Berlin, Dresden and Saxon Switzerland in 3 days

Day 1. Berlin

The first day in Berlin felt a bit like a marathon run — we wanted to see all the main sights in one go. Needless to say, the original plan didn’t quite work out, so we adjusted the route along the way.

The walk started at Alexanderplatz, or more precisely at the cozy café Zeit für Brot, a favorite spot among locals and tourists for fresh pastries. I paid about €5 for a huge portion of cinnamon rolls and a latte.

Not far from there is Cuore Di Vetro, an Italian gelato spot that draws long lines even when it’s only +8°C outside. Trust me, it’s well worth the 10-minute wait.

While enjoying your ice cream, you can stroll leisurely back to Alexanderplatz and take the elevator up the TV Tower, which offers a panoramic view of the city.

A 15-minute walk away stands the magnificent Berlin Cathedral. From 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., you can enter the cathedral for €7. In warmer months, the lawn around the cathedral is filled with locals and tourists alike. Bring a picnic and take a break while enjoying the stunning views.

You can book a hotel in Berlin with discounts of up to 65% on the website.

Walking straight along Unter den Linden boulevard, you will reach the Brandenburg Gate — one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

Very close by is the Reichstag. Keep in mind that if you want to go inside and visit the glass dome, you must register on the official website a couple of weeks before your trip — otherwise, entry won’t be possible.

If you decide to follow this route in reverse, don’t miss the chance to have breakfast at Flamingo. Everything there is fresh and delicious, and the portions are large enough to share.

That’s how the first day in Berlin came to an end.

For a deeper introduction to the city, we recommend the tour “Understanding Berlin in 2 Hours,” where you’ll learn about the capital’s transformation throughout history.

Day 2. Dresden and Saxon Switzerland

You can take the FlixBus bus carrier from Berlin to Dresden. A round-trip ticket will cost from 12 euros for an adult, with a travel time of 2 hours. When choosing a bus stop in Berlin, avoid the Central Bus Station, as it is quite far from the city center.

Getting to know Dresden started with getting to know the local cuisine. I rent a cafe, which on forums is called the place with the most delicious breakfasts in the city. Sounds loud, but I subscribe to every word. Lloyd's Cafe & Bar is an incredible establishment. You are welcomed for a candlelit breakfast in an interior reminiscent of a luxury hotel lobby. I took a special Lloyd's set for 11 euros and there was a surprise. One person is entitled to juice or champagne, omelette, fruit salad with Greek yogurt, a basket with the freshest bread, a plate with melon and jamon, fruits, berries, cheeses and ham. Go for two, you can't go wrong.

I didn't want to leave, but I had to make it everywhere. The good thing about Dresden is that the main sights are literally crowded together. In 40 minutes we saw the Dresden Opera House, Dresden Castle, Dresden Cathedral and the Dresden Art Gallery.

Unfortunately, we didn't have time to go inside, but we have to save something for next time. And we were in a hurry to get to the train station to get to Saxon Switzerland.

Getting there is easy! From Dresden Hbf train station you need to buy a ticket to Rathen Kurort, the journey takes 30 minutes. Tickets are sold in vending machines at the station and cost about 7 euros one way. The train leaves every half hour and you have to compost your ticket on the platform. You will arrive at the small Rathen Kurort train station and walk towards the Elbe River. There's a ferry that will take you to the other side in a minute. The ticket is sold on the ferry itself and costs 2 euros two ways.

Here you are in the village. There are signs at every turn and you need Bastai! It's a magical place - it's like being in a lost world movie with realistic computer graphics. Even Bastai alone is worth the drive from out of town.

The ascent is quite easy, we climbed for about 40 minutes (photos at every step), came back down about 20.

Many tourists with infants, who were sleeping peacefully in slings. This route is suitable for climbing with children, and older people can also climb it. By the way, there is a small restaurant near the bridge, where you can take a break and enjoy the view!

Around 19 we returned to Dresden and stopped by an unusual restaurant, which looks more like an antiques museum KunstCafe Antik. You can come here just for a cup of coffee, although the food is very good, and the speed with which the waiters serve is amazing.

Day 3. Berlin

Here we are again in Berlin and continue to see what we didn't have time to see on the first day. All itineraries start with a visit to a cafe... it seems to be a good tradition. Having spotted Burgermeister, which is located on the site of the city restroom and not far from the Berlin Wall East Side Gallery, on "Heads and Tails", we purposefully went in search of it. We ordered a 4 euro burger and tried not to think about what had been here before. The burger disappeared in a couple of minutes, it was so tasty. And the queue here does not dissolve, which only speaks in favor of this place.

Fed up and happy, we went to the East Side Gallery — this is the place where the wall is painted with graffiti.

Next on the program is Museum Island, which combines several museums and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will find the Bode Museum, the Pergamon Museum, the Old National Gallery, the Old Museum and the New Museum. You can get there by streetcars M1, M4, M5 to the Hackescher Markt stop or the Alexanderplatz subway station.

And last after the museums is the Charlottenburg Palace, or rather the park. This is the largest preserved imperial residence in Berlin. Of course, it's better to enjoy the trees already in bloom or green, but even in early spring there was something to see.

To enter the palace you will have to pay 7 euros, the park itself is free. The complex is open until 6 p.m. from March to October, but when planning your itinerary, remember that it is closed on Mondays.

These are such a busy 3 days. Berlin and Dresden are impressive, but Saxon Switzerland will remain in your memory for a lifetime.