Görlitz
The Film-Set Town on the Polish Border, With Five Centuries of Architecture at a Fraction of Western Prices
Explore the Town ↓
Life in Görlitz
Centuries of architecture fill the streets of this German-Polish border city, a favorite film setting. Görlitz offers remarkable historic character at prices below many western German markets.
Görlitz has thousands of listed buildings, from Gothic and Renaissance to baroque and Jugendstil, that survived the war almost untouched. Now a Hollywood favorite, it sits on the river that forms the border with Poland, at a fraction of western German prices.
Görlitz is the value pick of the list. Restored apartments in extraordinary buildings cost well under half the price per square meter of the southern towns, on ground outside Saxony’s earthquake zones.
- It has the weakest travel connections on the list.
- The population is shrinking and aging.
- Saxony’s purchase tax is 5.5 percent.
- In August 2010 the Neisse flood reached 7.20 m on the Görlitz gauge, the highest on record there.
- Dresden is 1 hr 20 min away by direct regional train.
- Berlin is 2 hr 56 min away by train, with one change.
- Berlin BER, the nearest airport with nonstop US flights, is about 2 hr 15 min away by road.
- Region / State
- Upper Lusatia (Oberlausitz), Landkreis Görlitz, Saxony · district seat · often called Germany's easternmost city
- Population
- 55,065 at 31 December 2025 (official register, Census 2022 basis)
- Setting
- On the west bank of the Lusatian Neisse, facing Zgorzelec in Poland across the river since 1945; the Landeskrone basalt hill at the edge of town
- Heritage
- Several thousand listed buildings from late Gothic to Jugendstil · Untermarkt and Obermarkt · Peterskirche with the Sun Organ · the Holy Sepulchre · Schönhof
- What Makes It Distinct
- Five centuries of architecture, film-set streets, and Poland across the bridge, at east German prices
- Inside the Full Atlas
- 28 pages on Görlitz, within the 235-page Germany Atlas.
Görlitz & Its Surroundings
Wander the streets, waterways and neighboring towns before you go.
The pin marks the town center. The live map needs an internet connection.
A Closer Look at Görlitz
Look Beyond the View
Fall for the view, then choose with clear eyes. The full Atlas explains the natural risks checked for this town and where a property deserves a closer look.
- See which natural hazards the research covers
- Tell town-wide conditions apart from one address
- Take the right questions to a local specialist
Picture the Journey
The town you love should be easy to reach, again and again. The full Atlas lays out how you get here, from the arrival point to the final stretch.
- Compare the main ways to get here
- Plan for repeat visits and everyday trips
- Weigh the trade-offs before you pick a base
Find Your Reasons to Stay
The places you remember mix scenery, streets and local life. The town chapter takes you past the first impression to the character underneath.
- Explore the setting, landmarks and local culture
- Discover what makes this town its own
- Picture the pleasures of a longer stay
Renting It While You’re Away
Thinking of renting your home out while you’re away? The Atlas sets the rental questions and local context right beside the place itself.
- Learn which rules and permits to check
- Gauge likely visitors and seasonal demand
- Weigh the practical limits on renting it out
Imagine an Ordinary Week
The view draws you in. Everyday life helps you decide. The full chapter covers the services and practical details of living here beyond a vacation.
- Check healthcare and everyday services
- Picture the shops, connections and daily routines
- See what life is like outside the busy season
Görlitz and Around, in 7 Pictures
Images from the Atlas, each with its own source and edit notes.
Summary of the Germany Atlas, edition of 26 September 2026. The town order is our editorial ranking. About the Dossier.