annhig

At the end of September, DH and i are going to Germany on a legal exchange visit in Naumburg [we stay with some lawyers, they will then come and stay with us at some point in the future] and when the exchange is over, we have a couple of days to fill at the end of the trip.

Potsdam is on the agenda for the day before the exchange starts, and i am keen on Dresden for the two days at the end.

supposing we arrive in Dresden about lunch-time, and needing to leave by about 5pm the next day to arrive in time at Schoenefeld for our flight home, what can we reasonably expect to fit into that time? I've floated the idea of the green vault with DH, but he is less than keen, and is talking about heading for the nearest Bierkeller. [actually I think that is sorted as there is a Bohemian one very near our hotel, the Martha hospital - thank you Ingo for that tip!]

if it's nice weather, i quite fancy a trip on the river to Pillnitz, or what about the Bastei? I think it would be too far on the boat, but would it be far to drive? Allowing at least half a day to wander round the Zwinger and the Frauenkirche, will we have time for that too?

thanks in advance for any tips/help you can give me.

annhig

Arrg - this is frizzing me mad. [there's another one!]

my computer decided to write "Hospital" instead of "Hospiz" - and for all i know it will have done it again by the time I press ....

Michael

The Green Vault is a must, as is the Dresden Zwinger. In between you'll want to walk in that section of town.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7623230920764/

annhig

ok, Michael, tell me what's so wonderful about the Green Vault, so i can persuade DH to be dragged away from his beer.

Michael

Look at the miniatures in my photo set, which are a small part of the collection. It is admittedly Baroque/Rococo, but represents amazing workmanship with precious materials.

annhig

oh yes, I get it now. lovely detail.

I'll have another go.

111op

There are two Green Vaults; I think the Old Green Vault requires advance reservations, so make sure you do that.

http://www.skd.museum/en/museums-ins...lbe/index.html

It was destroyed during the war and painstakingly restored.

Raphael's "Sistine Madonna" is in the Gemaeldegalerie.

lavandula

May I recommend these apartments in Dresden?

http://www.aparthotels-frauenkirche.de/

We stayed at the Muenzgasse apartments in July. I found the standard quite high, even though they call these the least comfortable of the lot. You absolutely couldn't beat the location, right on the Frauenkirche and in the middle of the tourist area. It's also about a ten-minute walk to the Karstadt and the main shopping area if that interests you.

Lavandula

J62

If the weather is nice a trip to the Bastei is definitely worthwhile. Car or train is the best way to get there. A trip to that region is at least a 2/3 of a day. I guess you could squeeze in a quicker morning visit to Bastei if you drove to the top and didn't hike up from the valley.

Any trip on the river, especially upstream, will take a bit of time, and I don't think a boat ride just to Pillnitz is worthwhile as it's still in the flat valley. The views are much more impressive further upstream, but that requires a longer time commitment.

You can get to Schloss Pillnitz by Dresden city bus #63 on the north side of the river, or tram #2 to the end, then the ferry across the river. I don't consider Pillnitz a top sight for a 1 1/2 day visit as there's plenty to see right in Dresden proper.

http://www.dvb.de/en/Routes-Maps/Network-Maps/

J62

For hotel, I actually prefer the location near the Karstadt shopping area (1/2 way between the Frauenkirche and the train station) myself. I like the shopping right outside the door, and proximity to both trams and trains.

The Hotel NH Altmarkt is reasonable price and good location, with one caveat. Apparently the bells on the Kreuzkirche are now back in working order and quite loud.

yk

Hi ann,

Both Green VAults are really worth going. Like 111op says, it's essential to book the Historic Green Vault in advance (like NOW), or you'll end up having to waste valuable time lining up for (limited) tickets.

When DH & I were in Dresden in '09, we had about 1.5 days there too. We also visited the art museum, the porcelain collection, Frauenkirch, and went to a performance at Semperoper. Here's a link to the Dresden segment of my trip report, in case you're interested.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...omment-5983222

Ingo

I am afraid your hubby would be bored to deah with the Historic Green Vault. You get an audio guide and walk around for an hour or more ... I'd rather try to convince him to go to the New Green Vault. The pieces there are more exciting IMO. The carved cherry stones e.g. Or the carved ivory sailing ship. The figures from the commedia dell'arte. More diversity there.

Besides, the ticket for the New Green Vault includes the Turkish chamber, too - a stunning (but rather small) collection of swords, guns, pistols and other oriental/Turkish military stuff. Quite interesting, a quick look would be sufficient for hubby, I'd say.

Plus, it includes also the visit of the Hausmann tower, the best viewing point in the old town IMO.

A very good beer hall is right across the Royal Palace at the Kempinski Taschenberpalais Hotel - Paulaner's. Not expensive! Or Radeberger Spezialitätenausschank at Brühl's Terrace (regional beer).

A *must* is the Picture Gallery Old Masters this fall - special (but small) exhibit: Raphael's "Madonna di Foligno" will leave the Vatican for the first time and join his "Sistine Madonna" in Dresden. Other outstanding "Madonna" paintings from Dresden's collections as well as from elsewhere are on display as well. Opening this coming Tuesday.

Explore the old town and walk across the bridge to the New Town upon arrival the first day (afternoon and evening). You could drive to Bastei on the second day. Drive via Blue Wonder bridge (Schillerplatz - Körnerplatz) to Pillnitz, explore the palace and grounds, maybe have lunch there, and continue via Pirna to Bastei. Back to Pirna, cross the river and via motorway A17 - A4 to Berlin.

Bad timing, sorry, I am about to leave for a trip to the Erzgebirge mountains. Back on Wed evening.

I.

FoFoBT

If the Green Vault isn't your husband's thing (of if he prefers cars and machines to art), send him to the Transport Museum. It has simulators where he can try his hand at flying planes or piloting cargo shops driving trams, etc. http://www.verkehrsmuseum-dresden.de...page=1&lang=en

Or to the Volkswagen "transparent factory" - http://www.glaesernemanufaktur.de/ There are lots of YouTube videos about it, he can see where this would interest him.

Re the Aparthotels, I've stayed in them a few times (Altes Dresdent and Neumarkt, not Munzgasse) and they are great, but I wouldn't recomment them for such a short trip - I'd suggest the Steigenberger or Innside Hotel (if you like contemporary style)
http://www.innside.de/_new/innside_p...c=1&kalender=1
http://www.steigenberger.com/en/Dresden/?source=SH

FoFoBT

Ingo, how is the Swissotel coming along? I will be back in Dresden next year for several days and am thinking of staying there.

FoFoBT

So many typos! ...cargo ships, not shops, recommend not recomment, whether this would interest him, not where...apologies, I'm not fully awake yet.

annhig

thank you all for the help - just what I was hoping for.

i think we will forget about the old gruenes Gewoelbe, and go for the new one and the Gemaeldegallerie if we do any museums at all.

Ingo - i like the idea of "doing" Dresden itself the first day, [as much as we can!] and going to the Bastei the next day, via Pillnitz. How long will the drive back to Schoenefeld take from the Bastei? [don't worry about the timing - it was kind of you to contribute at all! hope you enjoy your trip to the Erzgebirge]

as for accommodation, i researched this pretty thoroughly, but couldn't find anything that I liked better than the Martha Hospiz, which as i said was recommended by Ingo on an earlier thread. As we're only staying one night, an apartment really isn't worth the trouble, and the Hospiz is very near the Bohemian Bierkeller, that DH has already got his eyes on. but thanks for the tips about the transport and VW museums, FoFoBT, - it's good to have wet weather plans.

J62

Here's another sight I like - it's just outside the main downtown area, and easy to get to by car. I don't know if city bus or tram runs near there. Another wet weather idea.

The Asisi Panometer, ad 360 view of Dresden in the mid 1700's inside an old natural gas storage tank.

http://www.asisi.de/en/Panometer/Dresden/Service/

annhig

thanks, J62, nice idea.

DH has now started talking about going to the Meissen porcelain factory.

????

and HE was the one who vetoed staying longer than one extra night after the exchange finished, as he didn't think that there would be much to do.

oh well, an excuse to come back though.

Ingo

Hi all!

Back from a wonderful trip (too short!) from the Erzgebirge where I usually only travel during Advent/Christmas/Winter season. Fantastic castles, churches, museums, picturesque small towns and villages. Will apply for UNESCO world heritage soon. A hint for the folks on a budget - prices are *really* low in that region. Excellent three course dinner with perfect service in my 4star hotel for 19.80 Euro - how's that?

Ok, back to Dresden ... LOL

To my shame I must admit I have not been to the Asisi Panometer yet. But everyone I know LOVES it. I would plan that for a second visit, though.

I would calculate a bit more than 2 hours for the drive from Bastei to Airport Schönefeld. It's all motorways from Pirna on.

Suits your hubby right! Now he must come back and stay even longer than just one or two nights ;-) I cannot believe he didn't think there wouldn't be much to do here ... make him read some of my posts here, on TA or on VT! LOL

FoFoBT, the Swissotel is coming along nicely. They are almost finished with the facades - nice mix of traditional and modern - and the construction of the interior seems to make good progress also. I'd expect you can stay there on your next visit!

I.

FoFoBT

Thanks Ingo, I've been checking the info on the Swissotel website. If it delivers on its promise, it will give the Kempinski some stiff competition.