The Panometer is one of Dresden’s most original attractions. The artist Yadegar Asisi took over a disused gasometer in the Reick district, south-east of the centre, and turned it into a stage for his monumental panoramas: printed images more than thirty metres high that wrap all the way around the inside of the round brick building. You climb a central viewing tower to different levels and look out at a scene so detailed and so carefully lit, with sound and changing light that runs from day to night, that it feels like standing inside it. Over the years the Panometer has shown Baroque Dresden at the time of Augustus the Strong and the city after the bombing of 1945. The current panorama is the Great Barrier Reef, an expedition into the underwater world of the largest coral reef on Earth, with shoals of fish, turtles and sharks among towering corals. An exhibition in the entrance hall explains the reef, its ecology and the threats it faces, and how Asisi creates his panoramas. It is a wonderful choice for a rainy day or for families. This page links to the official Panometer site.
How to visit: the Panometer is open from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00 and on weekends and holidays from 10:00 to 18:00. Tickets are sold at the box office and in the online shop, and the price is modest. German-language guided tours run on some days. It lies at Gasanstaltstrasse in Reick, reachable by tram from the centre followed by a short walk, or a short taxi ride, and there is parking for cars.
What to expect: allow at least an hour and a half. Watch the full day and night cycle from more than one level of the tower, since each height reveals a different part of the scene, and read the exhibition before you go in. The building itself, a brick gasometer from the late nineteenth century, is impressive. Asisi changes the panorama every few years, so check the website for the current show before you go.
Making the most of it: keep your Panometer ticket, because it gives a small discount on the Frauenkirche dome ascent. Go in the afternoon after a morning of museums in the Old Town, and on a grey November day it is the perfect warm, immersive break.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit to a 360 degree panorama viewed from a central tower, with an introductory exhibition and a light and sound cycle.
Best time
Weekday afternoons are quietest, and it is an ideal escape on a cold or rainy day.
How long
About an hour and a half to two hours.
Tips
Watch the full day and night cycle from at least two levels of the tower, and keep your ticket for the Frauenkirche dome discount.
Quick picks
- Best for
- An immersive, unusual experience that is quite unlike the rest of Dresden’s sights.
- Families
- Children love spotting turtles and sharks from the tower, and the exhibition explains the reef simply.
- Couples
- Linger on the top platform through a full light cycle, then head back to the Neustadt for dinner.
- Pair with
- The Frauenkirche dome ascent, which gives Panometer visitors a small reduction.
- Time needed
- Two hours including travel from the centre.
Good questions
What is showing at the Panometer Dresden now?+
The current panorama is the Great Barrier Reef by Yadegar Asisi. The artist changes the panorama every few years, so check the website before you go.
What are the Panometer opening hours?+
The Panometer is open from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00 and on weekends and holidays from 10:00 to 18:00. Holiday hours around Christmas can differ.
How do I get to the Panometer from the city centre?+
The Panometer is in the Reick district south-east of the centre. Take a tram and walk the last stretch, or take a short taxi ride.
How long should I spend at the Panometer?+
Allow about an hour and a half to two hours. That leaves time for the exhibition and a full day and night cycle from the tower.
Is the Panometer good for children?+
Yes, it is one of the best family sights in Dresden. Children enjoy climbing the tower and spotting the reef animals.
