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From the Church of our Lady to the Old Market Square, here are 17 photos of Dresden, Germany, that’ll make you want to visit immediately!
The one thing that I absolutely loved about taking photos of Dresden was the architecture. I am a sucker for old baroque architecture and classical buildings. Wherever you walk around the streets of Dresden you come across ornate cathedrals and old-fashioned palisades. You walk under seemingly ancient arches and along time-worn cobblestoned streets.
The thing is, it’s not ancient, it’s not time-worn. Despite looking like a city that’s been around for centuries, Dresden’s restoration is relatively new and modern. And even though the scars of World War II are still felt today in Germany, there is a new sense of beauty and peace in Dresden, one that’s difficult to find anywhere else.
To give you an idea, watch the second half of my video below. It should give you an idea of what Dresden today looks like:
Planning a trip to Germany? Then make sure you check out my city guides to Berlin, Dusseldorf, Nuremberg and Stuttgart. Also, I’d really recommend checking out nearby Bastei and hiking the Bastei Bridge.
Visiting Dresden today
Dresden’s skyline of towers, spires and domes looks like it’s been unchanged for centuries. This is the city that Italian master Canaletto painted so often that he immortalised it s a “Florence on the Elbe”.
That makes it all the harder getting your head around the fact that this city was flattened by Allied bombings in 1945. It’s the sad truth of the war – the casualties weren’t just people but towns and buildings too.
Thankfully, the blueprints of the city and the buildings remained. Ever since the war the people of Dresden have meticulously rebuilt the city to its former glory.
The work begun in 1990 and the reconstruction became a metaphor for reconciliation – not just for East and West Germany, but among wartime enemies too.
Taking pictures of Dresden, Germany
Even though I only spent a couple of days in Dresden, I really wanted to find some of the best photo spots in the city.
From climbing to the top of the Church of our Lady for the views of the city below to walking around the walls of the Zwinger, here are 17 photos that’ll make you want to visit Dresden. Honestly, for those you you looking for some of the best Instagram spots in Dresden, hopefully this blog post will be a bit of inspiration for you.
When to shoot in Dresden
Dresden is a morning city for photographers. The Altstadt faces roughly north across the Elbe, so the baroque frontages catch that soft early light before the crowds arrive, usually from about 9am onwards in summer.
If you only have one early start in you, spend it on Neumarkt. The square empties out completely overnight and you can shoot the Frauenkirche from the middle of it without a single person in frame.
Blue hour is the other one to plan for. The floodlights come on across the Altstadt and the whole skyline goes gold against a deep blue sky. Head over to the Neustadt side of the river and shoot back across the water.
Autumn and early spring are my picks for the fewest crowds, and late November through December if you want the Christmas markets. Just know that the dome platform shuts at 4pm in winter, so you’ll want to be up there by mid-afternoon.
The Church of our Lady (Dresden Frauenkirche)
One of the most impressive buildings in Dresden is The Church of our Lady, the Dresden Frauenkirche. Built in the 18th century, the ruins of the church were initially left as a war memorial. However, the meticulous restoration started in 1994 and was eventually completed in 2005.
Entering the church is free (it is a working church so be respectful!). People are welcome to walk around taking in the beautiful details of the marble work and sculptures.
One of my favourite photo spots was up on the 2nd and 3rd floor. There’s a viewing gallery where you can take some nice photos of the interior of the church (like this one below).
Another spot worth the effort is the viewing platform at the very top of the church. Tickets are €12 for adults, €7 reduced and €24 for a family, and the platform is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm and Sunday from 1pm to 6pm. From November to February it shuts at 4pm, so plan around that in winter.
The climb takes you up a spiral ramp to 67 metres and it’s steep. If you’ve got mobility issues it’s best to skip this one. There’s a lift and a ramp into the nave itself, but the galleries and the dome aren’t accessible. For those who make it up, the views are stunning. You get the whole Dresden skyline laid out in front of you, spires and all.
Neumarkt (New Market Square)
Surrounding the Church of our Lady is Neumarkt, and this is where you’ll find most of those postcard shots of Dresden. It’s ringed with bars, restaurants, shops and hotels serving up everything from traditional Saxon cooking to fusion food, and the buildings have all been rebuilt in the baroque style to match the church.
Don’t get it confused with the Altmarkt, which is a five minute walk west behind the Kreuzkirche. That’s the bigger, plainer square where the Striezelmarkt Christmas market takes over every December.
I stayed at what’s now the Townhouse Dresden right on the square and it was a gorgeous place to stay. I could even hear violinists busking below my window.
When it comes to photos of Dresden, you’ll often see Neumarkt completely deserted. That’s because people get up ridiculously early to shoot before the city wakes up. Stay close and you can roll out of bed and fire off a few frames before breakfast. That’s my top tip.
Stallhof
The Stallhof still earns its keep as an events space. The Mittelalter-Weihnacht runs from 25 November to 23 December 2026, followed by the Dresdner Rauhnächte from 27 to 30 December and again in early January. There’s a €5 admission for adults and €3 for children at weekends and during the Rauhnächte, and the courtyard itself is step-free.
If you’re after the mural without a crowd, come first thing. It runs 102 metres along Augustusstraße and it’s made from around 23,000 Meissen porcelain tiles, which makes it the largest porcelain artwork in the world.
Zwinger
The Zwinger is a complex of buildings that together make up a Gesamtkunstwerk, roughly “a complete work of art”. It’s huge and you can happily get lost in it.
If you visited between 2021 and 2025 you’ll have found a building site. The inner courtyard reopened in October 2025 after a four year restoration, so the fountains are running again, the paths have been relaid and the whole courtyard is now step-free. The orange trees are back in the courtyard each spring too.
The courtyard and the outdoor galleries are free and open from 6am to 10pm in summer. That early opening is a gift if you want the place to yourself with the light coming up behind the Kronentor.
The museums are separate. A combined ticket for the Old Masters Picture Gallery, the Sculpture Collection, the Mathematical-Physical Salon and the Porcelain Collection is €18, or €13.50 reduced.
There are so many photo spots dotted around the complex. One of the best is up on the first floor gallery looking back down over the courtyard.
Kunsthofpassage in Neustadt (New Town)
While Dresden may be known for its Altstadt (Old Town), it is the Neustadt (New Town) that’s getting everyone excited. If you’re looking for one of the most vibrant and multicultural places to party outside of Berlin, the Neustadt in Dresden is where it’s at.
There are so many pubs and bars here it’s impossible to choose between them all. Also, with cute cafes and independent shops dotted around everywhere, this is definitely one of the most happening parts of town.
My advice for the Neustadt is get your camera out, get lost, and see where it takes you. This is what Dresden is like today, so it’s a really cool place exploring by yourself.
Pfunds Dairy
When it comes to photography in Dresden, it’s not all beautiful buildings outside. You’ve got to head inside too. That’s why I recommend this place.
I can officially say I’ve been to the most beautiful dairy shop in the world (as confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records!) Pfunds Dairy is a cheese and dairy shop like no other.
Not only do they serve delicious cheeses accompanied by some of the best wines in the region, but the shop is so beautiful too. It is like the inside of a country mansion but with lots and lots of cheese! I had one of the cheese platters while I was there and it was delish. If you’ve got time in Dresden then I’d really recommend a cheese platter from here!
My favourite photos of Dresden
My trip to Germany was in association with Visit Germany and Visit Dresden highlighting why this is such an amazing place to travel to. As always, views are entirely my own and without bias.
Do any of these photos of Dresden make you want to visit the city? I’d love to hear which one is your favourite so let me know in the comments below!
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