Görlitz Travel Guide: Best Things to See, Do and Eat in Germany’s Fairytale City

Looking for one of Germany’s most underrated city breaks? Görlitz could be the answer. Sitting on the German-Polish border, this beautifully preserved town is packed with historic architecture, film locations, cosy restaurants and easy walking routes.

Known as Görliwood, Görlitz has appeared in films including The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Reader and Inglourious Basterds. It is also a brilliant destination for slow travel, good food and wandering across the bridge into Poland.

This Görlitz travel guide brings together our Foodie Explorers posts on where to eat, what to see, where to stay and how to make the most of your visit.

See all our Görlitz locations on our interactive map

Why visit Görlitz?

Görlitz is one of those cities that feels like a hidden gem. The old town is filled with colourful buildings, cobbled streets, ornate doorways and grand squares. It is compact enough to explore on foot but interesting enough to keep you busy for a weekend.

Beautiful historic old town
Film locations from major Hollywood productions
Easy walk across the bridge into Zgorzelec, Poland
Good restaurants, cafés and traditional German food
A relaxed alternative to better-known German city breaks

Best things to do in Görlitz

1. Wander around the Old Town

Start with a wander around the Untermarkt and Obermarkt. This is the heart of Görlitz, where you will find colourful facades, historic buildings, cafés and plenty of places to stop for photographs.

The joy of Görlitz is in the details: old signs, doorways, courtyards, towers and quiet corners. Take your time and let yourself get slightly lost.

2. Climb Görlitz Town Hall Tower

For one of the best views over the city, climb the 191 steps to the top of Görlitz Town Hall Tower. From here you can look out across the rooftops, squares and towards Poland.

The tower is also full of stories, including the famous clock and the watchman’s head.

Read more: Town Hall Tower of Görlitz

3. Follow a Görliwood film locations walk

Görlitz is famous for its film locations. The town has been used in The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Reader, Inglourious Basterds, The Monuments Men and more.

Look out for Kaufhaus Görlitz, the Town Hall staircase, Untermarkt, Obermarkt and other locations that have doubled for different European cities on screen.

4. Visit Görlitz Synagogue

Görlitz Synagogue is one of the most striking buildings in the city. Built in an Art Nouveau style, it survived Kristallnacht and the Second World War and has since been restored and reopened to the public.

It is a moving and important place to visit if you want to understand more about the city’s Jewish history.

Read more: Visiting Görlitz Synagogue

5. Walk across the bridge into Poland

One of the best things about visiting Görlitz is that you can walk into another country. Cross the bridge over the River Neisse, and you will arrive in Zgorzelec, Poland.

It is an easy and memorable addition to your trip, especially if you fancy dinner or drinks on the Polish side.

Where to eat in Görlitz

Looking for where to eat in Görlitz? This beautiful German border city has a food scene shaped by Saxony, Silesia and nearby Poland, making it a great place for hearty regional dishes, historic cafés, riverside restaurants and cross-border dining.

Read more: Where to eat in Görlitz.

Horschel

Located on the south-east corner of the Untermarkt (the lower market) historic area in the old town of Görlitz you will find Horschel restaurant within the Emmerich Hotel.

The hotel takes its name from a former resident of the building, Georg Emmerich; and the restaurant from his one-time lover, Benigna Horschel.

Görlitzer Kartoffelhaus

If you want hearty German food, Görlitzer Kartoffelhaus is a good choice. Expect potato dishes, traditional flavours and filling portions. We tried the kartoffelbier and Silesian Heaven, a smoked pork dish with fruity sauce, poached fruits and potato dumplings.

Ratscafe Görlitz

Ratscafe is a historic spot for dining in the centre of town. It is ideal if you want somewhere atmospheric while exploring the old town.

Piwnica Staromiejska, Zgorzelec

For something a little different, cross into Poland for dinner at Piwnica Staromiejska in Zgorzelec. It is one of the fun quirks of visiting Görlitz: you can explore Germany by day and eat in Poland by night.

Read more: Where to Eat: Piwnica Staromiejska

Where to stay in Görlitz

If you want budget accommodation in Görlitz, Pension zur Wartburg is a simple and practical option with a good location for exploring the historic centre.

It is clean, tidy and well placed for sightseeing, with access to a common room, kitchen facilities, tea, coffee and WiFi.

Suggested one-day Görlitz itinerary

Morning

Arrive in Görlitz and walk into the old town
Explore Untermarkt and Obermarkt
Climb Görlitz Town Hall Tower

Afternoon

Follow part of the Görliwood film locations walk
Visit Görlitz Synagogue
Stop for coffee or cake in the old town

Evening

Dinner at Horschel or Kartoffelnhaus
Or walk across the bridge to Zgorzelec for dinner in Poland

Suggested weekend itinerary for Görlitz

Day one

Spend your first day exploring the old town, climbing the Town Hall Tower, visiting the main squares and enjoying dinner in the historic centre.

Day two

Use your second day for the film locations walk, Görlitz Synagogue and a walk into Poland. Finish with dinner in Zgorzelec before returning across the bridge.

Is Görlitz worth visiting?

Yes. Görlitz is ideal if you enjoy historic architecture, film locations, relaxed city breaks and destinations that still feel a little under the radar. It is easy to explore on foot, full of character and offers the bonus of being able to walk from Germany into Poland.

Find out more about Gorlitz from their Tourism website.

Görlitz travel guide FAQ

Where is Görlitz?

Görlitz is in eastern Germany, close to the Polish border. The Polish town of Zgorzelec is just across the River Neisse.

What is Görlitz famous for?

Görlitz is famous for its historic old town and its film locations. It has appeared in films including The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Reader and Inglourious Basterds.

Can you walk from Görlitz to Poland?

Yes, you can walk from Görlitz into Zgorzelec in Poland by crossing the bridge over the River Neisse.

How long do you need in Görlitz?

You can see the highlights of Görlitz in one day, but a weekend gives you more time for food, museums, film locations and a trip across the border.

Is Görlitz good for food lovers?

Yes. Görlitz has traditional German restaurants, cafés and easy access to Polish dining in Zgorzelec.

Görlitz Travel Guide: Best Things to See, Do & Eat