Dresden Holidays 2012

Dresden is the seat of the state of Saxony in Germany.  While the city does give off an industrial and even gloomy feel at times, it’s permeated with a spirit of light and laughter and has much to offer. Many of the pre-WW2 buildings have been left standing with their damage, and this brings many visitors. Dresden offers cultural, historical, and a fun nightlife; it also has shopping and good food.

Historical Sightseeing

The best time to see Dresden is in summer, where you can see all the festivals and travelers. If you’re interested in history and culture, you can travel through mediaeval streets and forward to communist times. Visit the Zwinger Palace, with its art collections, pavilion, and sculptures that you won’t find anywhere else. The Frauenkirche is the newly reconstructed Church of our Lady that was destroyed in WW2; you can go through the remodeled ruins of the basement and even climb the tower to the top for a fantastic panoramic view of Dresden.

Shopping and Dining

There is shopping tobe had in Dresden, and the best place to find something unique is the Austraussere Neustadt area, where you can find well-made clothing, interesting music on vinyl and CD, and some rare books that you can’t locate elsewhere. The more upscale shopping area is the Innere Neustadt, here you will find department stores that are on the more expensive side of things, but still some local made goods.

If you want to head to the cinema or get some takeaway, you should check out the main shopping centre in Ferdinandplatz. When in any part of Germany, you must try the Donor Kebab, a sandwich of sorts that uses pita flatbreads and is quite good!

Get out

If you’re looking for nightlife, you don’t have to look far in Dresden. If you’re under 30, Neustadt is a great place to go; they have so many different kinds of clubs and styles of music being played there’s very little chance you’ll be bored. The costs for drinks and admission are generally low, since Dresden is a university town. The best clubs in the area can be found around Alberplatz, and the prices are still decent.

More touristy clubs and pubs can be found in Frauenkirche and the Dresden Castle area, where you can also find a good place to eat; be careful though, the closer to the castle the more expensive your meal can run!