A Traveler's Guide to Dresden, Germany

This past summer, I had the opportunity to spend a month in Dresden, Germany for a University Program, and while I was kept somewhat busy with school work and the like, I still had plenty of time to take in the sights and culture. I feel that Dresden is a very underrated city in traveling circles, and through this article I would like to encourage more people to visit a city that I feel has a charm that neither large cities nor small towns possess. While I don't expect this article to cause people to flock to the city in droves, if you are planning on or even thinking about touring Germany at some point in time and are very interested in history and culture, you should at least stop over in Dresden for a day or two. Using my own experiences, I will outline below some of the most important aspects of Dresden and Germany in general that you should be wary of when traveling, as well as some of the most popular tourist spots and nightclubs, all of which I have visited/toured myself.

As a city formerly in East Germany, Dresden is brimming with history and culture and has a much different feel to it than more modern cities like Berlin and Leipzig. What is perhaps the most amazing thing about Dresden is that nearly all of its historical buildings were destroyed by a combined bombing fleet of both American and British forces during the end of WW II, yet today almost all of its grandiose structures have been rebuilt and restored to their original condition. Even after contending with torrential downpours in 2002 that caused the Elba river to rise to over 8 meters above its normal height, the city has still continued to restore and preserve its rich architecture.

Language:
As Dresden was an East German city, most of the older denizens will not be able to speak English, as Russian was their compulsory language before East and West Germany were united. Even still, most people are fairly patient with native English speakers and being able to speak little to no German myself I was able to get along just fine. In addition, you will always be able to find an English speaker when it is absolutely necessary, such as in the Dresden Airport and major train stations.

Food and Dining:
Dresden has some very nice restaurants for those willing to be very liberal with spending their Euros. For those traveling on the cheap side, there are two options for food. If you are a fan of Gyros, then you might want to consider Doner Kebabs. Consisting of a pita-wrap stuffed full of lamb, lettuce, tomatoes, and a myriad of other sauces/ingredients, Doner Kebabs are a good bang for your Euro at only 2.50-3.00 apiece. Doner Kebab restaurants are also open ridiculously late, and are perhaps the only place you can get food at past 2:00 am. To find one, just look for the words "Kebab", "Doner", and "Duram" (Durams are similar except resemble elongated Burritos). Your second option for food is hitting up a grocery store. While restaurants in Germany are rather expensive, groceries are comparatively cheap, even by American standards. If you are lucky enough to find a Netto, you can treat yourself to some of the cheapest groceries and beer in Germany (a half-liter bottle of beer will run you anywhere from 35 to 60 Euro cents a bottle, depending on the brand). Some other grocery names to look out for are Aldi's (a chain that also has a foothold in the United States) and Rewe. Another thing to note is Germany's recycling program: any plastic or glass bottles purchased at a grocery store may be returned (usually to the same store) for a small 15-25 cent refund, so if you are a penny pincher be sure to bring those bottles of beer back to the store when you are finished.

Transportation:
Dresden is a European city, and as such mass transit is much more readily available than it is in the states. For travel within the city of Dresden, there is a system of above ground tram/trolley cars that operate on a fairly regular basis during daylight hours, in addition to an extensive bus network that ferries people to smaller towns surrounding the city. The tram system itself operates based on numbers; each tram will have a number displayed near the front of it and that number will determine what route the tram takes. Even the smallest of stations will have route maps detailing what stops each numbered tram takes in addition to a timetable that details the approximate times each tram arrives and departs (which you should pay particular attention to if you plan on staying out past midnight, as the trams only run about every half hour during the early morning hours. If you are seeking travel to other parts of Germany, you should hit up a banhof (train station, two of the major stations in Dresden are Hauptbanhof and Banhof-Neustadt) and take a ride in the S-Bahn, a two-storied train that can ferry you anywhere in Germany and even to countries like Poland and the Czech Republic (Prague is only a 2 and a half hour train ride away from Dresden).

Historical Sights:
The Altstadt (Old City) is the reason most people visit Dresden, and much of it lies along the scenic Elba river, creating ample opportunities for taking breathtaking pictures (such as the one headlining this article). Perhaps the most famous building in Dresden is the Church of Our Lady, a massive protestant church that was destroyed during the tail-end of World War II and has since been rebuilt using a number of the original stone blocks. There is also the Catholic Cathedral and the Opera House in addition a bevy of museums, most notable the Alte Meister (Old Master's) museum. All of the main attractions are located in very close proximity to each other and can easily be reached via the tram stops Postplatz and Synagogue (pronounced Zinagogue), both of which can be found on a condensed tram stop map here.

Nightlife:
If you are looking to hit up some of the most popular clubs and bars in Dresden, look no further than Neustadt. Located a short walk away from the Banhof-Neustadt station, Neustadt (German for New City) is an area rich in youth culture (not to mention bottle-caps, which could have paved the streets). On any given night, there are hundreds of young Germans crowding the streets, eating doner kebabs and drinking beer (which is perfectly legal in Germany, as there are no laws against drinking in public). There are dozens upon dozens of bars located in this area as well, from Flower Power to Purple Haze to the Lebowski bar (which plays the movie, The Big Lebowski, in a constant loop during its hours of operation). Don't be surprised if you find yourself out until 4 or 5:00 am, as many German bars stay open much longer than American ones. If you'd prefer a clubbing atmosphere and are into Dance/Techno music, be sure to hit up Strasse E, an area known for its dance clubs. Strasse E is located within earshot of the tram stop Industreigelande (you should be able to hear the thumping bass as soon as you get off the tram). Perhaps the most notable club on Strasse E is the Washroom, a venue that has hosted dozens of famous DJ's such as Paul Van Dyk and Sven Vath. Be sure to go on a Friday or Saturday, however, and most clubs are not open on weekdays.

Shopping:
For those of you who enjoy shopping, the Glass Gallery is the place you will want to be. Located a short walk away from Hauptbanhof station, the glass gallery (not an official name, but rather a nickname) consists of high rise hotels, restaurants, and retail stores, all of which center around a decorative fountain located in the heart of the gallery. In addition to the Glass Gallery, there is also the Altmarkt Galerie, a three-story indoor shopping center located near the end of the Glass Gallery (if you have trouble finding it, just ask somebody, everyone knows where the Altmarkt Galerie is). For those looking for locally-produced merchandise, the nearby city of Messien has a plethora of small stores full of handmade jewelry and other crafts, in addition to a world-renowned porcelain factory (though that's an entirely separate travel guide).

Well, that about sums things up. If you are planning a trip to Germany and would like some more pointers, you can always search for sites such as http://wikitravel.org/en/Germany or even find people who have been there and ask them whatever questions you might have. One last thing to remember; German voltage, as is the case with most European countries, is significantly higher than American voltage, so if you plan on bringing electronics such as hair dryers/laptops, I would suggest purchasing an adapter beforehand. I hope this guide has been informative and for those who are traveling abroad, I wish you safe travels.