two nights in

Dresden

Dresden is the capital of Saxony (Sachsen). It's often referred to locally as Elbflorenz, or "Florence on the Elbe", reflecting its location on the Elbe river and its historical role as a centre for the arts and beautiful architecture – much like Florence in Italy. Wikivoyage

Population 562,764 (Wikidata)

Live guide From your hotel

Before you go

Emergency numbers in Germany

Visas and entry What your passport needs for Germany

Getting there

Remembered in this browser only, with the last few you used.

Still gathering the markets around Dresden. I'll let you know here when it's all in — or open the live guide.

Best-documented sights

All of them in the guide

Within a kilometre of the centre, ordered by how well documented each is — not by a "best" anyone decided. Each opens on the map in the guide. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited there.

Through the year

  1. Filmfest Dresden

    April

    Short movies are shown throughout the cinemas of Dresden with entrants from a variety of countries, most of them with German or English subtitles

    Official site

  2. Dixieland Festival

    May

    Internationales Dixieland Festival Dresden is a jazz festival in Germany. It first took place in 1971.

    Official site Wikipedia

  3. Bunte Republik Neustadt (BRN)

    June

    The Bunte Republik Neustadt (German: literally "Colourful Republic of Neustadt") was a micronation in Dresden in Germany, in parts of the city's district Dresden-Neustadt, from 1990 to 1993; nowadays every year in June a 3-day cultural festival is celebrated…

    Official site Wikipedia

  4. Canaletto Dresden Stadtfest

    August

    This very well organized 3-day festival encompasses much of the Innere Altstadt and parts of Neustadt.

    Official site

  5. Hechtfest

    August

    Official site

  6. Striezelmarkt

    November

    The Striezelmarkt in Dresden is one of the first genuine Christmas markets in the world. Founded as a one-day market in 1434, it celebrated its 590th anniversary in 2024.

    Official site Wikipedia

Annual events from Wikidata and Wikivoyage (Dresden); descriptions from Wikipedia where it has one, photos from Wikimedia Commons. Dates move year to year — check before you plan around one.

Eating nearby

All 96 places to eat

Somewhere to run

Getting around

Train stations: Dresden Mitte 1.1 km, Dresden Hbf 1.3 km, Dresden Freiberger Straße 1.3 km, Bahnhof Straßburger Platz 1.4 km, Dresden-Neustadt 1.7 km, Bahnhof Zoo 2.0 km, Dresden-Friedrichstadt 2.2 km, Dresden Bischofsplatz 2.4 km, Bahnhof Carolasee 2.6 km, Bahnhof Palaisteich 2.6 km, Dresden-Strehlen 2.8 km, Bahnhof Karcherallee 3.3 km, Dresden-Plauen 3.4 km, Dresden-Pieschen 3.6 km, Dresden-Cotta 4.0 km, Dresden Industriegelände 4.4 km, Dresden-Trachau 4.9 km, Dresden-Reick 5.0 km, Talstation Standseilbahn 5.4 km, Dresden-Kemnitz 5.4 km

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Places © OpenStreetMap contributors, as of 9 October 2026. Description from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA). Events from Wikidata and Wikivoyage, population from Wikidata.