Dresden

With its scenic setting alongside the winding River Elbe, Dresden is reputedly one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. When you visit this charming and historic city with its baroque architecture, it's hard to believe that most of the buildings have been rebuilt since WWII.

Dresden enjoyed great growth during the 18th century when it became a cultural centre, as a result of which many magnificent buildings sprung up here. Almost all the buildings were destroyed in 1945 when British and American air forces carpet-bombed the city. Since then, meticulous reconstruction and restoration works have restored the city to its glory days. One of the most impressive examples of reconstruction in the city centre is the Dresden Frauenkirche Church whose magnificent baroque dome dominates the city skyline.

The Old City, or Altstadt district, is the centre of city life. If you only have a short stop here, its possible to see quite a lot as the Hofkirche, Zwinger, Residenzschloss and many other historic buildings are within close proximity of each other. If looking for shopping centres and restaurants, these can be found around Altmarkt square and Prager Strasse.