Görlitz, with a difficult past, a complex present, and an uncertain future, is a city that will not be included in most travel itineraries for Germany. However, if you dig deeper, you will see that it is quite a rewarding city. Together with Meissen, Görlitz is an ideal place for a perfect day trip from Dresden and has enough sights to warrant an overnight stay. First and foremost, it is a stunning city and quite beautiful for walking. Architecturally, it is one of the most unique cities in Europe. If you are a film enthusiast, especially a Wes Anderson fan, a wonderful surprise awaits you. There are also a few hidden cafes and bars worth visiting and supporting. All of this has been compiled in the Best Things to Do in Görlitz guide. If you would like to know more about my recent trip to Görlitz, you can check out my previous post about the city. If you have any questions, you can leave them in the comments below or send me an email. Thank you for reading, and I am grateful for your continued support of my blog!

1. Breakfast at Best Western Hotel Via Regia

Start your day with a hearty buffet breakfast at the 3-star Best Western Hotel Via Regia, where I checked in the night before. It is a really stylish and modern hotel, affordable and just a short walk from the train station.

From homemade bircher muesli, natural yogurt, and fresh fruits to cakes and donuts, and smoked salmon, there is something for everyone at the hotel breakfast. Unlimited fresh coffee, tea, and juice are also available. I loved that most of the products were locally sourced - from bread and rolls to mustard and Bauernmettwurst (from Bautzen).

2. Explore the Architecture

Walking in Görlitz is a time traveler's dream. With over 4,500 listed buildings, the city is a timeline of all the important architectural styles of the last 3-4 centuries: from Baroque to Renaissance, from Neoclassical to Art Deco, the variety and style of the buildings are incredible. At every corner, every turn, you find yourself in Berlin's Babel or 1920s Paris - the city feels like a film set. The architecture of Görlitz is best explored on foot - Görlitz is quite a compact city, or you can climb the Rathaus Tower for a different perspective.

3. Visit the Grand Budapest Hotel

One of the reasons for my excitement to visit Görlitz was to see the set of the Grand Budapest Hotel - the abandoned, Art Nouveau-style store located in Görlitz called Görlitzer Warenhaus (An der Frauenkirche 5-7).

Anderson discovered this location while researching for the film and fell in love with its unique, historic architecture. Thanks to the wonderful privileges of my daily job, we had a full hour to explore the building. Note: Don't be sad. You don’t need to be a blogger or own 5 million klubeks to visit the 'Grand Budapest Hotel' - you can visit the building for FREE only on Thursdays and Friday evenings. It is truly fascinating to see a film set come to life before your eyes. I recognize the building's magnificent staircases, elevators, and atrium from the film. At one point, I try to stop taking photos and put my phone in my pocket to soak everything in. The building being abandoned and empty adds to the forbidden allure of visiting it. But act quickly, the building has been purchased to be redeveloped as a luxury store.

4. Visit Untermarkt

Untermarkt is the older of the two market squares in Görlitz. It is a beautiful square filled with elegant Renaissance buildings, cobblestone streets, and arches covering the area. Film enthusiasts will recognize this square from movies like Grand Budapest Hotel and Around the World in 80 Days (with Jackie Chan). It has a timeless look and feel, reminiscent of Vienna or Paris. The magical atmosphere of the square is enhanced by street performers and small cafes you will encounter from time to time, where both tourists and locals enjoy drinks and meals.

Untermarkt also hosts festivals such as Tippelmarkt and Altstadtfest. Some places to visit in and around Untermarkt include Rathaus (town hall), Neues Rathaus, Schonhof houses, and Silesian Museum, as well as Waage, a Renaissance house located in the middle of Untermarkt, Brauner Hirsch - a baroque town house, and 'Whispering Arch' or Flüsterbogen.

5. Visit the Town Hall Tower

Don't forget to visit the town hall tower for the best views in Görlitz. The town hall tower, or Rathausturm, was built in the 16th century. Its best feature is that it offers a panoramic view of the town of Görlitz, and it also has intricate clocks, sundials, and a pipe organ lion for special effects! There are two clocks in the tower: one is a lunar phase clock that is part of the lunar calendar, and the other is a warrior's head that rolls its eyes and sticks out its tongue every hour.

The town hall tour runs from March to December, only from Wednesday to Sunday. The designated meeting point is the Rathaus stairs, Untermarkt 6-8 (no reservation required). Tours are held every hour between 11:00 and 18:00. The tour lasts 45 minutes. The fee for adults is €4, and for children aged 6-14, the fee is €1.50.

6. Lunch at Restaurant Destille

Restaurant Destille is one of the best restaurants in Görlitz, where you can find everything from lasagna, pasta, salad, and steak to more traditional local dishes like the famous Schlesisches Himmelreich; this dish consists of pork, ham, meatballs, and fruits cooked in white sauce.

7. Visit the Görlitz Silesian Museum

Silesia was once a culturally distinct country with its own history. Old Silesia was part of present-day Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Görlitz was chosen as the location for the museum celebrating Silesian history because it is the largest Silesian city in Germany. The city of Görlitz donated the museum building, Schonhof, and later acquired Zum Goldenen Baum (Golden Tree), which serves as the museum's administrative building. The permanent collection offers a good insight into the history of Silesia. Here you can see art and craft works from the 17th to 19th centuries. Important pieces in the collection include geographical landscapes of Silesia and art objects from the Riesengebirge. Donations from the Silesian people are plentiful here. Coins, ceramics, and other beautiful works are displayed here.

Address: Untermarkt 4, 02826 Görlitz, Germany

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Thursday- 10:00-17:00

Fees: Adults- €6, Discounted- €4

8. Whispering Arch or Flüsterbogen

Enjoy the secret whispering fun at the Whispering Arch in Untermarkt, Görlitz. Whisper sweet words at one end of the upper arch, and a person positioned at the other end is perfectly placed to hear what you say. This is a little piece of magic not to be missed in Görlitz.

Address: Untermarkt, 02826 Görlitz, Germany

9. Upper Lusatian Library of Sciences or Görlitz's Harry Potter Library

Just a few minutes' walk from Neißstraße 30, there is another magnificent baroque building - Kulturhistorisches Museum (cultural history museum); here you will find the stunning Upper Lusatian Library of Sciences. The unique and beautiful library is arranged with shelves made of beech wood in the middle of the room, giving a feeling of being on stage and grandeur, and it is truly breathtaking. The library is often listed among the most beautiful libraries in the world. It contains 40,000 volumes and houses numerous rare works and treasures, including medieval manuscripts and incunabula, which are the oldest books printed before 1501.

Essential Information: The museum is open Tuesday - Sunday and the entrance fee is €5. Guided tours of the library are held every Monday at 11:00.

10. Cross the Neisse River into Poland

A short walk across the 200-foot-wide Altstadtbrücke (Old Town Bridge) will take you to the other half of the city, Zgorzelec in Poland. The proximity of the two cities makes Görlitz a unique location where you can experience two countries and cultures in one place. The bridge became fully accessible in 2007 with Poland's accession to the EU. After crossing the bridge, cheap cigarette and drink advertisements in an ordinary font indicate that you are now in Poland. On the Polish side, there is a beautiful row of restored houses lining the riverbank. One of these carries the plaque of Görlitz's most famous son, the philosopher and Christian mystic Jacob Böhme, born in the 16th century. In the house, there is an exhibition about his life. Enjoy a symbolic Zywiec beer at one of the riverside restaurants. We preferred Ristorante & Pizzeria Espresso for its good prices and friendly staff.

11. Coffee and Cake at Cafe Herzstück

Cafe Herzstück (Weberstraße 2) was one of the places I discovered during my travels - a very alternative café focusing on vegan and vegetarian cuisine and offering great coffee. On the surface, it looks like a normal, warm café, but my eye catches a series of Singer sewing machines. Apparently, you can rent the sewing machines by the hour. The café also hosts book readings, concerts, chocolate-making classes, and foosball lessons; there is something for everyone here.

12. Have a Beer at Brauerei Bierblume

Relax in the beautiful inner courtyard of Brauerei Bierblume, an old brewery dating back to the 18th century, where locals enjoy delicious homemade beers in large glass mugs - a peaceful refuge in the city with great beer, definitely don’t forget to visit this brewery and say hello to the friendly owner and brewer Alex Klaus. A perfect place to end your day in Görlitz.

Basic Information

Fly to Berlin or Dresden and then take a train to Görlitz. There are frequent train services between Dresden and Görlitz (24 €, 1 to 1.5 hours). If you are coming from Berlin, you will need to transfer in Cottbus (44 €, 2.5 hours).

Where to Stay in Görlitz

One of the best deals in the city is the 3-star Best Western Hotel Via Regia, where you can find private rooms for just €70 per night on Booking.com.

The hotel rooms are modern, extremely comfortable, and clean. The hotel offers a very generous buffet breakfast. The only small disadvantage is that the hotel is a 5-minute walk from the station and a bit far from the city center. It is an excellent choice if you have your own vehicle.

Another excellent budget option for couples or solo travelers is the Görlitz “Old Town” European Youth Hostel, located in a central location. It is housed in a beautiful period building. (one of the most magnificent buildings in the square - it doesn't look like a hostel from the outside) The hostel has a large inner courtyard; this area is perfect for relaxing after a day of sightseeing, offers a generous buffet breakfast, and has simple but comfortable rooms - this hostel is a good choice if you are on a tight budget. Prices for double rooms start at €60 per night and include breakfast. In a dormitory room, the bed price starts at €25 per person per night and includes breakfast.

Disclaimer

My stay in Görlitz was made possible thanks to the support of the Saxony Tourism Office; this office invited me to explore the region's lesser-known cities: Meissen, Görlitz, and Bautzen. Although my trip was supported by the tourism office, all opinions expressed in this article and represented here are entirely my own. Thank you for reading.