Palaces, Parks & Gardens

A picnic out in the open with a view of Palace and Cathedral, historic paddle-steamers with Dixieland, castles and villas with vistas of the city, beer gardens amidst extensive meadows – in Dresden it is possible to see these perspectives often. The preserved river landscape offers room for nature and manifold utilization.

Unhindered in its flow and lined with meadows, the Elbe winds its way through the city over a length of 23 kilometres. The Elbe Cycle Path runs directly along its banks. An hour is all the time it takes for a relaxed ride from the city centre to Pillnitz – passing vineyards, riverside palaces, beer gardens and former village centres. The captivating valley landscapes also form a fantastic backdrop for the most varied open-air events, such as the Elbe Bank Film Nights, the Elbhangfest street festival and a series of concerts in the romantic parks of the Elbe Palaces.

But even in the city centre it is not necessary to disclaim of wide parks. The Grosser Garten park places two square kilometres of green in the very heart of the city, with the zoo, an open-air stage and a boating lake. Not far from the park a Botanical garden offers about 10,000 different plants. On the north-eastern outskirts of the cit extends a big woodland. The forests of the Dresdner Heide are simply made for sporting activities.