A Budget Travel Guide to Dresden, Germany

By Rebeccah Dean From eurocheapo

Dubbed the Elbflorenz (“Florence on the Elbe River”), Dresden is one of Germany’s most beautiful and historically interesting cities. Dresden is the capital of Saxony, a state in the former East Germany. Though heavily bombed by the allies in 1945, much of Dresden’s opulent baroque architecture has been restored, which is juxtaposed with classic GDR-era buildings.

The city is divided into two main districts, the Altstadt (Old City) and Neustadt (New City), which both have their own very distinct flavor and flair. Because Dresden is located halfway between Berlin and Prague, it’s an easy stop for tourists on their way to these two European hot spots. But make no mistake: This city is well worth a visit on its own.

We’ve gathered some budget travel tips here for your trip to Dresden, including plenty of ways to save on your visit.

Getting there

Dresden International Airport is located north of the city. The fastest and cheapest way to reach the city from the airport is to take the S2 line S-Bahn train right into Dresden — you’ll reach the main train station in a little over 20 minutes.

Dresden also has two major train stations, Dresden-Neustadt and Dresden Hauptbahnhof, which are separated by the Elbe River. As you might guess, the station Dresden-Neustadt is located in Neustadt, the district to the north of the Elbe river. Dresden Hauptbahnhof (main train station) is in the Altstadt, Dresden’s impressive old town to the south of the Elbe river.

Save with the bus: If you’re coming from somewhere else in Germany, one of the cheapest ways to reach Dresden is by bus. The bus company Flixbus, for example, offers one-way tickets between Berlin and Dresden for as low as €9 per person.

Getting around Dresden

Like most cities in Germany, Dresden has a great public transportation system. Buses, trams (called Strassenbahn in German) and trains will take you anywhere you want to go, day or night — though fewer options will be available in the wee hours. To map out your trip from point a to point b, you can take a look at the website of the DVB, Dresden’s transportation service.

Save with day tickets: If you’re planning to travel to several different destinations in the city, you’ll save if you buy a day ticket. These tickets cost €6 for a single person or €9 for a family ticket. If you’re traveling with other people besides the family, you’ll save even more: Small group day tickets cost only €15 for up to five people for the day’s travel.

Still, nothing is cheaper than relying on your own two feet. Luckily, Dresden is a very walkable city, so, unless you end up wearing out a pair of shoes, this is the most frugal option.

Altstadt

Once home to the King of Saxony and a handful of Electors, Dresden’s Altstadt is the city’s biggest draw —and for good reason. Dresden’s old town was known as the Jewel Box because of the baroque and rococo buildings in its city center, and many have been restored to their former glory.

The most famous of these include:

the Dresdener Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady), which remained a ruin in memory of the war until it was restored in 2005
the Royal Palace
Semper Opera House
Neumarkt and Altmarkt Square

But you won’t only find Baroque buildings here: Many early Renaissance and 19th-century buildings are also located in the Altstadt, making it a dream come true for any architecture buff.

Tips on how to save in the Altstadt

Eat elsewhere: If you get hungry while touring the Altstadt, try to pop into a bakery or a grocery store to pick up a snack. Many of the restaurants in the area are tourist-quality (read: mediocre) and overpriced. You’ll definitely get a better bargain for your buck outside this tourist zone.

Welcome Card: For any culture lovers, Dresden has a lot to offer, with palaces and museums galore. If you think you’d like to spend a day or two traipsing through these fine sights, you might want to look into buying a Dresden Welcome Card. The two-day Dresden Museum Card will give you free admission to 14 different museums for €22. If you’re not planning to hit up a long list of museums, however, you might just want to stick to the day tickets for public transit, as they also offer discounts on admission, and cost less.

Last-minute reduced price opera tickets: In the mood for some high opera melodrama in the absolutely gorgeous Semperoper, but not looking to dig deep into your pockets? Check out the box office shortly before the scheduled performance. If you get lucky, they may still have some remaining tickets for a fraction of the price.

Neustadt

Neustadt is made up of two main areas: Innere (inner) Neustadt, also known as the Baroque Quarter, and Äußere (outer) Neustadt. With its baroque facades and high fashion shopping miles, like Königstraße, Innere Neustadt is the closest in spirit to the Altstadt, but with more dining choices.

But Äußere Neustadt is where you’ll find Dresden’s nightlife. With an arty edge favored by students and the creatively inclined, Äußere Neustadt is where the freaks come out at night in the best sense of the word; a reputation the neighborhood also enjoyed during GDR times. Although the district has since become more gentrified, it is still Dresden’s best place for bar hopping, great restaurants and cafes, and funky little boutiques.

Our tip: Save the sightseeing for the Altstadt and Innere Neustadt, but hang out and grab a bite to eat here at night.

Hotels in Dresden

Dresden has dozens of budget accommodations available. Private rooms at hostels start as low as $40 per night, but 3-star hotels with great perks can easily be had for under $100 for a double room right in the city center. Search over 250 hotels in Dresden on EuroCheapo.

IMAGES:
A view of Old Town in Dresden. Photo: Max A.
Arriving at Dresden’s Hauptbanhof train station. Photo: Bert Kaufmann
Hop aboard the strassenbahn! Photo: Douglas H.
Don’t miss the royal delights of Dresden’s Royal Palace. Photo: robertschrader
The gorgeous Semperoper offers discounts on last-minute tickets. Photo:
Markus J.
Fun and funky architecture in Dresden’s Neustadt neighborhood. Photo: walhalla

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