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Sampling some of the traditional baked goods at a cafe can be a great way to meet people
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City of Cultures
If you just stand on the Augustus Bridge and glance over the railing, you can already see half of Dresden's cultural treasures: the skyline of the old town, the opera house Semperoper, the Frauenkirche church and lots of bright sandstone.
Exciting Neustadt
Classic views are one thing, but a trip to the Neustadt really pays off. This is the colorful heart of Dresden. Between chic advertising agencies, elegant bars and alternative domestic culture, there is still a little piece of the old Bohemia to be found. Leave home early, sit down in a café with a newspaper, and see what the day brings -- that's the Dresden lifestyle.
Neustadt, with its tightly-packed rows of houses, has a light and breezy flair about it. Louisenstrasse stands out among the local streets with its countless clubs, bars and pubs. Good places to visit here are Groove Station and Hebedas. They have a cozy, feel-good atmosphere and attract all sorts of people, from art directors to great poets.
Destination: Old Town
For something more dignified and some high culture, head to the left bank of the river to the old town or Altstadt. This place is visited by busloads of tourists and looks exactly like a photo from travel brochures. The Gruenes Gewoelbe or Green Vault museum contains the largest collection of treasures in Europe, including precious items from the Wettiner Treasury.
Not far away is the Semperoper opera house, the home and concert hall of the Saxon State Orchestra. Not only the works of Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss premiered here, the modern local orchestra is considered to be among the best in the world. The opera house itself is like a treasure trove, designed by the famous German architect Gottfried Semper. It was destroyed in World War Two, but rebuilt during the East German regime under the guidance of East German leader Erich Honecker.
Dresden's other positive feature is its surroundings. Although the city seems somehow tucked away in the south-eastern corner of the country, its location has various advantages. Firstly, it lies next to one of Germany's most beautiful low mountain ranges, the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. Secondly, it's just a stone's throw away from Poland and the Czech Republic, which, in these times of open borders, means more opportunities for leisurely exploration.
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Hai Anh from Vietnam fell in love with Dresden:
"The city is so beautiful that it is impossible to put it into words" (German)
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