Dresden is the capital of Saxony in eastern Germany, set on a wide bend of the Elbe. Under Augustus the Strong in the 18th century it became one of the most ornate baroque cities in Europe, and the Zwinger, the Frauenkirche and the palace buildings all date from that generation. The historic centre burned almost completely in the bombing of the night of 13 February 1945, and the rebuilding was finished with the reopening of the Frauenkirche in 2005: the dark stones in its facade are original blocks recovered from the rubble and put back in place. The city is also known for the vineyards of the Elbe valley and the cycle path that runs along the river.
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See flights to Dresden →When to visit Dresden
May to September is the easiest stretch, with daytime temperatures between 19C and 25C and the riverside terraces open. July and August are the warmest and busiest months. The Striezelmarkt in December, held since 1434 and reckoned the oldest Christmas market in Germany, makes the city cold but very lively. November to February is damp and grey.
Things to do in Dresden
The Frauenkirche
Completed by George Bähr in 1743, the church is known in the city as the stone bell for its dome built entirely of masonry. It collapsed in 1945 and its rubble was left as a memorial for forty five years; reconstruction began in 1994 and finished in 2005, with about three thousand eight hundred original stones returned to their places. The dome gallery looks out over the bend of the Elbe and the whole centre.
The Zwinger
Built between 1710 and 1728 by Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann as an arcaded courtyard for court festivities, the Zwinger is a masterpiece of German baroque. The gilded dome of the Crown Gate marks the entrance. Inside, the Old Masters Gallery holds Raphael's Sistine Madonna and the porcelain collection is among the largest gatherings of Meissen and Chinese ware in Europe.
The Semperoper
The opera house opened by Gottfried Semper in 1841 burned in 1869, was rebuilt in 1878, destroyed in 1945 and reopened to the same plan in 1985. Wagner's Tannhäuser and Richard Strauss's Salome were both premiered here. The digital clock on the facade, which advances every five minutes, is an original design from 1841.
The Fuerstenzug mural
The 102 metre painting on the palace wall shows thirty five rulers of the Wettin dynasty, which governed Saxony for eight hundred years, riding in procession. Between 1904 and 1907 it was transferred onto some twenty three thousand Meissen porcelain tiles, and it counts as the largest porcelain artwork in the world. It came through the bombing of 1945 almost undamaged.
The Green Vault
Inside the Residenzschloss, the Gruenes Gewoelbe is the collection founded by Augustus the Strong in 1723 and reckoned among the richest palace treasuries in Europe. In the historic rooms the pieces stand without cases between mirrored walls, and the best known are extreme examples of work in ivory, amber and jewels. Entry to that section is by timed slot with a limited number of visitors each hour.
Pillnitz Palace
On the Elbe about 10 kilometres southeast of the city, the palace was built in the 18th century with upturned eaves in the Chinese manner then in fashion and served as the summer residence of the Saxon rulers. The camellia in its garden was planted in 1801, is more than two hundred years old and is sheltered each winter by a movable glasshouse built over it.
Flights from Turkey to Dresden
Direct flights to Dresden from Turkey leave from Antalya, operated by SunExpress, Pegasus and Corendon Airlines, and take about 3 hours 10 minutes. Frequency rises to nine a week in summer and drops sharply in the winter schedule. There is no nonstop service from Istanbul, so the route is via Berlin, Prague or Frankfurt, or two hours by road from Prague. Dresden Airport is about 9 kilometres from the centre and the S2 suburban train reaches the main station in 22 minutes.
Dresden FAQ
How many days do you need in Dresden?
Two days cover the baroque centre, the Zwinger and the Frauenkirche. A third suits the Green Vault and Pillnitz Palace, and adding Saxon Switzerland National Park and Meissen stretches the trip to four or five days.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Dresden Airport is about 9 kilometres from the centre, so it is a close in airport. The S2 suburban train from the station beneath the terminal reaches the main railway station in 22 minutes and runs every half hour.
Do you need a visa for Germany?
Germany is in the Schengen area and a Turkish passport needs a Schengen visa obtained in advance. Appointments get harder to find in summer, so it is safer to start the application at least two months before travel.
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