Wroclaw, one of the largest and oldest cities in Poland, is located in Lower Silesia and is considered the capital of Silesia.
And all because, according to legend, the city was founded by the Czech prince Vratislav I (who ruled in 915-921) and this name appears for the first time in the year 1000. These records indicate that the medieval name of the city was Vratislav in Czech sources and Wrocislaw in Polish ones. Later the Poles simplified from Wrocislaw to Wroclaw.
⇒ How we traveled from Nuremberg, Germany to Wroclaw to make a Ukrainian passport.
In this post, we will show what you can see from one to three days, which museums to visit and how much it costs, where to spend the night, eat delicious Polish cuisine, order a tour, and find all the gnomes of the city.
The journey starts from train stations or the airport. In our case, it was a bus station, we came from Germany to Wroclaw to get a Ukrainian passport. The bus station is a modern, new, beautiful shopping center in which the bus station is located on the parking lot (ul. Sucha 1, 50-525). Wrocław Main Railway Station is nearby.
⇒ Buy bus, train and plane tickets ⇐
What to see in Wroclaw
Since you only have time for one day, you should start in the main square of the city, Rynok Square (Rynek).
The main building of the square is the Town Hall (Ratusz). There are many colorful tenement houses on the square, the atmosphere of an ancient city. We were a little unlucky, we got there just when they started to dismantle the New Year’s fair.
Walking through the old town, visit the Cathedral of St. Mary Magdalene (Katedra sw. Marii Magdaleny)
Be sure to climb the bridge of the Penitents (Mostek Pokutnic). A wonderful panorama of the old town and Rynok Square opens up here.
Works from 10 to 19.
Cost: regular ticket 10 zlotys / discounted 7 zlotys.
The University of Wroclaw (University of Wroclaw) is also located in old town For example, we always visit local universities, they are usually informative and beautiful.
We advise you to visit the Wrocław University Museum with a mandatory visit to the Leopoldina Hall.
It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Wednesdays
Cost: 20 zlotys
Aula Leopoldina Hall.
You can climb to the roof of the university, where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the main square and the Odra River.
After the walk, you can visit the Lepione University Cafe – Kuznicza Wroclaw. You pay by weight, not meals. Works from 10 to 19.
The highlight of the city is the search for gnomes, they are everywhere, it’s just that the city is dotted with various gnomes, it’s another quest to find them. Dwarf map here.
This is enough for a day, especially in winter. You should also consider visiting a cafe here, we will also show you the cafes we have been to or recommend visiting. Then we continue, then there will be additions to the first day, or it can already be divided into two days.
Hydropolis (Hydropolis), or as it is also called Environmental Education Center Hydropolis is a scientific center dedicated to water.
As aptly stated on the website of the Center for Environmental Education, “Hydropolis is a place where a variety of multimedia technologies, interactive installations, faithful copies and models, as well as touch screens that provide a large amount of information, serve one purpose – to show water from various exciting points of view.” .
The center is located in a historic neo-Gothic underground tank of 4,600 m², which has been used for drinking water since the 1890s. In 2002, it was included in the register of monuments, and in 2011, the reservoir was reconstructed to create the Hydropolis, which opened in 2015.
The exhibition consists of thematic zones: Planet of Water, Depths, Ocean of Life, Relaxation Zone, Man and Water, History of Water Engineering, City and Water, State of Water, as well as a children’s zone and a zone of temporary exhibitions.
Open: Mon – Fri 9:00 – 18:00, last entry: o 17:00. on weekends 10:00 – 20:00. Last entry: o 19:00. For a complete review, it takes 2 hours.
Application download here Here you can get acquainted with the center, find a plan of the institution, and many other interesting things.
Cost: regular 32 zlotys, discount 23 zlotys.
How did you stay at the hotel ibis Wroclaw Centrum from the hotel to Hydropolis by tram #70, 26 minutes.
⇒ Foreign passport and driving license in Poland.
Tumski Island (Ostrow Tumski), the oldest part of the city Wroclaw Previously, it was an island between the branches of the Oder River, and now it is a historical and architectural complex.
Archbishop’s Palace
The tower of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Wieza Katedry św. Jana Chrzciciela), the highest point from which the whole of Wrocław can be seen.
Works Mon. – Friday Cathedral 6:30; 8:00; 9:00 a.m.; 18:30 Saturday: 8:00; 7:00 (except Advent and holidays); 9:00 a.m.; 18:30
Cost: 15 zlotys full and 10 discounted, there is an elevator.
Mytropolicha Higher Theological Seminary
Tumsky bridge
National Museum in Wroclaw (Muzeum Narodowe we Wroclawiu) , the building in which the museum originally housed the Board of the Silesian Voivodeship, which was then part of the German Empire. After the Second World War, in 1946-1947, after reconstruction, the building was adapted for the needs of the museum.
Works Tues.-Fri. 10:00 (9:30 panorama) – 16:00, Mon. weekend, Sat.-Sun. 10:00 – 17:00 (panorama 9:30 – 16:00, 17:00 respectively)
Cost: full 20 zlotys, reduced price 15 zlotys, on Saturdays entrance to the National Museum for permanent exhibitions is free.
Raclawicka Panorama (Muzeum Panorama Raclawicka), panorama, depicting the Battle of Raclawice from June 5, 1794, during the Kosciuszko Rebellion. One of the largest panoramas.
Works Tues.-Fri. 9:30 – 16:00, Mon. day off, Sat. 9:30 – 16:00, Sun. 9:30 – 17:00
Cost: The Racławice Panorama ticket, which includes 4 museums (the Racławice Panorama, the National Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, and the Pavilion of the Four Domes), is 50 PLN in full, and 35 PLN for concessions.
Fot. Romuald Sołdek
Wroclaw Zoo (ZOO Wroclaw), the oldest zoo in Poland, opened in 1865 as the Zoological Garden of Breslau, when the city was part of Prussia.
This is the largest (by number of animals) zoo in Poland. About 10,500 animals, representing about 1,132 species, live here. It is the third largest zoo in the world by the number of animal species. Wroclaw Zoo is the most visited zoo in Poland and the fifth most visited zoo in Europe.
Don’t miss any advice, especially the largest oceanarium in Poland – Afrykarium, Odrarium, Akwarium, Terrarium, Ptaszarnia and others. In addition, the zoo maintains a collection of a number of rare and exotic species such as the manatee, okapi, couscous bear, red wildebeest, Philippine mouse deer, Husta monkey and the long-necked tortoise.
Open from November to February from Monday to Thursday from 9:00 to 15:00 box office, the zoo until 16:00, from Friday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:00 box office and pavilions, until 17:00 the zoo itself.
Cost: full 60 zlotys, discounted 50 zlotys, the price includes the Afrikarium
Finally, if you have a little time on some day, or you are staying at the hotel ibis Wroclaw Centrum, you can visit a number of other interesting objects.
Sky tower (Sky Tower), multifunctional skyscraper, is the tallest building in the city, the third tallest in the country. On the 49th floor, the glazed Sky Tower Viewpoint is open to the public. You can combine shopping with pleasure.
Works Mon.-Sat. 9:00 – 21:00
It costs: the usual 10 zlotys.
You can also visit the tower A wonderful world in miniature Kolejkowo
Koleikovo is a real miniature world. Trains, trams and cars moving, go to work, meet in the park, go shopping, and in the evenings indulge in nightlife, the sun sets every 9 minutes. Dusk, the lighting of street lamps and lanterns in apartments show the true face of the city’s residents.
Open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, it takes 1.5 hours to fully explore.
Cost: 32 zlotys for an adult, 26 zlotys for children under 15 years old.
Spider Exhibition (Wystawa Pajakow), Europe’s largest exhibition of spiders and scorpions. Fifty tropical animals, mainly arachnids, scorpions, and centipedes are presented at the exhibition.
It works from 10:00 to 20:00
It costs: regular ticket 25 zlotys, discounted ticket 20 zlotys.
Hotels in Wroclaw
You can choose any hotel to your taste, price and conditions. We will share our experience of booking a hotel in Wroclaw.
We always first look at the hotels of the all.accor chain, mainly ibis hotels, they all have the right level, great breakfasts and locations. It was the same this time, we chose the hotel ibis Wroclaw Centrum. It was the best fit, firstly, it was not far from the train stations, you could walk in 15 minutes, and secondly, it was near the hotel there was a tram stop that made it possible to get to any location. 24-hour reception, new, high-quality rooms, excellent buffet breakfasts, kettle, tea in the room, and water delivered every day, and of course the price. As for us, we always recommend ibis hotels.
There are other hotels of this chain in Wroclaw, in different locations and at different prices.
Ibis Styles Wroclaw Centrum is conveniently located in the very center of Wroclaw, just 200 meters from the Wrocław Central Railway Station, 1 km from the Market Square, the Capitol Music Theatre, the Opera House and the Wroclaw Water Park, as well as shopping Arcada and Renoma centers.
Couples especially like this location – they rated it 9.3 for traveling as a couple.
ibis budget Wrocław Południe is conveniently located in the Krzysztof district of Wrocław, 4.3 km from Polish Theater and Pedestrians Anonymous and 5 km from Capitol Music Theatre. The main advantage of this hotel is the price and its own garden.
You can also choose other hotels for any taste and price ⇓
Eat in Wroclaw
We can only share with you the establishments where we ate, or what we were recommended to visit. Everyone has their own tastes, but in our opinion, it is always worth it to taste the cuisine of the country you have come to. As a rule, these are cafes that were on the road or near some locations.
We have already mentioned the university cafe Lepione – Kuznicza Wroclaw, the place is more atmospheric, university than a cafe where you can meet a tourist. In any case, when you are walking around the university, you can stop by. The pricing policy is not student-friendly, but not expensive either.
Walking around the old town, you can see an incredible number of restaurants of Polish cuisine, pubs, coffee shops, let’s talk about some:
Pierogarnia Stary Młyn, located in the Pod Złota Korona tenement house, it is a chain of restaurants in different cities of Poland, it has its own atmosphere, dishes of Polish cuisine from different regions, local traditions, local flavor, delicious food. Average check for two with the first, pies, drinks PLN 100. The disadvantage, or maybe not, is that it takes a long time to cook, but it’s probably a good thing that you get delicious, fresh food.
Of course, these are soups, dumplings from the oven, traditional dumplings, pancakes, desserts and drinks.
Pierogarnia Rynek 26, almost directly opposite, another restaurant of Polish cuisine. Located in a 14th century building that once housed a linen company, a colonial shop and a pharmacy. The establishment is similar to Stariy Mlyn, but here the emphasis is more on dumplings, here dumplings for any taste, any filling, drinks and wine. There are complete offers for different numbers of people in the company. The institution has a high rating on googlemaps.
Chocolate Cafe E.Wedel, this institution can be found in many recommendations for Wroclaw. It is also a chain of coffee shops throughout Poland. This brand is more than 160 years old, it all started in 1851, when Karol Ernst Wedel, a young confectioner from Berlin, came to Warsaw and opened a small shop on Miodowej Street, where he sold chocolate and caramel. It is a paradise for those with a sweet tooth, lots of chocolate, caramel, candies, coffee, desserts. You can buy sweets to take away, this establishment reminds us of our Lviv Chocolate Workshop.
Selfie Cafе, this cafe is located near the university, opposite the student cafe Lepione. Modern design, delicious coffee, and various desserts. The average check for two, of course with desserts, is PLN 50.
Polskie Smaki Restauracja, well, what about without the Polish Tastes restaurant, it is also a chain of restaurants throughout Poland, we visited it in Warsaw. And in Wroclaw, it is very conveniently located near the train station. You can schedule a visit before departure or upon arrival. Here you can taste traditional old, Polish and Old Polish cutlets, schnitzel with egg, Hungarian pie, large dumplings with pieces of beef, with a delicious sauce, dumplings. Soups: zhurek with egg and sausage, beef intestines, broth with noodles/dumplings. The average check for two is PLN 100.
♥ How have you been to other cafes, restaurants, coffee shops, please share in the comments.
Order a safe excursion:
Transport in Wroclaw
In Wrocław, public transport consists of trams and buses. In our opinion, trams are the most optimal form of transport, they run everywhere, there is a well-branched network of routes. All objects in the post can be conveniently reached by tram. For convenience, you can buy a travel pass for the entire duration of your stay. Of course, you need to calculate how much you plan to travel, but as our practice of buying travel tickets in Poland shows, it works out one for one, but you don’t worry every time where to buy and which ticket you need, or you get a couple of trips for free.
If you want to take a trip from one to three days, temporary tickets for 24, 48, 72 hours are suitable. These passes entitle the ticket holder to use an unlimited number of trips on all types of lines during the time you purchased, counting from the moment the ticket is confirmed.
Cost: 24 hours PLN 15, 48 hours PLN 26, 72 hours PLN 32 for all lines.
But if you don’t want to buy travel tickets, you can buy a one-time ticket for PLN 4.60, or a temporary ticket for 15 minutes PLN 3.20, 30 minutes PLN 4, 60 minutes PLN 5.20, 90 minutes PLN 7.
Applications that will help you rent in transport, schedule, stops and not only ⇒ here
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