Saxony´s Wine Route

Today's trip takes us to the heart of Saxony, the smallest winery district in Germany and the home of the "white gold" aka Meissen porcelain.
The Saxon Wine Route stretches for about 55km between Pirna (gateway to the Elbe sandstone highlands) and Diesbar Seusslitz along the river Elbe. The main vineyards of the Elbe valley are located between Radebeul and Meißen, and often little Strausses (wine pubs) invite travelers to have a taste of the great local wines.

What to do and where to go
There are a lot of great things travelers can explore while being in this part of Saxony.
State capital Dresden 
I don't even know where to start when talking about going to Dresden. The city truly deserves its nickname "Elbflorenz". The architecture is stunning and, especially in the old part of town, you feel like history is coming alive right around you.
I did the guided bus tour through the city a couple of years ago and was terribly disappointed. For first time visitors, who are fit and like to walk, I would therefore recommend doing a walking tour through the historical district of the city and later on maybe catch a ride with Tram Nr 4, because, at least in my opinion, it is the most scenic one.
Dresden is famous for its museums and collections. If you plan to visit the "Grünes Gewölbe" buy your tickets online prior to your visit - you wont have to wait and know for sure that you'll get in, especially on weekends and holidays not something that is otherwise guarantied.
For those who dont want to explore the cultural side of the city Dresden is also a great place to shop. Malls like the "City Galerie" and the "Altmarkt Galerie" as well as a lot of stores in the pedestrian zone invite you to keep your credit cards ready.
After a long day touring the city it's time to relax and enjoy a good drink. The place to go is the Neustadt, here you can find clubs, bars and restaurants of every kind. My two favorite places to go and relax are the Tiki Kusthof  and the Metronom Club and Bar.

Radebeul
Radebeul is known as the hometown of writer Karl May and so it is not surprising that my tip for this lovely city is to visit the Karl May Museum.
The best time of the year to tour Radebeul is during September, when the large street and wine festival is going on. It might be a little crowded but the atmosphere; the music and the great wine are totally worth a trip.
People who like historic trains should not miss a chance to ride on the "Lößnitzgrundbahn", a narrow gauged railway using old steam locomotives.

More information and pictures to come ...