Even after living in Dresden, the capital of Saxony, for over 25 years I still find new places and unknown spots which surprise me every single time.

There are so many places to see during a city trip that it’s hard for me to put them all in one blogpost. But here are some spots you really have to visit:

The Historic Old Town of Dresden

The center of Dresden was mainly shaped during the regency of Augustus the Strong from 1694-1733. He loved all forms of art, the Baroque architecture style and to show off his wealth. Augustus has been the king of Poland but also the Elector of Saxony and fell in love with Dresden. That’s why his body is buried in Warsaw but his heart lies in Dresden.

A huge part of the old town got destroyed during the bombing in World War II at the 13th of February in 1945. But especially during the last years most of the buildings have been rebuilt in their original form.

The Neumarkt in Dresden

You can easily walk around the old town and one of the best places to start your tour is the Neumarkt.

Here you can find the Frauenkirche (Church of our Ladies) which is probably the most famous sight in Dresden. Since it’s one of the highest buildings in the city the dome offers an amazing view over the old town.

Entering the church is free of charge but if you want to visit the dome you have to pay 8 Euros – which is definitely worth the money.

Photospots:

To shoot a nice picture of the famous building you have to come to the Neumarkt early in the morning to find it empty.

But there is one secret spot which doesn’t look very special from the outside but offers an amazing perspective: It’s the entrance of the Verkehrsmuseum (Museum of transportation)
You will find a small staircase and a small pillar to sit on. Especially during the Golden Hour the Frauenkirche will get wonderfully illuminated by the setting sun which looks amazing in pictures!

Brühl’s Terrace

From the Neumarkt you only need to walk a few minutes to the Brühlsche Terrasse (Brühl’s Terrace). The best way is to go along the Fürstenzug (Procession of Princes) which is a large mural of the rulers of Saxony.

You will reach a square right in front of the Schlosskirche (palace church) where some steps lead up to the terrace.

Photospots:

You find the first spot over the Münzgasse. The little street leads directly to the Frauenkirche, so you have an amazing view from the top of it.

If you follow Brühl’s Terrace till the end you will find a small park right in front of the Albertinum. This is another wonderful place to see the Frauenkirche between the surrounding buildings together with the glass dome & the golden angel of the Academy of Arts.

The Semper Opera House

To reach the famous opera house of Dresden simply head back to the Schlosskirche. If you walk by the huge church you will instantly see the Semperoper (Semper Opera House).
It’s a massive & beautiful building which is covered with paintings and statues. The inside of the building is even more impressive so I can highly recommend you to visit the opera!

From the Theaterplatz right in front of the Semperoper you have an amazing view over the Schlosskirche and the Zwinger.

The Zwinger

The Zwinger is a complex from the 18. century which is an interaction of architecture, art and a park in the middle of it. It was used as a pleasure garden or to celebrate special festivities back in the days.
Today the Zwinger is home of museums like the impressive Picture Gallery with the Sistine Madonna by Raphael.

Photospots:

My favorite place to overlook the Zwinger are the galleries.There are two staircases outside the complex which lead up to them. The galleries surround the whole complex and you can find artworks like statues, frescoes and fountains everywhere.

The dome above the entrance (at the opposite side of the Semper Opera House) is one of my favorite places to take pictures cause it makes a beautiful motive or background for pictures.

The Palace

At the other side of the Zwinger is the Palace of Dresden located, which got completely restored. Today you can visit the Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault) inside which is a museum that contains the largest collection of treasures in Europe.

From the Hausmannsturm – the tower of the castle – you have another spectacular view over the old town including the Frauenkirche. It’s one of the most beautiful silhouettes of the city.

Restaurant Tips for Dresden Old Town:

The old town of Dresden is full of restaurants, bars and cafés but here are some of my favorites:

Located in the “Haus am Zwinger” (House at the Zwinger) are two of my favorite spots. At the ground floor you find the “Codo” which is a really nice place for Sushi and Vietnamese cuisine. It’s usually full in the evening but during lunch time you will easily get a table.

At the highest floor of the same building is the Restaurant & Rooftop Bar “Felix” located. It offers one of the best views over the Zwinger. The best is to come during sunset time to enjoy a nice cocktail with an amazing view 🙂

Another place for good food is the little street called “Weiße Gasse” with many delicious food & bar options. The Italian Restaurant “Mamma Mia” is my favorite place with homemade pasta & tiramisu!

Outside the Old Town of Dresden:

The mentioned places above have just been a few of my highlights in the old town which you can see during one day. But of course there is way more to see.
Some other parts of Dresden are really beautiful too like the Neustadt with the Golden Rider, the Japanese Palais and a lot of nice restaurants.

The ‘Großer Garten’ (The ‘Big Garden’) is a wonderful park to enjoy a sunny day, the meadows at the Elbe river are offering views over the vineyards and many other places are really worth a visit.

The Elbe Castles

On the hill along the Elbe River are the three Elbe castles: Albrechtsberg Castle, the Lingnerschloss Castle and Eckberg Castle.

They offer a phenomenal view over the silhouette of the city. The Lingnerschloss is where we celebrated our wedding in October 2018 🙂 .

It is a popular place to enjoy a glass of wine with a view.

Every year in July there is a big festival with huge fireworks, where you can stroll between all three castles. There are bands playing, delicious food & drinks at various stalls and spectacular shows to watch.

Book your stay in the city centre of Dresden:

STILL SO MUCH MORE TO SEE…

I hope with this post I was able to show you a little bit of my home and if you ever plan a trip to Dresden please send me a comment or message for more recommendations or if you have any questions 🙂

→ Find my Post with the best Highlights in Saxony here

Including castles, ruins, secret locations and more!