Things to Do in Dresden 2026: Christmas Market, Day Trip from Prague and Route

Our bus from Prague dropped us outside Dresden’s main train station. From there it’s a 7 to 10 minute walk to the old town, where the Christmas markets are.

On the way we spotted a kitchenware shop and went in: everything from beautiful plates to rice cookers. We wished we’d brought a bigger suitcase. Small Christmas markets pop up along the way to the main market; which ones they are is in the Christmas section below.

Dresden is called Florence on the Elbe (Elbflorenz) for its baroque architecture. The city centre was almost completely destroyed in the air raids of February 1945; rebuilding of Altmarkt began in 1953 (dresden.de). Today the old fabric and the modern city stand side by side.

The Striezelmarkt has been held on Altmarkt square since 1434 and counts as Germany’s oldest Christmas market. The square fills with a giant Christmas tree, a huge wooden Christmas pyramid and hundreds of brightly decorated wooden stalls.

According to the official site there are more than 200 stalls, the pyramid is the world’s largest Erzgebirge pyramid at 14.61 metres, and the 2026 tree is a 23-metre Nordmann fir (striezelmarkt.dresden.de).

It was very crowded in the evening. It was the biggest and most beautiful Christmas market we had seen so far. The Christmas section further down lists its dates and opening times.

We rode the Ferris wheel; it felt quite fast to us, and honestly I was a little scared. From the top, the market lights and the old town behind them look beautiful.

We paid €5 per person; that’s the price in the video, and we couldn’t confirm the 2026 price. The official site mentions the market’s historic Ferris wheel separately (striezelmarkt.dresden.de).

Best for: staying right in the Christmas market and walking back to your hotel in the evening. The Frauenkirche, the Zwinger and the Residenzschloss are within walking distance too.

Keep in mind: it’s the most expensive and busiest area during Advent.

Best for: staying a few nights and wanting a local neighbourhood feel in the evenings. The Augustusmarkt Christmas market is on this side.

Keep in mind: to reach the Striezelmarkt you walk across the bridge or take the tram.

Best for: arriving from Prague, Berlin or Leipzig and moving on the next day. This is where our Prague bus dropped us too, 7 to 10 minutes on foot from the old town.

Keep in mind: there’s no old-town atmosphere, and the walk back from the market in the evening is a little longer.

We couldn’t find trdelník at the Czech Christmas markets, but we found it here and bought one hot off the stall. The crunchy coating, the sugar and cinnamon, the dough itself and that light smoky taste from the wood fire all worked together. The best trdelník we had at any Christmas market was in Dresden.

Classic stollen is made with raisins, but here they make 3 or 4 kinds. They let you taste small pieces before you buy; we picked the plain almond one, Mandelstollen, dusted with icing sugar, and liked it best.

A must at any German Christmas market. We chose beef; it was juicy and very tasty. The stall has several kinds, so ask for the beef one (Rind) when you order.

They heat the cut face of a big cheese wheel, and once the cheese bubbles and starts to run they scrape it into a bread roll or over potatoes. Pickles, onions and sometimes sausage go on the side.

I had mine on spiced potatoes. The cheese stretches forever; it tastes great, and even better with well-fried potatoes.

Dresden follows the usual Schengen rules, as Germany is in the Schengen Area; to see whether your passport needs a Schengen visa, read our Schengen visa guide . If you need a visa and fly into Prague for a day trip to Dresden, apply to the country where you’ll spend the longest. Carry your passport on the bus or train between the two countries.

When we went, the market was packed in the evening; it gets hard to move along the stalls. Carry your bag in front and your phone in an inside pocket. For a calmer visit, come before noon.

The Old Masters Picture Gallery in the Zwinger is closed on Mondays, the Residenzschloss and Grünes Gewölbe on Tuesdays (skd.museum). If your day trip falls on one of those days, you’ll miss one of the museums. Opening hours are in the place cards.

In December Dresden averages a high of 4.1 °C and a low of -0.7 °C (DWD, Klotzsche station, 1991-2020). You’ll be on your feet at the market for hours; bring gloves, a hat and waterproof shoes.

The tour we had booked on GetYourGuide for that day was cancelled. We wondered whether to skip Dresden, then kept to our route and went anyway, and we’re glad we did. Transport details are in the getting there section above.