Sights and landmarks in Dresden

Sights and landmarks in Dresden

1. See

   Albertinum Museum

   The "New Masters" collections feature a wonderful range from romantic painters like Caspar David Friedrich to Rotloff and Van Gogh. The Albertinum is part of the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD).

   Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, Mon closed·Adults €12, reduced €9, under 17 free

2. See

   Blaues Wunder

   Loschwitz Bridge

   The bridge is almost universally referred to as Blaues Wunder ("Blue Wonder"). The name is generally thought to be a reference to the colour of the bridge and to the fact it was considered a technical marvel when it opened in 1893.

3. See

   Brühlsche Terrasse

   Brühl's Terrace

   The "Balcony of Europe" stretches for 500 m along the River Elbe, some 10 m over the water table, and being up to 20 m wide. Freely open to the public since 1814, it provides space shielded from the danger of flooding, as well as from motorized traffic (which runs directly below over the Terassenufer) for walking, relaxing and enjoying a meal or a drink to locals and visitors, with views of the picturesque Elbe and an impressive backdrop of historic buildings at its back.

4. See

   Carl-Maria-von-Weber-Museum

   Closed for renovations until 2028 Dedicated to Dresden's most famous composer. Part of the Dresden City Museum. An additional webpage describes the museum in English.

   Wed-Sun 13:00-18:00, Mon Tue closed·Adults €4, reduced €3. Free entry every Friday from 13:00 (except on holidays)

5. See

   Dreikönigskirche

   You get a nice view of the whole city and the price of admission to climb the tower is lower than at the more famous Frauenkirche. There are also some nice pieces in the church that were not destroyed in the World War II bombings, and also look for temporary exhibitions of modern sacred art, etc.

   For the tower: Mar-Oct: Tue 11:30-16:00, Wed-Sat 11:00-17:00, Sun and holidays 11:30-17:00, Mon closed. Nov-Feb: Wed 12:00-16:00, Thu-Sat 10:00-16:00, Sun and holidays 11:30-16:30, Mon Tue closed. Last admission 30min before closing·For the tower: adults €5, reduced €4, children €6-17 €1.50, under 10 free

6. See

   Dresden Baroque Quarter

   Barockviertel Königstraße

   Real baroque houses. The quarter reaches from the "Heinrichstraße" up to the "Albert Platz". On the Heinrichstr and in the surroundings you will find a lot of antique stores. It is the quarter where you will find different nice and small shops where the owner will serve you. It is the quarter of individuality.

7. See

   Dresden City Art Museum

   Städtische Galerie Dresden

   Art from Dresden and the region with a main focus on the 20th century to the present. The collection also contains pieces of art dating back until the 16th century. Originally the collection was part of the Dresden City Museum in the same building, but was established as a separate museum in 2005. An additional webpage describes the museum in English.

   Tue-Thu Sat Sun and holidays 10:00-18:00, Fri 10:00-19:00, Mon closed·Adults €5, reduced €4, under 7 free. Free entry every Friday from 12:00 (except on holidays). A combination ticket with the Dresden City Museum is available

8. See

   Dresden Panometer

   Asisi Panometer

   A huge 360° picture of the Great Barrier Reef, housed in a former gasworks. Previously they have shown a picture of Dresden in 1945, Baroque Dresden or the Amazon

   Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat Sun and public holidays 10:00-18:00. Last admission 1 hr before closing·Adults €16.00, reduced €14, child €8, under 6 free

9. See

   Dresden Transport Museum

   Verkehrsmuseum Dresden

   The museum is housed in the Johanneum at the Neumarkt, near Frauenkirche.

   Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, Mon closed·Adults €12, reduced €6, family €12/24

10. See

    Dresdner Molkerei Gebrüder Pfund

    A dairy shop which is in the 1998 Guinness Book of World Records as the most beautiful dairy in the world. Decorated with 247 m² of handmade tiles. The shop is on the ground floor; there is a restaurant behind a door and one flight up that is very pleasant and has excellent cheese assortment plates but takes cash only.

    Mon-Sat, 10:00 - 18:00; closed Sun

11. See

    Elbe Valley

    This was on the UNESCO World Heritage List, until the government decided to build the four-lane highway Waldschlösschen Bridge through the heart of it! So now it has joined Oman's Arabian Oryx Sanctuary as "one of only two un-UNESCO'd sites in the world" and is still a tourist attraction.

12. See

    Elbwiesen

    Elbe River Banks

    Go to the (mostly) green river banks, especially on hot summer evenings/nights for a very nice view of the old parts and lot of people playing sports, having barbecues and parties. There are often big concerts and a huge movie screen offers "outdoor cinema."

13. See

    Erich-Kästner-Museum

    Dedicated to author, poet, screenwriter and satirist Emil Erich Kästner, known primarily for his humorous, socially astute poetry and children's literature such as Emil and the Detectives who was born and grew up in Dresden.

    Sun-Wed Fri 10:00-18:00, Tue and Sat closed·Adults €7, reduced €4, under 6 free

14. See

    Festung Dresden

    Kasematten

    The remains of the old fort. Gives you a glimpse of what a fort in a medieval European town was like.

    Apr-Oct: daily 10:00-18:00; Nov-Mar: daily 10:00-17:00·Tour: €4, €2 concessions

15. See

    Frauenkirche

    The original Church of Our Lady was completely destroyed during World War II; however, it has been reconstructed. The City of Coventry, which was raided by the Luftwaffe in WWII, donated the golden cross for the dome of the church. Check out some ruins in the basement. For €12 (concessions €7; families €24) you can walk up to the viewing platform on the dome and enjoy a great view of the city. You must have good walking shoes, otherwise you might not be admitted. As well as being a working church (with services once a month in English), there are also regular concerts. Tickets tend to be expensive but sell out quickly, so try to book ahead of time. The seating can be a little hard.

    Free

16. See

    Fürstenzug

    This biggest porcelain painting of the world shows (almost) all Saxon princes, electors and kings on their horses and splendid parade uniforms. (There is only one female person at the painting, find her.) It leads to the "Stallhof" - the last preserved tournament place contained in a European castle. In winter, the Stallhof is the location of a medieval style Christmas market with a big fireplace.

17. See

    Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister

    Old Masters Picture Gallery

    A highly regarded collection featuring around 700 European works from the 15th to the 18th century. It is particularly known for its focus on Italian Renaissance and Baroque art, including Raphael's Sistine Madonna, as well as a significant selection of Dutch and Flemish masters and works by Lucas Cranach the Elder.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00, Mon closed·Entrance only with the combined ticket

18. See

    German Hygiene Museum

    A comprehensive museum dedicated to "science, culture and society", a truly vast scope including all aspects of the human body, sickness, health, stages of life and sexuality. Don't be put off by the old-fashioned name. The children's section and special/temporary exhibitions are also well worth checking out. Has signage in English as well as German, but the permanent exhibitions are mostly labelled in German only. The museum also engages in a lot of well-merited self-criticism for its history of eugenicism and racism before World War II and its efforts on behalf of the Nazis' mass murder campaign against disabled people, and that history is interesting, too. Allow 2-3 hours for a visit.

    Tue-Sun and holidays 10:00-17:00, Mon closed. Last admission 30 min before closing·Adults €12, reduced €6, under 16 free

19. See

    Gläserne Manufaktur

    The Transparent Factory

    The Transparent Factory previously assembled the electric version of VW's Golf car. Visitors can test drive VW electric cars for 30 minutes (except Sundays). Tours three times a day in English M-Sa, once on Sundays. Until 2016, final assembly for various luxury VW cars took place here.

    Mon-Fri 08:00-20:00·Tour: adults €7, reduced €4.50, families €15

20. See

    Gohliser Windmühle

    This beautiful old windmill was built in 1828 and is now a museum and tavern. It includes a beer garden; best reached using Elberadweg cycle route south of the Elbe river.

21. See

    Großer Garten

    "Big Garden"

    Recommended for relaxing and sports (rollerblades are very common). It's Dresden's "green lung" and can be reached easily by tram. You can also go on a ride on a seasonal miniature train through the park.

22. See

    Grünes Gewölbe

    Green Vault

    One of the most significant collections of European goldsmith's work and decorative arts. The museum is divided into two sections, each requiring a separate ticket. The Historic Green Vault (Historisches Grünes Gewölbe) preserves the treasury as it was arranged in 1733, featuring items like the crown jewels of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The New Green Vault (Neues Grünes Gewölbe) focuses on individual objects in a modern, neutral setting, including the famous green diamond. Visitors are advised to book time-slot tickets for the Historic Green Vault in advance.

    Wed Thu Sat Sun 10:00-17:00, Fri 10:00-19:00 closed Tuesdays·€18, including Audioguide, concessions €13.50, children <16: free. Tickets for the Historisches Grünes Gewölbe have a clearly defined time limit

23. See

    Japanisches Palais

    The palace was bombed out and in its partially restored state houses several small museums, including a museum of natural history of the region and a display of assorted exotic garments (ethnological collection). The palace is part of the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD).

24. See

    Kulturpalast

    Palace of Culture

    A socialist era building finished in 1969, standing right in the middle of the gradually reconstructed Altstadt, in stark contrast to the historic buildings surrounding it and supplanting some of the old buildings that closed the Altmarkt from the north before the second world war. It was originally planned to be a super-tall, ornate structure in the mould of the Palace of Culture in Warsaw, but ended up being a large concert hall with height on par with surrounding buildings, in an austere Bauhaus-inspired style. It is now a protected architectural monument, along with a giant socialist-realism themed mosaic on its western wall, facing Schloßstraße. Between 2012 and 2017 the Kulturpalast was completely renovated and now houses a concert hall, the city's main library and a Kabarett venue.

25. See

    Kunsthalle im Lipsius-Bau

    Impressive building for the arts constructed in the 19th century. The Kunsthalle is part of the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD).

    Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, Mon closed·Combination ticket Albertinum and Kunsthalle im Lipsiusbau Admission fee: €12.50

26. See

    Kunsthaus Dresden

    An exhibition hall for contemporary art. They also hold concerts, lectures, workshops and show movies. This additional webpage also describes the museum.

    Tue-Thu 14:00-19:00, Fri-Sun 11:00-19:00, Mon closed·Adults €4, reduced €2.50. Free every Friday

27. See

    Kunsthof Dresden

    Two buildings in the middle of Neustadt with many small stores and some bars, many of them in the artistically decorated inner courtyards. The complex also has public artworks, art galleries, shops selling art, as well as coffee shops.

28. See

    Kupferstich-Kabinett

    Collection of Prints, Drawings and Photographs

    One of the world’s oldest and most significant museums specializing in drawings, prints, and photographs. The collection spans from the Middle Ages to the present day, featuring works by renowned masters such as Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt, and Caspar David Friedrich. Due to the sensitivity of the paper-based materials, the items on display are changed regularly in special exhibitions.

    Wed-Mon 10:00-17:00, closed Tuesdays·€6, concessions €4.50, pupils <20 €2, <7 free

29. See

    Leonhardi Museum

    The building was used as a studio and museum by the artist Eduard Leonhardi (late Romanticism) until he died in 1905. From 1963 to 1990, contemporary art exhibitions showing works from progressive GDR artists were held despite many attempts by the Stasi to prevent nonconformist art. Nowadays it contains a permanent collection of works by Leonhardi, and changing contemporary exhibitions.

    Tue-Fri 14:00-18:00, Sat Sun 10:00-18:00, Mon closed·Adults €6, reduced €4, under 7 free. Free entry Fridays from 2pm (except on holidays)

30. See

    Lingnerschloss

    Villa Stockhausen

    The castle above the Elbe River was built from 1850 tom 1853 by Prince Albert of Prussia. The castle houses a restaurant and an outdoor terrace with beer garden that offers a fantastic view over the Elbe River and Dresden.

31. See

    Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon

    Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments

    A collection of historical scientific instruments from the 18th century. It features a variety of early precision tools, including telescopes, clocks, and celestial models that reflect the scientific interests and technological advancements of that era.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00, Mon closed·Individual tickets: adults €6, reduced €4.50, under 17 free

32. See

    Military History Museum

    Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr

    Exhibits relating to Germany's military history - and the country's complicated relationship with its armed forces and warfare. 20,000 m² of indoor and outdoor exhibition space and a collection of 1.2 million exhibits.

    Mon 10:00-21:00, Tue Thu-Sun 10:00-18:00, last tickets sold at 17:00·€5; Mondays free after 18:00

33. See

    Münzkabinett

    Coin Cabinet

    A specialized collection focusing on the history of coinage, medals, and monetary systems. The archive holds an extensive array of specimens from ancient times to the present day, with a particular emphasis on the development of currency in Saxony. The exhibition provides insight into the history of minting techniques and the cultural significance of coins as both economic tools and artistic objects.

    Wed-Mon 10:00-78:00, Tue closed

34. See

    Neue Synagoge

    New Synagogue

    The New Synagogue is on the site of what was the Semper Synagogue. The old one was designed by Gottfried Semper, who also designed the Semper Opera in Dresden. Erected in 1840 and destroyed by the Nazis in the pogroms of November 1938. Unlike the buildings in the Altstadt destroyed during the war, the synagogue was deliberately not rebuilt in the original style, Instead, a new, starkly modern synagogue was built in 2001, when Dresden's Jewish community (now around 700 members) had grown enough to justify a synagogue. The building is made of concrete made to look like the sandstone which is typical of the area. The worship hall has sharp angles and the complex includes a smaller building and stone courtyard. The design in striking in an austere way both on the outside and the inside. There are regular guided tours (in German), times listed here.

    Closed due to construction work·Guided tour: adults €6, reduced €4

35. See

    Porzellansammlung

    Porcelain Collection

    A unique collection showcasing the obsession with "white gold" during the 18th century. It features thousands of exquisite pieces from China, Japan, and the first European porcelain factory in Meißen, founded by Augustus the Strong. The collection will be closed for renovation from 07 September to 30 October 2026.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00, Mon closed·Individual tickets: adults €6, reduced €4.50, under 17 free

36. See

    Residenzschloss

    Royal Palace

    During the bombing of Dresden in February 1945 the interior of the palace was almost completely destroyed by fire. Only the part that is now the Historisches Grünes Gewölbe (and the basements) was unaffected. Due to lack of money and political will during the GDR and despite the efforts of volunteers and local organizations, restoration only took place after reunification in the 1990s. It is now a palace for art and science. The Royal Palace is part of the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD).

    Adults €18, concessions €13.50, under 17 free

37. See

    Rüstkammer

    Dresden Armoury

    This collection displays ceremonial weapons, costumes, and equipment used for courtly hunting and representation during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Key highlights include the Türkische Kammer (Turkish Chamber), which showcases Ottoman art, and the Riesensaal (New Giants’ Hall). The exhibition documents aspects of Saxon, European, and global history through the lens of court life and technology.

    Wed-Mon 10:00-17:00, Tue closed

38. See

    Schloss Albrechtsberg

    Albrechtsberg Palace

    The neoclassical castle above the Elbe river in Dresden's Loschwitz district was erected in 1854 and can be viewed best from the south side of the Elbe river.

39. See

    Schloß Pillnitz

    Pillnitz Castle

    Pillnitz is the old garden residence of the Saxon kings, built at the end of the 18th century in a Japanese but also English style outside of what was then-Dresden, as the closest out-of-town residence of the kings. Pillnitz was the summer residence of the Saxon kings till 1918, today it hosts concerts and cultural events. The site consists of the English garden, a Chinese garden and Chinese pavilion (with Chinese style buildings) and the Orangerie. During summer you will also see all kinds of tropical plants in pots standing in the gardens, but in winter they are all transferred into the Orangerie. There are however, many other indigenous and foreign plants to be discovered. A big attraction is the camellia. Imported at the end of the 18th century from Japan is it now the oldest in Europe. It flowers beautifully in spring. It stands in the open during summer, but is put in a mobile glass house for winter. The castle became known worldwide for the Declaration of Pillnitz by Emperor Leopold II and Frederick William II of Prussia. Calling on European powers to intervene, this declaration was intended to serve as a warning to the French revolutionaries not to infringe further on the rights of Louis XVI, and to allow his restoration to power. It helped begin the French Revolutionary Wars.

    Park from 06:00 till dusk·There are no entry fees, although there still is a debate about a small fee

40. See

    Schwebebahn Dresden

    Dresden Suspension Railway

    A historic suspension railway link between the low-lying Loschwitz district and the hill of Oberloschwitz.

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Dresden (CC BY-SA 4.0).