Dresden side trips

I would suggest Meißen and Leipzig.

Leipzig if you want a big cultural and historical city. Meißen if you prefer a smaller place...both these places are well worth your time.

Another option is to take a cruise on the Elbe River. I did a short cruise to Pillnitz Palace. It is one of several different boat trips you can make along the Elbe.

Light hiking in the scenic Sächsische Schweiz, including directly at one boat ride stop.

One of the boats is a replica steam ship. Hotter ride on a hot day, though.

Extremely famous porcelain factory-museum.

We missed the Zeiss museum in Jena, but it might be interesting.

UNESCO WHS Dessau-Worlitz Gartenreich.

Quedlinburg is quite special, worth the long travel. We had a car.

Eisenach if you have a car.

For natural areas, the Elbsandsteingebirge is a must! Amazing rock formations and great hiking.

If you are pressed for time, hike up to the Bastei bridge at the very least; it's crowded, but for a reason.

I really enjoyed touring the impressive Fortress Königstein, east of Dresden on the Elbe.

Another escapade from Dresden is the perfectly preserved Baroque town of Görlitz, right on the border with Poland, so very colourful and pristine it was chosen as the filming location for the film Grand Budapest Hotel by Wes Anderson.

A direct train to Berlin takes 2h, however, to truly see Berlin, sleeping there for five nights is best.

Second the Meissen recommendation - easily reachable by train. Nice historic town and the porcelain plant is worth a stop.

We did an enjoyable and easy day trip to Goerlitz by train, a beautiful city where you can also walk across to Poland. There is a brief thread in Germany Reviews section.