Is the Dresden Welcome Card worth it?
First time in Dresden? I’m jealous. Dresden is such a great city to explore for the first time ever. You’ve probably got a rough idea of all the tourist attractions you want to visit, but it’s looking a little pricey with all those tickets. Am I right? So, is there a cheaper way to see Dresden? Let me introduce you to the Dresden Welcome Card.
What is the Dresden Card?
The Dresden Welcome Card, or just Dresden Card, was created for tourists in Dresden. The name suggests there’s just the one card, but don’t be fooled. There’s a few different options, each card has different benefits. Here’s a quick snapshot of what each card gives you:
Dresden City Card
This can be valid for 1 – 3 days, and gives you access to the bus and tram network within Dresden’s tariff zone. It also includes deals and discounts at museums, shops, tours, restaurants and events.
Dresden Museums Card
This card is valid for two days. It includes free admission to the main museums and exhibitions in Dresden including the New Green Vault and Old Masters Picture Gallery. The card only allows you access to the museum or exhibit once.
Dresden Regio Card
This card is also valid for 1 – 3 days and has prepaid access to the bus and tram network in Dresden, but with the added benefit of also being able to travel on public transport in the region around Dresden city centre.
It also has the same deals and discounts for museums etc. that the Dresden City Card has.
How much does a Dresden Welcome Card cost?
As of 23 March 2023, a Dresden Regio Card costs between 23 – 51€ per person. There is also a family option (2 adults and up to 4 children) that costs between 35 – 74€. The cheaper price is for the one-day ticket, the highest price is for the three-day ticket.
The Dresden Museums Card costs 25€ per person. Children up to 16 years old are free of charge, but cards still need to be purchased. The printed tickets will mean you don’t need to queue at the cash desk.
Last but not least, the Dresden City Card costs from 15 – 29€ per person depending on whether you want a 1, 2 or 3 day ticket.
Where can I find a complete list of the benefits of the Dresden Card?
A complete list of the benefits of each Dresden Welcome Card can be found on the official Dresden tourism website. This site will also give you the most update information about the Dresden cards and the current prices.
How can I make the most of the Dresden card?
As your Dresden Welcome Card has a validity of 1 – 3 days, you need to plan your route around the city carefully. To get started on your planning, have a look at our Dresden travel guide.
For example, if you are staying for three or four days but only get the Museums Card, you’ll want to make sure you see all the museums and exhibitions in the two days that your Dresden Card is valid for.
Where can I buy a Dresden Welcome Card?
The Dresden card can be purchased online or at a few places around the city. If you purchase the card online, you will need a physical card. This can be shipped to you before you set off on your trip. Alternatively, you can collect it from a collection point in Dresden.
If you choose to buy your Dresden Welcome Card once you’ve arrived in the city, there are a number of places you can do this. They include the tourist information centre, Dresden’s main train station, and also the airport.
Is the Dresden card worth buying?
The Dresden Welcome Card can be a good option if you have plans to visit many of the main museums and tourist attractions Dresden has to offer. With the Museums card you have free admission to a lot of the top tourist attractions. When combined with the discounts, this can help save you a lot of money.
If you only have plans to visit a few of the museums in Dresden, then a Dresden Welcome Card might not be worth the money.
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Which Dresden card should I get?
Consider what you want to see in Dresden before buying any Dresden cards. Write down the list of museums and exhibitions you absolutely want to visit. Then work out how much all the tickets would cost.
Think about how you’re going to get around. Do you prefer to walk around a city and rack up the miles by foot? Or are you more likely to hop on public transport in Dresden. Work out the cost of buying individual tram/bus tickets and work out what’s going to be better value. Perhaps a one-day ticket would be best value for you. Or if you’re staying for a week or so, a three day ticket could be a good option to see things further afield.
There’s a lot to consider, but every tourist has different plans on their sightseeing city breaks. Which means, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
There’s no reason you need to decide before you get to Dresden. You can buy the Dresden card at Dresden Hauptbahnhof, the airport and the tourist information centre.
In summary
So is the Dresden Welcome Card worth it? If you want to see the main museums and tourist attractions, then it will save you a lot of money on admission costs. If you prefer to explore the city by foot and don’t tend to visit museums and exhibitions, then it might not be the right ticket for you.
The main takeaway is to weigh up the cost of admission fees and compare it to the price of the Dresden Museums Card. And if you’re planning on using public transport in Dresden, then have a look at the routes you’ll be taking and see if it would be cheaper to buy the Dresden City Card or Dresden Regio Card.
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