kenav

We will be going to Europe with this itinerary in February. We arrive day 1 in Dresden at about 9:30AM from JFK. Hope to be in room by 11AM (if it's ready). Some rest and then start doing the tourist thing there. Will have 2 additional full days in Dresden after that.

Day 4 - Take a 2 hour bus ride to Prague. Arrive Noon. Will have the balance of that day and 3 additional days there.

So, any favorites in these cities? It will be cold(!!), so we're fine with taking trams.

Already thinking about the Military Museum in Dresden. Usually not my thing but have read wonderful reviews of it. And some Science Museum too.

adrienne

A good portion of what I've done in Prague is walking around, looking at the amazing architecture and building facades so dress warmly with waterproof clothing & shoes. Indoor pursuits - synagogues, Municipal Museum, Mucha Museum, churches (St. Nicholas, Loretto, Our Lady of Tyn, etc.). Most of what I've mentioned is too close together to take trams (although there may be some subway routes you can use) so you will be walking, particularly in the old town area.

jrjcolllins

We were in Dresden last May and the highlight of our trip there was the Royal Palace which contained the New Green Vault and the Historic Green Vault. It was the most magnificent treasury of jeweled artifacts we had ever seen.....even better than the Vienna Treasury of the Hapsburgs. It was such a feast for the eyes that it was sensory overload! This famed glittering Baroque treasury collection was begun by Augustus the Strong in the early 1700's. It was the royal family's treasure trove of ivory, amber, silver, and gold. Included in the collection is the 6.2 carat one-of-a-kind green diamond. The Historic Green Vault has to be reserved quite a bit ahead of time.

danon

..Agree, the Vaults are something to see.
The famous Opera house and Church have been "" duplicated"
,,,,somehow, does not work for me.
Wonderful art gallery...if you are interested in the old masters.
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister

I found Prague absolutely beautiful ...
Taking the tram to the Castle was easy....I walked back to town.
a tour of the Klementium ...
and the concert at the Municipal House
were memorable.

Ingo

Which days will you be in Dresden? Makes a difference for museums because of closing days. Will it be mid February? 13 February are the commemorations of the bombing.

Poconolady

If you are at all interested in autos, then check out the glass VW factory tour. Absolutely amazing how quiet and clean a robotic assembly line can be. Also warm! Book in advance.

kenav

We'll be in Dresden Feb 7,8,9 (Fri, Sat, Sun). So we'll miss the commemorations.

Pocono - Not particularly interested in autos, but if it's an interesting factory tour, I'd be interested. I like to see how things are made. I'll check it out online.

As for the walking around Prague. Just thinking that in Feb. with the cold, there may be some times that we want to take a tram, if it's going to where we want to go.

Any cheap or moderate restaurant suggestions? Any advice on where NOT to eat? Trying to make this the most frugal we can as this mid-winter sojourn is really a splurge for us. Thankfully hotels are really cheap. In Dresden $90/night. In Prague $115/night. Both hotel rates include breakfast and all taxes.

Michael

I wrote a trip report that included a visit to Dresden. But the pictures might give you an idea of what there is to see.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...30920764/show/

I do not recall a military museum, but there is the armory--consider it as a representation of advance technology in its time, just like our military hardware.

Ingo

Of course there's a Military museum in Dresden. http://www.mhmbw.de/
I'm not the big fan of museums on the military, but this one is excellent. Doesn't glorify the military and the war, rather shows how the people (esp. civilians) suffer from war. The architecture is also spectacular.

I didn't want to recommend the commemorations, it would probably affect your itinerary with demonstrations, police etc.

There are plenty of moderately priced restaurants in Dresden. You can have lunch for 5-6 Euro per person (e.g. in the Weisse Gasse district behind Kreuzkirche www.weisse-gasse.de) or in the Inner Neustadt district (New town, across the river, between Hauptstraße and Königsstraße).

In the evening I recommend either pizza somewhere (La Osteria, in the Weisse Gasse district mentioned above or Piazza Nova at Neumarkt square), or tapas (Tapas Barcelona, also in the Weisse Gasse district) or regional/German food - even around Neumarkt square these type restaurants are not expensive. Check Freiberger Schankhaus, Augustiner, Paulaners e.g. If you want to eat really inexpensive watch out for special offers, e.g. in the self-service restaurant Le Buffet on the top floor of Karstadt department service. They have really cheap meals after 4 pm or so, and they are open until 8 pm.

And then there's my Dresden page on Virtualtourist.com with lots of tips:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/1091e/

;-)

indy_dad

Restaurant commentary and more in my TR (skip Berlin to the Prague bit):

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-with-kids.cfm

photos too

Good luck.

kenav

I'm about to look at all the links the above Fodorites sent, but want to thank you in advance for your help.

I'm sure I'll have more questions once I've looked "stuff" over.

treplow

You may wish to spend half a day visiting either the Festung Koenigstein (Fortres)s or the Bastei rock formation , both on opposite sides along and overlooking the Elbe valley. There are busses to Koenigstein, but a nice way would be to go by boat and then return by train. The Festung is quie different than the Prague castle, which is essentially a city in itself.

W went to the Bastei in our rental car goimg through Bad Schandau. I believe ther is also a way you can go by train to MKiengstein and then take the ferry across the river. But that would take more time than tghe Fortress.

I don't know if the restaurant on a barge anchored near the Semper Oper is still in busineses. It may have been washed away in one of the floods. But, if it is, it would be a great place for a dinner.

kenav

I believe the boats don't run in Feb.

kenav

Ingo - Still going through your reviews on Virtual Tourist. Great bit of information about the restaurant "La Osteria" which on the menu has "tip not included" in English but not in German. Trying to get more $$ out of British/Americans?

PalenQ

Does the bus go thru Saxon Switzerland, one of the most beautiful river valleys in Europe - huge sandstone cliffs upon which stand old castles and a famous fort called the Bastei. The train tracks right thru the valley - does the bus go that way - if not you may want to take the train - I assume the bus does however.

Ingo

kenav - you must be tired of reading my reviews by now, I guess ;-) Re: La Osteria - Yep, I found that bold, and I did not tip there. I guess they are trying to use the difference between tipping in the U.S. and in Germany. It's on the receipt (bill?), not on the menu, though. But that's the only complaint about this restaurant.

No, the paddle steamers do not run in February. The ferries do, but that's just for getting from one riverbank to the other.

Pal - The bus takes a detour between Pirna and Königstein, runs on the plateau. The views are different, but also very beautiful. Same for Bad Schandau to the Czech border - buses run on the right bank, "wrong" side for the views of the cliffs, and on the left bank, "right" side for the views they run up to the plateau again. No particular views there. So it's the train for the best views.

kenav

Ingo - I'm a little confused. But basically, take the train to and from Konigstein for best views?

Also, we planned on 3 days Dresden and 4 days Prague. Now I'm wondering if it shouldn't be the other way around.

Opinions?

Ingo

It was meant as a reply to Pal. For your trip - you'll take the train from Dresden to Prague, right? So you'll see the Elbe river valley anyway, it's the same route that the commuter trains between Dresden - Pirna - Königstein - Bad Schandau take, no point in doing that twice. However, if you have a day left then an excursion to Saxon Switzerland is highly recommended - go to the viewpoints at higher elevation, like Bastei, Fortress Königstein, if the weather co-operates and you're up to it then you could even do a short hike, e.g. to Mt. Lilienstein or Schrammsteine massif. I have pages pages on Kurort Rathen, Königstein, Bad Schandau on Virtualtourist, too.

You could easily spend a week in both Dresden and Prague and not get bored, especially if you do a couple of excursions to places in the outskirts. You'll get flak here if you do it the other way around, and I admit I am biased, so no exact recommendation here ;-)

kenav

Ingo - What's your bias? I'm guessing Germany? Do you live in Dresden?

Michael

view from Königstein: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/9414689127