Dresden And The Palaces, Castles And Gardens Of Saxony Tour

The capital of the Electorate of Saxony and arguably Germany’s most beautiful city, Dresden suffered terrible destruction during World War II, but rebuilding and restoration has allowed the visitor to appreciate once again its former beauty. The great domed Frauenkirche and many other buildings have now been beautifully reconstructed, and its art collections are magnificent. Elsewhere in the lovey Saxony region, we head into the countryside to see the “Saxon Switzerland”, dotted with castles, gorgeous gardens, palaces and much more.

ITINERARY

Day 1 Fly from London Gatwick to Berlin and transfer by coach (approx. 2 hours) to Dresden for check in for six-night stay. Welcome drink at the hotel.

Day 2 Morning guided walking tour of Dresden, afternoon free for personal exploration
A morning guided walking tour will show you some of the main sights of the city and give you your bearings for continued independent exploration this afternoon and later in the tour. Sights include the stunning Frauenkirche and remarkable Baroque Zwinger Complex that includes the Gemäldegalerie (Gallery of Old Masters), with works by Italian, Flemish and Dutch painters such as Raphael, Titian, Rubens and Rembrandt, stunning Porcelain Gallery, courtyard and Nymphenbad fountain. Elsewhere in the city you will find the Semper Opera House, Court Church,  Church of our Lady, Albertinum and Royal Palace.

Day 3 Full day tour to Moritzburg
This morning we depart Dresden and travel to Radebeul where we will board a narrow-gauge steam train and continue onwards to Moritzburg. On arrival in Moritzburg we visit the impressive Schloss Mortizburg hunting lodge, 17^th century chapel, interesting ‘Pheasants Castle’, the last castle in Saxony to be preserved in the original style of the last Dresden Rococo all set within beautiful gardens. The area is also renowned for its wine production and we visit Wackerberg Castle, the second oldest sparking wine producer in Germany, for a guided tour and tasting.

Day 4 Full day “Saxon Switzerland”
A second full day out of the city takes us to “Saxon Switzerland” (Sachsische Schweiz) an area of wild natural beauty dotted with impressive castles and fortifications. Our first visit of the day is to the stunning Baroque gardens at Großsedlitz whose layout has not changed since 1732 with wide staircases, thick high hedgerows, water fountains and more than 60 Baroque sandstone sculptures throughout the gardens. Next, we visit Weesenstein Castle which was once the private property of King John of Saxony and today hosts exhibitions on the castle’s history and life in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Our final visit of the day is to Konigstein Fortress, Germany’s largest fortress which towers over the Elbe Valley and has a long history dating back to the early 13^th century.

Day 5 Boat trip to Pillnitz
A scenic boat trip along the Elbe takes us to the beautiful Palace and gardens at Pillnitz in the suburbs of Dresden. Once a pleasure palace and later summer residence of the Saxon royals, it is regarded as one of the most important palace estates throughout Europe. Here we will visit the gardens, Palace and Museums, which house superb collections of art. 

Day 6 Free day Dresden
A full free day allows you plenty of time for personal exploration of this beautiful city and its host of treasures.

Day 7 Transfer to Berlin Airport for the return flight to London Gatwick.

NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion.

Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 35 passengers.

INCLUDED

• Return scheduled flights from London Gatwick to Berlin
• Six nights’ accommodation on bed and breakfast basis at the four-star Hotel am Terrassenufer, Dresden, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• Welcome drink at the hotel on first evening
• Transfers and full touring itinerary with entrance fees as detailed
• Tour manager throughout

NOT INCLUDED

• Double for sole use supplement 
• Holiday insurance 
• Meals other than those stated 
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls etc 
• Porterage and gratuities

HOTEL

Hotel am Terrassenufer, Dresden

Modern four-star hotel located close to the old city, within walking distance of most of the main sights. Facilities here include bar, restaurant (with outside terrace) and very comfortable bedrooms with all modern amenities.

Hotel Website