Visiting Görlitz: Best Things to Do in Germany’s Fairytale Town

Tucked away in a corner of Germany is a town that’s made appearances in some of Hollywood’s biggest films. Yet, most people have likely never even heard of it. Is visiting Gorlitz, an unknown small town, really worth it?

The historic centre of Görlitz can only be described as picture perfect. Details of hand-carved wooden doors, whimsical facade paintings, and attic windows in the shape of sleepy eyes are just some of Görlitz’s most remarkable features.

The town has a remarkable ability to make anyone visiting feel like a time traveler. Among the many fairytale towns in Germany, Görlitz continues to rank as one of the best.

In this guide, discover why visiting Görlitz is worth it, what to see and how to get there.

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Where Is Görlitz in Germany?

Germany is a sizeable country as a whole but comprised of various small states. There is Bavaria (home to Munich) in the south and Berlin to the north among 14 other states throughout the country.

The city of Gorlitz belongs to the state of Saxony, an area of Germany in the east which happens to border Poland and the Czech Republic. The closest major city to Gorlitz is Dresden, about one hour west of Gorlitz.

Görlitz is separated from Poland by the Lusatian Neisse river, which means you can get from Germany to Poland by briefly crossing a pedestrian bridge. In less than 40 km, you will arrive at the border with the Czech Republic to the south.

Additionally, there is a point where the borders of Czechia, Poland, and Germany all meet in one spot.

👍 Combine a visit to Görlitz with a trip to Prague, just next door! Use our 2-Day Prague Itinerary for ideas and helpful information.

Why It’s Worth Visiting Görlitz

At first glance, Görlitz may seem out of the way for many tourists. It isn’t necessarily within a stone’s throw of Germany’s big cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, or Hanover. However, to overlook visiting Görlitz because it requires a little more work to get there would be a big mistake.

There is no shortage of fairytale towns in Germany but Görlitz is unquestionably one of the most picturesque. But hey, don’t just take our word for it. There is a reason why Görlitz is consistently used as a filming location for movies produced every year. And not just local films!

Ever heard of Inglourious Basterds and The Grand Budapest Hotel? Both were heavily filmed in the town of Görlitz due to its historic architecture and impeccable state of preservation. If you are a film fanatic, this alone makes visiting Görlitz worth it.

Whether or not you enjoy visiting film locations in real life, Görlitz is still one of the most underrated places in Germany among the country’s many charming destinations. It is a storybook town with painted buildings, stone paths, arched walkways, and artwork of a previous lifetime.

→ 👻 Recommended Activity: Spooky Ghost Tour of Görlitz at Night ←

The Best Things to Do in Görlitz, Germany

1. Walk the Old Town Bridge to Poland

This is the most unique feature about visiting Gorlitz in Germany. From the historic center of Görlitz, you can access the Old Town Bridge which connects Germany and Poland.

Usually, borders tend to be quiet, so this is a rare location where two active towns in different countries are located within close proximity of each other.

Once you’re on the Polish side of the river, you can stop for a meal at a Polish restaurant and enjoy the waterfront walkway. During the summer, have a drink at the outdoor Food Park which overlooks the Gothic Gorlitz skyline.

2. Tour the Brown Stag

Also known as the Brauner Hirsch, this is one of the most frequently used buildings in Görlitz for filmmaking. The Brown Stag is deceiving as the exterior facade is made to be perfect while much of the interior is left in a raw state and ideal for filming.

Cinephiles, history buffs, and any tourist will find something of interest behind this building’s walls.

Guided tours of the Brown Stag require a reservation from March – December. Visit the website for visiting and contact information.

3. Visit the Whispering Arch

If you join a walking tour of Old Görlitz, you will likely make a stop at this Whispering Arch. Despite how it sounds, the walls do not talk, but they will transmit sounds from one location to another.

By whispering into a point of the arches, your words can be heard on the opposite end, just like a telephone! It’s good old-fashioned fun for the whole family and free to experience.

4. Dive Into History at the Silesian Museum

Silesia, a historic region, geographically covers Poland in addition to parts of present-day Germany and the Czech Republic. It is diverse with a mixed population of various people, cultures, prominent cities, and is an excellent example of medieval urbanization.

The Silesian Museum in Gorlitz is located in a gorgeously renovated building and offers a fixed exhibition inclusive of all things Silesian.

Entrance to the museum costs €7. There is no admission fee for kids under 16 or on the first Sunday of each month.

5. See the Major Landmarks

A visit to Gorlitz isn’t complete without seeing some of its most notable characteristics. At the entrance of the Old Town is the Thick Tower, also known as Frauenturm oder Dicker Turm.

Along the edge of the Neisse river sits the unmistakable church of St. Peter und Paul and its mountainous spires. Throughout the streets of the historic centre, you’ll come across countless eye-catching buildings such as the Old Town Hall and its dramatic exterior staircase.

6. Travel Back in Time at Kaufhaus Görlitz

The Kaufhaus Gorlitz is one of the most striking department stores in all of Europe.  It was functional for 100 years and built in the early 1900s as a pivotal business and commercial centre of the city.

Unfortunately, it’s no longer an operational department store and is now primarily used for movie sets. The Kaufhaus was famously used as the setting of Wes Anderson’s movie, The Grand Budapest Hotel.

For the time being, it continues to be maintained and occasionally used for theatre performances. The city also has near term plans to renovate (while preserving its original details) the building into an updated attraction which includes a food hall on the bottom floor.

It is possible to visit the interior of the Kaufhaus with a reservation but it is rather exclusive. To try your luck at entering, email or call using the contact details here.

→ 👻 Recommended Activity: Spooky Ghost Tour of Görlitz at Night ←

Visiting Görlitz, Germany With Kids

As charming and endearing as Görlitz may be, it’s possible it won’t instantly win over the hearts of children, especially the young ones. If you find yourself in a position of needing to entertain your kids with something other than beautiful architecture, there are luckily a couple of amazing places in Gorlitz worth visiting.

Naturschutz-Tierpark (Zoo) Görlitz

This isn’t the classic zoo you’d find in a big city but more of a nature park, just like its name suggests. Although it’s small, it’s certainly mighty. We actually consider this zoo one of the best places we’ve ever taken our young daughter to see animals. For us, visiting Gorlitz is worth it just because of this zoo. Why is it so great? The nature park is very interactive, which isn’t something you can say about many animal parks. At this zoo, your kids can actually pet a camel, donkey, goats, sheep, rabbits, and more. Additionally, thanks to its compact size, it’s not a chore to walk through and is very manageable with even the most restless of children.

Admission is very affordable as far as zoos go and costs less than €10 per adult. 

Vintage Park Railway

In the middle of a lush forest is this railway park which features a couple of vintage trains. If you’re visiting Görlitz in the summer or when the weather is warm enough, this is one stop you cannot miss with kids.

For a small fee, children and adults can take a fun ride around the tracks of the forest. Within the same area, there is a lovely playground which also happens to be shaded. Furthermore, it may or may not be a coincidence that the Landskron Brewery for the parents right next door to the railway park.

Double check operating times of the vintage train park here before visiting.

When Is It Worth Visiting Gorlitz, Germany?

Saxony isn’t famed for typical sunny weather. Aside from a couple of months, it tends to be grey and experiences rain around 27% of the time out of the year. To make visiting Görlitz worth it, plan a trip for July – August if you’re interested in staying dry.

Typically, we don’t recommend visiting cities in the peak of summer, but in the case of Görlitz, it’s perfectly suitable. Temperatures do not reach insane highs in Görlitz and will even remain under 27°C / 80°F in August.

This is absolutely ideal for wandering around the town without worrying about getting soaked (in rain or sweat).

August is particularly special in Görlitz because it is when the Old Town Festival is held. It is a combined event where both banks of the Neisse river come together for one huge celebration.

There are vendors, rides, performances, and everything needed for one last summer party. Check the exact dates before planning your trip so you don’t miss it!

The second best time to visit Görlitz is during the month of December. A trip to Görlitz during the holiday season is worth enduring the cold weather, trust us! Along with the rest of Germany, the city of Görlitz transforms into a Christmas fairytale.

Not that it needs it, but the added sparkle and atmosphere of the Görlitz Christmas Market makes the town feel and look even more magical.

→ 🌞 Find summer flights to Dresden, Germany ←

How to Get To Görlitz

By Plane

The closest international airport to Görlitz, Germany is located in the nearby city of Dresden. Dresden International Airport is primarily connected to various big German cities but they also serve flights from other European cities.

Furthermore, it’s conveniently possible to visit Görlitz by train from the Dresden Airport, if you do not plan on driving.

→ ✈️ Find flights to Dresden, Germany ←

Public Transportation

The train station in Görlitz can be utilized by anyone looking to stick with public transportation, regardless of where you’re coming from within Europe.

However, you must be open to making a few transfers. Although you really can get anywhere by train in Europe, it doesn’t mean the journeys are direct.

→ 🚉 Browse train routes to Görlitz ←

Bus travel is another popular method for reaching frequented destinations like Gorlitz. In many cases, bus travel in Europe tends to be more direct than train rides because bus routes are nonstop.

In the summer, there are tons of buses to choose from that are headed to Gorlitz, whether you’re coming from within Germany or from across the border.

→ 🚌 Book cheap bus tickets to Gorlitz, Germany ←

Driving

In terms of large international airports, it’s also manageable to fly into Prague or Berlin when planning a visit to Gorlitz. Although both airports are over two hours away, you’ll find cheaper flights.

To make this longer journey to Görlitz worth it, consider renting a car at either of these two major airports. It’ll allow you to not only reach Görlitz quickly but also give you the opportunity to explore hidden gems of the countryside. As a tourist, driving in Germany is in fact very similar to the U.S. and easy to navigate.

Do not be intimidated by the autobahn – most motorways in Germany do in fact have speed limits.

→ 🚙 Book an affordable rental car to reach Görlitz ←

Planning a Berlin to Gorlitz Day Trip

Adding a trip to Görlitz while already visiting Berlin is definitely worth it if you have some time to spare. No, Görlitz isn’t incredibly close to Berlin but at the same time, it’s an acceptable amount of travel for a day trip or even an overnight stay.

Visiting to Gorlitz from Berlin is possible by public transportation with regular train and bus routes.

From Berlin, you can take a train to Görlitz, but it’s not a direct voyage. With one transfer in the city of Cottbus, you can get from Berlin to Görlitz by train in less than three hours. Train routes and tickets can be browsed with Trainline.

During the summer season, bus journeys are wildly popular since both Berlin and Görlitz see an influx of tourists. Therefore, more bus routes are added to schedules, especially those without any stops in between.

Search for routes and tickets using Flixbus, the best bus service within Europe.

Finally, opt for renting a car and driving to Görlitz. In Berlin, you can pick up a rental car at the airport (which tends to be more expensive) or at various agencies in the city. Comparatively, driving in the center of Berlin is not chaotic but it’ll be the most challenging part of renting a car.

→ 🚙 Book a cheap rental car in Berlin ←

After stopping in Gorlitz, you can continue on an adventure throughout the German countryside or even head into Poland or the Czech Republic.

Land travel (driving) throughout the Schengen Zone doesn’t require a border control and you’re able to swiftly maneuver between countries.

→ 🇩🇪 Read More: 2-Day Itinerary for Visiting Berlin ←

Getting Around Görlitz

Görlitz is not a huge city, which makes it ideal to explore on foot. Given that most of the top things to see are within the historic centre, you don’t have to cover too much ground.

Still, pack and wear some good shoes and plan on a day of walking throughout Gorlitz in order to see every inch of it.

There is a bus and tram that connects the new section of Görlitz. For tourists, the bus and tram aren’t really useful unless you’re trying to get back to your hotel outside of the town.

Additionally, there are many side streets and inner paths within old town Gorlitz that aren’t even accessible by cars so walking is really the only option.

→ 👣 Make the most of your time with this guided walking tour of Görlitz ←

Places to Stay In Gorlitz

Emmerich Hotel Görlitz (Romantic Getaway) – CHECK PRICES

Ferienwohnungen am Flüsterbogen (Best Apartment) – CHECK PRICES

Pension Wielsch (Buget Stay) – CHECK PRICES

Final Thoughts: Is Gorlitz Worth Visiting?

Yes! As tourists flock to big cities and popular landmarks, lesser-known towns like Gorlitz go unnoticed when they deserve so much more love. It is unquestionably one of the most picture-perfect places in Europe that many people have never even heard of.

Hidden gems like Görlitz are what make traveling off the beaten path worth it. And if anything, visiting Görlitz means you get to walk on the same cobblestone as Brad Pitt once did.

To make the most of your visit to Görlitz, try to book at least one guided tour. Görlitz has many secrets as well as places that aren’t accessible to the public, but guided tours give you the key to the city.

Tours also don’t have to be long or expensive, but they should ensure entrance to certain locations that aren’t always open.

Travel Resources for Visiting Görlitz

☔️ TRAVEL INSURANCE: EKTA or VisitorsCoverage

✈️ FLIGHTS: Skyscanner, CheapOair or Kiwi.com

🚙 CAR RENTALS: Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com

🚊 TRAINS & BUSES: Busbud, Trainline or Omio

🛳 FERRIES: Direct Ferries

🛌 ACCOMMODATION: Booking.com, Agoda or Trivago

☎️ ESIM / CELL PHONE DATA: Airalo

📸 TOURS & ACTIVITIES: GetYourGuide or Viator