Top Museums in Dresden, Germany
Art Collections, Opening Hours, Admission Prices, and Cheap Passes
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:
- The Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery) is arguably the best museum in Dresden. It has paintings from the 16th to 18th centuries – the star of the collection is Raphael’s Sistine Madonna.
- The Porzellansammlung (Porcelain Collection) has over 8,000 Meissen pieces as well as a wealth of Chinese and Japanese porcelain.
- The Rüstkammer (Armoury) has a vast collection of especially decorative hunting and tournament weaponry.
- The Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon (Mathematics and Scientific Collection) is a wonderful collection of fantastically decorated scientific instruments and watches from a period when science and art were not strictly divided disciplines. (Unfortunately, the collection will be closed until at least 2009.)
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.
- The Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault) contains one of Europe’s most important treasuries. The collection is split in two: the Historisches Grünes Gewölbe (Historical Green Vaults) is housed in the original sumptuous Baroque rooms while the Neues Grünes Gewölbe (New Green Vault) is in modern display rooms.
- The Kupferstich-Kabinett (Collection of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs) includes over 500,000 works by 11,000 artists.
- The Münzkabinett (Coin Cabinet) has over 300,000 coins, notes, and related items
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.
- The Galerie Neue Meister (New Masters Gallery) has 19th and 20th century paintings. It is especially renowned for its collection of German romantic and impressionist painters.
- The Skulpturensammlung (Sculpture Collection) has a large collection of Greek, Roman, Renaissance, and Baroque sculptures. (Medieval works are on display in the Albrechtsburg in Meißen.)
Other Dresden State Art Collection Museums
- The Museum für Sächsische Volkskunst mit Puppentheatersammlung (Museum of Saxon Folk Art with the Puppet Theatre Collection) is housed in the Jägerhof in Dresden-Neustadt.
- The Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts) is in the Pillnitz Palace along the Elbe upstream from Dresden.
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).
- Admission to the Historisches Grünes Gewölbe is limited to time-specific tickets (€12.50) only and NOT included in any passes. Currently, two-month advance reservations are needed in the off-season.
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.
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