Dresden Sightseeing: Frauenkirche to Zwinger

The old centre of Dresden lies on the south bank of the Elbe, and almost every major sight is within a flat 2.5 km walk. The Baroque buildings were rebuilt after 1945, and the Altstadt now fits a day or two of sightseeing. Prices are in euros and may change, so check the official sites.

Frauenkirche

The Frauenkirche stands on the Neumarkt. It lay in ruins for 45 years, was rebuilt from 1994 to 2005 and was reconsecrated on 30 October 2005. About 4,000 original stones were reused, and they show as the dark stones in the facade. The church interior is free, with donations welcome. Open Church hours are 10:00 to 11:30 and 13:00 to 17:30 Monday to Friday; weekend hours vary with services.

The dome ascent costs 12 EUR (7 EUR reduced, 24 EUR family). It is open 10:00 to 18:00 Monday to Saturday and from 13:00 on Sundays, closing at 16:00 from November to February. The route has 174 steps, then a spiral ramp and more stairs, and there is no lift. See the Frauenkirche dome page .

Zwinger

The Zwinger is a Baroque festival palace designed by Pöppelmann and built from 1709 to 1728. The courtyard, the Kronentor gate and the Nymphenbad fountain are free to enter. The courtyard fully reopened in October 2025 after years of works. Inside, the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister holds Raphael’s Sistine Madonna. The Zwinger house ticket costs 18 EUR (13.50 EUR reduced), and the museums are closed on Mondays. The Porzellansammlung has partly reopened with a reduced ticket until the end of 2026.

Fürstenzug, Brühl’s Terrace and the Hofkirche

The Fürstenzug on Augustusstraße is a 102 m mural of Saxon rulers made of Meissen porcelain tiles. It is outdoors and free. Brühl’s Terrace is a free promenade above the Elbe. The Katholische Hofkirche on Schlossplatz is a Baroque cathedral with free entry, and the heart of Augustus the Strong is kept in its crypt.

Albertinum and Residenzschloss

The Albertinum at Tzschirnerplatz covers art from the 19th century to the present, including Caspar David Friedrich; tickets cost 14 EUR (10.50 EUR reduced). The Residenzschloss at Taschenberg 2 has an 18 EUR house ticket and is closed on Tuesdays. The Historic Green Vault is a separate timed ticket. An SKD one day ticket costs 28 EUR and covers all SKD museums except the Historic Green Vault.

The Elbe bridges

The Carolabrücke collapsed on 11 September 2024 and was demolished by September 2025. A replacement design was chosen in September 2026, with construction planned for around 2028. Trams 3 and 7 are diverted; check dvb.de for routes.

The 1945 bombing

From 13 to 15 February 1945, the Allied firebombing struck the city. The Dresden Historians’ Commission concluded in 2010 that about 25,000 people died. The Frauenkirche stood as a ruin for 45 years, and the rebuilt church is also a place of remembrance. The Heidefriedhof (Moritzburger Landstraße 299) has an Ehrenhain, a memorial grove for victims of the bombing. It is open 07:00 to 20:00 from April to October and 07:00 to 18:00 from November to March. Visit quietly and respectfully.

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