If you make your way to Dresden, and the weather at all allows, I recommend getting some picnic provisions and heading to Alaunplatz, a big park on the north of the city and/or along the bank of the Elbe River which cuts through the center. Both have large grassy areas where you’ll find a lot of people hanging out.

Other than this the city’s pretty relaxed with some nice grand buildings in the center, a lot of shopping along a walking street to the south, and up in the north by Alaunplatz, there’s a bit of a hipper neighborhood. If I go back I think I’d opt for staying on the north side of town, but a week there was probably plenty for me. I’d give it a short-term/quick look recommendation, but you might have a longer list of things you want to see; I’m very much just a wanderer taking in the sights.

This was a 7-night stay…

• Accommodation –  $446.47* (additional information below)
• Getting around locally – $12.70  (This was a mix of public transportation tickets which included short and long duration ranging from 2,50€ to 6,50€, or about $2.77 to $7.18 during this time)
• Living expenses – $186.97 (groceries and eating out)
• Activities – $0
• Mobile phone/data  – $17.41 (I use Google Fi which provides service in most countries. If you’re interested and based in the U.S., you can use this paid link to sign up, which will give me a referral fee at no extra cost to you.)
• Medical insurance – $16.13 (I’m using SafetyWing; rates are determined by age, and mine is slightly above the base. If you’re interested there is a paid link/banner on the right side of the page)

Total $679.68 / 7-nights = $97.10 per

*Hotel info

• I stayed at the Aparthotel Mitte which is just east of the center. It was a short tram ride and then a couple of blocks walk from the main train station. There’s a regional train station, Dresden Mitte, that’s very close if you happen to take a train stopping there. The place was clean, comfortable, and convenient for walking to the center.

Transportation to and from varies a lot, so I left it out of the above breakdown along with most incidental/one-time personal costs. But for those interested, in this particular case, I took a train booked with Deutsche Bahn (DB) from Prague Main Station to Dresden Hbf. It was a direct train and my seat was in 2nd class; the cost was 17,90€ ($20.55). All other standard day to day expenses are included to give an idea of how much basic living costs in the area are. Groceries will sometimes include personal care items (i.e., toothpaste, deodorant, etc.).

** I try to use Rakuten whenever it’s an option; why not take the money. It works with a browser add-on, and there is also a mobile app. Note from the Ratuken site, “Stores pay us a commission for sending our members to their websites, and we share it with you. It’s that simple!” If you haven’t signed up yet, and are interested, please consider using this referral link to help support me, and get a signup bonus. I use it regularly and recommend it, but take a look for yourself to decide if it’s right for you. When you sign up using the link, use it spending $, we each get $! The $ varies, I’ve recently seen at $40 and $30. They state “Offer may be modified or canceled anytime.” Payments are made by PayPal, or you can have a check sent to you.

*** Of course, the currency exchange varied during the stay, so for simplicity, I used a rate of 1 USD = 0,905€ for cash transactions. The accommodations and some daily purchases made on cards were entered at the converted cost charged.

**** Since this is my living situation, I don’t go to top-rated restaurants or paid entry to tourist attractions too much. I do eat out a lot, but nothing too special; to some extent, it’s actually more cost-effective this way. I try to be cost-conscious, eating as a local would… maybe you could say like a broke college guy that is LOL! I try to note any differences to this above.

I’m striving to provide useful information for people planning trips or a nomadic lifestyle, so if you have any ideas to make these posts more helpful, please let me know. You can comment/DM on social media, in the comments below, or email at (MeanderingMax@gmail.com). I appreciate your support!