RunCity

Dresden on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 9 of Dresden's best-known sights, including Kreuzkirche, Frauenkirche, Brühl's Terrace and more. It is about 4.5 km on foot, roughly 2 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Dresden leaderboard.

  • 9Stops
  • about 4.5 kmDistance
  • 2 hoursWalking
  • about 45 minRunning
Play Dresden in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Dresden
Photo: User:Kolossos · CC BY-SA 3.0

Dresden's baroque centre was rebuilt after its destruction in 1945, and this route covers it in about 4.5 km, crossing the Elbe at the end. It starts at the Kreuzkirche on the Altmarkt and reaches the Frauenkirche, whose great stone dome was rebuilt and reopened in 2005 using many of the original stones. Brühl's Terrace, the Balcony of Europe, runs above the river.

The Fürstenzug, a 102-metre mural of Saxon rulers on porcelain tiles, leads to the cathedral, the Zwinger palace with its pavilions and the Semperoper on Theaterplatz. Across the Augustus Bridge, the gilded Golden Rider of Augustus the Strong marks the start of the Neustadt, and the bonus stop is the Kunsthofpassage, a set of courtyards with fantasy façades, one with drainpipes that play music when it rains. The Elbe meadows below the old town are good for an evening walk.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Kreuzkirche

    Kreuzkirche

    The large church tower on the Altmarkt.

    Photo: Jynto (talk) · Public domain

  2. Frauenkirche

    Frauenkirche Photo

    The great stone dome of the rebuilt church from Neumarkt.

    Photo: Netopyr · CC BY-SA 3.0

  3. Brühl's Terrace

    Brühl's Terrace Photo

    The Elbe river seen from the Balcony of Europe.

    Photo: Nikater · Public domain

  4. Fürstenzug

    Fürstenzug

    The long mural of mounted rulers on Augustusstraße.

    Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0

  5. Cathedral of the Holy Trinity

    Cathedral of the Holy Trinity

    The baroque cathedral with statues crowding its tower and roofline.

    Photo: Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0

  6. Zwinger

    Zwinger Photo

    The baroque palace pavilions round their courtyard.

    Photo: Stephan Czuratis (Jazz-face) · CC BY-SA 2.5

  7. Semperoper

    Semperoper

    The opera house façade with its arched windows, from Theaterplatz.

    Photo: Avda · CC BY-SA 3.0

  8. Golden Rider

    Golden Rider Photo

    The gilded statue of Augustus the Strong on horseback.

    Photo: Dguendel · CC BY 3.0

  9. Kunsthofpassage

    Kunsthofpassage Bonus Photo

    The colourful courtyard with its fantasy façades.

    Photo: User:Kolossos · CC BY-SA 3.0

Play Dresden in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Dresden on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 9 stops on this route add up to about 4.5 km, roughly 2 hours at an easy pace with short stops.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Dresden is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Dresden?

    Open Dresden in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Dresden leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Kreuzkirche and finishing at Kunsthofpassage. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

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