21 Things To See In Wroclaw, the Unique City of Poland

Looking for things to see in Wroclaw? Then, you have come to the right place. And if there is a city in Poland that’s unique, it has to be Wroclaw.

First of all, it’s a challenge to get the city’s name right. Pronounced as ‘Vrots Wahf’, it takes a while to pronounce the name at least close to right.

Until then, you’ll have to take the gentle chiding by the city dwellers.

And once you get to the heart of the town, the magnificent island, postcard-perfect old town, the seemingly ever-energetic students, and all the colours will enchant you. 

So in a day or two, Wroclaw has you.

By the time you head home, it’ll be one of the cities of Poland that you would vow to come back.

In this post, I am going to show how you can fall in love with the city bit-by-bit, taking you through some of the awesome things to see in Wroclaw.

Things to See in Wroclaw

1. Admire the gorgeous Wroclaw Market Square

One of the obvious things that you would be doing is to explore the market square, which is the heart of the town.

Declared as one of the most beautiful market squares in Europe, this is the second-largest market square in Poland after the Main Square in Krakow.

But what I loved the most is how this historical centre is a modern, chic neighbourhood.

Some of the best Wroclaw hotels, cafes, pubs, shops and restaurants are located here.

I just checked out the parallel streets running around the square, and these cobbled streets are as lovely as the market square itself.

If you want to know more about Wroclaw tourist attractions, it’s best that you first head to Wroclaw tourism office in this part of the town, where you could get a free tourist map of Wroclaw with all the details.

If you are looking for some great guided tours, check these below.

Wroclaw: 2-Hour Tour of Old Town

Wroclaw: Old Town Highlights Private Walking Tour

2. Go back in time on the Cathedral Island

Wroclaw is synonymous with Ostrów Tumski, the oldest part of the city with a history dating back to the 10th century. It is one of the best things to see in Wroclaw.

As soon as you exit the old town, the pretty Oder river beckons to unveil its other side.

Cross the bridge(famous as the lover’s bridge) to stroll the cobbled streets lined with old traditional gas lamps.

Did you know? This is the only place in the city where a lamplighter lights these gas lamps manually every evening.

What catches your senses would be the splendid Gothic Cathedral with its spires.

Get lost in time as you walk past the oldest building of the city – the church of St Giles, Archdiocese Museum, manicured gardens and the bridges.

3. Go Dwarf Hunting

Another thing which you could only do in Wroclaw is to look for the gnomes. Going dwarf hunting is one of the best Wroclaw activities that I enjoyed a lot.

To give you a background, Wroclaw is home to more than 350 dwarf statues that are found in the most unusual places that you could expect them.

Why were there made? They were symbols of fun as well as peaceful resistance as a part of the solidarity movement against the communist regime.

This movement even had a name, called the Orange Underground.

Today, gnome hunting is one of the fun things to see in Wroclaw. Wroclaw gnomes are not very difficult to find once you understand where to find them.

To help you get started with gnome hunting, head to the Wroclaw tourist information centre and grab a copy of Wroclaw dwarfs map.

Download the Wroclaw dwarfs map in pdf format here. Or if you prefer less work, then join a dwarf tour to find them with an expert guide.

3. Go where the locals shop, to Hala Targowa market

As a part of a free walking tour, I went to Hala Targowa, which is the city’s local market.

This market has everything in one place – from souvenirs, vegetables, cafes, local food to groceries, meat and flowers.

If local markets interest you, you know where to head to while in Wroclaw.

Hala Targowa Market timings: Closed on Sundays. Monday – Saturday: 8 AM – 6:30 PM

4. Marvel the architecture of Hala Stulecia (Centennial Hall)

Listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006, Hala Stulecia or the Centennial Hall Wroclaw is a tribute to the fascinating combination of traditional and modern architecture.

The 65m dome looks befitting at the centre of the hall, which was initially built to host trade fairs.

Many musical concerts are held here now. Hala Stulecia is one of the best things to see in Wroclaw.

Hala Stulecia timings: 10 AM to 6 PM every day
Entry fees: 12 PLN(normal)

5. Check out the famous Wroclaw University

Constructed during the early 17th century, Wroclaw University is what makes the students from all over the world to Wroclaw.

Not only does the university boasts of rich history, but its location amidst the beautiful traditional buildings in the old town also makes it further interesting.

This exquisite Baroque-style designed university has given 9 Nobel prize winners to the world.

Check out the Oratorium Marianum music hall, Mathematical tower and the Leopoldinum Hall, the best parts of Wroclaw University.

If you are looking to explore Krakow, one of the most popular cities in Poland, check this post to find out all the free things to do in Krakow.

6. The Wrocław Zoo

The Wrocław Zoo is the oldest and the largest zoo in Poland. With more than 10,000 animals belonging to 1000+ species, The Zoo is also the third-largest zoo in the world.

You can easily spend half a day at least here, watching the variety of animals inhabiting.

If you are traveling with kids, you should definitely add it to your list of Wroclaw sights.

The Wrocław Zoo timings: 9 AM to 4 PM
The Wrocław Zoo entry fees: 50 PLN(regular)

7. Wrocław Fountain

If you are in Wroclaw during summer, don’t forget to check out the Wrocław Fountain, a multimedia musical fountain and an ornamental pond.

During the summer months between May to October, there are music, light and water shows depicting various folklore, history and cultural stories.

Even better if you are visiting on weekends as there are brilliant light shows as well.

The best part is you can watch them for free! Check out more details about the fountain here.

More Things to See in Wroclaw

If you have more time or if you want to explore off the beaten track, then here are some more things for your Wroclaw attractions.

8. Have a look at Panorama Racławicka

The Battle of Racławice, an uprising against Russia in the late 18th century, is an important event in Polish history. The Panorama Raclawicka is a beautiful painting depicting the same.

This massive painting stands out not only because of its size.

Due to the unique painting and lighting techniques, which brings out history through its vivid colours, the painting is a spectacle.

Panorama Racławicka timings: Closed on Mondays. 9 AM to 4:30 PM other days.
Panorama Racławicka entry fees: 30 PLN(normal ticket)

9. Explore Wrocław Główny Train Station

Although it might sound strange, I’d recommend the main train station as one of the things to see in Wroclaw.

Painted in an all-bright-yellow, this ancient building is a piece of architecture.

It’s almost hard to take it for a railway station, thanks to its fine built. Stop for a while here before you hop on to your city.

10. Have some at Trampoline & Water Adventure

If you traveling in Wroclaw during summer or just want to do something off the beat, you could indulge in adventurous fun at Aquapark.

Aquapark Wroclaw is a theme park with water and land games and is quite popular among the locals. So you might probably hardly find many travelers here.

There are various swimming pools, lazy river, Halodarium and Tepidarium, and many kinds of slides. Check the timings and prices on their website here.

The other fun activity to try is Trampolim jumping. Popular among the locals as Jump World Wroclaw/ Go Jump Wroclaw, visit this Go Jump Trampoline Park for some fun! Check here for all the details.

11. Visit the lovely Football Stadium (Stadion Miejski)

If you are into Football, you would probably be knowing about this already. Even otherwise, this stadium is worth a visit during your Wrocław trip.

The stadium has a capacity of more than 40,000. You might even get lucky to witness a match involving the local team Śląsk Wrocław.

12. The White Stork Synagogue

The White Stork is the only synagogue in Wrocław, which is a bit obscure to find. It is surrounded by chic cafes and bars today.

But history has an important place for this synagogue as this was the place where the Jewish were rounded up and sent to death camps during World War II.

13. Get a bird view of Wroclaw from the Sky Tower

Witnessing a panoramic view of the city is one of the top things to see in Wroclaw, right? Check out Poland’s tallest building, the Sky Tower.

With 51 floors, you can imagine the view that you would get of Wroclaw.

Go straight to the public viewing floor on the 49th level to enjoy the skyline and pretty views of Wroclaw.

Sky Tower timings: 9 AM to 9 PM every day.
Sky Tower entry fees: 18 PLN

14. Look out for some lovely street art

If you love street art as I do, you would love Wroclaw’s neighbourhood Nadodrze, north of old town. Hipster Wroclaw comes alive in the form of numerous murals that adorn the walls of the streets, including many neon signs.

The wall art is especially vibrant and active because of the young population. You could even head to the Polish Poster Gallery that showcases the history of alternative Wroclaw.

Editor’s note: 21 Amazing Day Trips From Warsaw

15. Feel the Grandeur at The Royal Palace

One of the amazing things to see in Wroclaw is its grand past.

The Royal Palace of Wroclaw is home to some of the city’s best attractions, the important one being the Historical Museum of Wrocław.

Also called as Wroclaw Museum, it houses the collection including the permanent exhibition – 1000 years of Wroclaw.

The Royal Palace timings: Closed on Mondays. 10 AM to 5 PM other days.
Entry fees: Free entry to the permanent exhibition at Wroclaw Museum. Temporary exhibition – 15 PLN.

16. Visit the Old City Prison

On my free walking tour, our guide took us to what looked like a trendy pub. Not only did it look so lovely with its medieval look, but the pub also included a courtyard!

As we all wondered, he announced that we had arrived at Wroclaw’s old prison.

A medieval prison for notorious offenders in the 14th century, this place is now one of the coolest places to hang out, especially for university students, thanks to its proximity. If you have a good eye, you’ll also spot a dwarf in jail.

Editor’s note: If you are looking for day trips, Check these 17 Awesome day trips from Wroclaw that you can plan

17. Take a tour of Wroclaw Telecommunication Museum

How about visiting a medieval post office? Now known as Wroclaw Telecommunication Museum, this place is where the postal service in Poland was kickstarted, way back in the 16th century.

How cool is that, right?

Wroclaw Telecommunication Museum timings: Closed on Mondays. 10 AM to 4 PM.
Entry fees: Regular – 10 PLN; Reduced – 8 PLN. On Saturdays, admission is free.

18. Shop at Wroclaw Dominikanska Gallery

One of the best places to shop in Wroclaw is Dominikanska Gallery, which is so huge that you could easily spend almost a day!

19. Go on a gastronomic feast

Wroclaw is home to all kinds of cuisines including Vegan, vegetarian, Turkish or Italian.

But what you should not miss trying are all the delicious Polish dishes.

Whether you want the cheapest food at local milk bars or indulge in fine dining, Wroclaw has all types of eateries and restaurants for every budget.

If you are looking for milk bars, most of them are around the university.

Whether you are traveling on a budget or not, you should try visiting a milk bar for scrumptious Polish food at least once.

You pay according to the weight of what you pick, and it’s total value for money.

Some of the milkbars that I just loved are Bar Mleczny Miś, MishMash, Mewa, Krowka Bar and Bazylia.

Check out this guided Polish food tour if you want recommendations from a local expert

20. Explore the Water Museum Hydropolis

Hydropolis is one of the unique kind of centres in Europe.

As their website says, this is a centre to show water from various fascinating perspectives, which they have accomplished through diverse multimedia technologies, interactive installations, faithful replicas and models.

You’ll love this interactive museum as it can never bore you.

Hydropolis timings: 9 AM to 6 PM
Hydropolis entry fees: 27 PLN

Editor’s note: 35 Unusual Things To Do In Warsaw

21. Stroll around the many parks in Wroclaw

During the summer, all the green spaces come alive in the city. One of the best things to see in Wroclaw during this time is the park.

You can find people having picnics amidst the many gardens in the city.

Szczytnicki Park, the largest park in the city is the most popular among the parks as well.

The Japanese garden is the most visited section in this park, where the Japanese tradition and architecture can be seen. This heritage-listed park is home to many beautiful flowers.

The other gardens worth checking out are Ossolineum Gardens Wroclaw, Park Juliusza Słowackiego, Parc Południowy and Park Stanislaus Tołpa.

Not exactly a park, but Slodowa Island, located in the centre of Wroclaw, is one of the most popular neighbourhoods with cafes and bars.

Many festivals occur in this area making it an interesting area to explore.

22. Experience the laidback Wroclaw nightlife

Thanks to the youngsters in the city, the nightlife in Wroclaw is interesting enough for the tourists.

It’s not as active as Krakow, but you have enough clubs, bars and pubs serving the best food, alcohol and music.

RECOMMENDED GUIDED AND PRIVATE TOURS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT IN WROCLAW

How to get to Wroclaw?

Flights: Wroclaw airport is a busy one connecting the city to many of its European neighboring cities. It’s the easiest and also could be a cheaper option if planned well.

If you are coming from outside of Poland, you could fly to Warsaw and take a bus or a train to Wroclaw. The other way around, flying from Wroclaw to Warsaw also is a feasible option.

Trains: For those looking to travel cheaply without compromising on comfort, the train is the way. There are excellent train options from Warsaw to Wroclaw, Krakow to Wroclaw or Poznan.

There are several types of trains varying in price. Check them here to book.

You could also add Wroclaw as a stopover city while traveling between Prague and Warsaw.

Buses: There are buses from the main cities like Dresden, Prague and Berlin to Wroclaw.

Within Poland, you could travel to Wroclaw by bus as well. One of the operators includes Flixbus, which run buses to most cities in Europe.

Getting Around Wroclaw

Most of the old town area and the islands are best to be explored through walking.

If that’s not your preference, then hop on any of those trams or buses.

There is a Wroclaw transport card that would give you access to all the buses & trams.

You can buy these passes at the station. Check more details here.

Wroclaw Travel Card

If you are spending more than 2 days and intend to cover most of the attractions, you can probably opt for a Wroclaw tourist card.

It’s worth buying if you plan to visit Museums and other places with tickets as you would get discounts.

However, if you plan to just cover a few attractions or travel on your own, it’s not worth buying.

OTHER POSTS THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO CHECK OUT

Gdansk Travel Guide – The Best Things to Do in Gdansk
Malbork Castle – How to plan a day trip to Malbork Castle from Gdansk

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