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Things to do in Dresden Old Town

Our most recommended things to do in Dresden Old Town

Dresden: The Original Night Watchman Tour in Lantern Light

1. Dresden: The Original Night Watchman Tour in Lantern Light

Explore the beautiful Old Town of Dresden with a historical night watchman. Sip on Schlummertrunk, a small alcoholic drink before visiting the main highlights like Semper Opera House, Dresden Frauenkirche, and more. Begin your tour with rings of the watchman’s horn in narrow alleys, and the light of his lantern which penetrates the darkness. With his halberd, he protects the honorable citizens from vagabonds and shady characters even in the darkest corners. Look forward to an entertaining tour with spooky stories and juicy anecdotes from centuries past. Furthermore, take a look at the beautiful sights of the city. See the Semper Opera House and the famous Zwinger, walk over the palace square, and get a glimpse of the Brühlschen Terrassen.

Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Pillnitz Castle

2. Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Pillnitz Castle

Discover the historic old town of Dresden aboard a ship and admire the most beautiful sites of the Elbe Valley. Start off at Terrassenufer and see the three famous castles: Albrechtsberg, Eckberg, and Lingner Castle, along the Elbe on the way to the villa quarter Loschwitz. Pass the 4 famous Elbe bridges, whose histories affect the city up until now. The most memorable bridge is called Blue Wonder, which gets its name because of the color. Soak up the views of the impressive Pillnitz Palace as your boat drops anchor for roughly twenty minutes. It was built in the 18th century under the Elector of Saxony August the Strong and is now the site of the Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Arts and Crafts) as well as the Schlossmuseum (Castle Museum).

Dresden: Guided Tour of the Church of Our Lady

3. Dresden: Guided Tour of the Church of Our Lady

After meeting your guide in front of the Church of Our Lady, or the Frauenkirche, you’ll head right into the marvelous structure for a thorough tour. After being all but completely destroyed by bombing during World War II, the ruins of the church were left standing for decades. However, after the reunification of Germany, an ambitious campaign was mounted to reconstruct it. After over a decade of construction based on George Bähr’s original plans from the 1720s, the Church of Our Lady was restored to its former glory in 2005. Ever since, its ornate interior and expansive cupola have beckoned visitors to see its glorious tale of rebirth. During your tour, you’ll gain exclusive access to the church’s gallery, and pick up countless insights into the structure that stands representative of Dresden’s progress as a whole.

Dresden: Semperoper and Old Town Tour

4. Dresden: Semperoper and Old Town Tour

Take a walking tour of Dresden’s historical Old Town, and go inside the world-famous Semperoper with a local guide. Explore the Semperoper to see its grand Baroque architecture and ornate rooms, reconstructed in the original style. Head to, walk around Neumarkt, and explore other highlights like the Zwinger, Dresden Royal Palace, and Frauenkirche. Experience a tour of the Semperoper and discover the rich interiors and beautiful architecture in Italian High Renaissance style, reconstructed according to the original plans. Learn background information about the incredible acoustics in the artfully arranged auditorium. Enjoy a multi-faceted look at this breathtaking opera house and immerse yourself in its rich history. Guided visits to the Semperoper are possible nearly every day when performances or other events are not taking place. Next, soak in the ambiance of Dresden Old Town as you follow your guide to cultural highlights such as the Zwinger, Dresden Castle, Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), and the newly-established Neumarkt. Warm up with a hot mulled wine (if option selected). Hear about how Dresden worked so hard to reconstruct its historical monuments along the way.

Dresden: Walking Tour with a Night Watchman and Meal

5. Dresden: Walking Tour with a Night Watchman and Meal

Experience the perfect combination of dining and walking on a tour of Dresden's old town. Enjoy a traditional meal of food from Saxony and savor the excellent beers of the region. Choose from 4 dishes, including a delicious Saxon Sauerbraten (marinated tenderloin), red cabbage and potato dumplings. Savor the flavors of a tasty Freiberger Biergulasch (pork goulash), with pickled cabbage and Bohemian yeast dumplings. Alternatively, indulge yourself with a trout dish, served with red cabbage and parsley potatoes, or choose the vegetarian option of a cheese spaetzle with onion, fresh parsley and melted cheese.  Complement your meal with a beer or wine before making your way to the meeting point to enjoy a walking tour with the night watchman of Dresden.

Terrifying Tour of Dresden Led by a Dungeon Master

6. Terrifying Tour of Dresden Led by a Dungeon Master

When night falls over Dresden and darkness entwines the alleys, the dungeon master comes out of his cave. His scary stories about all sorts of abominations will shiver down your spine.  Let yourself in for an introduction into the criminal world — the dungeon master always looks for his assistant and successor. Explore Dresden by night and see the spooky corners of the city. Listen to stories and anecdotes of macabre murders and risky raids of plunder.  Let the dungeon master lead you on a wayward path of exploration through the city's darker side and wander the alleys of the city center under the light of the moon.

Dresden: Sightseeing-Tour in German by Bike

7. Dresden: Sightseeing-Tour in German by Bike

Discover Dresden in an active way and look forward to a perfect mix of culture and nature. Experience the highlights of Dresden and places that lie off the beaten track by bike. This tour follows one of the prettiest cycling routes in Germany and is the ideal start for new visitors as well as Dresden-enthusiasts. Admire the old town along the Elbe banks, flowering gardens and the trendy founding-district of the new town. Follow quiet streets and tracks of an extensive network of cycling routes through the unique landscape of the Elbe Valley without having to cope with significant height differences. Your expert guide provides you with precious insider tips und turns your tour into a special experience.  The route leads you past the Frauenkirche, the Hygiene Museum, the Palais of the Grand Garden and the VW-factory to the Waldschlösschen Bridge, where you can enjoy stunning views of the Elbe castles. Make your way to Pfunds Molkerei (with a short break to use the restrooms) and the hip and trendy district of Dresden, the outer new town. Get a glimpse of the Baroque district, the Palais of Japan and the Theatre Square with the famous Semperoper and Zwinger.

Dresden: 1.5-Hour Tour with Beer Tasting and Meal

8. Dresden: 1.5-Hour Tour with Beer Tasting and Meal

Follow the trail of local beer on a walking and tasting tour through Dresden Old Town. Experience a different kind of tour in the Saxon capital of Dresden with a local landlady or a master brewer as your guide. Savor a 2-course meal with 3 beer tastings. Start your tour in the old town and finish in the Italienisches Dörfchen restaurant with an expert in the art of brewery. As you explore, learn about Dresden’s connection with beer and listen to stories from your tour guide that will bring you closer to the magical capital of Saxony. At Italienisches Dörfchen, sit down and enjoy a barley soup with smoked pork or a small mixed salad paired with your choice of onion roast beef with bacon beans and fried potatoes, char fillet with lemon tagliatelle and fried vegetables, or green spinach risotto with walnuts and scallions. As you're served your meal, enjoy a tasting of 3 beers, including 0.1 liters of Paulaner Münchner Hell, Waldschlösschen Zwickel, and Waldschlösschen Dunkel. Your trip concludes at the restaurant after your meal and tasting.

Taste of Dresden Food Walk

9. Taste of Dresden Food Walk

Stroll through the Old Town (Altstadt) of Dresden learning the culinary secrets of Saxony on a guided food walk. Sample local specialties and experience the warm hospitality of the locals. Hear stories about the Middle Ages and the excesses of the inns. Explore the coffee culture of the Baroque era and hear about the improvised joy of life under communism. Stop for 6 different tastings, including an exclusive wine from Saxony, a typical beer from the region, the best eierschecke (cheese cake) in town and a fine chocolate and coffee from the Dresdner Kaffeerösterei.

Dresden: Zwinger Skip-the-Line & 2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

10. Dresden: Zwinger Skip-the-Line & 2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

Enjoy 2 of Dresden's must-do activities - the hop-on-hop-off bus tour and the museums at the Zwinger - at an attractive combined price. This includes a visit to the newly re-opened Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister. Discover Dresden with a 2-day ticket and get to know the city during the bus tour including 22 different stops. Start your tour at the first bus stop where you will exchange your voucher for additional tickets. Your 2-day ticket also includes a Night Watchman walking tour, an Old Town walking tour and transport to the castle and park in Pillnitz, all from the same central meeting point location: Postplatz/Kronentor Zwinger. The Zwinger is a popular destination for visitors to Dresden. Created as a magnificent festival site in the heyday of the Baroque period, it now houses magnificent collections and treasures. Your ticket gives you skip-the-line access. In the Zwinger, find the "Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon" and the porcelain collection. The Highlight is the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, which re-opened in February 2020 after 7 years of renovation. Marvel at Raphael's masterpiece "Sistine Madonna" and a sculpture collection up to the year 1800.

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What people are saying about Dresden Old Town

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 9,116 reviews

Get a lot of interesting information about Dresden. Very personable guide! I didn't find the tasting in the basement of a passage quite as stylish and the mulled wine was also a little different. I might have wished for that at a stand at one of the markets. But it didn't hurt the lead in the end.

The Canaletto ride was very nice. Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate, but everyone had a lot of fun. Paying through the app was super easy. I really liked the booking via the QR code.

Very well-established team, who kept their cool even under the greatest stress with dogs and children and were always friendly to the guests.

Sehr informative und kurzweilige Nachtwächter Tour mit vielen Interessanten Informationen. Hatten mit Klaus einen super tollen Abend.

A very nice trip, so we could marvel at Dresden from the water. The staff did a great job.