19 Unique Things To Do In Wroclaw Poland – Perfect For a First Visit!

Wroclaw, now the 3rd largest city of Poland, and capital of Lower Silesia is a delight architecturally, has a wonderful riverside vibe, and offers delicious traditional foods served with a modern twist.

Walking around, it’s hard to understand why this super-friendly city isn’t emblazoned on the covers of travel magazines.

We’ve traveled around much of Poland from the northern coastal city of Gdańsk, through the gorgeous Lake District. Over many separate trips, we’ve explored Warsaw, atmospheric Krakow, and Poznan so have a great feel for independent travel throughout the country.

Ranked as one of the best Polish cities to live in, Wroclow is also one of the nicest to visit with countless unique things to do which will fill up your days!

Oh and before we go any further – this is how to pronounce Wroclaw in English phonetically – ‘wrots waf ’!

Where is Wroclaw Poland

Wroclaw has a great location in the western part of Poland. The river Oder flows through the city, creating several islands!

Driving distance to Wroclaw is 220 miles from Warsaw and 168 miles from Krakow. Useful to know if you’re interested in combining any of these Polish cities on your trip. The population is around 650,000 and local people we met told us they love their city and way of life.

19 Great Things to Do in Wroclaw 

Imagine starting your day heading to a vast old town square, full of city life with a stunning cathedral, ornate city hall, cafes, and restaurants.

Cross one of the many bridges from the ‘mainland’ and you’re on a tiny island. Sail on a small riverboat and you will have a completely different city experience.

Some islands have beaches and nightlife; others are home to century-old cathedrals! With descriptions of Wroclaw as the ‘City of Islands’ and ‘Poland’s Venice’, this is a city that is easy on the eye and wonderful to walk around.

The food and entertainment are pretty good too. Here’s our list of 19 of the best things to do in Wroclaw based on our time here. We know these will help make your trip here a fabulous one!

1. Rynek – Old Town Market Square

Coming to the old market square is a perfect relaxing start to any first day in Wroclaw. There must be a cafe for every day of the month to choose from!

Meander around, take your pick, sit near the front with a little overhead shade if it’s summer, and simply enjoy watching the city come to life.

As you sit, it’s hard to take in the scale and aesthetic of this fantastic square which is one of the largest across Europe today. It’s so big that it was tough getting the view in full into a photo 🙂

Its market origins date back to the 12th century but over the centuries the square has been rebuilt and revitalized. The gorgeous baroque-style buildings we see today have been largely reconstructed after their destruction during World War 2.

Although the bank on one of the corners looks like a drab modern misfit, this building is 100 years old! Across from here, check out the glass fountain, a recent addition in 2000 which is particularly pretty at night, when lit up.

There are tourist information spots around the square, souvenir shops and a classic Department Store called Feniks – worth peeking into!

2. Wroclaw’s Town Hall

Wrocław’s Town Hall sits in its Gothic glory, almost as if to remind passersby that with a 66-meter-high tower it is still in charge, overseeing old town square life. The tower houses an intricate astronomical wall clock full of artistic flair that is without doubt the centerpiece.

Check out the statues that adorn this building – while they reflect different social standings, we learned that the actual faces were from real people around the city – cool!

Inside, you have the Museum of Bourgeois Art to explore; also a good spot to head for cooler temperatures or if it’s raining.

Beneath the town hall is where you will find the historic restaurant called Piwnica Świdnicka, dating back to the 13th century.

Pop in for a beer at the Gothic brewery here or try the restaurant. We found it a little pricey but the food was good and, well it’s not often we eat at the oldest restaurant in town!

Enjoy A Coffee or Beer In Salt Market Square

Just adjacent to the Town Hall, you will spot another smaller square which today is a 24-hour flower market.

We heard stories of the market being open to make sure late-night revelers were able to buy a bunch of fresh flowers on their way home as a peace offering 🙂

Well whatever the reason, it’s a cute market and although smaller in size, worth a walk around. Why is it called Salt Market?

Well, back in the Middle Ages, salt was a precious commodity and was transported through here to all over Europe and beyond. Wroclaw was a major trading city and this square was where the wheeling and dealing happened!

The square has a quieter vibe today and we highly recommend it for breakfast. You can eat at several outdoor cafes and enjoy a first-class cappuccino, tea, or smoothie. There are many excellent coffee shops throughout Wroclaw!

For later in the day, check out the Prosecco Oyster Bar just across the street from the main flower sellers. Open 1 pm until 11 pm. If you find the main square just a little too busy at night, pop over here. It’s a delightful part of town.

4. Book a Free Wrocław Walking Tour

Wroclaw is perfectly set up for meandering around on your own. However, to get a sense of the turbulent and fascinating 1,000 years of life here, we suggest a FREE Wroclaw Walking Tour.

Local guides offer great insights and tips in terms of what’s going on while you’re in town too. There are several Free Walking Tours Run By Walkative that we’ve personally enjoyed and highly recommend. Book in advance to avoid the hassle of doing this on arrival.

Walkative’s Wroclaw Dwarf tour is a fascinating concept. As you walk, your guide reveals hidden messages embedded in these little ‘creatures’ used to project views during socialist times. More on these little fellows below 🙂

Alternatively, if you are a bit of a foodie and interested in Polish food, consider a Wroclaw Food Tour.  This one is a little pricey at 385 Plz (£80) but you get fed very well!

5. St Elizabeth’s Church Tower – 300 Steps City View

We stayed in the Art Hotel directly across from this magnificent church. This is another example of Gothic glorious architecture from the 14th century. It suffered several fires, most recently in 1976. The restoration took over 20 years.

If you thought the Old Town Hall tower was tall, this one peaks at 91 meters. You can climb up 300 steps and enjoy far reaching city views.

Walk to this church from the main square and you will likely pass under the miniature ‘Hansel and Gretel’ homes (Jas and Malgosia), connected by an arch. So cute – am sure the Grimm Brothers would be amused by this!

6. Go Gnome/Dwarf Statue Hunting!

Okay, this might sound a little strange but one of our favourite things to do in Wroclaw was to spot these tiny statues that fill up the city with their antics!

There are over 1000 hiding in full view so just keep your eyes peeled.

As travel bloggers, we had to mention our 2 favourites: Arcik The Traveller (at the Art Hotel), and this hard-working travel blogger with PC in tow 🙂

So why are these gnomes/dwarfs here? Well, during socialist times, specifically in the 1980s, there was limited freedom of expression. Any attempts to protest were usually thwarted, so the gnomes were used by the ‘Orange Movement’ to get a message across.

Government officials were not happy but felt embarrassed to be removing little statues and so they survived and thrived! They are amazing and if you pause and study them, their messages range from the light hearted to pretty serious!

7. Be wowed by Wroclaw University’s Oratorium Marianum, Aula Leopoldina & Mathematicians Balcony

The university here was established back in 1702 by Emperor Leopoldo I. It’s a very long and narrow building – look at it sideways and you will see what we mean!

This is no ordinary building with decor that is befitting of a royal palace anywhere in Europe. Even the entrance has a major ‘wow’ factor!

On the first floor, enter the Oratorium Marianum and you will instantly feel you are somewhere special. Designed as a chapel, it has been a concert hall for over 200 years and the famous composer Brahms even performed here.

In fact, groups often rehearse here. If there is a performance on while you are visiting, we would highly recommend going. They tend to last no more than an hour.

Head up the ‘imperial stairs’ and you will discover the Aula Leopoldina which is covered in sculptures, portraits, frescos.

We can’t imagine this being a classroom but it was and you will see the auditorium, a stage and balcony. Even if you are not a religious person, the art in this room blows your mind!

After you have seen these incredible rooms, climb up to the Mathematicians Tower, stopping along the way to check out the ‘time’ measurement instruments through the ages that are on display here – we loved the sundials.

Climb up one more flight, step outside and the city rooftops greet you from all directions. It’s another fantastic vista for photographers. You can look over the river as well and far into the suburbs of Wroclaw.

The 4 figures on the roof, one on each corner, represent philosophy, law, theology and medicine.

8. Browse Hala Tagowa – Wroclaw Market Hall

You can potter around this lively market of local produce and goods. Seasonal local fruit is in abundance and delicious.

Next enjoy a coffee or lunch at the excellent Targowa Brewery & Restaurant right outside. They offer an excellent selection of beers, and very upbeat and friendly staff. In fact, everywhere in Wroclaw people are so friendly and kind!

Sitting here you look over at one of the oldest bridges in Wroclaw. Piaskowy (Sand) Bridge (1861), now stands with steel rivets although it was originally made from wood.

Head over the bridge to visit Ostrow Tumski (Cathedral Island) and actually discover 4 different churches all nested together within several meters.

9. Visit Ostrow Tumski (Cathedral island) & Maybe Spot The Lamplighter

As you cross the bridge and ‘land’ on Cathedral island, you’re standing where the city of Wroclaw was born. It’s the religious and historic heart and small, so easy to explore walking around on as part of a city tour. We did both!

The cathedral of St John the Baptist is an icon of the city with its double spires. Go to the northern entrance to find the winding staircase up to the chapel of St Florian.

If climbing stairs for views isn’t possible for you, this one has an elevator for the most part! Apart from the newer Sky Tower, this is the higher viewpoint in town at 55 metres!

In contrast, the almost miniature looking St Martin’s Church is the final remnant from a 13th century Royal Palace that stood on this spot. There is a huge statue of Pope John XXIII in front of it.

Keep walking and you will discover more around this tiny island. And we suggest you return around 20 minutes before sunset! Why??

Well, you may spot a person dressed in a black cloak lighting up old gas lamps on the island. It’s a fun thing to see and the only other city that still has this type of lighting that we know of is Zagreb, the capital of Croatia.

There aren’t many restaurants or nightlife options on this island area so once you’ve spied the gaslighter at work, head back across the bridge for dinner!

10. Cruise An E-Boat on River Oder

The Sand Bridge area (Most Piaskowy) is where you can catch a boat cruise in Wroclaw. There are a range of cruises and boat trips to take for an hour or so while you are visiting. Just head to the jetty and pick your vessel!

We suggest that you head for the smaller boats because the larger ones cannot get into the narrower channels around the University and Słodowa Island.

Alternatively, you can go to Gondola Bay (Zatoka Gondoli) and rent a kayak or small (4 person) motor boat and sail yourself around the river.

Travel on a planet friendly small catamaran ‘e-boat’ or enjoy a Sunset Boat Tour Around Wroclaw! 

These small vessels are quiet with no noisy engines and extremely relaxing with only 5 passengers on board when we went! This river is well used and so there’s quite a bit to see both from and on the water.

As you cruise along, the captain will point out areas of the city and give his or her perspective on life in Wrocław. In our case, he spoke in English.

Audio guides available in Polish, German, French, Spanish and Italian. Some trips are seasonal, running from April to September.

11. Party on Slodowa Island/Beach Bars

What – there’s a beach scene in Wroclaw???

Yes, and perhaps not such a surprise given all the rivers, canals and tributaries that form this city of islands. Couple this with a lively student population and you can always find yourself a party in this area of the city.

However, don’t expect wide sweeping beaches, it’s more strips of riverside often with a large park and shaded picnic areas next to them.

There are also quieter areas on the island where you can simply lounge on a floating deckchair and enjoy a refreshing drink. Small boats, and city life spills onto the river around you.

Head here late afternoon for a sunset cocktail and mingle with residents and visitors alike. This will be busier during term time obviously but we feel it’s one of those ‘must do’ experiences.

Other popular sunset spots in Wroclaw include the observation deck of Sky Bar, The luxury Bridge Hotel and Xawery.

12. Marvel at Raclawicka Panorama

Whether you are an art lover or not, this is an incredible piece of history. The Panorama is a massive painting (15 x 114 metres)!! Tours are offered on the hour within the bespoke built rotunda building.

You are led through a dark passageway until you reach a circular dome. Finally, climb up a set of short steps and the 360 degree masterpiece engulfs the room! It was only returned to Poland in 1948 after it was hidden away during the war.

Although its theme is war and gruesome battles, there is a 3D quality to this work that is remarkable. You can get a free QR code to play a narration of the painting, section by section, and it’s absolutely worth doing this.

13. St Mary’s Magdalene Church Penitent Tower

We love the folklore stories that seem to abound in Wroclaw! Head to the twin towers of this church and climb up the 281 narrow winding steps to the top which is 45 metres high.

At the top, you will exit to a narrow walkway between these towers, with yes, you guessed it, a couple more dwarf statues. These ones tell the story of Tekla, a girl who felt all she should do in life was to have fun, wear beautiful dresses and never work.

Fed up of her lazy attitude, the story goes that her father cursed her, condemning her to a life stuck up in Petinent Tower. You have to visit to see how the story ends (hint- it’s a happy one – eventually!)

There are at least 4 spots within Wroclaw where you can bag yourself amazing views of the rooftops and beyond. We’ve already mentioned 3 of them.

The newest one is the Sky Tower (49th Floor). It is more expensive to visit and somehow just doesn’t feel as authentic and cool as the others we suggest in our activities in Wroclaw.

14. Wroclaw Riverside Food Festival

We stumbled upon this sprawling food festival quite by accident but so glad we did. Around 50 food trucks and stalls park up along the river side and offer freshly cooked food from almost every imaginable cuisine.

Deck chairs and tables with benches are set up on the grassy banks and you can select your meal, order a wine and just relax. Amazing too that wines which were local were served in proper glasses! People were trusted to return them to the vendor when done – loved this experience. Don’t miss it!

These fun stalls highlight the quality of produce and foods on offer across the city and are a welcome change from sitting in restaurants when it’s warm.

15. Hala Stulecia (Centennial Hall) & Four Domes Pavillion

Originally called the People’s Hall, Wrocław’s Centennial Hall has been a national treasure since its opening in 1913. Designed by Max Berg, it defied construction engineering boundaries of the day with the largest reinforced concrete roof in the world at the time, holding 10,000 people.

It’s well worth taking a tram trip out to this part of town to see this venue. A UNESCO heritage site, you also see the Four Domes Pavilion, colonnade and fountain pond.

The hall’s scale and architecture is unique given when it was built and it’s a relaxing part of the city. Today the hall is used for exhibitions, major opera performances and sports events.

In front of the main doors, is a huge steel spire which may appear a little out of place at first glance. However, this was installed in July 1948 as part of the ‘Regained Territories Exhibition.’

The hall is just on the edge of Szczytnicki Park so when you’re here also visit the Japanese Gardens and/or Wroclaw Zoo.

16. Enjoy A Unique Multimedia Fountain Show

If you come here to see the Centennial Hall, Japanese Gardens or Zoo, do stay for the evening fountain show. It’s spectacular and such a unique experience in Wroclaw. Around 300 fountains shoot water up to 40 meters high and over 800 LED lights dance as music is played.

The show takes place literally next to the Centennial Hall. Head to the terraced seating area right in front of the fountains to sit, relax over dinner and drinks.

These are the perfect tables to hang around to watch the evening performance. We stayed for all 3 as the shows do differ throughout the evening in terms of the music genre and lighting mix.

17. Check out the Animals at Jatki

This narrow street is full of local artisans and galleries and as you walk by, you perhaps only see the art. However, this used to be quite the street in town.

Not only was Jatki a city social center of some notoriety in the middle ages, it was also where the city abattoir was. Residents would come here from around town to buy their meat and oil to light their house lamps.

Stalls would be on the ground floor and the butchers would live above – can you imagine? Reconstructed after WW2, there is a nod to the poor animals who met their fate here in the Jatki Slaughtered Animals Memorial.

18. Check Out The Cool Wroclaw Bridges

There are around 12 islands in Wroclaw so to connect them there are over 100 bridges that cross the Oder River, its tributaries and canals. Check out some of the more popular ones like Tumski, Grunwaldzki and Pomorskis.

Many of these older bridges were erected for trade into/out of the city and you will come across them as you explore the city. Look out for the gnomes as you cross each bridge! Look up and down on the river banks too as they hide in quite unusual spots around town.

Tumski (Cathedral) Bridge was built in 1892. For many years this was the ‘lovers’ bridge with estimates of 40,000 padlocks attached. However, the weight was a risk to the integrity of the bridge so they were relocated some years ago. Some pop back on and every couple of weeks are removed!

Looks like one of the gnomes is also helping out these days!

19. Eat Dinner On Market Square & Stroll to Partisan Hill

Partisan Hill re-opened in June 2024 and it is a pleasant destination for an evening stroll. Walk up to the upper terrace and enjoy the views and fountains. It’s a very popular photo-spot too!

Combining a dinner in the atmospheric market square with this walk around town is a perfect way to wind down after a busy day.

Of course, if you prefer a more energetic nightlife, Wroclaw won’t disappoint. With thousands of students, you’re going to find almost every type of entertainment!

Check online for concerts, festivals and events while you’re in town. In June, Europe on a Fork Fest is popular and in July an International Film Festival.

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Where to Stay in Wroclaw

Wroclaw has a range of hotels to choose from in the city centre or within walking distance of the charismatic center. It is also possible to rent a place for longer stays – especially in summer when many students have left the city! Book ahead for college accommodation!

If you choose a central hotel, you will never be far from a tram stop and your hotel or host can provide you with directions if needed.

📍Budget Option: B&B Hotel

Clean and in a good location, the rooms are perhaps more functional but this offers good value. It’s only a 5 min walk to the main town and 10 mins to the train station.

📍Mid Budget Option: Art Hotel

Tucked into the city center, this historic yet modern hotel reflects a love of art and travel in its decor. It’s so central – you will be no more than 5 minutes walk into the town square.

They boast there are over 100 restaurants, cafes, and nightlife spots nearby. We have personally stayed here and loved it!

📍Luxury Option: Hotel Altus Palace – Destigo Hotels

5-star luxury – you are still close to town, but in a more tranquil riverside location, so this is a perfect place to splash out and take full advantage of top-class service.

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Wroclaw – Helpful Travel Basics

So now you have a great list of things to do in Wroclaw, we want to help you with a few other important travel basics from our time here.

Getting To Wroclaw

Being in Central Europe, it’s fairly easy to travel to Wroclaw. The airport is only 9km from the city and has plenty of low cost carrier airlines flying in.

Wizz Air and Ryanair are 2 main ones but LOT (Polish) have good connections too. If you’re coming from the USA, you can fly to Warsaw and connect directly to Wroclaw.

You can also arrive by train from Germany, Czechia and of course from around Poland. We have also traveled between Wroclaw & Prague (Czechia) by Flixbus (4 hours with border/ bathroom stop) – easy and great value.

Tips for Getting Around Wroclaw

For most of the things to do in Wroclaw that we recommend, the city is extremely walkable. The only exception is getting out to the Centennial Park area but the tram is efficient and easy to navigate!

Weather in Wroclaw – What To Expect

In the summer months, Wroclaw is one of the warmest cities in Poland, due to its south west location. However, we feel it’s a great year round destination and quite magical in the run up to Christmas!

Spring is always a beautiful time to explore the city (May) and of course, September if you prefer a slightly cooler temperature but still warm weather. That said, we visited in mid July and it was wonderful!

Wroclaw City Culture

Wrocław’s history is long and tumultuous. From early in the 10th century, it was prominent as the capital of Silesia but was destroyed in the mid 1200s. After being rebuilt, it belonged to Bohemia, followed by Habsburg rule in the 1520s.

Prussia then controlled Wroclaw until Germany took over and called it Breslau. During WW2, it was besieged by Soviet troops but finally declared as part of Poland in the Potsdam Conference of 1945.

The city also was once a walled one, but these were torn down by Napoleon. The legacy of this mix of rulers shows through in architecture which has a strong German influence but today this is a modern vibrant Polish city!

FAQs

Is Wroclaw An Expensive City To Visit?

Not at all compared to other cities in Europe or the USA, Canada etc. Main costs will be your accommodation so select a central location that fits with your budget and you won’t have any transport costs during your stay.

Entry to most sights in this post is reasonable with discounts for 60+ and children. Eating out is excellent value and portions are generous.

If you are watching your budget, supplement meals out with a visit to the market hall in Wroclaw! Here you can buy fresh fruits and local freshly baked breads to pair with cheese for picnics by the riverside or within any of the city parks.

How Many Days in Wroclaw Is Enough?

At a minimum come for 3 full days. There is so much to see around the city but also come to relax and enjoy the parks, riverside and food.

If you have 4-5 days here, consider a trip out of town to Swidnica (51km south west). It’s a small town of 60,000 with a beautiful market square and cathedral!

Which is Better – Krakow or Wroclaw?

Krakow and Wroclaw are very different cities. If you have never visited Poland, Krakow is a great choice with its world renowned beauty and history. That said, it’s not difficult to combine Krakow and Wrocław into a 2-city trip and then you don’t have to choose.

If you prefer a city that gives you a taste of Poland without as many crowds and a less expensive destination, Wroclaw could be the perfect first timers city to visit.

A couple of other great European city breaks in Eastern Europe to consider are in Bulgaria and Bosnia. Check out our suggestions for 3 days in Sofia. Also, take a look at beautiful Sarajevo which is absolutely worth visiting. We have a perfect itinerary combining Sarajevo and Mostar for you to delve into!

Is It Safe to Visit Poland?

In our view yes! Poland is part of the European Union (EU) and it is a modern open society. At no time in our travels over the years across Poland have we felt unsafe. Just use common sense late at night and check with your hotel or host whether there are any parts of town to stay away from.

If you want alerts around public safety, sign up with your government overseas alert service before you leave home.

What is the food like in Wroclaw?

From our time in Poland and after many meals with Polish relatives over the years, we can confirm that the cuisine is fresh, creative and as good as anywhere you will find.

There is a traditional use of dumplings in different guises and some dishes can feel heavy. But take the simple pierogi – you can find delicious vegan varieties as well as more traditional flavours. Polish food, in our view, is very contemporary without losing its traditional ingredient base.

Don’t be afraid to try small cafes where residents eat away from the main square for better prices and often higher quality foods. Some of the best food is in Nadodrze district like little Bar Pierozek.

Polish vodka is described as the crispest there is and drunk to cut through the heavier cuisine in days gone by. We also loved the local ciders and must say Polish wine is fresh, easy to drink and very reasonably priced.

Wroclaw – Wrap Up

Whether you are here as part of a longer trip around Poland, or just for a few days city break, you will be astounded by the mix of things to do in Wroclaw. Jump in and enjoy all that this energetic European city has to offer.

While cities like Wroclaw are currently lesser known as destinations, they are some of the most interesting and fun places around Europe today.