Here are 5 things you need to know before you visit Dresden.
You’ve already done the research and you know which sites you want to visit.
Are you a classic who would like to see the Baroque old city?
Or maybe you’re a dark tourist and you want to visit what remains of the NAZI era?
You’ve figured out how to get to your accommodation from your point of arrival.
But did you know that shops don’t commonly accept bank cards?
Or that locals don’t commonly speak English?
Read on, my friend!
Here are my tips to make your Dresden trip one to remember.
Travelling with Kids? Why not use my Ultimate Guide to Visiting Dresden with Kids?
1. Everybody speaks English, right?
Wrong.
They don’t.
The internationalization of Dresden is a very recent phenomenon, which can be surprising for people who have visited other German cities, like Berlin or Munich.
The Boomer Generation of Dresden learned Russian at school and typically didn’t learn the lingua franca until later in life, if at all.
Yes, younger Germans can often speak a very high level of English. However, in Dresden, many locals have never interacted with native speakers, so they’re too shy to try.
But remember, the reunification of Germany is in living memory. Dresden was a part of the German Democratic Republic (the DDR in German). It’s not history here. It’s people’s lives.
Don’t be scared.
Dresden is one of the places in Western Europe that still offers the true experience of being in a foreign country with both the joy and frustration of attempting communication.
Of course, in the tourist centre of the Old City, most staff at Cafes, Restaurants, Hotels, and attractions will speak enough English to assist you.
Outside of the central tourist district, there’s not much English.
So what can you do?
If you want to visit some of the more off-the-beat tourist spots or even a local cafe, try the following tips:
- Before you assume that the person understands English, ask them first. Being respectful and not expecting people to speak your language goes a long way in Dresden.
- Try to speak a little bit of the language. You don’t need to do a language course but learn a couple of useful words. Being able to say hello and thank you in German goes a long way! (That’s “Hallo” and “Danke” for the record).
- When all else fails, technology is your friend. Google Translate will fill the gaps when hand gestures just won’t do. The camera function is priceless! It translates anything written in German into English. Perfect for menus!
2. Cash is King
You can not get by in Dresden with your bank card.
Get cash out. ASAP.
Run, don’t walk to the ATM.
While some museums, restaurants, and hotels will accept cards, there are often caveats. The most common is that credit cards are not accepted. Yes, even if your card is a debit card that allows online purchases.
Infuriating? Yeah, it is.
But what can you do?
Carry cash with you. Be ready for when you want to buy bratwurst and beer for lunch.
Dresden is a very safe city, so there’s no reason to worry if you’re carrying cash.
But like any travel, be sensible.
- Don’t flash your cash around. Take what you need from the cash machine and safely pop it into your wallet.
- Try to familiarize yourself with the Euro notes and coins in private so that you’re not fumbling with lots of cash when you want to purchase something.
- Be aware of your surroundings. If something feels off, it is off. Get out of there. If you need to, find help.
- Never leave your belongings unattended (even though lost items in Germany are typically placed on the nearest fence for the person to return to, best not to risk it with valuables like cash and passports!).
3. Don’t rely on free Wifi
Unlike many other European centres, there isn’t a wide availability of free Wifi in Dresden.
So disappointing.
Before exploring the city, download the maps for offline use.
However, if you forgot to download the maps before you left your hotel, here are my hot tips about where to find free wifi (that don’t require you to buy stuff you don’t want!).
Kultur Palast
The Kultur Palast is located in the Old City of Dresden, next to many of the historic sights you may want to visit.
Housing the Dresden Symphonic Orchestra and the central library in Dresden, it’s the perfect location to use the free wifi, the free toilets and enjoy the view across the old City Square.
It’s also a great place to seek shelter when the weather changes for the worse!
Tram Stops
At major Tram stops, you’ll find free wifi available. Connection reliability can vary, but if you need to double-check which direction your tram should be heading, it’s usually enough.
These stops include:
- Albertplatz
- Altstadt
- Postplatz
- Pirnaischer Platz
Zentrum Galerie and Altmarkt Galerie
Both shopping centres are located in the Altstadt and are very near all of the historic attractions in Dresden.
On board Deutschebahn
Deutsche Bahn (DB) has Wifi available on many of its trains. Expect a solid and fast connection on board the ICE, CE, and Regio Express trains. You might find limited connectivity on S-Bahn trains, but this is often slow and limited to accessing transport information.
There is, of course, wifi available at most hotels, cafes, restaurants, and museums. However, if you’re on a budget, these are my top tips for free wifi.
If you are planning to stay longer than a few days in Dresden, or Germany, I recommend purchasing a prepaid SIM with a data packet. These are available cheaply and easily in most Supermarkets, including Aldi and Lidl, with full online access to your account.
4. Public Transport is your Friend
So you’ve done your walking tour of Dresden’s old city and you want to explore a little further afield.
Luckily, everything else is easily accessible by bus or tram.
Or bike.
Or scooter.
Yes! You can hire E-bikes and Scooters at various locations around the city if that’s your thing.
My advice is to avoid using taxis. They’re expensive and do not offer a faster ride to your desired location.
Note that there is no Uber in Dresden!
But you don’t need it. The public transport system runs 24 hours a day, and if you’re stuck, you can probably walk to your destination, with some patience.
For up-to-date tram, bus, and train times, visit here.
Dresden has trains as well. You may even have arrived in Dresden by train. To get around the city though, trains aren’t very helpful.
To get out of the city, for example if you’re interested in heading out to the Saxon Switzerland National Park, or another regional location, trains are the perfect option. Updated train information can be found here.
You can purchase tickets at the stops and yes, the machines have an English option available.
Need to know more about getting around Dresden? Read my post here.
5. Public toilets are not free!
Like most of Europe, it’s common to need to pay to use a public toilet here in Germany.
Expect to pay between 50 cents to €1 for the pleasure of peeing.
Of course, if you’re in a cafe or museum, the amenities are free to use.
However, there are times when you need to use the loo and are on a budget.
Or, like me, you just object to the idea of paying for public services!
My insider’s tip is this: All libraries in Dresden have toilets and they are free to use.
You don’t need to be the member of the library. You don’t need to announce your arrival.
Just wander in, do your business, and wander out again.
And who knows – you might even find a good read while you’re there!
In the Altstadt, the nearest library (and therefore free toilets) can be found in the Kultur Palast. These toilets are spotless and even include baby change facilities.
The building itself is well worth a visit anyway, so make it a stop on your itinerary if it wasn’t already.
All other library locations and opening times can be found here.
Note if you’re traveling with kids
It’s not uncommon to see children relieving themselves in the gardens surrounding playgrounds here . . . because there’s no toilets.
So if your little one can’t wait, it’s ok for them to wee in the garden.
Just keep some tissues and hand sanitiser handy.
Time to visit!
Now that you know the 5 things you need to know before you visit Dresden, it’s time to finish planning and enjoy your trip.
Have you already visited Dresden? Did I forget anything? Let me know in the comments below.
