Sorry for the very subjective subject but wanting some feedback to evaluate. Currently holding a hotel reservation for three nights in October 2017. Will be flying into Berlin from Manchester, taking the train to Dresden so the first night is basically a wash since we won't arrive until 6-7 PM.

Main interest would be major museums and am hoping something can be "done" in the additional two days. I am not looking for some sort of super "in depth" visit; will return to Berlin for at least two nights if not more so trying to get a feel for timing here.

Appreciate any thoughts both positive and (supposedly) "negative" and thank you.

Dresden has enough museums to keep you occupied for two full days. I counted no less than 51 museums, the Semper Opera not included. Besides, there are many attractions in the surounding region.

https://www.dresden.de/en/tourism/attractions.php

We spent four nights in Dresden last December.

Our main focus was the Christmas markets, the Old Town and its churches, but we did visit the Green Vault, Loschwitz and take a side trip to Meissen.

We easily could have spent much longer, but three full days worked well for us.

Thanks, everyone. I have pretty much decided that we are going to need these three nights just to see a few of the so-called "highlights" if nothing else but I very much <B>do</B> appreciate your taking the time to respond.

Monday has a few shut so watch out for that. You might want to pop down to Meisen for a visit as well.

DH is in Dresden for 5 weeks and loving it I was there with him for five days earlier this month and will be going back for 5 days after the Christmas markets open. Really, the city has plenty to keep you occupied.


If you can attend something at the opera house, it's well worth it. We went to their excellent production of La Traviata on October 28th and have tickets for the Weihnachts oratorio in early December at the Frauenkirche. Dresden is a great city for music.

I know little about that particular house. Was the Trav performance sur-titled at all and, if so, in which language(s)?

Thanks very much.

>> I know little about that particular house. <<

It is in fact Dresden's main attraction. It is called "Semperoper" (Semper is the name of the architect). You can either go to a performance or you can make a tour of the opera house during daytime.

https://www.semperoper.de/en.html

They have supertitles in German and English.

https://www.semperoper.de/en/news/ne...-englisch.html

Traveller1959, Thank you for that information and the link. Much appreciated.

Keep the three nights. Two full days really is not much. (I'm biased, as you certainly know )

Two museums that I highly recommend which are not on the list of most travellers: Military History Museum (which is really an anti-military museum) and Hygiene Museum (which is NOT just about hygiene, much more about the human being in general, from biology to society, and on animals, too. Excellent special exhibits there as well.)

https://www.mhmbw.de/starteng (open Mondays, too!)
http://www.dhmd.de/index.php?id=204

Usually the foliage is also excellent in October. You might want to spend some time in Großer Garten, the large park in the centre, or in Pillnitz (palace and garden). A steamboat trip from the old town to Pillnitz would be perfect.

Weisser Tee - Christmas Oratorio at Frauenkirche, wow! You're in for a treat. Hope you got good seats - acoustics are problematic for the cheap seats. Btw, we're attending the Mozart Requiem there this Saturday.

Do go up on the wall that looks down on the river and read up about how the garden there became restricted to Aryan Germans. Some of the garden seats are transparent to remember the issue.

Thanks, AGAIN for these very helpful suggestions and comments.

Have a meal at Radeberger Spezialausschank, right on the riverbank (Brühlsche Terrasse). It is an atmospheric place, serving local beer (it belongs to the Radeberger Brewery) and rustic regional cuisine.

http://cms.radeberger-spezialausscha...uns/index.html

When at Radeberger Spezialausschank have a Zwickel beer, which is non-filtred - a specialty, only available at very few places (here and right at the brewery).

I found two nights ( a bit less than 2 days ) long enough to see what I was interested in. A charming town with several exceptional museums.

negative ...the Old Town where I stayed was "asleep" by 10.00 PM ( in July!)
The " new" old buildings seemed unreal.

Thanks, Ingo. Yes, we have good seats -- DH bought them in the most expensive category and they seem well-placed.

Have you been taking in any of the jazz performances? DH went to an opening event in the little QF mall. He enjoyed it quite a bit. He tried to get tickets for Al Jarreau, but no luck there.

While I'm back in Dresden, I'll think we'll also attend an Advent service to hear the famous choir at the Kreuzkirche. I did that on my own in 2011.

Dukey, the top floor cocktail bar (Twist) at the Innside hotel often has small jazz combos playing. We happened to be there late after La Traviata and some of the cast dropped in, including the woman who played Violetta.

Well, it's always fun to see some of these performers "up close" or at least closer than "downstage" and such can make things more memorable. Glad you enjoyed it.

At this stage I am biding my time waiting for the 2017-2018 seasons for Dresden as well as both Berlin organizations to be announced.

The Berlin Staats director has sworn the Unter den Linden venue will be fully renovated and open in October so we might get lucky and be able to see something(s) in several locations next year.

I'd say 3 nights is the minimum for a real visit -- not just rushing to see everything on the list in a two-night visit. We didn't get to Saxon Switzerland while there which I've heard is worthwhile.

A day trip to Leipzig is also feasible.

Have fun! We love Dresden.

HA! I wouldn't bet on the re-opening date for Staatsoper Unter den Linden. But I'm crossing my fingers for you, Dukey.

Glad to hear hubby bought the best category seats. Perfect! Actually, I don't like the soprano (A friend of mine knows her personally) but the tenor and bass should be good.

The Advent versper with the Kreuzchor will be wonderful. Did you ever attend one of the 5 pm Striezelmarkt musics in Kreuzkirche in the weeks between 1st and 3rd Advent? Very nice also.

Sorry, not a big fan of jazz here

Dresden is also a great place for heiße Schokolade!