Top Museums in Dresden, Germany

Art Collections, Opening Hours, Admission Prices, and Cheap Passes

© Henk Bekker

Zwinger Courtyard, Dresden, Germany, © Trey Ratcliff / www.stuckincustoms.com

The Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden (State Art Collections) in Saxony form an astonishing ensemble of art spread over museums in the Zwinger, Schloss, and Albertinum.

The eleven museums of the Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden (Dresden State Art Collections) are mainly housed in three buildings in Dresden’s old town: the Zwinger, Residenzschloss (Palace), and the Albertinum.

Dresden State Art Collections – Museums in the Zwinger

The Zwinger, a Baroque pleasure palace, now houses several museums:

Dresden State Art Collections – Museums in the Residenzschloss

Dresden’s Renaissance Residenzschloss (Palace) has been the main residence of the Wettinger dynasty that ruled Saxony (originally Meißen) from 1089 to 1918. It was extensively damaged during 1945 but collections are moving back as restoration work progresses.

Dresden State Art Collections – Museums in the Albertinum

The Albertinum will be closed until at least 2009 – in the interim some works are displayed in the Zwinger.

Other Dresden State Art Collection Museums

Dresden State Art Collections – Opening Hours

The museums are open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Museums in the Zwinger are closed on Monday and those in the Schloss and Albertinum on Tuesday.

Dresden State Art Collections – Ticket Prices

Admission fees to the Dresden State Art Collections are pleasantly low especially if combination tickets are used:

Admission to the Gemäldegallerie Alte Meister, Porzellansammlung, and Neues Grünes Gewölbe is €6 each. Other museums are €3 each. Family tickets are usually double individual tickets plus €1.

Museum passes allow unlimited access to all permanent collections for €12 per day, or €20 per year. Admissions are also included in the tourist office’s Dresden City Card (with public transportation and other offers).

Museums frequently have special exhibitions – sometimes requiring additional fees. Lovers of porcelain will be able to enjoy numerous events in the 300 Years of Meissen Porcelain program from 2008 to 2011.

Dresden is around two hours by train from Berlin or Prague and 30 minutes from Leipzig. It is also easily reached on cheap flights to the very conveniently located Dresden Airport.


The copyright of the article Top Museums in Dresden, Germany in Germany Travel is owned by Henk Bekker. Permission to republish Top Museums in Dresden, Germany must be granted by the author in writing.


View from the Zwinger to the Residenzschloss, © www.flickr.com/photos/lve
The Zwinger at Night, Dresden, © flickr.com / franzreichard
Dresden Skyline on the banks of the Elbe River, © flickr.com / champagneformonkeys
Zwinger Courtyard, Dresden, Germany, © Trey Ratcliff / www.stuckincustoms.com
Residenzschloss Viewed from the Zwinger, Dresden, © flickr.com / yellowmo


Post this Article to facebook Add this Article to del.icio.us! Digg this Article furl this Article Add this Article to Reddit Add this Article to Technorati Add this Article to Newsvine Add this Article to Windows Live Add this Article to Yahoo Add this Article to StumbleUpon Add this Article to BlinkLists Add this Article to Spurl Add this Article to Google Add this Article to Ask Add this Article to Squidoo