Wroclaw has a fame of the Polish Venice because of the canals, islands and more than 120 bridges that make the city uniquely beautiful. Along with Kraków or Warsaw, Wroclaw is a must-see when travelling to Poland, not only for its historical and cultural baggage but also for its youthful and lively atmosphere. In this post, we tell you all about the things to do in Wroclaw, so you can make the most of your stay in the city of gnomes.
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What are the best places to see in Wroclaw?
Wroclaw is a young, lively university city with a great history, perfect for sightseeing. Strolling through its streets is a real pleasure; colourful facades, lots of green spaces and a secret or two around every corner. Are you familiar with Wroclaw’s gnomes? Here are some of the must-see sights in Wroclaw.
1. Ostrów Tumski, the cathedral island
This is a small island where the city was originally settled. It is surrounded by the waters of the Oder and has several monuments worth visiting, such as the cathedral and the Archdiocesan museum. To reach the island, cross the Ostrów Tumski Bridge, which is famous for the number of padlocks that decorate it, and which are sold nearby in case you’ve forgotten yours.
The Archdiocesan Museum is the oldest museum in the city, and for more than 100 years has been collecting objects of sacred value. Such as Ksiga Henrykowska, the first sentence written in Polish. The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 16:00 except Mondays, and from 10:00 to 15:00 on weekends. The entrance fee is €2.2.
2. Gnome-route, the best thing to see in Wroclaw
In Wroclaw, there are more than 500 small bronze gnomes scattered on the streets of the city. Some of them are legal and put up by the city council, others not so much. The origin of the gnomes is a university movement of struggle against communism, and the symbol of the struggle was precisely a dwarf with a flower and an orange cap.
To see the gnomes, you have three options. You can simply walk the streets of the city and spot gnomes as you go, or you can consult a map provided by the tourist office. There’s also an APP that locates the gnomes on the map – how many gnomes will you be able to spot?
3. Panorama Raclawice
The Raclawice Panorama is a must-see in Wroclaw. It is a cylindrical building next to the city’s architectural museum that houses the Battle of Raclawicka, a 114-metre-long painting by Jan Styka in 1794. It is a truly spectacular painting which attracts thousands of tourists every year and whose format has been copied many times.
Audioguides are available for hiring inside the museum, and admission costs €7 (you can buy it online). The museum is open daily from 9am to 4pm except Mondays.
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4. Rynek, The Main Square of Wroclaw
Rynek Square, with almost 4 hectares of land, is the second-largest square in the country. It used to be the site of a medieval market, later it was transformed into a tramway and car transit area, and today it is a pedestrian area and the cultural centre of the city. There are 60 buildings on the square, including the town hall and the Wroclaw City Museum. However, the most beautiful and most photographable house is Jas i Malgosia, known as the house of Hansel and Gretel.
This 13th-century square was rebuilt after World War II and its facades are a perfect example of the country’s colourful architecture. The surrounding streets also retain their charm and are lined with typical bars, shops and restaurants. For example, Piwnica Widnicka is one of the oldest breweries in Wroclaw. And of course, there are also gnomes.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to see around Wroclaw?
There is so much to see in Wroclaw that it’s hard to get bored in this city. But if you’re lucky enough to spend a lot of time in this lively city, here are a few day trips you can take.
1. Krakow Salt Mines
In the heart of Kraków, we find the oldest underground salt mines in the world. Inside the mine you can walk for 3.5 km, and at the end you’ll find a completely decorated with salt chapel. This spectacle is a must-see. Along the route you can see underground lakes, excavation material, and more than 20 rooms decorated with salt sculptures.
The mine is open from 8.30am to 5pm. The guided tours in Spanish are available at least a couple of times a day. The entrance fee is €24. The mines are about 2.5 hours from Wroclaw, and the easiest way to get there is by car or with an organized tour. You can also go by train to Kraków and from there take bus 304.
2. Nazi tunnels of Osówka
In the Lower Silesian territories we find the underground city of Osówka, a set of tunnels of more than 4km and 26,000 square kilometres built by the Nazis during the war without a very clear objective. The tour through the tunnels built by prisoners is truly impressive and well worth the trip. Entrance to the tunnels costs €11.
3. Ksiaz Castle
Ksiaz Castle dates back to the 13th century and is one of the most impressive in the region, in fact, Hitler spent time in its rooms. With the German conquest the castle was stripped and abandoned, however, in 2015 the last renovation was made, and the castle is now in the best possible condition. The tour of the castle includes original pieces of art through which you learn the history of the castle. And you will also see Hitler’s room. Outside the castle, the gardens are a delight and one of the famous Nazi tunnels leads out of the castle.
Admission to the castle costs €9, €14 if you also visit the tunnels. Ksiaz Castle is open every day of the week from 10:00 to 16:00, and on Saturdays and Sundays until 17:00.
What to see on a visit to Wroclaw in 1 day?
It is difficult to visit everything in Wroclaw in just one day as the city has so much to offer, however, we can take in quite a few sights. A great way to learn about the history of the city is to book a guided tour, which will show you the essentials in a morning. But if you prefer to do the tour on your own, these are the must-see sights in Wroclaw that will take up the whole day.
The most spectacular sight is the Market Square with the town hall building and surrounding alleyways. The Cathedral of St John the Baptist is a real architectural spectacle, and if you’re looking for art, don’t miss the university and the Sala Leopoldina. Another very interesting area is the Jewish quarter, where there are guided tours in the evenings. And of course, don’t forget to count gnomes on your tour.
What are the best accommodations in Wroclaw?
Accommodation in Wroclaw is not particularly expensive and there is a wide range of accommodation on offer. The best area is the centre, near the market square, because of its proximity to the main sights. As you move away from the centre, prices go down and public transport links are still good. Here are some of the best places to stay in Wroclaw.
- B&B Hotel Wroclaw Centrum: this is a centrally located hotel and very complete in terms of services. It has 24h snack service, parking, conference room and TV in all rooms. The best thing is that the price does not exceed €40.
- Scandic Wroclaw Opens: is a modern, eco-friendly four-star hotel located near the station. It has a 24-hour front desk and is pet-friendly. The price per night is around €50.
- Chilli hostel: a hostel 500m from the centre with a very good atmosphere. It is a very nice and well-kept place with a kitchen and common areas where you can meet people and have a good time. The night costs about €9.
- Hostel Wratislavia: a clean, quiet and very simple hostel where you can sleep from €6. It’s a 10-minute walk from the centre.
Where to eat in Wroclaw?
Eating in Wroclaw and Poland in general is a pleasure for two reasons: the food is hearty and delicious, and it’s very cheap. Some of the most typical dishes are pierogi, bigos, kotlet schabowy or zurek, which is a soup in a bread bowl. The best places to eat are the so-called milk bars, former Soviet establishments that used to sell milk and today offer home-cooked meals at very good prices. Here’s a selection of places to eat well in the city.
- Zloty Pies: in the middle of the market square we find this brewery where they serve very good quality food, and the portions are huge. The place is very pleasant, and you can eat well for less than €15.
- Milk bar in Wroclaw: a famous milk bar with Soviet décor where you can eat well, a lot and very cheaply.
- Przysta: is a very pleasant restaurant on the riverbank with large windows letting in the light. The food is spectacular and quite elaborate, but it’s noticeable in the price (€25). Still, it’s worth it for the views and the quality.
How to get to Wroclaw?
Wroclaw is not particularly well-connected to Spanish cities, which means that you have to stop over in another European city. Some options are Milan, London or Paris, however, it is best to make a stopover in Kraków or Warsaw, where flights are more regular. The trip takes about 5 hours.
From Wroclaw airport, you can reach the city centre in several ways:
- Bus: line 106 takes 35 minutes and runs every 20 minutes. It runs between 5:30 and 23:30, and costs 70 cents.
- Taxi: It takes about 20 minutes to get to the centre and costs €13.
- Hire a car: At the airport you can rent a car, which is a good option if you’re travelling around the country. Most hotels include parking as well.
Travel tips to Wroclaw
- The currency in Wroclaw is the Polish zloty (PLN).
- If you are travelling from a country with a different currency, we recommend that you exchange currency in advance.
- The best time to visit Wroclaw is from May to September, when temperatures are milder.
- There’s no Roaming in Poland, so you can use the internet on your mobile phone without any problems.
- The city is safe, but as with any tourist destination, it’s best to be careful with your belongings.
- Be prepared for medical emergencies: travel with insurance.
- It’s frowned upon not to tip in restaurants.
- In Wroclaw you are fined for crossing the street when the traffic lights are closed or where there is no zebra crossing.
- You can’t drink in the street.
Organise your trip to Wroclaw
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Find the inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the stops that interest you most, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates according to your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the modifications you need, and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend to other travellers what to see in Wroclaw.
If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently asked questions when travelling to Wroclaw
The best time is from May to September, when the weather is warmest. In winter it is very cold and even snowing, however, there are fewer tourists and the Christmas markets are nice to visit.
The Polish zloty is used throughout Poland. At the exchange rate, 1 euro is equivalent to 4.6 zloty. Euro payments are not accepted in shops and restaurants but can be exchanged in many places in the city.
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