10 Reasons to fall in love with Dresden
Dresden – a city that was severely destroyed in the World War II but rose again to such a remarkable place. I can sincerely recommend to visit Dresden to everyone that seeks something special and different for a city get away.
Here are my 10 reasons why to fall in love with Dresden
Neustadt
Everyone young and young at heart will confirm the following: The unique mixture of street art, pubs, coffee shops, local fashion and second-hand stores will steal your heart and make you feel at home instantly.
This multiculti part of Dresden is found on the northern side of river Elbe.
Recommendations
Recommendations- Chill out Area Katy’s Garage – go there during the afternoon, enjoy the sun in the big garden, have some grilled veggies with feta or other grilled food. I loved the chill out feeling and the easy-going people there! Secret tip: this venue transform into a club at night
Located on the corner of Alaunstraße and Louisenstraße. - Restaurant Elbsalon – I loved their food so much I went there twice. They have all kinds of great salads, delicious homemade juices and a great variety of pasta and desserts.
You’ll find them on the intersection Bischofsweg and Königsbrücker Straße - Pizza by La Casina Rosa – Eat in or order and take away. The waiters are super nice and the food is superb! I only had the pizza, but from what I saw on the other tables all the food looked and smelled delicious!
Located on Alaunstraße 93 - Alaunpark – grab a book, listen to some music, slack line, do what your heart tells you to! Enjoy the sun and have some beers with friends or other travellers at night!
- Kunsthof-Passage – there is a hidden courtyard where you can find some interesting art installations and amazing (second-hand) stores
Görlitzerstraße 21-25
Segway Tour
You will either love or hate Segways – or you haven’t tried it yet! It was my third time now and I can say that I’m finally getting used to it. There are some tour operators in the city but the first one to offer guided city tours was Segway Tours Dresden. This is the reason I chose to go with them! My guide Dani showed me around the city and the castles on river Elbe.
There are different tours available, but you can roughly count somewhat 2-3 hours for a great circuit.
Trabi Tour
Have you ever wanted to drive a Trabant – a car that was built in the GDR/DDR and combine it with a city tour? So here you go! Join a wonderful tour through Dresden and the river Elbe. There are also different tours available that start from about 1,5 hours.
My tip: if the weather is nice, ask for a convertible trabi to feel the fresh breeze in your face!
Zwinger
Stroll through the various buildings and the garden of the Zwinger. There are many different exhibitions and different rooms that you can visit and travel back in time. Although it was a bit crowded when I visited I sat down at one of the fountains and soaked in the atmosphere.
Semperoper
Not only stunning from the outside but even more impressive from the inside! The Semperoper is one Dresden’s landmarks and very well-known for its shows. You can visit the opera house only with guided tours during the day and also at night.
Tickets can be bought at either the opera house itself or at the small house on the left side of the square. The tours are held in various languages.
Riverside along the Elbe
One of my favourite places in Dresden. You’ll find a huge meadow kind of like a park near Augustusbrücke. When the temperature gets warmer many young people spend a lot of time there reading, listening to music, BBQing, enjoying the outdoors and being close to the river Elbe!
Close to Saxon Switzerland
The national park Saxon Switzerland is very close by and reachable by train in only 30 minutes from the main station. The beautiful rock formations and the bridge of the bastion are a nice way to spend half a day. Read more about the perfect city getaway here.
Panometer
A must when visiting Dresden! Located at the outskirts of town, but perfectly reachable by train (same one that goes to Saxon Switzerland so you can add this after hiking).
The current exhibition should actually be a permanent one! Why? It shows what Dresden looked like in 1945 when it was destroyed in the Second World War. Take your time to wander around and take it all in. Usually I’m not a fan of guided exhibition tours but this one I can truly recommend. Our guide told us lots of interesting stories and added aspects of how it was back then. The highlight of the Panometer is the huge (!!!) canvas of destroyed Dresden on 3,000 sqm!
Residenzschloss
Found in the middle of the old town and also worth a visit (as many things in Dresden are). Multiple exhibitions are displayed, some of them temporarily and others permanently. I especially liked the Türkische Kammer – Turkish Chambers, armoury and the courtyard with its paintings.
Where to stay – Lollis Homestay
To be completely honest: I’ve stayed in quite some hostels so far and Lollis is amongst the top 3 hostels. Here is why I loved it and enjoyed my stay so very much:
- Clean and themed rooms
- Super helpful and friendly staff
- Down to earth
- Great value breakfast
- Location is good for exploring
Where to find them: Görlitzerstraße with Sebnitzerstraße
Helpful resources
To be honest I was so surprised by all the different things to see and do that after spending only a few hours in the city. I didn’t think Dresden was so diverse and interesting – another trip is definitely in the books!
Have you been to Dresden? Tag me on Twitter or Instagram to share your photos and thoughts @wanderlust_vik
Keep on travelling,
Viki
Note: DMG was so kind helping me arrange my stay in Dresden.
