Dresden

Dresden is experiencing a heyday in the world of travel. Known as the “Florence on the Elbe” and the “Jewel Box City,” this lovingly reconstructed city has successfully risen from the ashes of WWII. The capital of the province of Saxony, the artsy city brims with resplendent Baroque and Rococo architecture and aristocratic homes lining the Elbe’s northern bank. Inspired by Versailles, the Zwinger Palace is a can’t-miss – explore the Old Masters Gallery, the Porcelain Collection, and the Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon, with its globes, clock and telescopes. At the Dresden Palace, be sure to spend a few hours in the historic Green Vault, a treasure chamber of impressive art displayed as it would have been in the time of August der Starke. Across the vier, Dresden’s Neustadt is home to independent restaurants and boutiques and a lively nightlife scene.