Semperoper (Semper Opera House)

The Semperoper in Dresden is one of the world's great opera houses and the centerpiece of Dresden's Theaterplatz. Home to the Saxon State Opera and the Staatskapelle Dresden orchestra, it saw the world premieres of operas by Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss. Even if you are not catching a performance, a guided tour of the foyers and the richly decorated auditorium is one of the best things to do in Dresden, and the building is spectacular from the outside too.

A building that rose from the ashes twice

The house carries the name of architect Gottfried Semper. His first court theater on this site opened in 1841 and burned down in 1869. Semper was living in exile after taking part in the 1849 Dresden uprising, so his son Manfred oversaw construction of the second building, completed in 1878 to his father's designs.

The bombing of Dresden in February 1945 gutted the opera house. East Germany rebuilt it between 1977 and 1985, and it reopened on February 13, 1985, exactly forty years after the raid, with Weber's Der Freischütz, the last opera performed before the theater closed in 1944. The 2002 Elbe flood caused further damage, now long repaired.

Music lovers will appreciate the roll call of premieres: Wagner's Rienzi, The Flying Dutchman and Tannhäuser in the first building, and Strauss's Salome, Elektra and Der Rosenkavalier in the current one.

What you'll see

• The panther quadriga above the main entrance, a bronze group by Johannes Schilling showing Dionysus and Ariadne.
• Foyers with faux-marble columns, painted vaults and chandeliers.
• The auditorium with around 1,300 seats, tiers of balconies and an ornate painted ceiling.
• Theaterplatz outside, framed by the Catholic Court Church, the Royal Palace and the equestrian statue of King John.

Tours and tickets

Tours are run by Semperoper Erleben. As of October 2026, the standard Highlight Tour lasts about 45 minutes and costs €16 for adults, €11 reduced, or €40 for a family ticket (two adults and up to three children under 18); kids under six go free. According to the opera house, tours run almost daily in German and English, with start times shifting around rehearsals and performances, so check the online booking calendar and reserve ahead. Tours meet at the main entrance. If you want to take photos inside, you need to buy a photo permit at the entrance.

To see a performance, browse the season program on the Semperoper website. The box office is in the Schinkelwache, the small classical guardhouse opposite the opera on Theaterplatz. Popular dates, especially in December, sell out early.

How to get there

The Semperoper sits on the Elbe River in Dresden's Old Town. From Dresden Hauptbahnhof it is about a 25-minute walk, or take a tram to the Theaterplatz stop. Dresden is roughly two hours from Berlin by direct train, making it a realistic day trip, and Dresden Airport is linked to the city center by S-Bahn. There is no parking on Theaterplatz itself, so use one of the Old Town garages if you drive.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes. Even a short tour gives you a sense of how lavishly 19th-century Saxony staged its culture, and of how carefully Dresden rebuilt what it lost in 1945. Pair the Semperoper with the Zwinger, the Green Vault in the Royal Palace and a walk along the Brühl Terrace, all within a few minutes on foot. For accessibility details, the opera house publishes a dedicated page on step-free access and seating.