Major city · Germany
Zittau
Give Zittau one full day plus a night: old town and the Lenten Veil in the morning, the steam train to Oybin in the afternoon. Two nights if you want the Zittau Mountains.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- May–Sep; Dec for the Christmas market
- avoid Jan–Feb (cold, short days, some sights on winter hours)
- Airports
- DRS · BER
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Central Europe ↗Six of the nine countries here — Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia — charge a time-based motorway vignette, mostly digital and linked to the number plate; buy it before the first motorway past the border, because cameras, not toll booths, do the checking.
- Central Europe ↗Temporary police checks at internal Schengen borders are common in this region in 2026 (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia among others — check): keep your passport on you on every cross-border train, bus and road even though there is no fixed control post.
- Germany ↗Germany is in the EU and the Schengen area: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
- Germany ↗Nazi symbols and gestures are criminal offences, including as jokes or souvenirs.
- Germany ↗Many city centres are low-emission zones: a car needs the right sticker (Umweltplakette) to enter.
Zittau is a small Saxon town in Upper Lusatia where Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic meet, about 1.5 hours by train from Dresden. The compact old town takes half a day; the narrow-gauge steam railway into the Zittau Mountains and the 1472 Lenten Veil are the two reasons to stay longer than a lunch stop.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Zittau, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR).Germany-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelekom, Vodafone and O2 are the networks; Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect and congstar resell them cheaply in supermarkets and electronics shops.Germany-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere.Germany-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total you want to pay as you hand over money or card.Germany-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Germany-wide
- SafetyZittau is a quiet, low-crime small town; the real issues are uneven cobbles, dark side streets after closing time and the border crossing rules if…
- RestroomsStation toilets cost €0.50–1.50 (≈ US$1–2) (Rail&Fresh WC); restaurant toilets are for customers…Germany-wide
- Emergency numbers112 fire and ambulance · 110 police · 116 117 Out-of-hours doctor (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops close on Sundays and public holidays nearly everywhere except stations and airports.Germany-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportDRS Dresden Airport (S-Bahn S2 to Dresden-Klotzsche, then RegionalExpress RE2 to Zittau; about 2.5 h total).
- Getting aroundThe centre is flat and walkable in 15 minutes end to end.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee and cake€4–8 (≈ US$5–10)
- Sit-down mealDinner, main dish€14–24 (≈ US$17–30)
- Beer0.5 l draught€4–6 (≈ US$5–7)
- Metro or bus rideLocal bus single ride€2–3 (≈ US$3–4)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–20 (≈ US$12–25)
- Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per room€110 (≈ US$130)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room€85 (≈ US$100)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room€130 (≈ US$160)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €55 (≈ US$65) · Mid €90 (≈ US$110) · High €160 (≈ US$190)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- DRS Dresden Airport (S-Bahn S2 to Dresden-Klotzsche, then RegionalExpress RE2 to Zittau; about 2.5 h total) · BER Berlin Brandenburg (Rail via Dresden; 4.5 h+)
Weather and climate
Zittau: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
2°C36°F
−3°C27°F
12 rd
Feb
3°C37°F
−3°C27°F
11 rd
Mar
8°C46°F
0°C32°F
11 rd
Apr
13°C55°F
3°C37°F
10 rd
May
18°C64°F
8°C46°F
11 rd
Jun
21°C70°F
11°C52°F
12 rd
Jul
23°C73°F
13°C55°F
12 rd
Aug
23°C73°F
13°C55°F
11 rd
Sep
18°C64°F
10°C50°F
10 rd
Oct
13°C55°F
6°C43°F
10 rd
Nov
7°C45°F
2°C36°F
12 rd
Dec
3°C37°F
−2°C28°F
13 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is flat and walkable in 15 minutes end to end. Three local bus routes cover the outskirts. Trains and the narrow-gauge railway leave from Zittau station, a 10-minute walk from the Marktplatz.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Oybin and Jonsdorf by steam train
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Narrow-gauge railway from Zittau station; about 40 min to Oybin
Seasonal timetable; check departure days before you plan the day around it.
Görlitz
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn from Zittau station, about 40–60 min
Bigger old town and the film-set streets; easy half day.
Door to door: About 45 min
Train or bus, about 30 min
Moravian settlement with a small museum; pairs well with a Zittau morning.
Liberec, Czechia
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Vogtlandbahn from Zittau station, about 30 min
Bring ID; Ještěd cable car and a different currency.
Door to door: 2 h+
Train and bus via Görlitz or Weißwasser, 1.5–2 h
Muskau Park is a full day out; go only with an early start.
Bautzen
cautionDoor to door: 2 h
Train via Löbau or Dresden, 1.5–2 h
Better as a stop on the Dresden line than a return day trip.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Old town around the Marktplatz
Walk to the churches, museums and restaurants; best for one night without a car.
Neustadt / Ottokarplatz
Quiet edge of the centre, 5–10 min walk to the market square; several hotels here.
Near the station (Bahnhofstraße)
Practical for early trains and the steam railway; 10 min walk to the centre.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €55–85 (≈ US$65–100) excl. bed
- Mid
- €85–140 (≈ US$100–170) excl. bed
- High
- €140 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 1 night × €85 | €85 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €90 | €180 |
| Steam train Zittau–Oybin return2 × €20 · check | €40 |
| Museum entry (Lenten Veil and city museum)2 × €12 · check | €24 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15 | €30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €36 |
| Trip total≈ €198 per person per day, bed included | €395≈ US$500 |
2026 estimate in euro; long-distance travel excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee and cake | €4–8 (≈ US$5–10) |
| Lunch, main dish | €10–16 (≈ US$12–19) |
| Dinner, main dish | €14–24 (≈ US$17–30) |
| Beer, 0.5 l draught | €4–6 (≈ US$5–7) |
| Local bus single ride | €2–3 (≈ US$3–4) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €10–20 (≈ US$12–25) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Some sights run shorter winter hours (Nov–Mar); check before you go.
- English is less common than in Dresden or Berlin; a few German phrases help.
- Cross-border trips to Poland and Czechia need your passport or ID card.
- Sunday opening is limited outside restaurants and bakeries.
Emergency numbers
- Fire and ambulance
- 112
- Police
- 110
- Out-of-hours doctor
- 116 117
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
ZittauZittau
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Zu dieser Adresse, bitteTo this address, please
Emergency
- Fire and ambulance112
- Police110
- Out-of-hours doctor116 117
Embassy
No embassies in Zittau; the US and UK have embassies in Berlin, and most countries keep consulates in Dresden or Leipzig.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Dresden → Zittau, regional train: about 1.5 h on RE2, regional ticket
- Zittau → Oybin, steam train: about 40 min, seasonal timetable
- Taxi across town: €8–14 (≈ US$10–17) (check)
Say or show
- Guten Tag — Hello (GOO-ten tahk)
- Danke — Thank you (DAN-kuh)
- Bitte — Please (BIT-tuh)
- Wie viel kostet das? — How much is it? (vee feel KOS-tet dahs)
- Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? — Can I pay by card? (kahn ikh mit KAR-tuh TSAH-len)
- Wo ist der Bahnhof? — Where is the station? (voh ist dair BAHN-hohf)
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Zittau. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep; Dec for the Christmas market · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, short days, some sights on winter hours) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for DRS: last S-Bahn and train connections field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Marktplatz, Johannisplatz and the museums, Neustadt, the station and steam railway.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Johanniskirche, Holy Cross Church Museum and Lenten Veil, Stadt- und Kreismuseum, Tierpark) and eat pages with last orders.
- Steam-train timetable fixtures so the Oybin day can go green or be swapped.