Dresden tips

Museums. If you aren't interested in them, I probably wouldn't bother.

Dresden has the Paddlewheel boats that provide great views of the City and Moritzburg Hunting Lodge which is a spectacular place to visit.There is the Frauenkirsche Luthern Church which was rebuilt from the rubble of WWII.They have many excellent museums as well, there is also the Balcony of Europe over Look of the Elbe river.
Mike

• several world-class museums, among them the Old Masters, the two Green Vaults, the Armoury with the Turkish Chamber, the Porcelain Collection, and the Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments. Plus the Transport Museum, the Military Museum, and the rather unique Hygiene Museum...
• some reconstructed strucures, like the Zwinger, one of the most stunning Baroque buildings in Europe, the Frauenkirche, or the almost completed Neumarkt.
• a trip with a paddle steamer up or down the river, but right now the water level is too low.
• a day trip to Saxon Switzerland with the Bastei and Königstein Fortress, all on the train route to Prague btw.
• day trips to preserved beautiful towns like Meissen, Bautzen, Görlitz or Freiberg, or castles like Moritzburg, Pillnitz (with paddle steamer), or Weesenstein.

Does popover mean daytrip run-out? Dresden can't be seen in one day. The quality of the art and decorative art (for those who hate paintings) is staggering in Dresden. One of the Green Vaults (and better, both) need to be booked in advance or you won't get in. I wanted to see the modern addition to the Military History Museum, but that's a big detour from downtown. The gentrifying artist/art-gallery district has a charming feel about it (several years ago report ... ) We took the replica steam-powered boat ride almost to the Czech Rep. border. Others would want to see the Meissen Porcelain Works. Dresden is not sleepy.

We spent a night in Dresden -- arrived for lunch and left about noon the next day. It was a wonderful city to see during that time. Much of the historical/rebuilt sites are in an area easy to walk around. We went in the Porcelain Museum which was amazing! Even my husband was fascinated by the pieces and stories. In the evening we went to a concert in the opera house which was another fantastic experience. I would not call Dresden sleepy, but it is much smaller/compact that Prague. I recommend staying over night.

Stephanie:

Dresden is a magnificent city to see. Please look up my six-part trip report which is posted on Rick Steves Trip Reports and covered Berlin/Dresden/Potsdam. I was in Dresden in May 2018.

We'll spend 6 days in Dresden and we won't be able to fit it all in. At the very end of October is the beginning of the Dresden Jazz Festival. If you like singin' they have a famous boys chorus...if you like Silberman Organs they have one in the Hofkirche...they have the volkswagen glass manufacturing plant--they don't make glass they assemble cars with robots in a see-through building and have a reportedly good restaurant (the plant is open evenings but no work on the weekends). We'll see a Burlesque in Dresden.

It's only sleepy if you still have jet lag, Sister Steph!

(I didn't even mention the greatest baroque architecture--the Zwinger--or some outstanding jewelry collections)

A daytrip's biggest thrill would be the heartbreak at leaving too, too soon.

German Travel board provides useful help:
http://s1.germany.travel/media/pdf/ebroschueren/budget_traveller_s_german_wanderlust___48_hours_guides_to_germany/Budget_Travellers_German_Wanderlust_-_48_Hours_guides_to_Germany_Dresden.pdf

Dresden is not sleepy. A lot of young companies and also street art artists live there. May be book a Nightwalk tour to explore the other side:
https://www.nightwalk-dresden.de/%C3%BCber-mich/alternative-stadtf%C3%BChrungen-in-dresden/