If you buy a ticket at a machine or online, you must stamp it with the time to activate it. For a physical ticket, there are normally small boxes on the train platform or by the door of the tram. Another important note is to check which tariff zone you will be traveling in. There are 28 different tariff zones in Dresden, which also include the outlying towns, cities, and state and national parks.
The Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe (Dresden Public Transportation Services) does not only have trams and buses, but also regional trains, Schnellbahnen or S-Bahnen (fast trains), and a small fleet of ferries to cross the Elbe in more rural areas. A Tageskarte (day ticket) for one tariff zone is 6.90€, a Wochenkarte (week ticket) would cost 18.70€, and a Monatskarte (monthly ticket) costs 53.30€. There are also discounts for students and young children. If you want to bring your bike or dog onto the tram you will also have to purchase a ticket for them.
Speaking of bikes, bikes are another common form of transportation in Germany. Unless it is incredibly icy outside, it is common to see students, adults and grandparents getting around by bike! The city is also very walkable, so it is easy to connect from tram to tram or just stroll around town. People do have cars, but they are not very commonly used in the city. During rush hour, the small streets in the historic center are often clogged.
My first time taking the tram in Dresden I was quite nervous. I was not very familiar with the public transportation system and checked the timetable over and over to make sure I would get to work on time.
