Day 1 in Dresden

Welcome to Dresden! Upon arrival, you will go through customs and immigration. Make your transfer to your destination, arrive at your hotel, check and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do.

Begin the afternoon by exploring the beautiful Historic Old Town. Grab some lunch at one of the many charming cafes, then head out to explore the area and get your bearings. The Old Town sights, such as Frauenkirche, the Dresden Castle, Zwinger, the Opera House and Kreuzkirche, are all located in close proximity, making the city easy to explore by foot. We recommend the Dresden Self-Guided Walking Tour that includes all the main sights of Old Town and provides great information.

In the evening, enjoy a ballet or opera performance in The Semperoper Dresden (Dresden Opera House). This honored opera, ballet and concert house has a dramatic back story: Inaugurated in 1841, it was destroyed by fire in 1869, bombed in 1945, reopened by the German Democratic Republic in 1985, and carefully restored after a flood in 2002. It has outstanding sound, red velvet seats and a crowd that dresses to the nines for traditional yet brilliant stagings of operas. You may also want to take advantage of a guided tour of the Semperoper during the days when there are no performances or rehearsals.

After a busy day of sightseeing, enjoy a relaxing dinner before heading back to your hotel for a good night rest.

Day 2 in Dresden

Wake up early, grab a coffee or breakfast at a cozy café, and prepare for a day of more sightseeing. Start off with a walk around artsy district of Neustadt (New Town), situated on the right banks of the Elbe. Some of the attractions in the Neustadt District are the Golden Horseman, Japanese Palace, Neustadt Market Hall, The Dreikönigskirche (Church of the Three Kings), and Blockhouse and Hauptstraße.

Stop to snap a picture in the Courtyard of the Elements in Neustadt, probably the most photographed building in the area. Its rain drain pipes, shaped like instruments, play `water music` when it rains.

After lunch, make your way to Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery), which exhibits the fascinating history of Dresden and houses a huge collection of historical paintings from the world`s most famous painters. Another museum you should not miss is the Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault), a historic attraction which houses one of the largest collection of treasures in Europe. End the day at Elbwiesen (Elbe Meadows), one of the best places in Dresden to relax and unwind.

As night falls, enjoy a hearty Saxon dinner at Watkze Ball & Brauhaus, a 114-year-old restaurant, ballroom and brewery on the waterfront. Regional specialties include pork neck in beer sauce with mushroom goulash and excellent house brews alongside a very local and vibrant crowd. In summer, Watzke has a lively beer garden on the banks of the Elbe.

Day 3 in Dresden

Start your day in Radebeul and hop on board the steam train to Moritzburg. The narrow-gauge railway has been in operation since 1884. In Moritzburg, visit the Moritzburg Castle. The Baroque castle, which was built as a hunting lodge in the 1500s, but was renovated in the 1720s for Augustus II the Strong, sits on an island in the middle of a lake. After your visit, walk the castle grounds and gardens and then make the short walk to the Little Pheasant Castle and lighthouse. Return to Radebeul via the steam train.

Next, travel southeast of Dresden to the Pillnitz Castle, located on the banks of the Elbe River. The castle complex, which consists of three buildings and a garden, served as the summer residence of the kings of Saxony. Wander through the gardens, which includes a pond, a royal gondola and an English and Chinese pavilion.

On your way back to Dresden, stop in Loschwitz, one of Dresden`s most affluent neighborhoods. While there, take a ride on the Schwebebahn, the oldest suspension railway in the world, to the elevated lookout point and take in the view. Walk across the Loschwitz Bridge, known as the Blaues Wunder (or Blue Wonder), then head back into Dresden.

Spend your last night in Dresden taking in the lively nightlife this city has to offer. There is an interesting collection of clubs and bars from high quality cocktail bars to brewery beer gardens, hipster hangouts, and late-night clubs. Enjoy experiencing all this city has to offer after the sun goes down.

Additional Days in Dresden

Should you be able to spend additional days in Dresden, take in one more day of this beautiful city. Enjoy any museums or other attractions that you might have missed. We suggest you take a walking food tour of Neustadt (New Town) or Altstadt (Old Town). On this tour, you will be introduced to traditional Dresden and learn the best way to cook authentic German food.

Alternatively, discover the region to the west of the city in the historic town of Meissen. Here you can enjoy the Fraunkirche and make a short climb to the Albrechtsburg Castle and Gothic Cathedral. We recommend a visit to the Meissen Porcelain factory while here. And finish the day at the Wackerbarth Winery, Sazony`s oldest sparkling wine cellar. The estate dates to the mid-1700s and was a place for royal festivities. The grounds here include the vineyards, a small castle, a restaurant, a shop and the wine-making facilities.

Your Last Day in Dresden

Depart your hotel for the airport for your return home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer, if so a representative will meet you at the hotel, in time to take you to the airport for your flight out.