Accommodation in Dresden

Dresden: Elbflorenz zwischen Frauenkirche und Weinhängen

Dresden earns its nickname of Florence on the Elbe: the Frauenkirche, the Zwinger and the Semperoper form one of Europe's most beautiful city silhouettes, and from the Brühl Terrace you look out over a river on whose slopes wine actually grows. At the same time, the Neustadt with its courtyards and the Kunsthofpassage is the creative counterweight to the baroque splendour.

The quarters spread across both sides of the Elbe: houses like the Elbflorenz and the Artushof serve the classic city traveller, guesthouses like the Maritta and the Pension25 the budget-minded category, and holiday flats like Dresden365 make longer voyages of discovery independent. Those who like it green stay upriver towards Loschwitz and the Blaues Wunder bridge.

Beyond the canon of Residenzschloss and Green Vault, the palaces of Pillnitz and Moritzburg reward a visit, as does a cruise with the world's oldest paddle-steamer fleet. Booked directly with the host, the city break stays commission-free – with the hint on which Elbe meadow watches the skyline glow most beautifully at dusk.