Dresden in December

May through September gives you the full Dresden experience. The Elbe meadows turn green, beer gardens open their gates, and you can actually sit outside without losing feeling in your fingers. July brings the Dresden Music Festival — classical concerts in baroque churches that'll make you believe in God, or at least good acoustics. Christmas market season transforms the city into a gingerbread village, but also brings crowds that make the Sistine Chapel look spacious. If you come in December, book everything months ahead and pack patience along with your winter coat. Avoid March — it's gray, wet, and the museums are packed with school groups. October offers golden light and fewer tourists, but check opening hours since some attractions scale back after summer.