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Things to do in Dresden

With classic architecture and towering castles, Germany’s eastern capital is full of historical gems.

Our most recommended things to do in Dresden

Dresden: Semperoper Tickets and Guided Tour

1. Dresden: Semperoper Tickets and Guided Tour

Visit the Semperoper in Dresden with its long history and elegant architecture. Embark on a guided tour through this historic opera and uncover the prestige and history behind each turn. Begin at the beautiful Semperoper in Dresden and admire the magnificent architecture in the style of the Italian Renaissance. Explore ornate rooms, reconstructed in the original style. Discover the great acoustics in the elaborate auditorium and learn about the rich history of this grand building. Experience the atmosphere in one of the most beautiful and prestigious opera houses in the world, a truly unforgettable experience.

Dresden: The Original Night Watchman Tour in Lantern Light

2. Dresden: The Original Night Watchman Tour in Lantern Light

Explore the beautiful Old Town of Dresden with a historical night watchman. Sip on Schlummertrunk, a small alcoholic drink before visiting the main highlights like Semper Opera House, Dresden Frauenkirche, and more. Begin your tour with rings of the watchman’s horn in narrow alleys, and the light of his lantern which penetrates the darkness. With his halberd, he protects the honorable citizens from vagabonds and shady characters even in the darkest corners. Look forward to an entertaining tour with spooky stories and juicy anecdotes from centuries past. Furthermore, take a look at the beautiful sights of the city. See the Semper Opera House and the famous Zwinger, walk over the palace square, and get a glimpse of the Brühlschen Terrassen.

Dresden: River Sightseeing Boat Cruise

3. Dresden: River Sightseeing Boat Cruise

Discover Dresden's charm and history on a boat cruise down the Elbe River. See the Elbe Valley's most beautiful landmarks and the historic old town of Dresden on this sightseeing boat cruise. Begin at the Terrassenufer and discover the three Elbe palaces: Albrechtsberg Palace, Eckberg Palace, and the Lingner Palace. Travel to the Loschwitz Villa Quarter and pass four of the famous Elbe Bridges, including Loschwitz Bridge, affectionately known as the "Blue Wonder".

Dresden: Guided Tour of the Church of Our Lady

4. Dresden: Guided Tour of the Church of Our Lady

After meeting your guide in front of the Church of Our Lady, or the Frauenkirche, you’ll head right into the marvelous structure for a thorough tour. After being all but completely destroyed by bombing during World War II, the ruins of the church were left standing for decades. However, after the reunification of Germany, an ambitious campaign was mounted to reconstruct it. After over a decade of construction based on George Bähr’s original plans from the 1720s, the Church of Our Lady was restored to its former glory in 2005. Ever since, its ornate interior and expansive cupola have beckoned visitors to see its glorious tale of rebirth. During your tour, you’ll gain exclusive access to the church’s gallery, and pick up countless insights into the structure that stands representative of Dresden’s progress as a whole.

Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Pillnitz Castle

5. Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Pillnitz Castle

Discover the historic old town of Dresden aboard a ship and admire the most beautiful sites of the Elbe Valley. Start off at Terrassenufer and see the three famous castles: Albrechtsberg, Eckberg, and Lingner Castle, along the Elbe on the way to the villa quarter Loschwitz. Pass the 4 famous Elbe bridges, whose histories affect the city up until now. The most memorable bridge is called Blue Wonder, which gets its name because of the color. Soak up the views of the impressive Pillnitz Palace as your boat drops anchor for roughly twenty minutes. It was built in the 18th century under the Elector of Saxony August the Strong and is now the site of the Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Arts and Crafts) as well as the Schlossmuseum (Castle Museum).

Dresden: Guided Tour of the Volkswagen Transparent Factory

6. Dresden: Guided Tour of the Volkswagen Transparent Factory

Delve into the inner workings of the Volkswagen car factory in Dresden on a guided tour. Enjoy this exciting opportunity to learn about how these cars are manufactured, alongside finding out more about the production process, e-mobility, and digitalization. On the guided tour, be taken directly to the assembly line and the manufacturing area, to observe many of the manufacturing steps at close range. Your guide will provide a fascinating overview of the process of manufacturing electric automobiles and will explain the combination of top-quality craftsmanship and high-precision work required to bring them to life.  Your knowledgeable guide will answer all of your questions about what the future of electromobility holds and will offer exciting insight and outlook into the topic. After the tour, you have the chance to explore other attractions in the vicinity if you wish.

Dresden: City & Semperoper Guided Walking Tour

7. Dresden: City & Semperoper Guided Walking Tour

Discover the historic city of Dresden on a guided walking tour and visit the iconic Frauenkirche. Enjoy a guided tour of the elegant Dresden Zwinger gardens and see where royalty once lived on a tour of Dresden Castle. Explore the history of music on a tour of the Semperoper opera house.  Begin your trip at Dresden Castle and head to the most famous landmark of the entire city: Frauenkirche. Marvel at the elaborately restored church from the outside and have a look at its splendid interior. Continue to the Procession of Princes, a crucial part of Saxon history, and to the Stables Courtyard of Dresden Castle. Get an idea of what these impressive buildings look like inside and see the Taschenbergpalais. Undoubtedly, a walking tour through Dresden would not be the same without seeing the Zwinger. Hear interesting and entertaining stories about Augustus II the Strong, before the tour ends at the theater square with its cathedral. Next, explore the famous Semperoper, the Saxon State Opera, and court opera, on a guided tour. Learn the history behind each turn as you tour the magnificent rooms.

Dresden: Gala Concert in the Dresden Zwinger

8. Dresden: Gala Concert in the Dresden Zwinger

Enjoy a classical concert in the Wallpavillon of the Dresden Zwinger Palace. Decide which performance of which composer's pieces you'd like to hear and enjoy masterpieces at a concert of waltz dreams or listen to Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Fri., March 3, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Sat., March 4, 2023 Italienische Nacht Wed., March 8, 2023 Frauentagskonzert Fri., March 10, 2023 Mozarts kleine Nachtmusik Sat., March 11, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Fri., March 17, 2023 Klänge der Romantik Fri., March 24, 2023 Frühlingsstimmen Sat., March 25, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Fri., March 31, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Sat., April 1, 2023 Frühlingsstimmen Thurs., April 6, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Sun., April 9, 2023 Walzerträume Mon., April 10, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Wed., April 12, 2023 Klänge der Romantik Fri., April 14, 2023 Frühlingsstimmen Sat., April 15, 2023 Slawische Klassik Wed., April 19, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Fri., April 21, 2023 Mozarts kleine Nachtmusik Sat., April 22, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Wed., April 26, 2023 Walzerträume Fri., April 28, 2023 Italienische Nacht Sun., April 30, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Wed., May 3, 2023 Frühlingsstimmen Fri., May 5, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Sat., May 6, 2023 Jubiläumskonzert - 10 Jahre Dresdner Residenz Konzerte Wed., May 10, 2023 Mozarts kleine Nachtmusik Fri., May 12, 2023 Slawische Klassik Sat., May 13, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Wed., May 17, 2023 Klänge der Romantik Thurs., May 18, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Fri., May 19, 2023 Walzerträume Sat., May 20, 2023 Italienische Nacht Wed., May 24, 2023 Slawische Klassik Thurs., May 25, 2023 Mozarts kleine Nachtmusik Fri., May 26, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Sat., May 27, 2023 Frühlingsstimmen Wed., May 31, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Thurs., June 1, 2023 Klänge der Romantik Fri., June 2, 2023 Slawische Klassik Sat., June 3, 2023 Jubiläumskonzert Thurs., June 8, 2023 Mozarts kleine Nachtmusik Fri., June 9, 2023 Walzerträume Sat., June 10, 2023 Italienische Nacht Wed., June 14, 2023 Klänge der Romantik Thurs., June 15, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Fri., June 16, 2023 Mozarts kleine Nachtmusik Wed., June 21, 2023 Sommernachtsträume Thurs., June 22, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Fri., June 23, 2023 Italienische Nacht Sat., June 24, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Wed., June 28, 2023 Sommernachtsträume Thurs., June 29, 2023 Walzerträume Fri., June 30, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Sat., July 1, 2023 Sommernachtsträume Mon., July 3, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Wed., July 5, 2023 Slawische Klassik Thurs., July 6, 2023 Mozarts kleine Nachtmusik Fri., July 7, 2023 Jubiläumskonzert Sat., July 8, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Wed., July 12, 2023 Walzerträume Thurs., July 13, 2023 Sommernachtsträume Fri., July 14, 2023 Vivaldi "Vier Jahreszeiten" Wed., July 19, 2023 Sommernachtsträume /p>

Terrifying Tour of Dresden Led by a Dungeon Master

9. Terrifying Tour of Dresden Led by a Dungeon Master

When night falls over Dresden and darkness entwines the alleys, the dungeon master comes out of his cave. His scary stories about all sorts of abominations will shiver down your spine.  Let yourself in for an introduction into the criminal world — the dungeon master always looks for his assistant and successor. Explore Dresden by night and see the spooky corners of the city. Listen to stories and anecdotes of macabre murders and risky raids of plunder.  Let the dungeon master lead you on a wayward path of exploration through the city's darker side and wander the alleys of the city center under the light of the moon.

Dresden: Evening River Cruise with Dinner

10. Dresden: Evening River Cruise with Dinner

Glide along the Elbe river after dark and enjoy Dresden’s lights in the evening. Pass the beautifully illuminated Pillnitz Palace, Blue Wonder bridge and old town. Tuck in to a three-course meal and listen to the smooth background music on this river cruise. Board the boat in central Dresden and set off along the Elbe. Cruise under the Blue Wonder bridge and continue past Dresden’s numerous riverside castles and palaces, whose lights shimmer on the river at night. Eat your three-course dinner to a backdrop of smooth music in the boat’s salons. As you return to the city center, enjoy the warm glow of Dresden’s old town at night.

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Frequently asked questions about Dresden

What top attractions are a must-see in Dresden?

What are the best day trips and excursions from Dresden?

The best day trips and excursions from Dresden are:

Saxon Switzerland National Park

Other Sightseeing Options in Dresden

Want to discover all there is to do in Dresden? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Dresden

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 31,721 reviews

The place is beautiful and huge. You have to be really prepared or walk a lot through the gardens to get to the Trianon or rent a cart or a ticket on the available trains. The caveat is that they don't take cash, only MasterCard or Visa cards. For older people or those with limited mobility, a means of transport is essential, but for those who are in a good mood, it is worth walking through the entire immensity of the complex.

Unfortunately we arrived late at the meeting point, but they let us in anyway. Very positive experience!

Eva was very knowledgeable and attentive. Perfect guide for our short stay in Dresden

The food was very tasty. Super nice staff. It was a beautiful experience.

Ship great food great crew very friendly all around a successful evening