Görlitz
Görlitz, our host town, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the east German state of Saxony. Located right on the Neisse river, which forms the border with Poland, it is Germany's easternmost town and headquarters of the DZA.
It is renowned for its architectural treasures spanning different eras. The setting of the old town has led to it featuring as a backdrop to many well-known films - so much so that it now has the nickname 'Görli-wood'.
Right on the edge of eastern Germany, Görlitz has good connections into Poland and Czech Republic, as well as a local rail line to Dresden.
Getting there
Unusually for German towns, two airports in neighbouring countries feature high up the list for options for those seeking nearby flights to Görlitz.
Distance to Dresden Airport: 103 km
Distance to Copernicus (Wroclaw) Airport: 173 km
Distance to Vaclev Havel (Prague) Airport: 179 km
Distance to Berlin Brandenberg Airport: 195 km
Distance to Leipzig/Halle Airport: 226 km
Distance to Munich Airport: 542 km
Distance to Frankfurt Airport: 567 km
The airport in Dresden is still the closest and most convenient if suitable flights are available. The airport at Wroclaw in Poland is a hub for low-cost airlines, while Vaclev Havel airport near Prague has a range of flights suiting the capital of the Czech Republic.
The airports at Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt are international hubs and offer numerous daily connecting flights to Dresden Airport, which has direct train transfers to Görlitz.
Transfer options to Görlitz
See here for a variety of options for transferring from Dresden, Berlin and Prague to Görlitz.
Train station in Görlitz
The Görlitz train station is around a 10-minute walk from the old town (slightly longer down to the river).
Map of Görlitz
We have prepared a map showing the locations of the meeting venues and some hotels.
Where to stay
Görlitz is a popular tourist destination and, as such, has a good range of accommodation for visitors.
Useful websites to help with your accommodation booking:
Alternatively, use agents such as Booking.com, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Airbnb or alike... but please be aware accommodation options and availability is limited!
'Scam email from Global Travel Experts'
This company is not in any way affiliated to the SKAO Science Meeting 2025.
Global Travel Experts send unsolicited emails to conference participants (other European conferences as well) claiming that they have made a reservation which requires confirmation. Please do not contact them and provide them with any of your personal details.
When booking accommodation for the SKAO Science Meeting, please book directly with the hotels listed on our website.
Things to do and tours
Görlitz offers more than 4,000 listed and original preserved buildings and lets you experience times long past. The easternmost city in Germany is one of the culturally and historically most important sights in Central Europe. From the typical Gothic Hall houses and the stately Renaissance and Baroque buildings to the attractive Wilhelminian quarters, you will find a cross-section through the entire history of German architecture.
Why not discover the history and traditions of this unique city by booking onto an organised tour during your stay. On Wednesday 18 June there will be some free time away from the conference giving you the opportunity to take a break and possibly enjoy a walk and tour around Görlitz. See the Social Programme page for more details and links to book. In addition, the tourist office can offer a number of other tours. https://www.visit-goerlitz.com/Guided-tours.html
Local restaurants
Please click here for a comprehensive list of local restaurants, in both Görlitz and Zgorzelec, kindly prepared by the LOC. Please read the notes; be prepared and make sure you have cash as not all restaurants accept credit cards.