Dresden is not only famous for its magnificent baroque buildings such as the Zwinger, the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), Semper Opera House and Royal Palace but also for the lively nightlife across the river in Dresden Neustadt and for the many opportunities to relax on the banks of the Elbe and in the city’s parks.
Great advice on how to spend your time in Dresden – absolutely up to date and authentic – can be found in the USE-IT street map, prepared by young people for young people. It is the ideal companion for your visit to Dresden.
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The English-language version of the USE-IT map is available free of charge at tourist Information offices and in all Dresden hostels. It can also be downloaded as a PDF at http://mediaserver.dresden.de.
If you prefer to explore Dresden on your own, a good place to start is in the Old Town. Here you can stroll past the Semper Opera until you reach the Zwinger, the former ‘party venue’ for the prince electors. It houses some of the museums and galleries that constitute the famous State Art Collections, with works by artists ranging from Raphael to Gerhard Richter, fine porcelain and an impressive array of mathematical and physical instruments.
From the Zwinger, continue past the famous Fürstenzug (Procession of the Princes) mural, the largest porcelain image in the world, and on to the Neumarkt (New Market Square) on which stands the city’s most famous landmark, the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) which was rebuilt only ten years ago after being destroyed in the Second World War. From here, the itinerary takes you through the Münzgasse quarter with its many pubs and beer gardens to Brühl’s Terrace, affectionately known as the ‘Balcony of Europe’.
You then walk across the Augustusbrücke (Augustus Bridge) from where you can see the distant Goldener Reiter (Golden Rider) statue depicting Augustus the Strong on horseback.
Having now reached the other bank of the Elbe, you see Dresden from its vibrant, funky and multicultural side. The ‘alternative’ quarter of Neustadt has the highest density of bars and clubs in Germany. The district also has a great selection of restaurants and fashionable clothing outlets.
The ornate courtyards of the Kunsthofpassage accommodate small boutiques stocking arts and craft items, as well as pleasant cafés and restaurants. Not far away, the Blue Note jazz bar hosts live music every day and serves an amazing selection of whiskies. Dresden’s nightlife pulsates around the Scheune (= Barn) club with its beer garden and Indian food.
Be sure to take a look at Pfunds Molkerei (Pfund’s Dairy) on Bautzner Strasse which is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s most beautiful dairy shop, not least because of its 250 square metres of hand-painted tiles.
Info
– Dresden State Art Collections, www.skd.museum
– Kunsthof-Passage Dresden, www.kunsthof-dresden.de
– Blue Note Club & Bar, www.jazzdepartment.com
– Pfunds Molkerei, www.pfunds.de
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- Dresden is not only famous for its magnificent baroque buildings such as the Zwinger, the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), Semper Opera House and Royal Palace but also for the lively nightlife across the river in Dresden Neustadt and for the many opportunities to relax on the banks of the Elbe and in the city's parks.
- From the Zwinger, continue past the famous Fürstenzug (Procession of the Princes) mural, the largest porcelain image in the world, and on to the Neumarkt (New Market Square) on which stands the city's most famous landmark, the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) which was rebuilt only ten years ago after being destroyed in the Second World War.
- Be sure to take a look at Pfunds Molkerei (Pfund's Dairy) on Bautzner Strasse which is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's most beautiful dairy shop, not least because of its 250 square metres of hand-painted tiles.
