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title: "Dresden, Saxony’s historic capital: designed to charm"
description: "In Dresden, I encountered a proud, historic city with folksy inhabitants and imposing baroque architecture"
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author: "Letizia Lorenzetti"
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---

# Dresden, Saxony’s historic capital: designed to charm

> Dresden, Saxony's 800-year-old baroque capital on the Elbe, charms visitors with its painstakingly rebuilt Altstadt, world-class art treasures, vibrant Neustadt nightlife, and warm, witty locals — earning comparisons to both Florence and Prague.

## Destination
Dresden, Saxony, eastern Germany, situated on the Elbe river.

## Getting there
SWISS flies to Dresden in approximately 1 hour 20 minutes. By train from Zurich takes around 8 hours. From Dresden airport, take Bus 77 to Infineon Nord then Tram 8 to Pirnaischer Platz, or take the S-Bahn directly to Bahnhof Mitte or Hauptbahnhof. A day transit pass costs €6. The Dresden CityCard covers free transit plus museum entry and discounts, and can be ordered online before arrival.

## When to go
The article covers a Christmas-season visit; the Striezelmarkt, Germany's oldest Christmas market (581st year), runs through December 24th.

## Why visit
Dresden combines imposing baroque architecture, outstanding art and treasure collections, a lively theater and opera culture, a buzzing bohemian Neustadt district, and hospitable locals — all in a compact, walkable city that also serves as a gateway to Prague (2 hours by car or 2.5 hours by train).

## What to see
- **Frauenkirche** — Rebuilt 18th-century church, the world-famous centerpiece of the Neumarkt square.
- **Neumarkt** — Large cobblestone market square fronting the Frauenkirche, lined with colorfully restored buildings.
- **Residenzschloss (Royal Palace)** — Houses part of Saxony's state art collection and the Grünes Gewölbe treasure chamber of gold, silver, and gem-studded objects.
- **Zwinger Palace** — Baroque/rococo palace complex with glorious grounds; also home to a museum complex.
- **Hofkirche** — Catholic cathedral near the Residenzschloss in the Altstadt.
- **Kunsthof Passages** — Must-see courtyard complex in Neustadt with shops and a café.
- **Pfunds Molkerei** — Famous Neustadt dairy shop entirely lined with hand-painted tiles.
- **Striezelmarkt** — Dresden's celebrated Christmas market, Germany's oldest, lighting up the city center through December 24th.

## What to do
- **Explore Neustadt** — Saunter through bar- and café-lined streets with graffiti art, shopping, and a cosmopolitan atmosphere akin to Berlin's Kreuzberg.
- **Try Christstollen** — Sample Dresden's signature rich Christmas cake — authentic only if it bears the official seal.
- **Day trip to Prague** — Prague is 2 hours by car or 2.5 hours by train; bike tours along the Elbe are also available.
- **Elbe river bridges walk** — Cobblestone streets and stone-arch bridges connect the Altstadt with Neustadt on the opposite bank.

## Good to know
The Dresden CityCard is worthwhile if you use its additional discounts; otherwise a €6 day transit pass suffices. The Ostmarkt in Neustadt sells regional East German specialties and DDR nostalgia items. The Senfladen next to Pfunds Molkerei stocks an enormous selection of mustards and spice mixtures.

## Photos

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photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Singapore-Gardens-by-the-Bay-6.jpg"
    caption: "© National Parks Board, Singapore, Gardens by the Bay"
    keywords: ["National Parks Board", "Singapore.Gardens by the Bay"]
    geo: {latitude: 1.2818, longitude: 103.8638}
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Singapore-night-safari-14.jpg"
    caption: "© Night Safari Singapore"
```