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Dresden Elbe Valley

Dresden Elbe Valley: Our most recommended tours and activities

Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Pillnitz Castle

1. Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Pillnitz Castle

Discover the historic old town of Dresden aboard a ship and admire the most beautiful sites of the Elbe Valley. Start off at Terrassenufer and see the three famous castles: Albrechtsberg, Eckberg, and Lingner Castle, along the Elbe on the way to the villa quarter Loschwitz. Pass the 4 famous Elbe bridges, whose histories affect the city up until now. The most memorable bridge is called Blue Wonder, which gets its name because of the color. Soak up the views of the impressive Pillnitz Palace as your boat drops anchor for roughly twenty minutes. It was built in the 18th century under the Elector of Saxony August the Strong and is now the site of the Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Arts and Crafts) as well as the Schlossmuseum (Castle Museum).

Dresden: Sightseeing-Tour in German by Bike

2. Dresden: Sightseeing-Tour in German by Bike

Discover Dresden in an active way and look forward to a perfect mix of culture and nature. Experience the highlights of Dresden and places that lie off the beaten track by bike. This tour follows one of the prettiest cycling routes in Germany and is the ideal start for new visitors as well as Dresden-enthusiasts. Admire the old town along the Elbe banks, flowering gardens and the trendy founding-district of the new town. Follow quiet streets and tracks of an extensive network of cycling routes through the unique landscape of the Elbe Valley without having to cope with significant height differences. Your expert guide provides you with precious insider tips und turns your tour into a special experience.  The route leads you past the Frauenkirche, the Hygiene Museum, the Palais of the Grand Garden and the VW-factory to the Waldschlösschen Bridge, where you can enjoy stunning views of the Elbe castles. Make your way to Pfunds Molkerei (with a short break to use the restrooms) and the hip and trendy district of Dresden, the outer new town. Get a glimpse of the Baroque district, the Palais of Japan and the Theatre Square with the famous Semperoper and Zwinger.

Dresden: Segway Tour Along the Elbe and Old Town

3. Dresden: Segway Tour Along the Elbe and Old Town

Discover the incredible Dresden Elbe Valley from a whole new perspective and see the city by Segway. Get an introduction to this trendy 2-wheeled transportation, then head on to the most famous sights of the city. Start at the Königsufer and travel to the historic Frauenkirche. Ride by the magical Dresden Castle and the famous Zwinger, then see the Semperoper and the impressive Dresden Cathedral. Enjoy the elevated view from your Segway and discover the most beautiful side of Dresden in a swift and comfortable way.

Dresden: Evening River Cruise with Dinner

4. Dresden: Evening River Cruise with Dinner

Glide along the Elbe river after dark and enjoy Dresden’s lights in the evening. Pass the beautifully illuminated Pillnitz Palace, Blue Wonder bridge and old town. Tuck in to a three-course meal and listen to the smooth background music on this river cruise. Board the boat in central Dresden and set off along the Elbe. Cruise under the Blue Wonder bridge and continue past Dresden’s numerous riverside castles and palaces, whose lights shimmer on the river at night. Eat your three-course dinner to a backdrop of smooth music in the boat’s salons. As you return to the city center, enjoy the warm glow of Dresden’s old town at night.

Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Meissen

5. Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Meissen

Explore the picturesque Saxon Wine Route on a boat trip from Dresden to Meissen and back. On board the boat you can discover interesting facts about the cathedral town, the cozy wine taverns, and the wine villages in the region. Set off on the paddle steamer in the morning and reach Meissen at midday for a break of 3 hrs. Even from a distance you can discover the silhouette of the town characterized by its castle hill and surrounded by the hills in the Elbe Valley. In the town itself, you can visit the Albrechtsburg with its cathedral. Heading from the pier, simply take a right turn down under the bridge and you'll reach the castle after a 10-minute walk or by using the lift. Take a stroll through the town with its historical wall and visit the town museum or the porcelain factory. Meissen's Frauenkirche is also worth a visit. The church, built in the 15th century, is located in the center of the town, a few minutes walk from the Albrechtsburg. Ride on the paddle steamer back to Dresden and reach the city in the evening.

Dresden: Boat Cruise with Wine Tasting and Snacks

6. Dresden: Boat Cruise with Wine Tasting and Snacks

Take a boat cruise on a traditional steam paddler from Dresden to Diesbar-Seußlitz. Admire the views of the magnificent old castles and the Saxon vineyards on your 3-hour cruise. The impressive Albrechtsburg with the cathedral in Meißen can already be seen from far away while you make your way to the scenic wine villages on the shores of the Elbe. After your arrival, hike through the vineyards and explore one of Germany's smallest wine regions with its distinctive wines. Enjoy snacks with your wine tasting in the heart of the vineyards and sample 5 different wines from the region. Some of the local grape varieties can only be found in Saxony. Their rarity has made them a sought-after product. End your tour in a rustic winegrower's house and afterward drive back to Dresden.

Dresden: E-Bike Tour and Dresden Heath Forest Trails

7. Dresden: E-Bike Tour and Dresden Heath Forest Trails

Avoid the public streets with this adventurous bike tour. Begin your tour in Neustadt, Dresden and head towards the Schönfelder Highlands.  Visit Wachbergschänke, a popular inn with a beer garden, where you can experience a spectacular view of Dresden. Travel into Alaunplatz and pass through Dresden Heath on incredible forest trails. Leave the forest and head towards Dresden TV tower, the highest viewing point on the route. Journey downhill until you reach the Dresden Elbe Valley. Enjoy riding on the bike paths along the Elbe river, back to Neustadt, Dresden.  

Dresden: Old Town Inflatable Boat Tour with Beer Garden Stop

8. Dresden: Old Town Inflatable Boat Tour with Beer Garden Stop

Hop aboard an inflatable boat and discover the renowned “Florence of the Elbe” from the water. Discover Dresden, the regional capital of Saxony, in an unconventional and unique way while admiring its skyline from a new perspective. The journey starts from the landing slipway at Körnerplatz (Körnergarten) and takes you past Dresden's Elbe castles, the ferry garden, Dresden's old town, and via Altübigau to arrive at the endpoint at the slip station in Dresden Pieschen. Stop at one of the many beer gardens along the way and enjoy a small snack and a drink while resting on the river banks. Enjoy paddling on the Elbe with your family and friends.

Dresden: Scavenger Hunt to Elbe River & Castles

9. Dresden: Scavenger Hunt to Elbe River & Castles

Explore the beautiful Elbe castles and the area around the famous Blue Miracle Bridge in a unique way. The City Game Box contains 11 sealed and numbered envelopes with small puzzles that need to be solved. Guided by clear directions, make your way on foot, by bus, train or bike to the beautiful Elbe River castles of Dresden and to the area around the Blue Miracle Bridge. Each solved puzzle will yield a number that will tell you which envelope to open next. You will not know in advance what order the scavenger hunt city envelopes need to be opened. The envelopes will also contain detailed background information of each attraction - its history, its current use and much more. Decide for yourself when to start your Scavenger Hunt City Tour and how much time to spend at each location. Embark on an enigmatic and extraordinary tour and take a break from your City Game whenever you feel like it, or even continue your scavenger hunt on a different day – it’s completely up to you. There will be numerous cafes, restaurants and beer gardens along the way, so feel free to give in to the temptation to rest and linger. Start the game at Albrechtsberg Castle and walk through its beautiful park to the castle’s Roman baths. The neighboring Lingner Castle will also be worth a visit. Continue by bus, train or bike to Dresden’s suspension railway. If you want, make your way up the Elbe slope and enjoy a fantastic view of the picturesque Elbe Valley from there. Discover the Körnerplatz and the Friedrich-Wiek-Haus. Next, make your way down to the Old Fährhaus on the Elbe River, where beautiful beer gardens will provide an ideal spot for a break. Also not to be missed will be the famous Loschwitz Bridge, the Blue Miracle. No need to schedule your Scavenger Hunt City Tour for a certain date, simply order the City Game Box and have it delivered to your home, or make an appointment to pick it up in Dresden within the opening hours and you’re good to go.

Dresden Friedrichstadt: Scavenger Hunt Self-Guided City Tour

10. Dresden Friedrichstadt: Scavenger Hunt Self-Guided City Tour

Explore Dresden's Friedrichstadt in a unique way on the scavenger hunt. Find 11 closed and numbered envelopes in the city game box. Inside, riddles are waiting for you to solve them. Find your way through the beautiful Friedrichstadt by foot or bike following the clear directions. Solve the riddles to be guided around the tourist attractions in a unique way. Receive a number as the solution of each riddle to tell which envelope is next. You do not know beforehand in which order to open the envelopes of the scavenger hunt city tour. Learn all about the history and today's function of each landmark and much more. Decide by yourself when to start your scavenger hunt city tour and how long to stay at each location. Stroll around the city on this unique and mysterious adventure. Take a break at any time or continue your scavenger hunt another day – it's all up to you. The tour starts at the Bernhard-von-Lindenau-Platz in front of the Saxon Parliament. Continue along the Elbe river to the majestic and widely visible Erlweinspeicher, today's Maritim-hotel. Learn all the exciting information on the neighbouring congress center. Continue your journey along the Friedrichstraße to the Palais Brühl-Marcolini. Learn all about the Palais's famous guests of former days, such as Napoleon, who resided here during his stay in Dresden. Nowadays, it is used by the hospital of Friedrichstadt. See the beautiful Nymphenbrunnen on your tour, the largest baroque fountain system of Dresden. Pass by several more famous landmarks on your tour through Friedrichstadt, such as the Dresdener Mühle, the Alberthafen and the former stockyard and slaughterhouse that is now mostly used by the Dresden fair. See the Heinz-Steyer-Stadium, former venue of international football matches. Marvel at the "tobacco mosque", the Yenidze. Enjoy the beautiful view of Dresden's old town and the Elbe Valley from the rooftop café-restaurant. You do not need an appointment for your scavenger hunt city tour. Simply order your City Game Box to get it shipped or pick it up during the opening hours after prior arrangement and you are ready to go.

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What people are saying about Dresden Elbe Valley

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 1,717 reviews

We traveled with our children and grandchildren. Both grandchildren felt very comfortable. There was a lot of interesting things to see. The service was super nice. The prices for food and drink were also reasonable. No excessive prices. We look forward to the next time.

The river cruise experience was special, which passed by some greatly beautiful spots around it with comfortable piano melodies. The foods were fine. Overall, we enjoyed it, and was a great memory.

Very well-established team, who kept their cool even under the greatest stress with dogs and children and were always friendly to the guests.

My wife and I love the river cruise, the food and the musical entertainment. Everything worked out.

A very nice trip, so we could marvel at Dresden from the water. The staff did a great job.