Dresden lies on both banks of the river Elbe, in the Dresden Basin, with the eastern reaches of the Ore Mountains to the south, the Lusatian granitic crust to the north, and the Elbe Sandstone Mountains to the east. Dresden is the fourth largest urban district in Germany after Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne, with a population of 520,000 spread over an area of 329 sq km. The city was eradicated by the controversial Allied aerial fire bombing towards the end of World War II and has actually risen from the ashes. Baroque Dresden, the "Florence of the North," was long known as a centre for fine arts and is today an important base for science. Dresden’s 800 year jubilee was celebrated in 2006.
How to Get There:
The Dresden airport is located centrally. From the airport to the city centre it takes only a few minutes by car or public transport. A train will get you to the city centre in 20 minutes for € 1.90. Dresden has two large centrally located train stations. They are extremely
well-connected to the public transport network. Three main motorways lead to Dresden. Many parts of the city can be easily reached from the ring road around the city. Intra-city travel is by bus or tram, which will take you anywhere in the city.
What to See:
Zwinger,Frauenkirche, Deutsches Hygiene-Museum, Transport Museum (Verkehrsmuseum), Semper Opera House (Semperoper), In the footsteps of Kurt Vonnegut - Slaughterhouse 5 Tour, VW's Glass Factory (Die Glaserne Manufaktur), Neustadt, Old Market Square (Altmarkt) and Staatsoperette Dresden will take over a day to visit.
Where to Eat:
Dresden not only has the usual offers of big towns in store, but also some specific
surprises only to be found and enjoyed in the city on the Elbe. Dresden has over 494 restaurants and bars cum restaurants. Alte Meister - Cafè und Restaurant, Dresden 1900, Baroque restaurant "Kurfürstenhof", Feldschlößchen - Stammhaus and Gasthaus Am Neumarkt are recommended. Fast food sites are everywhere.
Nightclubs:
An endless diversity of clubs, events and locations have contributed to the fantastic reputation of the Dresden party scene, whether house and electro, or R&B, soul and hip-hop, whether dance, rock and pop. The nightclubs listed are popular: AFTERWORKPARTY, NERO, DISKO TOTAL, Doppeldecker Party, BLUE BLACK, NRJ Clubnight among others.
Miscellaneous:
In the last few years, Dresden has developed into one of the most dynamic locations for science and business in Germany. The decisive development impetus stems mainly
from three forward-looking fields: microelectronics/information and communication
technology, nanotechnology/new materials and life sciences/biotechnology.
Events:
Party at BRN and Unity.Dresden. Night: Every year in June the “Bunte Republik Neustadt" (BRN) turns Dresden Neustadt into a party area. Bands play on street corners, street performers show their skills and residents offer homemade food. Dresden's biggest party is the Unity.Dresden.Night in November. Thousands of party-goers hop from one place to another in the city centre.
Hotels:
Dresden offers you a variety of possibilities for overnight accommodation, from luxury
hotels to comfortable guesthouses. Dresden has 80+ hotels, from 2-5 stars and at prices from € 35-145. The prices of bed and breakfast sites depend on the locality. Hotel Suitess zu Dresden, Hilton Dresden Hotel, Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski, Hotel Prinz Eugen, Steigenberger Hotel de Saxe, InterCityHotel Dresden and Dorint Hotel Dresden are recommended.
