A Travel Price Comparison for Germany Fussen vs. Dresden for Old Town, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Fussen or Dresden?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Fussen or Dresden? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Fussen

Fussen is a picturesque, quintesential, and storybook town. Because it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors for a good reason. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and hiking.

Dresden

Dresden is a friendly, architectural, and cultural city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Fussen and Dresden: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Fussen or Dresden?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Dresden. Although Fussen and Dresden are both popular with visitors, Dresden has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Dresden is more popular for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Fussen is known for its historical sights, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Fussen is popular for its romantic atmosphere and its proximity to the Neuschwanstein Castle. Dresden is popular for its beautiful palaces, castles, and many landmarks (such as the Baroque Zwinger Palace, Semperoper Opera House and the Church of Our Lady). It is also home to Dresden Frauenkirche and The Royal Palace.

How is Fussen different from Dresden?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Dresden and Fussen. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Fussen or Dresden?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Fussen and Dresden.

Fussen offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Most people stopping in town are on their way to or from the Neuschwanstein Castle. It is one of the most famous castles in Germany as many people say it was the inspiration for the Disney Castle.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Dresden. It's rich in culture and baroque architecture. Some of the main sights around town include Dresden Frauenkirche, the Dresden Royal Palace and Museums, the Zwinger and Old Masters Picture Gallery, and the Semper Opera.

Is the Food Better in Fussen or Dresden? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Fussen and Dresden can be difficult as they are each good in their own way.

Fussen has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Many restaurants embrace the fairytale setting and offer their own storybook atmosphere. This is a well worn tourist path, so you'll find a number of restaurants serving traditional dishes specifically for the tourists.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Dresden area. The food features a number of Saxon specialties, which are typically hearty and heavy on the meat. If you have a sweet tooth, you'll also appreciate the many sweets that you can find around town. You should make sure you try a Fettbemme (open faced sandwich), Eierschecke (a cake), and Sächsische Kartoffelsuppe (potato soup) while you're in town.

Is Fussen or Dresden Better for Nightlife?

Dresden is great for nightlife and partying. However, Fussen is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Many people head to Dresden for the nightlife scene. Head to Neustadt for the highest concentration of bars and clubs. There's a diversity of trendy clubs and casual bars. Bar hopping is easy as most places are accessible by public transit.

Fussen is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Fussen or Dresden Better for its Old Town?

Fussen is an amazing town to visit for its historic old town charm. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historic old town.

Fussen offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The small old town is filled with classic German charm.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Dresden. Much of the city's old town has been rebuilt, but that's not to say it isn't beautiful. The main square and surrounding area are where you'll find the majority of the city's main sights.

Is Fussen or Dresden Better for Hiking?

Fussen is a great destination for its hiking experiences. However, Dresden is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Fussen. The countryside offers a number of beautiful trails that pass through forests and meadows. You'll also find waterfalls and nice viewpoints. The hikes are very well marked with excellent signage.

Dresden is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Fussen or Dresden?

Dresden is a popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Fussen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Dresden. Kunsthofpassage Dresden is a network of streets where you'll find crafts, art, and other eclectic items for sale. Prager Strasse is a popular shopping street near old town and Seestrasse is where you'll find all of the trendy brands that are popular throughout Europe. The city also has many shopping malls.

Fussen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Fussen or Dresden Better for Families?

Fussen is a popular place for its family-friendly activities. However, Dresden is a city with minimal options for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Fussen. Neuschwanstein Castle is not far away, and it's a big part of why some families may stay in this small town. Kids will also enjoy wandering around the old town and grabbing ice cream. Just outside of town is Lechfall, which is a manmade waterfall and a little further is the Treetop Walkway. The surrounding area also has a lot of natural beauty as well as giant alpine slides.

For families, Dresden is not always the best place to visit. It doesn't have quite the abundance of activities for kids that you may find in other Germany cities, but that doesn't mean that kids will be bored. There's the Dresden Zoo, the Dresdner Parkeisenbahn (a small steam rail), and the Saxon Folk Art Museum. Families can also take a guided to of the Transparent Factory, which is owned by Volkswagon and provided information on the manufacturing of automobiles.

Is Fussen or Dresden Better for Couples?

Fussen is a great destination for couples. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Couples visit Fussen frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. It sits at the end of Germany's Romantic Road and the small town does not disappoint. For many, it's a stopover while visiting the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, but the surrounding countryside is also beautiful and worth exploring.

Dresden is a nice destination for couples. Couples can explore the old town or walk through one of the city's many parks. The city has many cultural activities. In the new town you'll find many great bars and fascinating restaurants.

Is Fussen or Dresden Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Fussen and Dresden are good places to visit.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Fussen. For its small size, the town has a number of hostels to choose from. Prices are reasonable, so this is a nice option for backpackers passing through the area.

Dresden is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are plenty of hostels to choose from and the city itself is not particularly expensive.

Is Fussen or Dresden Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Fussen and Dresden both offer good public transit to get you around.

While Fussen offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses through the region including buses to Neuschwanstein Castle.

Dresden has a few public transit options. The city has two major train stations as well as tram and bus lines around town.

Is Fussen or Dresden a more walkable city?

Fussen is an amazing town to visit for its ease of walking around. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around Fussen on foot is easy. It's easy to walk from one side of the old town to the other in half an hour.

Dresden is very walkable. Particularly in the compact city center you'll find Dresden to be very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Fussen Worth Visiting? and Is Dresden Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Dresden or Fussen?

How long in Fussen or Dresden?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Fussen and Dresden. In our opinion, Fussen has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Fussen than Dresden. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Fussen, and 1-3 days is enough time in Dresden.

Families should spend more time in Fussen than Dresden. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Fussen, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Fussen than Dresden. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Fussen that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Fussen than Dresden if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Fussen.

One day in Fussen or Dresden?

Fussen is a small town with plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Dresden. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Fussen or Dresden?

Fussen might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Fussen has to offer.

Dresden is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Fussen or Dresden?

Fussen is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Dresden. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Fussen or Dresden?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Fussen. Since Fussen is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the park-filled destination of Dresden. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Oktoberfest Tours in Germany, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Germany, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, and The Best Cultural Tours in Germany.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fussen and Dresden, we can see that Fussen is more expensive. And not only is Dresden much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dresden would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dresden and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Fussen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fussen than you might in Dresden.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Fussen Expensive? and Is Dresden Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Fussen or Dresden?

Dresden has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Fussen. When comparing the sizes of Fussen and Dresden, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.