When visiting Berlin, you might want to take a day trip out of the largest city in Germany and discover other interesting sites in the country. The City of Dresden is less than 200 km south of Berlin and has a rich and storied history. By car, the trip from Berlin to Dresden is about 2 hours and by train, which runs frequently from Berlin to Dresden, takes about 4 hours.

Along the River Elbe, Dresden suffered massive damages during World War II from the Allied Forces bombings that virtually destroyed the city. However the city has rebuilt itself and now resembles all of the grandeur that it previously had before the bombings.

Dresden was once the capital of Saxony, and the city’s history goes back over a thousand years. Today Dresden has reclaimed its status as a cultural, political and economic center of Germany.

There are several interesting attractions to see in Dresden and perhaps the most important building is the Dresden Frauenkirche, or Dresden Church of Our Lady. The church was destroyed during the bombings that occurred during World War II and took years of rebuilding to its current state of grandeur. Today the church looks remarkably like it did centuries ago.

Another important site to visit in Dresden is Der Dresdner Zwinger, or the Zwinger, a Baroque styled palace that is commonly thought to be the premier site in Dresden. Zwinger is considered to be one of the finest pieces of Baroque architecture in the world. Some of its top features are a vast courtyard, which includes the famous Wallpavilion and a number of art galleries.

Also not to be missed is the Semperoper, the Dresden Opera House, which had to be rebuilt a few times due to both the World War II bombings and a fire in the 19th century. This site is considered to be the most famous opera house in all of Germany, which features the world renowned Saxony State Orchestra.

Part of Dresden’s allure is the River Elbe, which stretches nearly 700 miles in length. through both the Czech Republic and Germany. One of the most popular places to visit along the Elbe is the Elbe Meadows. The residents of Dresden frequent the beautiful meadows to have lunch and view the live music that is presented there.
If you are looking for great places for fine dining in restaurant, here are a couple choices for your pleasure. The Grand Cafe Coselpalais is nearly 250 years old and is not far from the Dresden Frauenkirche. This fine restaurant is well known for its German-French cuisine and excellent selection of wines. Another great restaurant to consider is the Pulver Turm an der Frauenkirche. Pulver Turm is translated in English to be The Powder Tower. This popular restaurant, whose history goes back nearly 500 years, is reasonably priced and also features a wide variety of fine wines.

As you can see, there are plenty of attractions to see and places to dine. This historical city should definitely be on your list if you are looking for a day trip from Berlin.