Dresden is a great day trip from Berlin. It has some fascinating history and a stunning old centre, restored after heavy bombing in WW2. Here’s my guide to visiting Dresden from Berlin as a day trip.
Last updated: January 2025
Dresden is a great option for a day trip from Berlin. It’s easy to get to Dresden from Berlin by train. With an easy and comfortable journey, you can enjoy many hours in the centre of Dresden exploring its top sights and things to do.
The best day trip from Berlin
I think Dresden is the best day trips from Berlin. Dresden is the best day trip from Berlin because it’s easy to get to, and because there’s a good amount to do in Dresden in a day. The journey to Dresden from Berlin is really easy, and you can read more about how to get from Berlin to Dresden below. It’s a really simple two-hour train ride. Dresden is a fairly small city, so the best places to visit in Dresden are focussed around the city centre. This means that you can easily visit Dresden’s top sights in a day trip from Berlin.
Here’s my guide to your day trip to Dresden from Berlin, with more details on how to get from Berlin to Dresden as well as the best places to visit in Dresden.
How to get from Berlin to Dresden
It’s really easy to get to Dresden from Berlin for a day trip. The distance from Berlin to Dresden is less than 200km, and it’s easy to get the train to Dresden from Berlin.
The train from Berlin Hauptbahnhof (the main train station) takes just over 2 hours to get to Dresden. It’s a direct train, with seat reservations so it’s a comfortable journey.
Dresden is a fairly long way for a day trip from Berlin – my general rule for day trips is a 2 hour maximum journey each way, otherwise you can spend more time travelling than you do exploring the new place. However, the train from Berlin is a fast, direct train and it’s a comfortable, relaxing ride, so the journey didn’t feel too long at all. Make sure you research train times, as some trains can take a lot longer so make sure you choose a fast, direct one.
Check out the train timetables for the latest train times and prices.
Best time to visit Dresden and the weather in Dresden
Dresden is a great city to visit throughout the year. It’s lovely to visit Dresden in the summer, when the warm weather makes the city come alive. In the summer, you can enjoy sitting outside at cafes and restaurants in Dresden. The weather in Dresden in the summer can be warm, with some hot and humid days. However, there can also be some cloudy and rainy days in the summer, so make sure you check the local weather forecast before your trip.
Dresden is also a great place to visit in the winter, especially at Christmas. Dresden at Christmas is really magical. There are some great Christmas markets in Dresden in December, and lots of nice Christmas lights around the city. If you’re visiting Germany at Christmas, you can also check out my guide to Christmas Markets in Berlin, and also Christmas Markets in Cologne. The weather in Dresden in the winter can get very cold. You might get snow, but you’re more likely to have cold, wet and grey weather. But even in the rain, Dresden is still a great place to visit. And you can enjoy visiting all the top places to visit in Dresden at Christmas.
Top places to visit in Dresden
When you’re visiting Dresden from Berlin as a day trip, you’ll probably have around 6 hours to explore the city. You could have longer if you choose to take the earliest and latest trains from Berlin. But around 6 hours in Dresden is enough time to see the top sights, as well as enjoy a nice lunch. Here are the top places to visit in Dresden as a day trip from Berlin.
1. Dresden’s Old Centre
One of the top sights on a day trip to Dresden from Berlin is the stunningly restored old centre. Dresden was famously one of the most bombed cities during World War Two. Much of the historic centre of the city was destroyed in the bombing raids.
Reconstruction of the historic area began in the 1990s and now the old centre retains its historical feel. It’s been restored to look like it did before the bombing in World War Two. The restoration is excellent, but it does give the city a feeling that it’s just slightly too pristine and neat, so it’s hard to believe it’s truly a historical town.
The centre of Dresden is still a great place to walk around. There are lots of nice colourful buildings. And at Christmas, the streets in the centre of Dresden are lined with Christmas markets which are really fun to explore.
2. Frauenkirche
One of the best places to visit in Dresden on your day trip from Berlin is Frauenkirche. This impressive church is one of the best sights in Dresden.
The original church was completed in the mid 1700s with one of the largest domes of any church in Europe. However, like much of Dresden, it was completely destroyed in World War Two. Reconstruction began in the 1990s and was finished in 2005. The rebuilt church now dominates the Neumarkt square and is one of the most iconic sights in the city.
The Frauenkirche church is really impressive from the outside. You can also go inside, and see the impressively restored interior as well. This church, in the beautiful city centre, is a great sight and one of the reasons why Dresden is the best day trip from Berlin.
3. Fürstenzug
Another of the best places to visit when taking a day trip from Dresden to Berlin is the Fürstenzug.
This impressive mural is made up of thousands of small tiles. It’s on the side of the famous palace in Dresden, called the Residenzschloss. Dating back to 1870, it tells the story of rulers of the House of Wettin, from the 12th century to the 19th century when it was first created.
It’s a really impressive, huge mural. Even on a grey and cloudy day in the winter, the gold of the mural still shone brightly. It’s worth spending some time here to really take in the incredible detail on the tiles.
4. Dresdener Residenzschloss
When you’re visiting Dresden from Berlin as a day trip, make sure you visit the stunning royal palace in Dresden. It’s definitely one of the best places to visit in Dresden.
The former royal palace, also sometimes know as Dresden Castle, is one of the oldest buildings in Dresden and was a royal residence for nearly 400 years. It’s a really impressive building from the outside.
There are a variety of museums inside the palace, including the Armoury and the Green Vault, which is full of the royal treasures. Check out the website for opening times. You can easily spend several hours exploring the museums here and learning more about Dresden’s history.
5. Semperoper
The last of my top places to visit in Dresden from Berlin is Dresden’s opera house, called Semperoper.
Dresden’s opera house is a really impressive building and has staged many famous productions. You can admire the building from the outside, and also go inside it as well.
Check out what’s on at the Semperoper opera house in Dresden during your visit. Or, if you’re just visiting Dresden as a day trip from Berlin and don’t have time to go to see a full performance, you can still visit inside on a guided tour. Visit the opera house website for the latest performance times.
Enjoy visiting Dresden from Berlin as a day trip! Make sure you also check out my guide to spending a weekend in Berlin. If you’re visiting Germany at Christmas, you can also check out the top Christmas markets in Berlin, as well as some amazing Christmas markets in Cologne and Aachen. Or if you’d like to explore more fascinating European cities, head to Prague or Vienna.
