Dresden Transportation

Getting to Dresden

Dresden is in the Free State of Saxony, 205 km (128 miles) south of Berlin and near the Polish and Czech borders. Because it's only 152 km (95 miles) from Prague, many Western European travelers visit Dresden on their way to the Czech Republic.

Arriving by train. Dresden is at the junction of several major railroad lines, and ICE trains of the German Federal Railways connect Dresden with other cities throughout the country.

The tourist office's Sales Guide Dresden points out that Dresden has direct international connections to Aarhus, Budapest, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, and Zürich. To look up train connections, use the online journey planner at the Deutsche Bahn Web site.

Arriving by air. Dresden Airport is 9 km (6 miles) north of the city, and it's served by domestic and international carriers such as Lufthansa, Air Berlin, Germanwings, and Austrian Airlines.

From the airport, reaching Dresden's city center is easy: Take the S-Bahn commuter train to the Hauptbahnhof, or main railroad station. The trip takes 23 minutes, there's plenty of room inside the train for your luggage, and you can buy your ticket from a vending machine on the airport station platform. (Be sure to validate your ticket in the separate time-stamping machine before boarding the train, or you're likely to be fined €40.)

Arriving by car. Dresden is served by three Autobahnen or motorways: the A4 from Cologne-Eisenach-Chemnitz, the A13 from Rostock-Berlin, and the new A17 from Prague. Plan your route with maps and directions from Via Michelin.

Getting around the city

Most museums, monuments, and other tourist attractions are in the Altstadt or along the Elbe River's banks, so you'll have little need of taxis, trams, or buses if you're able to walk and read a map.

However, some areas (such as the Neustadt district across the river with its "alternative cultural scene") may be easier to reach by public transportation, and a few palaces, museums, and parks aren't within convenient walking distance.

For more English-language information on public transportation in Dresden, use the VVO Web site or browse the transit system's DVB site.

If you expect to use trams and buses frequently, consider a Dresden Welcome Card (either City or Regio), which offers unlimited local or regional transportation for one, two, or three days.

Taxis aren't cheap, and they're likely to be overkill unless you're coming from the station with a pile of luggage. You'll find cabs at taxi stands around the city, or you can order a radio taxi.

If you want to go green, you can hire a three-wheeled, person-powered Rikscha Taxi.

Parking

Dresden is a great city for walking, so we recommend leaving your car at your hotel or a public parking garage and touring the city on foot and/or by public transportation. Ask your hotel for advice on where to park before you arrive, or use the map and parking information at Parkopedia: Dresden.