- Dessau was the site of the first successful flight of an all-metal aircraft, the Junkers J 1, in 1915.
- The city is part of the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm, a UNESCO World Heritage site that was the first English-style garden complex in continental Europe.
- During the early 20th century, the city became a major hub for aviation engineering due to the presence of the Junkers & Co. factories.
- Dessau serves as the confluence point for the Elbe and Mulde rivers, which shaped the region's historical flood defense and park management strategies.
About Dessau
Dessau, located in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, is globally significant as the primary center of the Bauhaus movement. The city architecture is defined by the iconic Bauhaus Dessau and the dedicated Bauhaus Museum Dessau, which chronicle the shift in 20th-century functionalist design. Beyond modernism, the city is a gateway to the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm, where the scenic Luisium offers extensive landscaped grounds. Industrial and cultural history further intersect at sites like the Historisches Arbeitsamt, showcasing Walter Gropius’s influence on municipal utility design.
Highlights of Dessau
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Places of interest
Explore the legendary design school building that defined modernist architectural principles.
Museums
Browse one of the world's largest collections of Bauhaus artifacts in a purpose-built exhibition space.
Parks
Walk through a late 18th-century landscape garden designed with a distinct English aesthetic.
Places of interest
View the preserved living and working quarters of famous Bauhaus masters Klee and Kandinsky.
Historical places
Visit this romanticized faux-ruin folly built in the 18th century as part of the Garden Realm expansion.
Historical places
Observe the functionalist administrative architecture designed by Walter Gropius to optimize civic workflow.
Venues
Attend a classical or contemporary performance in the city's primary state-funded theater venue.
Parks
Access the green riverine corridors that connect the city urban area to the surrounding biosphere reserve.
Top things to do in Dessau
The 72 highest-rated places in Dessau, ranked by travellers.
1
Places of interest
2
Museums
3
Parks
4
Venues
5
Parks
6
Venues
7
Places of interest
8
Historical places
9
Places of interest
10
Parks
11
Museums
12
Venues
13
Historical places
14
Historical places
15
Places of interest
16
Places of interest
17
Historical places
18
Historical places
19
Temples
20
Historical places
21
Historical places
22
Places of interest
23
Historical places
24
Parks
25
Places of interest
26
Zoos
27
Historical places
28
Parks
29
Parks
30
Museums
Around Dessau
Worth the short trip out of the city.
Explore by category
Jump straight to what you're into.
Dessau on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Dessau
May to September, when the park landscapes of the Garden Realm are in full bloom and cycling trails along the Elbe are most accessible.
2 days, allowing one full day for Bauhaus-related architecture and one day for the surrounding UNESCO garden landscapes.
The city center is compact and walkable, while the wider Garden Realm is best explored via local tram, bus, or bicycle.
Stay in the city center near the Bauhaus Museum for proximity to major landmarks and transit hubs.
Mid-range; accommodation and dining costs in Saxony-Anhalt are generally lower than in major German tourist capitals.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 72 curated attractions in and around Dessau, ranked by traveller ratings.
Bauhaus Dessau is the highest-rated place to visit in Dessau right now.
The largest category is historical places, with 25 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Berlin, Munich, Hamburg.
Explore more of Germany
Other cities ranked by number of curated places.
