11 Superb Things to Do in Wroclaw, Poland

The city of Wrocław is somewhat of a paradox. Somehow, it’s both one of Poland’s largest tourist destinations and also a city you generally don’t hear very much about. Occasionally still known by its old German name Breslau, Wroclaw is a city of many charms, particularly when it comes to its delightful, historic architecture. The best things to do in Wroclaw, including the interesting Dwarfs of Wrocław, show why it’s such a fun city worth visiting.

So now you may be wondering, what are these fun things to see and do when visiting Wroclaw? Well, this important Polish city is home to plenty of historical and cultural attractions that will keep you happily occupied during your visit. Here is a sightseeing guide to Wroclaw to help you see why this Polish city should be added to your Poland travel plans.

How to get to Wroclaw

Wroclaw is located in the southwest of Poland, in a part of the country I find very interesting. You can easily get from Poznan and Krakow to Wroclaw by bus and intercity train, but Warsaw is a little farther.

It takes around 2 hours to reach the city from these other big destinations, which isn’t much, all things considered. With a rental car, you won’t get there any faster, but the freedom and flexibility a car provides make it much easier to explore beyond the city.

Where to stay in Wroclaw

Look at a map of Wroclaw and you can probably take a guess which area of the city is best to stay in. Yes, the Old Town at the centre of Wroclaw is the ideal place to stay in the city.

But don’t get too strict about staying in the dead centre of the city. The areas just outside the main road that loops around Wroclaw Old Town are just as convenient to stay in, plus you might find it easier to get parking there.

Wroclaw has plenty of options for accommodation across all budgets around the city centre. My stay was at Kamienica pod Aniołami, a 3-star hotel in an excellent location. I’d describe it as comfortable and perfectly fine, without being anything special. The most highly rated options in Wroclaw, however, are:

• Radisson Blu Hotel Wroclaw
• Europeum Hotel
• Wyndham Wroclaw Old Town
• Odrzańska Residence Old Town

Places to visit in Wroclaw

Much of your sightseeing in Wroclaw is going to focus on the city’s historical centre. But some attractions require you to leave the Old Town, visit islands in the Oder River, and explore the far bank.

1. Wroclaw Town Hall

A truly unique building, few town halls in Poland can match up against the splendour of Wroclaw’s Town Hall. While not a massive building, you should visit it for its fantastic level of detail and unusual gothic design, that set this town hall apart from its peers. Built in the 13th century, but was continually renovated and added to over the following centuries. Luckily, it received only relatively minor damage to its roof during WWII and so remains a true landmark of the city.

2. Old Market Square

The veritable beating heart of Wrocław Old Town, the Old Market Square is the city’s centre as with so many other European cities. Despite suffering thorough damage during WWII, the city centre was thankfully restored to its old-fashioned ways. This is seen best in the buildings that line the outside of the square, crafted and decorated masterfully and giving the square a burst of life.

However, it seems the square’s polished, vibrant look is quite a modern occurrence. Lacking funding, many of the buildings took decades to receive restoration. Perhaps the weirdest thing, at least to me, is that for most of the time since the war, the square was simply used for parking and even had a petrol station right in the paved area of the above photo!

3. Solny Square

Found just off the edge of the Old Market Square, Solny Square is kind of a mini-version of its larger neighbour. Surrounded by its own elegantly restored buildings, the square’s main purpose seems to be hosting a large flower market.

The other thing to look for in the square is the statue of an African man holding a staff on the first floor of one building and a group of three African women on the nearby corner. The man is a recreation of a prior statue for the Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper and is modelled after a local artist.

Amazingly, the statue was so realistic that a doctor was able to diagnose the model with a medical ailment based on a cursory look at the statue.

4. Wroclaw University

Very much an institution in the city, the University of Wroclaw has a long and prestigious history. While it was planned back in 1505, opposition by Krakow and its influence on the Pope prevented its founding until 1702. Located in the northern end of the Old Town, the university is housed in some extremely palatial buildings echoing its historic past.

The university is the largest in its region of Poland and has 9 Nobel Prize winners to its name. Visiting the university is more about the exquisite architecture of the buildings and area than actually heading inside, in particular the remarkable doors and the fountain that sits outside the main building.

Known as the Swordsman, the fountain sculpture is a popular meeting place with the local students. Designed by local professor Hugo Lederer in 1904, it is said that the statue depicts his own experience as a student at Wroclaw.

Apparently, he lost his possessions and clothes drunkenly gambling on cards, his friend’s leaving him nothing but his sword as a sign of honour. The statue is often the victim of intoxicated students who either climb up to steal his sword or go for a swim in the fountain below.

5. The Ossolineum

One of the more elegant buildings of Wroclaw, The Ossolineum is a historic library and cultural centre situated within a baroque palace. Named after Józef Maksymilian Ossoliński the centre is home to several free exhibitions but it’s the inner courtyard that shines. The ornate, peaceful courtyard is adorned with ivy and is a sight to behold.

6. Bridge of Locks

In the same vein as Paris and so many more cities in Europe, you’ll find stacks of padlocks attached to the Tumski Bridge across the Oder River. If you’re not familiar with the practice, couples hoping for eternal love write their initials on padlocks and affix them to the bridge. Seeing these lock-lined bridges is always a sight but this bridge also has a funny story with it.

The bridge was so popular that the city began to grow concerned with the added weight of the locks and the structural integrity of the bridge. When they suggested removing the locks to resolve the problem, it was met with fierce opposition. In the end, they removed just one lock, a massive oversized one dedicated to the local football team.

7. Ostrow Tumski

Translating into English as “Cathedral Island”, Ostrow Tumski is not to be confused with the island of the same name in Poznan. In Wroclaw, the island is home to some of the city’s most striking buildings. The main landmark found on the island is, unsurprisingly, the Cathedral of St. John Baptist with its twin spires.

Of course, it’s not the only building on the island. Ostrow Tumski is home to, among other things, 3 other churches, 2 monasteries and a small palace. A more unusual sight was the Bollywood-style commercial being filmed in the streets the day I visited.

8. Wroclaw Market Hall

While the building with its big concrete pillars might not be much to look at, it’s what lies inside the Market Hall or Hala Targowa that counts. Within the hall, you’ll find all sorts of local produce, from fresh fruit and veggies to sweets, but also things like local meat and sausages.

Here you can get your hands on a delicious Kabanos Sausage and munch on it as you wander about. There’s also a traditional Polish Milk Bar tucked away in the corner if you’re interested in a larger meal and want to experience the soviet style of dining. Plenty here to try or just look at, in a friendly local place.

9. Old City Prison

One of the cool spots shown to me on my walking tour of Wroclaw was the Motyla Noga Gastropub. Situated in a cosy courtyard, the pub and beer garden is housed in what used to be the old prison, dating back to the 14th century.

Given its proximity to the university, it’s a very popular spot with students. It’s common for those who have a big night here to say that they “spent the night in prison”. It’s also here that you’ll find one of the Wroclaw gnomes behind bars, one of my favourite of the city’s statues.

10. Inner City Moat

Separating the historic Old Town from the more modern downtown area of Wroclaw is the beautifully peaceful Inner City Moat. Fosa Miejska in Polish, the medieval moat stretches along the southern and western sides of the old town.

Although not the most exciting place to visit in Wroclaw, green spaces are hard to come by in Wroclaw. The leafy promenade by the moat is a nice place to go for a stroll and you can admire some of the nearby buildings along the way.

11. Other Statues of Wroclaw

While the playful and numerous statues of dwarfs are well-known, they are not the only statues in Wroclaw. Go to the intersection of Piłsudskiego and Świdnicka streets in the downtown area to see what I mean. There you’ll find a set of sculptures that struck a chord with me.

Known in Polish as Pomnik Anonimowego Przechodnia, the installation creatively uses the city to its advantage. It shows a series of figures descending through the pavement and re-emerging on the far side of the road. I thought it was a clever use of the environment. Just don’t mistake them for pedestrians waiting to cross at the lights!

Tips for Visiting Wroclaw

Like with most places, it helps to get advice for visiting Wroclaw from someone who has done it. Of course, my advice depends on my personal experiences and the places to visit in Wroclaw that I saw. For example, I was discouraged from climbing the tower of the Garrison Church when I went due to windy weather. It was a shame as it is said to have some of the best views of the city.

To help you make the most of the attractions in Wroclaw Old Town and beyond, I suggest looking at the Free Walking Tour’s offerings. They’re a great way to see more of the city and learn about its compelling history. Of course, there are also heaps of other tours in Wroclaw available to you.

Have you visited Wroclaw before and where else would you recommend? If not, which of the city’s sights would you be most interested in visiting? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.