For everyone who loves culture.

Gottfried Semper was the first to build it: his famous opera house was constructed between 1838 and 1841. Three decades later, following a devastating fire, his son Manfred oversaw its reconstruction: today, one of Dresden’s most important cultural landmarks shines in all its splendour and beauty. Look forward to world-class opera and ballet in an enchanting atmosphere. 

It’s almost impossible to single out individual highlights in Dresden – but we’ll give it a go anyway. There are at least four art galleries you simply must visit. Topping the list is the Gallery of Old Masters in the Zwinger. Here, more than in almost any other German museum, you’ll encounter the entire history of European art. What else should be on your must-see list? The Albertinum with its Galerie Neue Meister, the Städtische Galerie Dresden and – almost an insider’s tip – the Leonhardi Museum.

The Dresden Music Festival, one of Europe’s largest and most prestigious classical music festivals, is a fixture on the banks of the Elbe. Every May and June, a top-class programme of exceptional depth and variety takes to the stage here. Experience spectacular orchestral concerts, multifaceted chamber music and acclaimed soloists – this is where the international classical music scene meets an unrivalled cultural and historical setting.

Completely modernised and entirely redesigned: the Kulturpalast on Dresden’s Altmarkt is a stunning centre for the arts and learning, a meeting place and a space for communication. At its heart (and home to the Dresden Philharmonic) is the new concert hall. Experience superb acoustics and striking architecture – and magnificent concerts! Tip: The new municipal central library at the same address is also a real design highlight. 

When King Henry I built a wooden fortification on a rock above the River Elbe in 929 and took up residence in the predecessor to Albrechtsburg Castle, the ‘cradle of Saxony’ came into being. Some 500 years later, the ruling Wettin dynasty built the late-Gothic Albrechtsburg in Meissen. This stately administrative centre and residential palace was completed in 1471 – making it the first palace in German architectural history. Come and visit this architectural gem!