DRESDEN

Ironically, the above mentioned comparison to the anthem lyrics could not have been drawn when the GDR still existed. In the early 1990s, Dresden still seemed buried under a dark-gray veil. 45 years after the war was over, some of its buildings were still in ruins, while elsewhere wide streets and concrete buildings in the standardized Socialist style cropped up.

Already during GDR times, Dresden's people started fighting for the restoration of the famous Semperoper. The city's main landmark, the Frauenkirche, was re-opened in 2005 after 12 years of construction work.

Compared to other cities, Dresden's glorious days don't date back that far. For a long time, it was an unimportant provincial town. Only after its promotion to a ducal residence in 1485, it slowly turned into the political and cultural center of the region. During this time, many of the grand establishments that earned the city its nickname "Florence on the Elbe" were founded.

Airport
Dresden airport (www.dresden-airport.de) is the third largest airport in the New Länder (federal states that used to belong to the GDR) and is situated approx. 9 km north of the city. From the airport, you can take the train, the bus or the tramway into Dresden's city center.

Airport transfer
Numerous taxi companies are located directly at the aiport. A ride into the city center usually costs between € 16 and € 18. S-Bahn (suburban railway) line 2 goes directly between Dresden Airport and Main Station at regular intervals. A ride takes 23 minutes. The city center can also be reached by bus line 77, departing directly from the terminal. Go to "Infineon-Nord", then change to tramway line 7 to go to the Main Station.
Schedule information: www.vvo-online.de

Inner-city transport
There are 30 buses and 12 tramways run by Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe AG, as well as further lines run by Verkehrsgesellschaft Sächsische Schweiz and Regionalverkehr Dresden.
Schedule information for all lines: www.vvo-online.de

Taxi
The most important taxi phone numbers are 21 12 11 and 88 88 88 88.

Frauenkirche
Only in 2005, the Frauenkirche got back to its status as the Dresden city center's primary landmark. The dome cathedral was built in the 18th century and almost completely destroyed during air attacks in 1945. The GDR regime did not have it restored. For decades, its ruins and collapsed stone chunks dominated the Neumarkt in Dresden. Only in 1994, reconstruction of the old sandstone cathedral was initiated. No other building in the city represents Dresden's horrible past and successful reconstruction as thoroughly as the Frauenkirche.
An der Frauenkirche 12, tel. 49 81 10, www.frauenkirche-dresden.org

Semperoper
This Renaissance building probably is, apart from the Frauenkirche, Dresden's most famous landmark. In 1869 it burned down, and during World War II it was again substantially destroyed. Reconstruction slowly began in the 1970s, and in 1985 the Opera was re-opened. Today, numerous opera performances and concerts take place here.
Theaterplatz 2, tel. 491 17 05, www.semperoper.de

Dresden Card
Cheaper or free admission to museums and free use of all public transportation vehicles. www.dresden.de/dwt/de/dresden_erleben/Angebote/dresden-cards.php

Sea Life
In the huge Sea House you can see all kinds of sea creatures in 30 different aquariums.
Blüherstraße 3, tel. 210 40, www.sealifeeurope.com

Castles, parks and Elbe meadows
The House of Wettin, a dynasty of dukes that made Dresden their residence in 1485, invested in the construction of castles and parks. Also, there was never large-scale heavy industry in the city and its surroundings. Consequently, Dresden is one of Europe's greenest cities. Notable trip venues are for example
- The chateau in Pillnitz outside the city, with its unique botanical garden.
- The Big Garden, a park with kilometer-long paths for cycling and skating. There is a park railway for children.
- Dresden castle and its famous Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault) with one of the most important collections of baroque art.
- The natural resort Elbauen (Elbe meadows) where you can have a picknick or visit one of the many beer gardens.

Altmarktkeller
Altmarktkeller is the right venue especially for fans of the Saxon and the Bohemian cuisine. Apart from good beer, the atmospheric historic beer cellar also serves exquisite wine.
Altmarkt 4, tel. 481 81 30, www.altmarktkeller-dresden.de

Gourmet restaurant Pattis
The gourmet restaurant Pattis is the venue for gourmets. Apparently, the very same dishes that are served today were already served at the Royal Saxon Court.
Merbitzer Straße 53, tel. 425 50, www.pattis.de

Radeberger Spezialausschank
Beer fans must pay a visit to this tavern. Taste the in-house beer and the solid home-style cooking in a cozy atmosphere with a view on the Theaterplatz and the river Elbe.
Terrassenufer 1, tel. 484 86 60

Hotel Bülow Residenz
Bülow Residenz is one of the city's best venues. It is located in the distric Neustadt in a baroque building from the 18th century. The hotel has 30 rooms.
Rähnitzgasse 19, tel. 800 30, double room from € 250.00, www.buelow-residenz.de

Hotel Amadeus
Hotel Amadeus is located close to the Old Town in the district Neustadt. It's a pretty three star hotel with 68 rooms and 12 "mini apartments" in an apartment building of their own.
Großenhainer Straße 118, tel. 841 80, double room from € 88.00, www.hotel-amadeus-dresden.de

Hotel - Pension Diskus
One of the cheaper but still nice and clean hotels is Pension Diskus. It is located 12 tramway minutes away from the city center. There is a bit of Mediterranean atmosphere in the Spanish bar - right in the middle of Saxony.
Leipziger Straße 169, tel. 84 10 30, www.hotel-pension-diskus.de

Dresden has a busy night life. At the weekend, young people from all around meet up in the clubs and bars in the city center and in the district Neustadt - where one establishment follows the next. The numerous discos and clubs in the outer districts are also popular, especially the club "Elb-Park" in Mickten (Lommatzscher Straße) and "Fun Factory" at Seidnitz Center in Dresden-Ost. Moreover, there are a whole lot of bars, clubs and discos where you can party right into the morning. For a concise list of all the city's night life venues, including a schedule for all parties and events, visit www.dresden-nightlife.de.

There are 17 student clubs in Dresden. Every Tuesday night, students from all parts of the city meet here to get to know other fellow students. The most popular club: www.gutzkow-club.de

If you'd rather go to the movies, find a schedule at www.meinestadt.de/dresden/kino/filmliste?startsWith=a.

The Semperoper's recent schedule can be found at www.semperoper.de.

Altmarktgalerie with more than a hundred different stores is a shopping paradise. Fashion boutiques are primarily located in Prager Straße. Many designer stores have opened there.

Just as interesting and worth a visit are the stores in Wilsdruffer Straße or those in Königstraße - which is one of Dresden's more distinguished shopping streets. Stores that sell souvenirs and traditional regional products are mostly situated in the Old Town. The Neustädter Markthalle, a market hall, is also quite close to the city center in the district Neustadt. It is one of Germany's most famous market halls.

Even though Dresden was not one of the eleven cities that hosted matches during the 2006 Soccer World Cup in Germany, souvenirs of the event are still popular with fans here.

Apart from the typical souvenirs - like t-shirts, caps, plates or glasses that bear the name of the city - there are also more unusual items, like the Semperoper or the Frauenkirche as a carton construction set. Culinary souvenirs are e.g. the Dresden Stollen or even a pack of Dresden Russian Bread. The latter is not, as you might think, a kind of brown bread, but the original letters-and-figures cookies - a "delicious feast with a learning effect."

Those and other souvenirs are best bought in the small stores in the inner city or directly at Tourist Information Dresden (Prager Straße 2a or Theaterplatz).