Dresden Travel Forum

Our son and his wife and daughter have just moved to Dresden from the United States. We live in New Zealand and will be visiting next year. We met them in Dresden this time last year and were very impressed with the 'old city'. Can someone tell me what is the best time of the year to visit weatherwise? Do not care for extreme temperatures.
Also can you give us some idea of areas which are nearby and are worth visiting?
We have been to Prague and loved this city and will visit again. We will also visit Berlin. The countryside appeals to us also, any recommendations of places to stay and visit. Thanking you

http://www.eurometeo.com/english/climate/city_EDDC/clima_select/meteo_Dresden
for climate.

Daily weather here, so you can get an idea:

http://deutsch.wunderground.com/global/stations/10488.html

May/June and September/early October are usually pleasant times in morthern European countries, but I don't think Dresden has what one might term 'extreme' weather anyway....a trip during the high summer would be fine, I'm sure.

As for places to visit nearby, try browsing the VT Dresden pages...'off the beaten track' tips in particular.

In and around Dresden you will find a lot of very interesting towns (for instance Meissen, Moritzburg, Pillnitz, Pirna and Bautzen) and the beautiful scenery of Saxon Switzerland.

For more info see my 'Land Sachsen' page: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/7c27b/18/

happy travels
jaap

May to September is generally a good time to visit Germany, June or early September can be particularly nice. Note I said 'can'.

Since most of Dresden, especially the borough of Altstadt ('Old Town'), was bombed into rubble, Dresden Neustadt ('New Town') has now more a little more architectural flair.
Here's what the Guardian wrote:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/apr/14/saturday.budget.dresden

I have friends in Dresden, so I can not comment on hotels, but as far as Dresden't surrounding area is concerned, I suggest to visit Saxon Switzerland with the Elbe Sandstone Mountains
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbsandsteingebirge

I think there are boat tours up river Elbe to Elbe Sandstone Mountains, but you could also go by train or rent a car, as described here:
http://www.nationalpark-saechsische-schweiz.de/red1/sachsens-nationalpark/kurzportrait/?set_lang_id=2

Second the recommendation for Elb Sandstone Mountains. Especially nice is the Bastei and the Festung Koenigstein.

http://www.festung-koenigstein.de/
http://www.saechsische-schweiz.de/

Please note that there is a long-distance bicycle route, the Elberadweg, going along Elbe and Moldau from Prague to Hamburg. The part from Dresden to Bad Schandau is especially nice. If you can, get a bike and cycle along it for a bit.

Another tourist magnet is the Spreewald area between Dresden and Berlin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spreewald

It is best from May to October if the weather is warm enough. (Right now it isn't if you ask me.) You can go canoeing there, leisurely paddling through the beautiful riparian forest. Cool water with fish, green foliage whispering in the wind, birds singing and the warm sun above. :-) Cycling along the canals is also an option. Or go on a guided tour and ride in one of the tourist boats.

And while it is not the best time wheatherwise, Dresden at Christmas time is beautiful. German cities are famous for their Christmas markets, and some markets are very much deserving of that fame. I just don't know what the market in Dresden is like. Can a local shed some light on this issue? Is it worth travelling from NZ to Dresden just to see the Christmas market?

Thanks so much Maia, your information is very helpful, and I am going to pass it on to my daughter and son in law who will be visiting their brother soon; they are keen cyclists and have bought their bikes with them.