Dresden vs Prague

They are both pretty cities what I call eye candies. Prague is bigger with medieval neighborhoods and if I have to rate them then prettier. Dresden used to be and sometimes still is called Florence on the Elbe River. Dresden was pulverized in WWII and rebuilt into beauty after unification on Germany. I would say at least two days for Dresden. minimum 3 days for Prague. With two days you would have to skip some major sites. If you are using public transport it is easier to get to Prague. Student Agency bus called Yellow bus takes two hours. Considering all your information and my experiences it would be Prague.

Dresden for art museums, Prague for architecture, dining, and walking. Hard to choose. Boat rides and porcelain available near Dresden. Both cities have music and opera houses. More vineyards near Dresden.

Germany is a vast country with more than you can see in five vacations. Do you want to see Cesky Krumlov? On my bucket list but not essential for everyone.

I'm not particularly a fan of big cities, but I did spend three days in Postelwitz (Bad Schandau) on the Elbe in the Sächsische Schweiz national Park several years ago (following 2 nights in Prague). Beautiful scenery. My visit to the Königstein fortress was impressive. I took a day trip to Dresden; the best part was leaving.

Thanks for the tips...looks like Prague is the winner. We will have a rental car and are a little concerned about driving in the Czech Republic. Anyone have some input on this?

Driving in C.R. is similar like in Germany. Differences: zero alcohol tolerance behind the wheel. Speed limit on freeway. Your car will need a vignette for driving on freeways. If you rent it in C.R. it will have it. Otherwise you have to buy it if you want to use freeway.

If you're picking up the rental car in Germany, make sure your rental company knows you're taking the car into the Czech Republic. They often restrict which cars can go there.