Germany's oldest Christmas market, the home of Stollen cake, in a baroque city rebuilt along the River Elbe. Here's what Dresden is like with the family, when to go and how long to stay.
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Late November to Christmas Eve is when the Striezelmarkt and a dozen smaller markets are on. May to September is warm, with river boats and beer gardens. January and February are cold and quiet.
Running since 1434, with a giant wooden Christmas pyramid, a huge walk-through arch and stalls of handmade wooden toys.
On the Saturday before the second Sunday of Advent, a giant Stollen cake is paraded through town and sliced up.
The domed church destroyed in 1945 and rebuilt stone by stone. Climb the dome for the views.
A baroque palace with galleries of porcelain, paintings and old scientific instruments.
Ride one of the world's oldest fleets of paddle steamers along the Elbe. Most run spring to autumn.
Sandstone towers and the Bastei Bridge, under an hour away by train.
Yes. It's good value, the markets have rides and wooden toys, and the old town is easy to walk round.
Usually from late November to 24 December. The Stollen Festival is on one Saturday in early December.
Three nights is enough for the markets and museums, or longer with a day in Saxon Switzerland.
Usually, yes. Hotels in Dresden tend to cost less than in Cologne or Nuremberg, though flight choices from the UK are fewer.
Put Dresden on standby with everyone's other ideas. You each spread your points in secret, get one veto, and the draw picks where you go.