.

Originally completed in 1743 and rebuilt after WWII, the baroque church Frauenkirche is known for its grand dome. The Versailles-inspired Zwinger Palace houses various museums. This includes the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, which exhibits masterpieces such as Raphael’s “Sistine Madonna”.

Things to do in Dresden

If you enjoy sightseeing historical architecture, Dresden will deliver in bucketloads. You can arrange tours and access to attractions via the GetYourGuide website.

Katholische Hofkirche

The main Roman Catholic cathedral in the city is near the River Elbe. Katholische Hofkirche is an 18th-century building designed by Gaetano Chiaveri.

Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony, or, in German, Katholische Hofkirche. This church has historically been the most important Catholic church in the city.

Theaterplatz

Behind the theatre was Theaterplatz, a square with a black horse statue of King Johann in the centre and an array of buildings at the edges. The König-Johann-Denkmal is a 13.5-metre-tall bronze statue of the Saxon king.

Semperoper

The Semperoper, the city’s opera house, is home to the Semperoper Ballet and is one of the best performing arts venues locally. The Semperoper opera house has a history of premiering some brilliant musicians. This includes popular music by Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss.

Dresden Zwinger

The Zwinger is a grand palace complex in the old town area. The architecture and grounds are amazing to explore, with ornate gates and bridges to admire.

You can arrange tickets in advance to visit the museums inside.

Dresden Castle

Dresden Castle is one of the oldest buildings in the city. These days, the castle is a complex of museums, including the Green Vault. It has been rebuilt and preserved since the end of the Second World War.

It is unique because of the variety of architectural styles it combines. Styles range from Baroque to Neo-Renaissance. You can walk around many of the key features for free.

Hausmannsturm

The Hausmannsturm is located close to the cathedral. It is the oldest still-existing part of Dresden Castle. The Hausmannsturm is on the north side of the complex. This tower has an octagonal structure over 100 metres tall.

Walking Tours

There are various sightseeing tour options, including those that focus on the castle. One of the most popular ones is the night watchman’s tour. You can find tours on the GetYourGuide website.

Georgentor

The Georgentor, also known as the Georgenbau, is the original exit towards the Elbe Bridge. This gate is in the historic centre, on Schloßplatz, between the Residenzschloss and the Stallhof, near the cathedral and the Fürstenzug. The Georgentor was the first Renaissance building in the city.

Fürstenzug

The Fürstenzug is a long and dramatic mural made of porcelain tiles that depicts Saxon rulers throughout the ages. The Fürstenzug translates to ‘The Procession of Princes’ and was created between 1871 and 1876 to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Wettin Dynasty, Saxony’s ruling family.

Stallhof

The Stallhof is a beautiful section of the castle, with ornate features to admire. They adorned the outer wall of the Stallhof with the splendid Fürstenzug artwork.

‘Stallhof’ translates to ‘Stall Courtyard’. This was the castle’s stable yard when horses were the primary mode of transport. Historically, during the Middle Ages, knights held games and tournaments in the Stallhof. Looking around, the courtyard is free.

Oberlandesgericht

The Oberlandesgericht houses the regional court, an imposing building with a dark tower on the river-facing edge. Statues line the square, and the steps to the edge offer a vantage point to view the surrounding buildings.

Brühl’s Terrace

Brühl’s Terrace, a riverside walkway for exploring the waterfront architecture. Along the pedestrianised area are some magnificent buildings with ornate features.

Statues and sculptures line the terrace as well. Some days the terrace has street performers to entertain visitors.

Zitronenpresse

‘Zitronenpresse’ translates to ‘lemon squeezer’ because of the design of the glass dome on the top. It houses the local arts academy, one of the most renowned in Germany.

Albertinum Art Museum

On Bruhl’s Terrace is the Albertinum, which is currently a modern art museum. They built the building in the Renaissance-revival style, and it’s clad in sandstone. They named this building after King Albert of Saxony, and it houses a few galleries.

The Gottfried Semper Denkmal stands to the left of the Albertinum and is a grand statue. It sort of guards the steps back into the central areas of the Old Town.

Frauenkirche

In the big central square is the centrepiece, the Frauenkirche, a Lutheran church. This Baroque building sits in the Neumarkt area, a central square.

Out front of the building is the statue of Martin Luther, the German theologian and religious reformer.

A highlight of the church was the decor of the dome. You can also arrange a tour that includes a visit to the gallery.

Neumarkt

Neumarkt, in the central area, is culturally significant and home to statues, numerous restaurants and bars, and its centrepiece, the Frauenkirche.

Holy Cross Church

Kreuzkirche, also known as the Holy Cross Church, was constructed in the late Baroque style. This church has a 92-metre-tall tower and a viewing platform at 54 metres.

Palaisgarten & Japanisches Palais

Palaisgarten is a riverside park, a place enjoyed for walking the dog. There are some stunning sights, including the architecture of the Japanisches Palais.

The Japanisches Palais is an 18th-century mansion built with Japanese architectural details. They currently use this mansion as the Dresden Museum of Natural History & Ethnology.

Waterfront Architecture

The views across the river were fantastic, including towards the bridge and the terrace, and I recommend a walk along the banks. This footpath leads towards the Augustus Bridge, a footbridge across to the historic centre.

Golden Rider Statue

A gold statue of Augustus II the Strong in Roman armour, which is rather impressive and a genuine work of art. The Golden Rider, or Goldener Reiter, is a statue of King August II, also known as Augustus the Strong. Augustus II the Strong, known in Saxony, Germany, as Frederick Augustus I, was Elector of Saxony from 1697. The horse statue is gold-leafed and shows the famous ruler in Roman armour heading east towards his Kingdom of Poland.

Walk across the Augustus Bridge

Locally known as the Augustusbrücke, the Augustus Bridge crosses the River Elbe. The bridge connects the Innere Neustadt area with the historic centre. A bridge has stood at this spot since the 12th century.

Semper Gallery

If you enjoy art galleries, consider visiting the Semper Gallery in the Zwinger Palace complex. The Semper Gallery and the Old Masters Gallery have magnificent art collections. This includes over 750 paintings dating from the 15th to the 18th centuries.

Their art collection has famous Italian Renaissance works and Dutch and Flemish paintings. It also includes outstanding works by German, French, and Spanish painters of the period.

Enjoy Local Beer

Enjoying some local beer while travelling is a real treat. One local beer producer in Saxony is Freiberger. Freiberger Brauhaus is Saxony’s oldest brewery, with a history dating back to 1266, when it had sole rights to supply beer in the region.

Numismatic Cabinet

The Münzkabinett, or Numismatic Cabinet, is part of the Dresden State Art Collections, which include many galleries. They were founded around 1530 and are among the oldest museums in the city. It is a fascinating place, especially for those interested in coins.

Johanneum

Johanneum is a 16th-century Renaissance building in Neumarkt. It was originally the castle’s stable. Historically, the Saxon dukes housed their horses and armoury here. You can visit the Dresden Transport Museum.

Travel Guide

Public Transport

The easiest way to get around is by tram, which runs efficiently. Visitors can purchase a day pass, which is a good-value way to get around.

Is Dresden Dog Friendly?

As with most places in Germany, Dresden is dog-friendly. First, there were accommodation options. We had no issue going into bars and restaurants with Henry on our stay.

Public transport was fine with a dog, including trains and trams. Dogs must be on a lead, and sometimes, a muzzle is required. Finally, the old town area and riverbanks were great for walking.

Where To Stay

Dresden has a good selection of pet-friendly places to stay. This ranges from cheap hotels and hostels to pensions. The easiest way to find options is to use the pets-allowed filter on Booking.com. We enjoyed staying at Hotel Pension NOlift, a spacious, affordable top-floor apartment.

Is Dresden Worth Visiting?

Dresden is a fascinating place to visit, with many attractions, including the iconic Zwinger and the Castle. Most key places of interest are centrally located, making it quite walkable. We found it pretty dog-friendly and a pleasure to visit with Henry. We enjoyed a few meals and drinks here and really liked it. I’d recommend staying a few nights to take it all in.