Dresden in 2 days
One day belongs to the Zwinger, the other to the palace — and each of them takes its own day off.
- How long
- 2
- Hours
- Museums 10 to 5
- Frauenkirche
- Weekdays 10–11.30 and 1–5.30
A two-day Dresden plan splits the city by museum ticket: one day is the Zwinger, the other the Residenzschloss. The Zwinger closes on Mondays and the palace on Tuesdays, so the order of the days is the one decision to make in advance.
The Zwinger, the Frauenkirche and the terrace
The Old Masters Picture Gallery in the Zwinger, at opening. The ticket (€18) also covers the Porcelain Collection and the Mathematical-Physical Salon in the same complex, which open at 11 — which is why the gallery goes first.
The Semperoper, across the square. The tour lasts 45 minutes (€16) and runs almost daily, but at changing times, so book the slot before you travel and move this hour to fit it.
The Frauenkirche. On weekdays it is open to visitors from 1 to 5.30, and in the morning only from 10 to 11.30, which is why it does not open the day. The dome (€12) is 174 steps and then a spiral ramp to a platform at 67 metres; from November to February it closes at 4.
The Fürstenzug on Augustusstraße, on the way from the church to the river: a procession of Saxon rulers in about 23,000 Meissen tiles along a wall 102 metres long. It is outdoors and free, so no opening hours apply.
The Brühl Terrace above the Elbe, at the end of Augustusstraße, as the light drops onto the domes. After 5 the museums are shut; the terrace is not.
The palace, the Albertinum and the Neustadt
The Historic Green Vault in the Residenzschloss, at the slot on your ticket; entry is in small groups. Get the combined ticket (€28), because separate ones for the vault (€18) and the rest of the palace (€18) add up to more.
The New Green Vault, the Turkish Chamber and the Armoury, in the same building on the same ticket, with no slot.
The Albertinum (€14), at the eastern end of the Brühl Terrace: the New Masters Gallery, with paintings by Caspar David Friedrich. It opens 11 to 5 and, like the Zwinger, closes on Mondays — so if day two is a Monday, the Frauenkirche or the terrace takes this slot.
The Neustadt, over the Augustus Bridge and up Hauptstraße to Albertplatz, where Alaunstraße begins. The evening goes here: the museums are shut by then, and the Neustadt is where the bars and restaurants are.
Where a Dresden day goes wrong
- The Frauenkirche between 11.30 and 1. On weekdays it is closed to visitors then, and at weekends the times shift around services — check the church calendar for that day.
- A museum at the end of the day. They all close at 5, except the Green Vault until 7 on Fridays; after that only the outdoors is left.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
What if I am in Dresden on a Monday and a Tuesday?
Monday is the Residenzschloss day, Tuesday the Zwinger day — the closing days do not overlap. The Albertinum is shut on Mondays too, so that afternoon goes to the Frauenkirche.
When can you visit the Frauenkirche?
On weekdays from 10 to 11.30 and from 1 to 5.30, at weekends according to the service calendar. The dome is open Monday to Saturday 10 to 6 and on Sundays from 1, and from November to February until 4.
Is the combined palace ticket worth it?
It is as soon as you want both the Historic Green Vault and the rest of the palace: €28 instead of two tickets at €18 each.
Ready for Dresden?
Where to next
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How well does Dresden suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
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