You won’t be able to miss the city’s centrally located Altstadt and Neustadt districts since they hold most of the touristy sights and postcard motifs but if you venture a little further you might be able to find some lesser-known gems Check out our list of Dresden’s coolest neighbourhoods for some inspiration One of the quarter’s highlights are the stunning views of the Elbe and Dresden’s old town skyline on the other side hamburgmeinefreundin / Unsplash See Loschwitz A walk across Dresden’s most beautiful bridge takes you to Loschwitz the world’s oldest overhead railway and three palaces overlooking the Elbe – the Lingner The former two were commissioned by Prince Albert of Prussia and served as his residencies in the mid 19th century Tours of the two stately homes are available has been transformed into a luxury hotel and is only open to its guest Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Veronika Klimchuk / Unsplash Hellerau or Dresden’s Garden City is a romantic and leafy district north of the city centre. Its roots date back to 1909 when, inspired by the first elaborate gardens in England, a local furniture maker started the initiative to create Germany’s first garden city. Before the First World War the area had developed into one of the city’s cultural hubs The old festival hall was renovated in 2006 and stages theatre performances See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer See & Do A Guide to River Cruises in Germany: What to Know Design The Most Beautiful Churches in Berlin See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn Art 10 Masterpieces You Can Only See in Munich Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December See & Do Germany's Most Beautiful Abbeys and Monasteries See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in June US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd Dresden Magazin Die Vielfalt von Dresden Elbland im offiziellen Stadtmagazin Sometimes there's nothing better than taking a little break with a piece of cake and a hot cup of coffee We know the best places to do this in Dresden and have put together a list of the city's best cafés and tearooms for you A little away from the hustle and bustle, close to the German Hygiene Museum, Café Milchmädchen tempts you with all kinds of sweet temptations and healthy alternatives to the classic Sachertorte the café is not just for the typical coffee-to-go hipster tourist from Berlin-Kreuzberg everyone can start the new day in a cosy and culinary balanced way or switch off after a hard day’s work ice cream and coffee specialities here are made with love 01069 Dresden // Mo-Fr 7-18 Uhr,  Sa/So 8-18 Uhr According to the Duden dictionary definition, the term ‘atelier’ refers to an artist’s workspace. Considering the spectacular patisserie creations that head patissier Dirk Günther conjures up in his Kuchen Atelier the name of the café is absolutely justified His three principles: Traditional craftsmanship high-quality products and a modern interpretation one thing above all remains: heavenly flavour macarons and cookies become an experience here because the team at the Kuchen Atelier see themselves as craftsmen of the sweet arts … 01067 Dresden // Mi-So & Feiertags 13-18 Uhr Around 20 cakes and tarts, each more delicious than the last, are finely draped on the cake counter at Coselpalais gluten-free buckwheat cake – how can you decide And then there are the numerous coffee and chocolate specialities the many teas from all corners of the world Because everything here really is delicious Guests dine here in a historic ambience in the revived baroque palace in the central city centre of Dresden – right next to the Frauenkirche you can also marvel at the ‘Moor with the Emerald Step’ the world’s only replica of the famous exhibit from the collection of the Green Vault made by the renowned Dresden porcelain manufactory The speciality is traditional cakes and biscuits there is a sandpit in the beautiful courtyard where they can play and bake sand cakes At Oswaldz how many bars of water vapour hiss through which grind of coffee is the result of the search for the world formula ‘Local is trumps’ is the motto here – the beans are roasted by Phoenix Coffeeroasters in the immediate neighbourhood and the art on the walls is also of regional origin Artist Stefan Lenke regularly procures contemporary supplies from the neighbourhood of the Dresden Art Academy Café Cello is already one of Dresden’s favourite coffee houses This is confirmed by a reader survey conducted by the Sächsische Zeitung newspaper in which the small café in Alaunpark recently took third place No wonder: owner Eva Cello knows a thing or two about coffee she doesn’t think much of single-origin coffee She blends her own roasted beans again and again so that visitors can always look forward to new coffee creations But the trained goldsmith Cello is not only at home at the coffee machine Some of her creations are on display in showcases at Cafe Cello Let’s do a little riddle: What does the ‘V’ in V-Cake stand for Stefan Graumüller and Matthias Mandlmeier don’t use any animal products in their dream cakes These delicious creations are available in different variations – from marshmallow pink to dark chocolate black A little tip: Lunch breaks here are also a great time for savoury snacks or sandwiches The Café Eckstein is located in the heart of the Outer New Town on the best corner of this colourful district Almost everything in the Café Glocke is organic. Homemade dips and spreads are served with all dishes, there are wonderful homemade jams and the cake comes from the Bucheckerchen organic confectionery and bakery The ready-made breakfasts are also highly recommended They leave nothing to be desired and can still be upgraded In addition to breakfast and coffee and cake Booking is strongly recommended as the Café is very popular A baroque sofa, two bar tables and four window seats in summer – this tiny espresso bar on Schillerplatz doesn’t offer much more space Yet it would be no problem to fill a much larger establishment with the perfectly prepared range of espressos and latte macchiatos the apricot tarts or the colourfully topped tartlets True luxury can also be the luck of getting a seat here 01309 Dresden // März bis Oktober: Mo-Fr 8-18 Uhr Sa 9-16 Uhr; November bis Februar: Mo-Fr 8-17 Uhr The Blue Wonder to the left, the cake counter to the right – the ‘Toscana’ is one of the founding members of Dresden’s coffee house culture and has provided stylish accommodation for countless ladies’ parties since 1901 You should definitely try the in-house Toscana cake Experience Dresden Elbland in 360-degree panoramas:More than 60 locations were recorded using drones and high tripods Produced with funding from the Free State of Saxony within the framework of the Tourism Promotion Plan Essenzielle Cookies ermöglichen grundlegende Funktionen und sind für die einwandfreie Funktion der Website erforderlich. 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Wenn Cookies von externen Medien akzeptiert werden, bedarf der Zugriff auf diese Inhalte keiner manuellen Einwilligung mehr. and the city doesn’t stop at fine art galleries independently run bookshops that invite you in for a browse and a cup of coffee Here’s a list of the places that offer a hand-selected collection of all-time classics and the latest page-turners © Courtesy of Büchers Best You’ll find Büchers Best in the Kunsthofpassage complex at the heart of Dresden’s trendiest quarter The cosy bookshop has a living room feel to it which may be partly due to the Burmese cat called Myamoto Musashi that calls the shop home you’ll find the best of literature piled up on the shelves whether you’re looking to buy romance novels recent publications and audiobooks on the shelves Buchhandlung Leselust, Louisenstraße 24, Dresden, Germany Buchlese 29 Buchlese 29 is far off the mainstream path The small bookstore in Dresden Löbtau is all about the love of literature Shop owner Steffi Peschel puts a lot of effort in creating a cosy atmosphere and hand-selects the books ranging from the latest fiction and non-fiction publications to children’s books Buchlese 29, Reisewitzer Straße 29, Dresden, Germany | © Ikaika / Pixabay Buchhandlung Pusteblume Pusteblume has specialised in literature for women and children and has hit a nerve. The shelves are filled with children’s books fiction literature and how-to books on parenting and education A play area keeps the kids busy while their mums browse the selection over a cup of coffee Buchhandlung Pusteblume, Pulsnitzer Straße 1, Dresden, Germany The BuchHaus Loschwitz bookshop opened its doors back in 1995 and since then has brought mostly fiction, art books and literature revolving around Saxony to locals Regular events play an equally important role art exhibitions and panel discussions with novelists in the building next door BuchHaus Loschwitz, Friedrich-Wieck-Straße 6, Dresden, Germany | © maryignatiadi / Pixabay If you click on a link in this story All recommendations have been independently sourced by Culture Trip Read Next Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in August © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd. All Rights Reserved. here are some unique experiences you can have in Dresden Marvel at the church that rose from the ashes Building leoks / Shutterstock Frauenkirche Tours Like no other landmark, Dresden’s Frauenkirche the joint effort of international organisations helped rebuild Dresden’s Frauenkirche architecture and the church’s peace-building work from volunteers during the ‘open hours’ Buy a treat at the real-life Mendl’s Patisserie Bakery Well, almost. Remember the insanely beautiful Mendl’s Patisserie in Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel? The scene was actually filmed here at the Pfund’s Molkerei Hand-painted porcelain tiles decorate the walls and the counter where you can buy cute souvenirs and dairy products head to the upstairs restaurant for some ice cream or a milkshake Evgeni Fabisuk / Shutterstock The Kunsthofpassage in the Äußere Neustadt quarter is a hub for local artists The complex of five joint courtyards features bright wall murals One of the highlights is the so-called ‘Courtyard of Elements’ Drain pipes and funnels are attached to the house front and when it rains the water runs through the metal elements and creates sounds that resemble a voice singing Get clean at the German Hygiene Museum Museum © Raimond Spekking / WikiCommons Just kidding. The name alone might put people off visiting, but the truth is that the uninspiring concrete walls hold some pretty interesting facts about us as humans that have little to do with disinfectants or toothbrushes. The permanent exhibition rather deals with everything revolving around our bodies and answer questions along the lines of ‘What does growing old feel like?’ and ‘Why do we feel shame?’ Dresden offers a variety of cafés and restaurants serving everything from American pancakes to spinach-and-cheese sausages Add some coffee or prosecco and you’ll surely feel invigorated to explore Dresden’s beautiful sights Here’s a list of seven locations that serve sumptuous food in the mornings © Courtesy of Dresdner Kaffeestübchen A cute and cosy café in the heart of Dresden’s old town, the Dresdner Kaffeestübchen serves a typically German breakfast of rolls spreads and hard boiled eggs along with excellent coffee The speciality is the Dresdener Gedeck – a slice of Eierschenke accompanied by a cup of their signature blended coffee and a shot of coffee liqueur Courtesy of PlanWirtschaft The PlanWirtschaft café in Dresden’s trendiest quarter Äußere Neustadt lures with an elaborate breakfast buffet which includes several kinds of bread and rolls but it’s worth trying to snatch a seat in the backyard on a sunny day © Courtesy of Carolaschlösschen Tucked away behind a lush garden on the waterfront of a lake, Carolaschlösschen is probably the city’s most beautifully set café. Guests can sit inside the Art-Déco interior or in the beer garden The Sunday brunch buffet is composed of international specialities from antipasti to dessert © 4793641/Pixabay The L’Art de Vie restaurant in Dresden’s Societaetstheater is open all day and gives Mediterranean dishes a creative twist. Breakfast is available daily and includes everything your heart desires, including a full English guests come here to have a brunch feast of cold and warm specialities – a glass of prosecco is included © 00firefly00/Pixabay The daily breakfast menu at Lloyds doesn’t hold big surprises You can design your own plate or choose one of the themed options from the menu – the French option with croissants and marmalade or the full Lloyds breakfast which tops the former with scrambled eggs © Courtesy of Watzkes Wurstküche Assuming you like German sausages it’s fair to say that you’ll probably love Watzkes Wurstküche (previously Erste Dresdner Wurstküche) new creative Bratwurst varieties have found their way onto the menu pumpkin or asparagus-and-chanterelle sausages it offers brunch with all the German goodies from bread to spreads © Robert Gebler The weekend breakfast at Dresden’s popular vegetarian restaurant Scheunen Café follows the common thread of Indian cuisine paired with regional specialities you can opt for the continental classics of eggs © Courtesy of Max restaurants The breakfast menu at Max in Dresden’s Neustadt quarter lists classics from croissants with marmalade honey and Nutella for those with a sweet tooth and eggs on bread for guests who prefer a savoury breakfast You can always spice it up with an extra order of any of the available toppings Sunday brunch always comes with a glass of the fizzy drink and scrambled eggs and you’ll want to have a break every now and again Here are some of Dresden’s best cafés that will boost your energy levels with caffeine and sugary treats © Pexels/Pixabay For those of you who love cake, Dresden’s retro-style Kuchen Atelier is a must-stop. The gateaux, tarts and cakes do not only resemble small pieces of art but are also super delicious. The menu is a mix of innovative creations such as a strawberry cake with cucumber, classic German tray-baked cakes and regional specialities including the city’s favourite Eierschenke © TesaPhotography/Pixabay The Coselpalais is of the city’s most prominent baroque buildings, and with Dresden’s Frauenkirche as a backdrop, the onsite café virtually calls for their fancy gateau and cake creations to be served on precious Meissen porcelain and it’s tough to choose between baked goods such as the chocolate buttercream tart with currant jam apple cake with streusel or the many petit fours © Courtesy of England, England England, England is the self-proclaimed hotspot for the homesick and Anglophiles. Floral wallpapers and tablecloths, solid timber furniture and luxuriantly framed pictures of the royal family set the tone for a cuppa tea and a slice of freshly baked Victoria sponge cake Stick your nose into one of the available books or join the regular social activities © Engin_Akyurt/Pixabay At Fräulein Lecker you can dig into muffins The team opts for comparatively healthy ingredients and swaps wheat flour for spelt and refined sugar for cane Vegans will be happy to hear that some of the yummy creations are free from animal products entirely A selection of soups and quiches ease the craving for savoury foods © Café Sperling At the heart of Dresden’s hippest quarter, Äußere Neustadt, Café Sperling lures customers with a Scandi-chic interior and homemade food and cakes The trendy café is great for either breakfast On the menu are a range of breakfast platters muesli and delicious cakes just like grandma’s recipes © Courtesy of Dresdner Kaffeestübchen After a tour of Dresden’s main sights, the Dresdner Kaffeestübchen café offers refuge from the hustle and bustle of Dresden’s old town Baroque design clashes with 80s elements to create a cosy atmosphere You can choose from various cakes and biscuits but the menu’s highlight is the Dresdener Gedeck – a local speciality comprising a slice of Eierschenke cake Explore Dresden’s Baroque wonders Architectural Landmark Dresden Tours If you were to rank German cities by their splendour and grandeur, Dresden would no doubt make the top three. Often dubbed the Florence of the North the Saxon capital never fails to charm visitors with masterpieces of Baroque architecture artistic treasures and romantic Elbe River views Zwinger and Semperoper opera house are must-sees when you’re in town Dresden has seen a multitude of modern galleries and boutiques and trendy cafés and bars appear in the Äußere Neustadt quarter creating a fascinating blend of old and new The entire region is dipped beneath metres of snow while festivals With cutting-edge art galleries and workshops moving into the disused industrial complex Baumwollspinnerei; the techno clubs in Plagwitz and Südvorstadt; and imposing landmarks which bore witness to the turbulent and intriguing history – Leipzig offers a countless of opportunities to delve into the city’s past and experience the local student life Wedged against the German-Polish border 110 kilometres east of Dresden lies one of the most underrated towns in Germany Görlitz lures with its preserved medieval charm and stunning architectural landmarks such as the Reichenbach tower which stands as a remnant of the ancient city fortification the Renaissance Schönhof house and the St Marienthal Abbey Lilienstein table mountain and the jagged Schrammstein rocks Travel back in time at the Königstein Fortress Historical Landmark One of Europe’s largest fortresses towers on a plateau which rises over the Elbe River near Dresden. The complex encompasses more than 50 individual buildings which are encircled by massive sandstone walls soaring 42 metres high. Over the course of its 400-year-long existence, the Königstein Festung was used as a fort and prison and today functions as an open-air military history museum If you’re headed to Bautzen or Görlitz, it’s worth planning for a detour via the magical Kromlau Park. The lush landscape gardens are known for the mesmerising sea of blooming azalea and rhododendron flowers in spring and the arched Devil’s Bridge The structure was purposely designed to create a perfect circle when the bridge is reflected on the surface of the lake below Saxony’s most beautiful gardens are found just outside of Dresden and see thousands of visitors flock to the beautifully designed park every year. Pillnitz Castle served as the summer residence for previous noblemen and is composed of several Baroque-style buildings surrounded by more than 23 hectares of parklands the palace is home to the Arts and Crafts Museum and the Palace Museum See & Do The Best Weekend Trips From Heidelberg