It’s probably the best guide to Wroclaw that you can possibly find.
We spent 2 days on searching for the best places to visit, and then we spent 2 weeks in the city and around. Being native Poles, it was easier for us to discover truly unique spots of Lower Silesian Voivodeship. You will find everything that you need in this article, including top things to do in Wroclaw, where to stay, where to eat in Wroclaw, what are the recommended day trips from the city, and much more.
| Wroclaw Country | Poland, European Union |
| Wroclaw Currency | Polish Zloty (PLN). Use Multicurrency Card while traveling to reduce the fees. |
| Wroclaw Population | 640,000 4th largest city in Poland. |
| Wroclaw Location | South-Western Poland, close to the border with Germany and Czechia. |
| Wroclaw Airport | WRO |
| VPN Poland | Buy online here |
Wroclaw is called ‘Venice of the North’. There are over 300 bridges in the city! Just to compare, you can find 400+ bridges in Venice. The difference is not that big.
For many years, Wroclaw has been a part of Germany. It became a Polish city after World War II, that’s why still many people call it Breslau.
The city was almost completely destroyed during the last three months of the war. It was slowly rising from ashes, and it’s now one of the most vibrant and multicultural places in Poland. It’s the 4th largest city in the country, right after Warszawa, Krakow, and Lodz. Wroclaw is located in southwestern Poland, close to the border with Czechia and Germany.
There are so many awesome things to see in Wroclaw! If you have enough time, you can visit them all by yourself. It’s much easier to join a tour though. The local guide will tell you some interesting stories about the city, and you may have a chance to make new friends.
1. Electric car sightseeing tour
It’s great all year long, even in the wintertime. 30+ places in just 2 hours, with a pick up from your hotel. If you are looking for the Wroclaw weekend itinerary inspiration, that’s definitely the tour you should consider.
Skip the lines and book the tour—> here.
2. Bike tour
Awesome choice when the weather is good. You will not only see the most important places in Wroclaw but also have fun and do some sports.
Save your time and money and book Wroclaw bike tour–> here.
3. Segway tour
A great alternative for Wroclaw walking tours. Traveling by segway is really fun, so you will be able to try something new and explore the city at the same time.
Skip the lines and book Wroclaw segway tour–> here.
4. E-scooter tour
E-scooters are very similar to segways. The only difference is that you don’t need to stand all the time. E-scooters have a seat, so it’s a bit more comfortable to use them.
Book this tour ahead and save–> click here.
For groups–> historic tram tour.
5. Wroclaw walking tour
The easiest way to explore the city is to simply walk around. You will have enough time to take some photos and stop anytime you want.
Skip the lines and book your Wroclaw walking tour–> here.
Old Town
If you wonder what to see in Wroclaw, you should definitely start with the Old Town. It’s where most of the important sights are located. It’s quite big – you can walk around it and still won’t manage to see everything.
I am not writing about all the tourist attractions in the Old Town area, as this post would turn into a book. It’s already long enough! I am only mentioning the places that are (in my opinion) the best to visit.
District of Four Denominations & Mutual Respect
(Dzielnica Czterech Swiatyn)
Did you know that over 80% of Poles are Catholics? When you travel around Poland, you will see churches everywhere, no matter if it’s a big city or a tiny village. It’s not that easy to see other sacral buildings though. That’s what makes the District of Mutual Respect in Wroclaw quite unique. You will find there a synagogue, Roman Catholic, Evangelical, and Orthodox churches.
It’s a symbol of Wroclaw’s tolerance to people of different religions.
Wroclaw Market Square (Rynek)
The landmark of the city, the most important place to visit, a vibrant area full of restaurants, cafes, and people. Wroclaw market square is a must-visit during your stay in the city. If you are traveling to Poland in the winter, it’s where you will find Wroclaw Christmas Market. It’s arguably the best festive fair in the country.
Right in the middle of Rynek, you can see Wrocław town hall. This Gothic building from the 13th century is considered as the top monument in the city. If you want, you can get inside. Right now, there is Wroclaw Museum of Bourgeois Art inside the Wroclaw town hall. It’s open from Wednesday to Sunday. Is it worth visiting? Not really, if you are not that much into history.
Tenement House at Rynek 5 (hidden window)
Even though there are many tenement houses in the Old Town, there is one that is pretty unique. It’s located at Rynek 5 street. It seems pretty ordinary but when you look closely, you will see that one window of the house is fake. It’s actually painted.
If you are traveling to Wroclaw with a family or friends, ask them whether they can spot the painted window.
Plac Solny (Salt Square)
It may be called the little brother of Market Square Wroclaw. It’s located right next to it but it’s usually less crowded than Rynek. In the middle of Plac Solny, there are the stands with flowers open all year round.
It’s easy to guess why the square is named like this – it’s where the salt has been sold throughout the ages. Plac Solny is one of the places to visit in Wroclaw that you simply cannot miss.
Witches Bridge (Penitential Bridge)
Most Pokutnic is the Wroclaw must see attraction. According to the legend, the bridge located on the top of St. Mary Magdalene Church is haunted. It’s a home to the souls of young and reckless girls who haven’t get married on time. They were too carefree during their lives, that’s why they can’t go to heaven now.
The legend is not the reason why it’s worth to climb up to the top of the church of St. Mary Magdalene. It’s the view. Witches bridge is arguably the best viewpoint in Wroclaw.
Before we visited the city, we’ve been reading on different blogs that Sky Tower Wroclaw is where you can get the best view of the city. It’s not true. We’ve been there and we decided not to include it in this post. Sky Tower Wroclaw is a pretty weird place, it’s empty, most of the shops are closed and it’s really difficult to get around. We definitely don’t recommend going there, there so many better Wroclaw things to do.
Admission fee: Adults – 8 PLN ($4), Kids 5 PLN (1.5)
Address: Szewska 10, 50-122 Wrocław
Opening hours: 10 am – 6 pm
St Elizabeth’s Church (Garrison’s Church)
The church, located right next to Rynek, is another amazing viewpoint in Wroclaw. It’s worth climbing up the tower to see Market Square from the above.
Garisson’s is one of the highest churches in Poland, the second highest in Wroclaw.
Admission fee: Adults – 7 PLN ($2), Kids 5 PLN ($1.5)
Address: Swietej Elzbiety 1/2, 50-001 Wroclaw
Opening hours: from April to October, 10 am – 7 pm, closed when it’s raining;
Panorama Raclawicka (Wroclaw Panorama of Raclawice Battle)
Panorama Wroclaw is an amazing painting that is one of the famous landmarks in Poland. It’s really HUGE! Created in the 19th century, it uses what we call today a 3D technology. The painting shows Raclawice Battle and it’s full of interesting details. Panorama Raclawicka is a must see in Wroclaw for everyone, even if you are not that into art.
Admission fee: Adults – 30 PLN ($8), Kids 23 PLN ($6)
Address: Jana Ewangelisty Purkyniego 11, 50-155 Wroclaw
Opening hours: 8 am – 7:30 pm, opening hours may change during the winter; more here
Wroclaw Gnomes (Dwarfs)
Dwarf hunting is one of the best things to do in Wroclaw Poland. There are over 350 gnome statues all around the city. It will take a lot of time to find them all. If you are already at the Old Town area, look around. It’s very likely that you will see these tiny statues closeby.
If you are traveling to Wroclaw with kids, they will absolutely love searching for the dwarfs. Our baby girl was 1 year old during our stay in the city and she already enjoyed looking for the gnomes in Wroclaw.
What is the story behind Wroclaw dwarfs?
It all began back in the ’80s when Poland was still under Russian influence. The citizens of Wroclaw started painting dwarfs as a sign of protest against communism. Poland has become independent at the beginning of the ’90s. Gnomes in Wroclaw were forgotten for more than 10 years. In 2001 they slowly started to coming back to the city. This time not as a sign of protest, but as a tourist attraction.
You can buy a map of dwarfs in any Tourism Information center in Wroclaw.
Have some fun and try to find as many dwarfs within 2 hours as possible! Win with others and join the challenge–> here.
Ostrow Tumski Wroclaw (Cathedral Island Wroclaw)
Even though Ostrow Tumski Wroclaw is an island, you may not even notice it. You don’t need to take a ferry to get there. All you need to do is to walk through the bridge to get to this one of the most famous landmarks in Poland.
Wroclaw Cathedral is the main building and tourist attraction of Ostrow Tumski. It’s a huge and monumental Gothic church built in the 11th century.
The cathedral is still operating. The sightseeing is free of charge however it’s forbidden during the mass hours. If you want to see the amazing view from the top of the church, get to the top of the tower. The admission fee is about $2.
What’s interesting, if you look closely, you can see a bullet in the cathedral’s front wall. It was left there on purpose to commemorate the terrible times of World War II.
One way of getting to Wroclaw Tumski is to walk through the Love Bridge (Most Tumski). It’s full of padlocks. Another tourist attraction in the Wroclaw Cathedral Island is Botanical Garden that I’ve already mentioned earlier on in the article.
Address: plac Katedralny 18, 50-329 Wroclaw
Wyspa Daliowa
The smallest of all Wroclaw’s islands is worth visiting because of the huge mirror sculpture called Nawa. You can take pretty awesome photos and videos there.
Where to Eat in Wroclaw?
Bar Wiking
Opening hours: 8 AM – 5/6 PM
Lwia Brama²
Looking for the best restaurants in Wroclaw for fine dining? Go to Lwia Brama²! It’s located on Ostrow Tumski, just a few steps from the Wroclaw Cathedral. They serve absolutely outstanding, high-end food. We spent more than 2 weeks in Wroclaw and dinner at Lwia Brama² was honestly one of the best we had in the city.
Address: Katedralna 9, 50-328 Wroclaw
Opening hours: 12 PM – 9/10 PM
OK Wine Bar
It is one of the best restaurants in Wroclaw with a view. They not only have a wide selection of wine but also serve great food. This riverside restaurant is a nice place for a date or to spend a relaxing afternoon with your travel buddies.
Address: Ksiecia Witolda 1, 50-202 Wroclaw
Opening hours: 12 PM – until the last client
Zloty Pies
Located in the heart of the Old Town, it’s one of the best restaurants in Wroclaw. They not only serve outstanding food but also have their own craft beer. We love everything about Zloty Pies! It’s our favorite place to eat at Rynek.
We can’t really understand why they are not in the top 10 best restaurants Wroclaw on Tripadvisor.
Address: Rynek 41, 51-116 Wroclaw
Opening hours: Mon: 1 PM – 10 PM; Tue-Wed: 12 PM – 12 AM; Thu-Sat: 12 PM – 2 AM, Sunday: 12 PM – 10 PM
TIP: Right next to Zloty Pies, there is another famous place to eat, called Bernard. We had dinner there once and we were really disappointed. It was overpriced, their craft beer was lousy, and they didn’t have many dishes from the menu (f.e. beer ice-cream, and beer soup). Don’t go there.
Piekarnia Zloto Nadodrza
Address: Henryka Poboznego 20, 53-110 Wroclaw
Opening hours: 6 AM – 6 PM on weekdays; 6 AM – 2 PM on Saturdays
Gastropub Wroclawska
It’s one of the best restaurants Wroclaw to try traditional local food. They serve dishes that were eaten in the city many years ago, like crayfish soup, red cabbage bigos, and more. It’s all really delicious! Gastropub Wroclawka is located very close to Rynek, so be sure to eat dinner there at least once.
Address: Szewska 59/60, 50-139 Wroclaw
Opening hours: 12 PM – 10 PM/12 AM
Szynkarnia
It’s where you can have arguably the best Wroclaw breakfast. Szynkarnia has quality products and a wide collection of craft beer. It’s not only a restaurant but also a shop where you can buy local products like szynka (meat), cheese, honey, and more. Yum!
Address: Swietego Antoniego 15, 50-073 Wroclaw
Opening hours: 9/10 AM – 12 AM
What Are the Best Bars in Wroclaw?
Manana
Amazing music, friendly atmosphere, cheap drinks, and snacks. Manana is a great place for everyone, no matter how old you are. A truly awesome spot to experience nightlife in Wroclaw.
Address: Swietego Mikolaja 8-10, 50-029 Wroclaw
Opening hours: 5-6 PM / 3-7 AM
Zazoo Beach Bar
It’s open from April to September!
It’s our all-time favorite place to chill out, and also experience Wroclaw nightlife. Located close to the main tourist attractions in the city, it’s a great place to have a drink and relax.
Address: Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 39E, 50-370 Wroclaw
Opening hours: 11 AM / 12 PM – 12 AM
Przybij Piątaka (Gimme Five)
There are two Przybij Piątaka bars in Wroclaw. It’s a very popular place to experience nightlife in Wroclaw. As the name suggests, almost all the drinks at these bars cost 5 PLN ($1.5).
Address: Jana Ewangelisty Purkyniego 1, 11-400 Wroclaw
or Kazimierza Wielkiego 49/1a, 50-077 Wroclaw
Opening hours: 3 PM – until the party is over
Wyspa Slodowa (Slodowa Island)
A peaceful oasis in the heart of the city. This small island is a perfect place to relax, have a drink, and experience Wroclaw nightlife. You will find there great restaurants with a view and even a beach bar.
Address: Ruska 51, 50-079 Wroclaw
Opening hours: different, depending on the bar;
Pasaz Niepolda
It’s hard to speak about the nightlife in Wroclaw without mentioning Pasaz Niepolda. It’s a spot visited by students, so if you want to make new friends, that’s your place to go. There are many bars and clubs at Pasaz Niepodla, so after a drink or two, you can dance as well.
Address: Wyspa Slodowa, 53-110 Wroclaw
Opening hours: 7/8 PM – until the party is over
Pasaz Pokoyhof
Great place for mature travelers. Some people call it the most hipster place in Wroclaw. If you are traveling to Wroclaw with kids, or you are looking for a bit more quiet place to have a drink, you’ll love Pasaz Pokoyhof. More info here.
Address: Swietego Antoniego 2/4, 50-073 Wroclaw
Opening hours: different, depending on the bar; most are opening at 12 PM
If you want to truly experience the nightlife in the city, go to pub crawl Wroclaw or book VIP limo party tour.
Author: Karolina Klesta/AB https://karolinapatryk.com/things-to-do-wroclaw/
