Dresden is the capital city of the German state of Saxony. It serves as a significant urban center in Germany, ranking as the country's 12th most populous city and its fourth largest by area. Within the region of former East Germany, it is the third-most populous city following Berlin and Leipzig.
The city's urban area includes several surrounding towns, such as Freital, Pirna, Radebeul, Meissen, Coswig, Radeberg, and Heidenau. The population of Dresden is approximately 790,000 inhabitants, while the broader metropolitan area exceeds 1.3 million people.