A stroll along Dresden's 'Balcony of Europe'

(68 reviews)

Dresden audio tour: A stroll along Dresden's 'Balcony of Europe'

This is a 0.5mi walking tour

It takes an average of 45 mins to complete.

Dresden

Germany

$8.99

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About the Tour

The cobbled streets and historical charm of Dresden attract busloads of visitors but only a few of them find its hidden ”balcony”. This stretch along the River Elbe is in the city centre, but has stately architecture and sweeping views over the magnificent Elbe Valley with its vineyards. Property here was once so coveted that for a long time only a select few could even set foot upon the Balcony of Europe.

Today, you only need to know it’s there, and I produced this tour to make sure you don’t end up like so many other visitors, standing at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to Brühl's Terrace, wondering what to make of the sculptures there.

On this 45-minute tour you'll learn the answers to these questions:

How did this come to be called The Balcony of Europe?
Can there be someone richer than a king?
What’s the name of Dresden's most famous cake?
What’s the significance of a bench made out of white plastic?
Is there a link between Dresden's and Hansel and Gretel?
What is Saxony's White Gold

You can take a break along the way for a beer or ice cream on the terrace overlooking the river – or you could sit down by the river, away from the crowds. After the tour, you could visit the Albertinum Museum or sample some local cake. (After all, you’ll know what it is by then!)

Tour Producer

Seema Prakash

3 tours

Dresden bewitched me in 2009 when I was visiting it and I found myself casually wishing I could live here... just for a little while, a long holiday maybe. Little did I know that the wish would come true and years on I am still here. We have adopted each other- Dresden and I, and have come to know each others stories and secrets. These secrets are the ones I share in my guided walks which cover history, culture, scandal, treasures, war and post-war.

Every tour I create is built on months of research, uncovering the small details that bring a place to life. I don’t just describe what you see — I place it in the wider context of history, culture, and society, helping you understand how a location’s past shapes its present.

When you join me, you’ll experience more than a walking tour. You’ll gain a window into the stories, people, and events that have shaped the world around you, and discover the hidden layers that make each place unique.

Luckily I am supported by a team equally passionate about Dresden, and together we offer private and group tours under the banner See My Dresden.

Dresden has many sides. Each one is fascinating. We have it covered.

Come along now...there is so much I have to show you!

Preview Location

Location 2

Stairs leading to Bruhl's Trerrace

You are standing facing the broad flight of stairs leading up to the Terrace.

The four sculptures you see represent, no, not the four seasons as you may have thought, but instead, the four phases of the day.

Let’s begin with top left.

There is Morning, symbolized b... You are standing facing the broad flight of stairs leading up to the Terrace.

The four sculptures you see represent, no, not the four seasons as you may have thought, but instead, the four phases of the day.

Let’s begin with top left.

There is Morning, symbolized by the slender figure of Aurora, or Eos, the Goddess of dawn, with a morning star on her forehead. She is flanked by two young girls. She wakes up from slumber and removes from her shoulders the veil of sleep, just as dawn shrugs off the veil of darkness and ushers in the sun. And there is the sun!

To the right, is the next group of figures.

Here is Apollo, the Sun God. He stands tall, strong and luminous, in the prime of his life, representing glorious day. A triumphant victor, he is crowned with a laurel wreath denoting him as one and holds up high another wreath. The young boy to his right stretches to reach it. He is the next generation striving towards its own victories.

On the bottom of the stairs, to the left, is the next group of figures representing evening.

In the centre is an ageing Dionysus, the God of wine, in the twilight of his life. As evening is a time for the family to come together, there is music (notice the string instrument in the hands of the seated child and the tambourine in the other), food and wine.

The last group of figures on the bottom right is ‘Night’.

Overcome by sleep, Hypnos, the young boy falls asleep as his mother wraps her cloak around him. She is Nyx, the powerful Goddess of Night, with her symbol, the crescent moon upon her forehead. The winged God Morpheus leans in, whispering dreams into the child’s ear. We hope they are sweet dreams.

These statues were created originally in stone by the sculptor Schilling in the late 19th Century. These were later replaced by these bronze ones.

Now, we leave the sleeping Hypnos and begin climbing the stairs to the top. Those of you planning to take the elevator, please do so. I will meet you at the top, to the left of the stairs.

In the meantime, let me tell you how VoiceMap works. It uses GPS to pinpoint your location and trigger the relevant audio. This means you can put your phone away now and relax. I'll tell you where to go. Don't worry if there are occasional periods of silence. There's a map on screen if you feel lost and VoiceMap will let you know if you get off track. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Schloßplatz
Fürstenzug
Brühl's Terrace
Cathedral St. Trinitatis
Augustus Bridge
Frauenkirche Dresden
Academy of Fine Arts Dresden
Johann-Friedrich-Böttger-Denkmal
Semperoper Dresden

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Schloßpl., 01067 Dresden, Germany
Total distance

847m
Final location
Tzschirnerpl. 2, 01067 Dresden, Germany
Distance back to start location

452.76m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour begins at Schloss Platz (Castle Square), 01067 Dresden

Start at the statue of King Friedrich August.

Schloss Platz can be reached from the tram stops at Altmarkt (Old Market Square) or Postplatz, both well connected with the tram lines 1, 2, 4, 11 and 12. From there just find your way to the Royal Cathedral which opens on Schloss Platz, it is a walk of approx. 3-4 minutes.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

The Festung Expereince, The Albertinum

Best time of day

Any time of the day is ok. However just before sunset gives you the opportunity to walk onto the bridge and look back at the lights of the city that go on after dark. Listen to the tour to find out which of the two bridges has a better view.

Precautions

The area is very safe

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“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”