Neighbourhoods of Dresden - The most important districts of Dresden

1. Things to know before arriving in Dresden
2. How to get to Dresden
3. Public transport in Dresden – How to get around Dresden
4. Cost of living in Dresden
5. Saving money in Dresden
6. Accommodation for students in Dresden
7. Neighbourhoods of Dresden - The most important districts of Dresden
8. Nightlife in Dresden - A guide to nightclubs and going out in Dresden
9. Typical Dresden Cuisine
10. What to do in Dresden
11. Places to visit around Dresden
12. Dresden in 3 days - What to see in Dresden in 3 days

Dresden has a lot of nice neighbourhoods to live in. But as in every city, there are some better areas accordingly to costs of rent, location and what the neighbourhood itself has to offer. In this section I will present you the most student friendly ones. Basically, we can say that Dresden is divided into two parts by the river Elbe: the new town (Neustadt, Hechtviertel, Pieschen) and the old town (Altstadt, Löbtau, Friedrichstadt, Südvorstadt).

Neustadt

This district is truly the most beautiful one in the city. This neighbourhood is full of colours and the houses, which were mainly built at the beginning of the 19th century, are breathtaking. Neustadt is the trendiest district within the city.

There are a lot of art galleries, small cinemas, museums. One of the most famous is Kunsthofpassage, a complex of buildings with wonderful artworks and decorations. Another attraction is Schauburg, the oldest cinema in the city, which was built in the Golden Twenties and inside the auditorium, you can still feel the atmosphere of the good old times.

This district is really the place to be in Dresden. All different types of bars and pubs with a students budget are located here and it is thought to have one of the liveliest bar scenes of all Germany. A walk through the amazing streets is always a good idea, you can have a coffee in one of the many cafés, enjoy the sun and the unique atmosphere, or have something to eat... as a matter of fact there are a lot of different restaurants with cuisine from all over the world.

Here you can also find Alaunpark, a huge park where people meet up, have a beer, relax in the sun, play football, volleyball, table tennis or have a barbecue. This neighbourhood is not only popular in Dresden, but also in the whole of Germany. So you can imagine why all people heading to the city want to live inside this neighbourhood. Rents are very expensive here, but nothing is impossible. I would recommend trying to get a room, I swear you will never regret it! Living in Neustadt is like living in an independent little world... a wonderful world!

Hechtviertel

The most alternative bars and clubs are located in this district, which isn't so touristy.

It is very close to Neustadt, 5 min walking. Hechtviertel is becoming more and more popular and famous in the last years, because of its proximity to Neustadt and the lower rents. As a matter of fact, thanks to renovation works and the extension of local community infrastructures, the area made a noticeable development! They created a lot of cultural institutions for families, children and young people. If you love being outside and in nature, Hechtviertel is the perfect place for you. Life here also concentrate on the streets, but in a more relaxing way; it is not crowded with bars, cafes and people like in Dresden Neustadt.

Pieschen

The old red-light district is nowadays one of the most famous places to live in, especially for young people and students. In comparison with Neustadt and Hechtviertel, rents are much cheaper.

The neighbourhood is located next to the river Elbe, making Pieschen a really relaxing place. In spring or summer time in a few minutes, you can be at the river, read a good book, meet friends for a picnic, do some sports or take a bath, because in Pieschen the river is very clean. This district is calmer, as it doesn’t offer many bars for young people. It is true: when people are going out, they are going out mainly in Neustadt to grab some beers or in Hechtviertel, but when it comes to having some good food, Pieschen is also a good choice, especially for German cuisine.

Altstadt

Living in Altstadt means living in the city center. But be careful! Unless you are a really rich student, this isn't the place for you! It can be really expensive, but as every district, it has its pros. All the impressive monuments and enormous buildings are concentrated here, so it's easy to walk from one to another. The whole architectural style recalls the Italian baroque art: that's why it is also known as the German Florence. Living here is like living in a big museum.

For art and culture lovers this can be a dream: every day you can visit a museum, art galleries, churches or castles among others. Since it is the centre of the city, you'll have access to all the neighbourhoods of Dresden. You shouldn’t miss a walk from the old to the new town crossing the amazing bridge Augustsbrücke, which connects the historic area with Neustadt. Once you get to the new town side you should enjoy the unique and breathtaking view of Altstadt from the riverside. Even at night, it is extremely romantic. Close to the city centre there's Großer Garten. As the name says, it is a huge park. It is that big, that is has a lake in its insides. In Großer Garten you can perfectly practice some sports as line-skate, bike, football or simply relax.

Löbtau

Löbtau is a district on the other side of the river with a lot of lovely old red brick houses, which make you feel like living in Great Britain. It is the district with the most contrasts.

Apart from the cute brick houses, you can enjoy the main road Kesselsdorfer Straße, one of the biggest business centres of the city. It is full of shops, cafes, restaurants, which are quite expensive. This neighbourhood is also known for its students shared flats, as rents are affordable compared to the rest of the city and there is a bus going directly to the university in 10 min. The tram also brings you to the city centre or to Neustadt in 10 minutes.

Friedrichstadt

This district is full of big factories and it is also known as the home of the founders of the artistic association of the “Die Brücke”. If you love to live in very old flats or buildings with enormous rooms and huge ceilings and not paying that much, here is the perfect place for you to stay.

That kind of accommodation is also suitable for studios, in fact, a lot of artists have their own little empire there. Friedrichstadt has also access to the river Elbe but from the old town side.

Südvorstadt

Südvorstadt is the perfect district for students. As Technische Universität and Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaftare is located in this area, you can feel the student atmosphere everywhere.

Moreover, most the of students dorms are situated in this neighbourhood, so there is a noticeable international atmosphere. It is the best district for living and studying because you can walk to your classes, go home if there are any breaks (and in Germany, you usually have a lot of them), have lunch in Mensa or go to the Library; all the important things are in the same place. And of course, as I mentioned before, you will never be alone there. There are also some small students clubs where you can forget about your studies during the week and meet new people. In most cases, you can find them in the same dorm building. So with a lot of luck, you can go partying without leaving your house.

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