I was lucky enough to visit the Zwinger Palace in Dresden, Germany. This palace was built in the 18th century. Its architectural style is a perfect combination of Baroque and Rococo styles, which is breathtaking. As soon as I entered the palace, I was deeply attracted by its luxurious atmosphere. The interior of the palace is decorated with gorgeous gold walls, huge crystal chandeliers and gorgeous sculptures, and every part is full of royal atmosphere. In every room of the palace, we can admire exquisite oil paintings, treasured antiques and detailed furniture. Moreover, each room has a dedicated tour guide who provides detailed explanations so that tourists can better understand the history and the stories behind it. In addition to the beauty of the palace, the gardens of the Zwinger Palace are also enchanting. The garden has a rich variety of plants and carefully constructed flower beds, and every corner is like a painting. Strolling through the gardens is a relaxing experience of tranquility and harmony. Overall, going to the Zwinger Palace in Dresden was an unforgettable travel experience. This palace showcases German history and culture, and its exquisite architecture and ornate decoration are amazing. This is definitely a place not to be missed if you go to Dresden.

Dresden has been on my bucket list since I saw the movie Slaughterhouse-Five in early 1973. It didn't disappoint! We saw all the major sites. Neustadt was a pleasant surprise and very different from the old city center. Great food, beer, and people! It was easy to get around via walking and public transportation. Highly recommended!

The Zwinger was amazing! It is a large, beautiful building with 5 or more separate areas that could each be a museum in itself. There is not just Dresden china, about which you may have heard before, but china from different parts of the world. There are also displays of clocks and other things. It took us four hours or more to see everything.

If you like museums with old art, this is a great stop for you. They had a beautiful gallery of classic masters and an interesting exhibit of antiquities. I arrived around 11:00 and didn’t think it was too busy but after an hour the museum was fairly crowded. So if you enjoy a more relaxed and less peopled experience, suggest going in the morning after they open.

Unfortunately, I visited the Zwinger at a time when the courtyard with the garden was being renovated. Still, it was amazing to walk through this place and enjoy its beauty. The pavilions built in the German Baroque style, the Crown Gate, the fountain with nymphs (Nymphenbad), Semperbau with the world-famous Old Masters Picture Gallery... all of this is definitely worth seeing. It takes quite a bit of time to go through all parts of the Zwinger, and if you include the Gallery, the porcelain collection and the Mathematical-Physical Salon in your tour, you will need several hours for it. I recommend buying a two-day ticket for €27, which allows you to visit all the interior spaces of the Zwinger, as well as the Palace, Albertinum and Lipsiusbau.

Definitely worth visiting for the museums inside the building which is unique but be aware that the inner courtyard is under renovation and is essentially a building site. You can still walk around the outside and on the upper walkway, looking down into the courtyard. The exhibition of Meissen porcelain is outstanding.

Visited using the Dresden Museum card which is currently €35 for 2 days. I think it's a bit misleading in that it suggests savings on individual entries when in fact the 3 places in the Zwinger are all included in the one price (similar with the 'Castle') but still a saving if used in other places too. However, don't underestimate the time required in these locations if you wish to fully appreciate what's on offer. At the moment, the courtyard is still under reconstruction. The parapet is accessible without any ticket and affords some interesting views of the Opera House next door and the chiming clock above the porcelain gallery, as well as the Castle. The Old Masters gallery is extensive and has some beautiful works of art well laid out over 3 floors. No bags are permitted but free lockers are available - you also cannot take in any water. I did but wasn't stopped by anyone until about halfway through when Frau Farbissina told me in no uncertain terms that it was verboten! First real time I was very tempted to retort ' Ja mein Fuhrer'. The Astronomical/Mathematical Instruments were accessed via the courtyard building site and again contained many interesting displays but by this time we were flagging and withdrew for lunch and much needed liquid refreshment. We went to a couple of other places after and it was a bit hit or miss whether we'd return to see the Porcelain collection but in the end we did and I have to say it was also really worth the effort. The entrance to this part was around the side closer to the castle and they had their own lockers there. We also managed to get onto the parapet there just before they shut the doors. The porcelain is well-curated with some original Chinese and Japanese wares as well the Meissen and there is clearly a degree of deserved pride on show.