Culture of Dresden. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Palais im Volksparks Neustadt area is the most attractive one from historical point of view. On the territory of this area are located numerous beautiful old buildings. Japanese Palace is a striking architectural landmark of the city. The palace was built in the beginning of the 18th century. Currently the palace hosts two museums, one of which introduces visitors to the Saxon national culture, and the other one exhibits an invaluable collection of ethnographic artifacts. The most beautiful and famous dairy store in the world - Pfunds Molkerei – is also located in this city. Its opening took place in 1880; counters and walls of the shop are decorated with amazing painting and mosaics. Golden Rider is, without a doubt, among the most famous historical monuments of Dresden. The monument was erected in the memory of Augustus the Strong – a famous Polish king.
An exclusive hotel, Artotel Dresden By Park Plaza is very popular with fans of art not only because of its interesting design and modern architecture but also because of its artistic … Open
Fans of painting should visit Dresden Art Gallery, which exhibits masterpieces by Rubens, Titian and Van Dyck. A stunning painting of Madonna by Raphael is considered the main decoration of the gallery. In Armory visitors can see a large collection of ceremonial weapons, historical textiles, and antique armor. The museum exhibits around 10,000 historical artifacts in total. Lovers of natural and architectural attractions will find much interesting in making a walk through the valley of the River Elbe. In this region they will see beautiful old mansions and palaces, including the famous Albrehtsberg, Ekberg, Lingnershloss, and Pillnits.
Bruhl terrace is the best place to spend a wonderful romantic evening. The terrace is located not far away from Palace Square. A picturesque promenade, an abundance of cozy cafes and restaurants - not only visitors, but also locals enjoy making their unhurried walks here. Fans of classical music will be genuinely interested in visiting Dresden opera, which is considered one of the best venues in Europe. The building, which houses the Opera, is also quite interesting. Initially the first house was built here in the 17th century. It was turned into a theater only in 1841. In the end of the 19th century the building was badly damaged by fire and it was restored only in the second half of the 20th century. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
The magnificent building of Hotel Suitess never ceases to attract visitors and passersby. Inside, travelers will find amazingly decorated rooms, which reflect the passion of designers for … Open
Frauenkirche – one of the most important symbols of Dresden – attracts hundreds of tourists from all over the world. Despite the fact that the building was almost completely restored after the tragic events of the Second World War, the church continues to impress with its magnificence and monumentality – both on the outside and inside. Any visitor who happens to climb to the very top of the cathedral, gains the unique opportunity of having a view of the magnificent panorama of the city from it. “Zwinger” is another landmark of the city that will astonish you with its ensemble of buildings. It should therefore not be considered an idle talk when you hear people say that all roads in Dresden lead to Zwinger. There are four museums here: Porzellansammlung, Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon, Nymphenbad and Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, as well as the majestic Kronentor building.
Ex-World Heritage Dresden It is definitely necessary to conduct a good walk on Altmarkt or Neumarkt. These are just the places where the life of the city simply “boils”. The numerous restaurants, bars, shops, which you will come across on your way, are nothing short of the realest works of architectural art, and you can be sure to find them truly adorable. Numerous fountains and sculptural compositions are of a remarkable quality in the city on the Elbe River. The most famous monuments are memorials to Martin Luther, Gottfried Semper, Friedrich Schiller, court jester Joseph Froehlich, a statue of King John, as well as sculptural compositions “Baccus auf dem betrunkenen Esel” and “Alter Bock auf Säule”.
The history of Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Hotel started yet in 1707 when king August I ordered to build a palace for his beloved one. Some time later, the building became the residence of … Open
The magnificent gate Georgenbau is another place that will surely please any traveler. This gate was built at the end of the XVI century, and today, the building has been restored after having suffered bombardments during the Second World War. Fans of deconstructivism can enjoy an architectural style here, thanks to the Ufa-Kristallpalast Kino built in the city. Another notable building in the hometown of the soloist of a renowned group, Rammstein Till Lindemann, is Paulickhochhaus. By the way, it will interest you to know that this is one of the surviving buildings of pre-war modernism. It was built in the year 1929, but despite its age, it looks quite modern.
Dresden Sächsische Staatskanzlei, built in 1904 in the style of neo-Renaissance, today is the seat of the government of Saxony. Its main feature is the golden crown on the roof, which immediately distinguishes the building from among hundreds of others, hence making it easily recognizable. It will also be interesting to visit the Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr. This museum by the way, attracts people not only by its collection (and it is the largest museum in Germany) and the opportunity it presents to visitors to learn a lot of new information, but also by its exterior.
In the section below, you can get one of our excursion, activities or city discovery tours over Dresden and surroundings. Our website offers 10-30% lower ticket prices, when compared to the offline purchase on the spot.

City tours, excursions and tickets in Dresden and surroundings

Plan your own excursion through Dresden: churches, museums and castles

Frauenkirche, Dresden

Location on the map:     Facts:
» The Frauenkirche, which is translated from German as the Church of the Virgin Mary, is one of the most significant Lutheran churches in Dresden.
»  The modern building was rebuilt at the site of an old sanctuary in 1995. When it was being reconstructed, 40% of old construction materials were used.
»  The original 95-meter church was destroyed completely in the period of the Second World War when Dresden was bombed in 1945.
»  The church is the third most visited attraction not only in Dresden, but also in all of Germany. The sanctuary is famous for its beauty, many tiny decorative items, moldings on the facade, and soft lines.
»  The interior of the church is wonderful too. All the walls are painted in yellow and green. The altar and the organ at the church deserve special attention.
»  Everyone can go up to the dome of the church and reach an observation platform that has a spectacular view of Dresden and its surroundings.

Kunsthalle im Lipsiusbau, Dresden

Location on the map:   Facts: » Kunsthalle im Lipsiusbau was built in the 19th century.
»  The building is named after its founder, Professor of Architecture Constantin Lipsius.
»  Today, the building is open for all people who want to visit temporary exhibitions.
»  As a rule, Kunsthalle im Lipsiusbau houses works of modern masters, as it is located near the Art Academy.
»  The exhibition hall is open from 10 am to 6 pm every day except Monday.

Old Masters Gallery, Dresden

Location on the map:   Facts: » The Old Masters Gallery is a world-famous art gallery in Dresden. It houses one of the biggest collections of paintings.
»  The gallery is really unique. Here, you can see the best pieces of Italian art of the Renaissance period: works of Tiziano, Botticelli, Raphael, Veronese, and Correggio.
»  In the museum, there is the collection of Dutch and Flemish artists’ paintings of the 14th century and works of German, Spanish, and French artists.
»  The art gallery was founded in 1560 and had developed successfully for many years until the building was damaged during the Second World War. In wartime, three-quarters of paintings were destroyed or taken out of the country.
»  After the war, the rooms of the gallery were renovated. There are all conditions for storing and displaying paintings. The Old Masters Gallery is considered as one of the most popular museums in Germany. Every year, it is visited by many people.

Japanese Palace, Dresden

Location on the map:     Facts:
» The Japanese Palace is a unique construction located in the center of Dresden. Besides, the palace is the oldest museum in Germany that has survived to the present day.
»  The palace is an amazing combination of three architectural styles. The facade of the building is designed in the baroque and classical style. The roof is designed in the Chinese style.
»  At one time, the castle was named the Dutch Palace. The palace has got its name due to its Chinese roof and relief paintings on the facade that depict Saxon and Asian people making porcelain.
»  During the Second World War, the building was bombed and greatly damaged. It has been restored for 40 years.
»  Nowadays, the palace is used as a museum. There is the Early History Museum and the Natural History Museum.

Church of St. Ann, Dresden

Location on the map:   Facts: » The Church of St. Ann is named after its benefactor, Princess Anna of Saxony.
»  The modern church was built in 1769 at the site of an older one built in 1578 and destroyed by Prussian troops in 1760.
»  The Church of St. Ann is one of the few churches in Dresden that have survived after two world wars.
»  In 1824, a 57-meter neoclassical tower was added to the church and, as a result, the building has been recognizable.
»  When it was bombed in February 1945, the roof was burned. However, it let about 1 000 people escape the bombing when they found refuge in the church. After the Second World War, no one engaged in the reconstruction of the church but it was restored after a while.
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What to visit during two-day excursion in Dresden

Frauenkirche
Where: An der Frauenkirche 12, Dresden; Telephone: +49-351-498110; Metro: Altmarkt;
Semper Opera House
Where: Theaterplatz 2, Dresden; Telephone: +49-351-4911705; Metro: Theaterplatz;
Albertinum
Where: Bruehlschen Terrasse, Dresden; Telephone: +49-351-4914619; Metro: Theaterplatz;
Zwinger
Where: Theaterplatz 1, Dresden; Telephone: +49-351-4914601; Metro: Postplatz;
Synagogue
Where: Rathenauplatz/Carolabruecke, Dresden; Metro: Synagogue;
Sea Life
Where: Blueherstrasse 3, Dresden; Telephone: +49-351-21040; Metro: Strassburger Platz/Hygiene-Museum;
Elbe meadows and slopes
Where: Dresden Tourism Office, Dresden; Telephone: +49-351-49192100;
Reference information
Map of all art museums
Art galleries in Dresden and around
♥   Art museum 'Grünes Gewölbe' Dresden, 0.3 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Art museum 'Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister' Dresden, 0.5 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas near Dresden
♥   Dom St. Petri, Bautzen, 49.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Katedrála sv. Štěpána, Litoměřice, 63.9 km from the center. On the map   Photo

Excursions over cultural sights of neighbours of Dresden

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