Dresden

[WaynedP]

Have finally put into practice a long held desire to visit former DDR, specifically Dresden on a short visit in the first week of November this year.

Booked three nights at the Gewandhaus in the dying days of my Marriott Platinum status for what I consider a reasonable 48,500 points, and hoping that we’ll derive as much pleasure from our last three Suite Night Awards as we have to date, although SNA decision yet to be confirmed.

At least one good report on HfP re favourable Gewandhaus experience bodes well, but all other insights from anyone else would be gratefully welcomed.

Two of the three nights are booked for back to back consumption of my two favourite Mozart operas at the Semperoper including programmes and glasses of fizz for a risibly low price considering the sublime bliss that awaits.

However, suggestions for lunch venues, other memorable experiences, and the final, unbooked evening for potential entertainment and dining options would be sincerely appreciated.

Booked cash economy fares with KLM from LCY and back and provisionally assigned seats in row 7, which sounds good. Just struggling to get KLM websites to accept our Virgin Flying Club FF numbers, not even after SMS Text dialogue with eager-to-please (but ultimately unsuccessful) customer service agent. Any advice other than to request manual addition of these details at check-in ?

TIA as always.

[astra19]

A few days late, but I absolutely love Dresden.
The Hygiene Museum is unique and very DDR in its outlook.
The Museum of Military History is truly the best museum of its type I have ever been to. Perhaps even one of the best of any time? I spent nearly an entire day there. VW’s transparent factory is also worth a look.
Alas I was a poor student there so didn’t have much experience with gastronomy but the Alaunstraße is full of funky trendy restaurants, and normally full of locals rather than tourists.

[bruinbrown]

I stayed at Gewandhaus back in March 2022 and I thought it was a great hotel. As a gold at the time I got upgraded to the category below a suite but the hotel was very quiet at the time. The rooms were overall good although the bathrooms were feeling a little tired, but I think that might have been due to the slightly weird, excessively large jacuzzi style bathtubs. The breakfast was excellent, plenty of choice, fresh and a variety of hot dishes to order. Overall a great hotel.

I’d recommend the green vault if you’ve got a few hours to spare in Dresden to see the huge treasure collection there.

[Lula]

Can’t add anything in terms of up to date knowledge I’m afraid but would love to hear about what it’s like now. Lived there for a year about 30 years ago. And haven’t returned since around 1998.

[WaynedP]

Wonderful suggestions, thank you.

Military History Museum sounds unmissable @astra19, and locals’ endorsement is always a winner for me too.

For info to any opera lovers, there are still tickets available to Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro (in Italian) on Thursday 2 November, followed by his Magic Flute (in German) on Friday 3 November at the Dresden Statsoper, a rare back to back opportunity outside of dedicated Mozart festivals.