Görlitz Old Town

The Görlitz Old Town is one of the best-preserved historic centers in Central Europe and a highlight of any trip to eastern Germany. Its squares and lanes, lined with Late Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau buildings, came through World War II almost untouched. Görlitz sits on the Neisse River right on the Polish border, so you can stroll across a footbridge into Poland in minutes. For travelers who love architecture, film locations or simply unhurried old towns, it is well worth the journey.

Where Görlitz is and how to get there

Görlitz is the easternmost town in Germany, in the Upper Lusatia region of Saxony. The closest major airport is Dresden, about 90 km away; Berlin Brandenburg is roughly 200 km and Prague about 180 km.

• By train: Regional trains run from Dresden via Bautzen to Görlitz. The Deutschlandticket is valid on these services. From the station, the Old Town is a pleasant walk through 19th-century streets.
• By car: Take the A4 autobahn to exit 94 (Görlitz), then follow the B6 and B99 toward the center. A citywide 24-hour parking ticket costs €10 (coins only at the machines).

That makes Görlitz an easy day trip from Dresden, though many visitors stay a night to enjoy the quiet evenings.

A town of merchants, split by a river

Görlitz grew rich on the Via Regia trade route, dealing in cloth and woad dye. The wealth shows in its tall merchant halls and carved portals. The town hall is first recorded in 1369, and the Schönhof, built in 1525, is the oldest Renaissance building in town.

After 1945, the Neisse became the German-Polish border, and the eastern districts became the Polish town of Zgorzelec. A new Old Town Bridge reopened the pedestrian link on October 20, 2004. With almost 4,000 listed buildings, Görlitz is often described as one of Germany's largest architectural ensembles.

Things to do in Görlitz Old Town

• Untermarkt: the main square, with the town hall and its clock tower, arcades, the Neptune Fountain and the former stock exchange, now a hotel. Look for the whispering arch at No. 22, where a whisper carries clearly to the other side.
• St. Peter and Paul Church: the twin-spired Gothic church above the river. Its Sun Organ by Eugenio Casparini can imitate bird and animal sounds; the town says it plays at midday.
• Obermarkt and Reichenbach Tower: a long square where many walking tours start. Climb 165 steps up the 51-meter tower for views over the rooftops.
• Baroque House: home to a historic library hall the town proudly calls its "Mona Lisa."
• Art Nouveau department store: familiar to movie fans from Wes Anderson's "The Grand Budapest Hotel."
• Holy Sepulchre: a detailed replica of the tomb in Jerusalem.

Görlitz has appeared in so many productions that locals nicknamed it "Görliwood"; a free audio guide leads you past filming locations.

Tickets, hours and practical tips

The Old Town is open around the clock and free to explore. The Reichenbach Tower costs €5 (reduced €3), and a two-day combination ticket covering the tower, the Kaisertrutz museum and the Baroque House is €14 (reduced €10), as of October 2026. Buy tower tickets at the Kaisertrutz opposite. Tower hours vary by season, so check with the Görlitz Collections before you go.

The Görlitz-Information office on Obermarkt 32 arranges guided tours, rents e-bikes and sells transit tickets. Plan at least two to three hours for a first walk, or a full day if you add museums and a stroll into Poland. The lively Old Town Festival takes over the streets on the last weekend of August. Note that the towers are not wheelchair accessible and most lanes are cobbled. Prices are in euros, and Polish shops across the bridge use the zloty.

Is Görlitz worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you want a historic German town without the crowds of Rothenburg or Heidelberg. The mix of intact architecture, the border-river setting and a relaxed pace make it memorable.

Nearby

• Zgorzelec, the Polish side, just over the bridge
• Landeskrone, the local hill with wide views of Upper Lusatia
• Berzdorf Lake, about 15 minutes by bike along the Oder-Neisse cycle path
• Zittau Mountains, for hiking and rock climbing