Dresden in 2 days

A ready route for 2 days in Dresden: the main sights grouped by area, so you don't walk back and forth. Each day opens on the map with all its stops.

Day 1

Old Town & Royal Dresden

6 places · about 6,5 h of sightseeing · 1,5 km between them

Morning

Neumarkt (New Market Square) about 45 minutes
The reconstructed Baroque square around the Frauenkirche — one of Europe's largest ongoing historic-reconstruction projects.
5 min on foot
Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) about 45 minutes · heart of the city
Dresden's Baroque icon — destroyed in the 1945 firebombing, rebuilt 1994–2005 as Germany's foremost symbol of postwar reconciliation.

Lunch break nearby — your plan suggests 3 places to eat right there, in different budgets

Afternoon

Brühlsche Terrasse (Brühl's Terrace) about 45 minutes · heart of the city
The "Balcony of Europe" — a raised riverside promenade with Dresden's best Elbe views, built atop the old city fortifications.
6 min on foot
Zwinger Palace (incl. Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister) about 2 hours · heart of the city
A Baroque pleasure palace of courtyards, pavilions and fountains — home to the Old Masters Picture Gallery, a world-class porcelain collection, and historic scientific instruments.
5 min on foot
Residenzschloss Dresden (Royal Palace) & Grünes Gewölbe about 2 hours and 15 minutes
The Saxon electors' palace, rebuilt after WWII — home to the dazzling Grünes Gewölbe treasury, an armory, and the Hausmannsturm tower.

Evening

Fürstenzug (Procession of Princes) about 15 minutes
A 102-meter mural of 35 Saxon rulers on roughly 23,000 Meissen porcelain tiles — the largest porcelain artwork on Earth.

Route of the day: Google Maps Apple Maps

Day 2

Museums & Treasuries · Elbe, Parks & Modern Dresden

3 places · about 5,5 h of sightseeing · 3,7 km between them

Morning

Großer Garten (Great Garden) about 1 hour and 45 minutes
A 1.8 km² Baroque park south of the center — palace, zoo, botanical garden and a miniature park railway all in one green space.

Lunch break nearby

Afternoon

Dresden Zoo (Zoo Dresden) about 2 hours and 45 minutes
Germany's fourth-oldest zoo (founded 1861), inside the Großer Garten, with well-regarded ape and Africa exhibits.
17 min by public transport
Elbwiesen (Elbe Meadows) & Elberadweg about 1 hour
The largely undeveloped riverside meadows along the Elbe — a defining feature of Dresden's cityscape, popular for walking, picnics and cycling.

Route of the day: Google Maps Apple Maps

Good to know

When to go

May, June and September are best for the baroque old town on the Elbe.

Book ahead

Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), Zwinger Palace (incl. Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister), Residenzschloss Dresden (Royal Palace) & Grünes Gewölbe, Dresden Zoo (Zoo Dresden)

Closed days

Zwinger Palace (incl. Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister) — closed: Monday
Residenzschloss Dresden (Royal Palace) & Grünes Gewölbe — closed: Tuesday

Want times, places to eat and a plan for your own dates?

In your own plan:

exact times for each day, checked against the opening hours on your dates
places to eat near every stop, in three budgets
your flights, hotel, kids and pace taken into account

Make my plan for Dresden