Pulverturm an der Frauenkirche
What to order: a Saxon dish from the menu in one of the vaulted rooms
geocalia
Day itinerary · 51.05° N · 13.74° E
Dresden by train: a long day of Baroque beside the Elbe.
An early train to Dresden: the Frauenkirche dome, the Brühl Terrace and the Procession of Princes, the treasure of Augustus the Strong and an hour and a half on a steamer on the Elbe.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Berlín fromBarcelona 2 h 45Bilbao 2 h 45Palma de Mallorca 2 h 45Valencia 3 hAlicante 3 h 15Madrid 3 h 15Málaga 3 h 45Sevilla 3 h 45Fuerteventura 5 h 15Lanzarote 5 h 15
Part of DresdenChristmas markets of EuropeClassical music and opera in Europe
Add to my trip
Total time12 h
By car2 h each way
TicketsDome €12 · Green Vault €18
Boat1 h 30 · from €15.50
DifficultyEasy; 174 steps in the dome
Best timeApril – October
BookingGreen Vault with a time slot
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Berlin 2 h by train
Direct train from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Dresden Hauptbahnhof; 15 min on foot to the old town
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1
Frauenkirche and the Climb to the Dome
Climb to the dome · €12 · 67 m
- 4 min on foot
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2
Brühl Terrace and the Procession of Princes
The terrace above the Elbe and the porcelain mural · free
- 5 min on foot
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3
Pulverturm an der Frauenkirche
Saxon cooking in the vaults beside the Frauenkirche · €€ · closed Wednesdays
An der Frauenkirche 12, 01067 Dresde · +49 351 262600
Restaurant €€Book - 8 min on foot
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4
Historic Green Vault in the Royal Palace
Timed entry bought online · €18
- 9 min on foot
- 5
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Back home 2 h by train
Train to Berlin; you arrive around 19:30
Approximate cost
About €35–50 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Frauenkirche and the Climb to the Dome
Dresden is less than two hours by train from Berlin, just right for a long day. This plan stays in the old town, on the banks of the Elbe: the Frauenkirche dome, the balcony over the river, the treasure of Augustus the Strong and a paddle steamer at the end of the afternoon.
The day, hour by hour
7:30 · Train from Berlin. Direct trains from Berlin Hauptbahnhof take between an hour and three quarters and two hours. From the main station to the old town, 15 minutes on foot along Prager Straße.
10:00 · The Frauenkirche. Climb the dome: 174 steps and a spiral ramp up to the viewpoint, at 67 metres. €12. Then go into the church if it coincides with an open-church slot.
11:15 · Brühl Terrace. The promenade above the Elbe and, on Augustusstraße, the Procession of Princes in porcelain.
12:30 · Lunch at the Pulverturm. In the vaults beside the Frauenkirche, Saxon cooking. Closed on Wednesdays.
14:00 · Green Vault. The treasure of Augustus the Strong in the Royal Palace, with a ticket of €18 and a fixed time: buy it online beforehand.
15:30 · Steamer on the Elbe. Line 72 leaves from the Terrassenufer and lasts an hour and a half.
17:30 · Train back.
And on Sunday?
It works: the dome is open on Sunday from 13:00 to 16:00 in winter (until 18:00 from March to October), so change the order: the Green Vault in the morning and the dome after lunch.
Time1 h
Change the route
On Tuesday, when the Green Vault is closed, or if you prefer painting:
The Zwinger and the Old Masters Picture Gallery
On Wednesday, when the Pulverturm is closed:
Sophienkeller im Taschenbergpalais
Instead of the boat: the Neustadt, the artists' courtyards and the Pfund dairy:
The Neustadt, the Kunsthofpassage and the Pfund Dairy
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Pfunds Molkerei
What to order: a cheese board with the buttermilk and mango shake
Sophienkeller im Taschenbergpalais
What to order: a Saxon dish from the menu
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Dresden
All year, except Tuesday, when the Green Vault is closed, and Wednesday if you want to eat at the Pulverturm. It is a long day: with a night you enjoy it far more.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Buy the Green Vault with a time slot
Places are limited.
- 2Take the first train
The day is long and you will be glad of it.
- 3Better with a night
And the next day, Saxon Switzerland by S-Bahn.
If it rains
Swap the boat for the Zwinger picture gallery.
We'd skip it
On Tuesday: the Green Vault is closed.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Berlin to Dresden?
By direct train from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, between an hour and three quarters and two hours.
Can you see Dresden in a day?
The essentials, yes, if you set out early. With a night, much better.
How much does the day cost?
Dome and Green Vault €30, the boat from €15.50, plus train and lunch: between €90 and €140 per person.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/germany/saxony/dresden/itineraries/frauenkirche-and-elbe-steamer-from-berlin
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.