3 nights in Dresden and 2 in Nuremberg or vice versa?

If your main interest is WWII, then I would do Nuremberg for 3 nights and Dresden 2 nights. If your main interest is museums and sights, we would do Dresden 3 nights and Nuremberg 2 nights. We have done these two cities many times through the years both summer and Christmas markets. I urge you to watch some great videos on YouTube for information to both. Rick has all of his on the Tube. I would suggest staying at Motel One and great hotel with great prices. The one in Nuremberg is right outside of the train station and the one in Dresden is right downtown. Good luck there great German towns.

Well, both great cities for a couple days. I’d lean towards Dresden for the three days. I just visited Dresden this autumn and loved it. The Zwinger palace old masters gallery is a treasure trove, and the Historic & New Green Vaults were absolutely mind blowing. Each of those museums can take up your day, and can be closed on certain days so you’ll have to plan around them. I stayed in the New Town across the river, where the locals seem to go for dinner and drinks. It’s a long walk from the Old Town but a very quick and easy tram ride. Fall was a nice time to visit Dresden, but I looked at all the fountains and beer gardens and wished I could be there in summer. WWII history is not front and center here, but I had found some walking tours that used Vonnegut as a primary reference.

Nuremberg’s WWII history, the rally grounds and Documentation Center are incredible. The Documentation Center is simply one of the best museums I’ve visited, period. But, this is all basically in one area and can be seen in a day.

Dresden is a jewel in Germany. Spend more time there.

I visited Dresden in 1989 when it was still in the communist DDR. It was sad. there was still ruins from WWII bombing.
I am sure it is nicer today, since reconstruction.
Still, I would pick Nuremberg.

Nürnberg is still a great visit, but the Dokumentationszentrum museum is closed for renovations until at least 2026. There is a small temporary exhibit indoors, and you can still visit the rally grounds.

Dresden for sure. 1000%

This is a timely thread. Learning of the continuing work and closure of the Documentation Center in Nuremberg, I just cancelled nights in Nuremberg on an upcoming trip. I do want to go, but the Documentation Center is one of the big reasons for a visit. After the center's work is finally done and it reopens, I will try to include Nuremberg on a future trip. As a postscript, I do not understand why renovation work in museums takes years. How long did it take to rebuild Notre Dame?

Nürnberg has the Nazi sites and of course the trials were there.
With time and river allowing from Dresden a boat on the Elbe towards Bad Schandau and back through the Sächsische Schweiz. Take a Dampfschiff if you can. They have an interesting history too.
Both cities were heavily bombed and Dresden gruesomely, but you know that.