Best Things To Do In Wroclaw On And Off The Beaten Path

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Ahh.. Wroclaw. One of the best places to visit in Poland. With beautiful Old Town, lovely monuments, and a vibrant atmosphere, you can’t possibly get bored there! In this post, we are giving you the absolute best things to do in Wroclaw on and off the beaten path!

It’s the beginning of Wroclaw guides series. Read also our other articles

• best day trips from Wroclaw
• street art in Wroclaw
• where to stay in Wroclaw
• best restaurants and bars in Wroclaw
• is Wrocław safe?
• Christmas market in Wrocław

We haven’t been able to add all the recommended spots to this guide. Click here to see our map of the best places to visit in Wroclaw.

General Info About Wroclaw

How to pronounce Wroclaw? The name of this city may be really hard to say for the foreigners. Below you will find the right way of Wroclaw pronunciation. CLICK to hear it:

Wroclaw pronounce: Vrahts-wahv.

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 the 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.

Best Things To Do In Wroclaw’s Old Town Area

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.

The Old Town of Wroclaw is quite big – you can walk around it for hours and still won’t be able to see everything.

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, and Roman Catholic, Evangelical, and Orthodox churches.

It’s a symbol of Wroclaw’s tolerance of people of different religions.

Wroclaw Market Square (Rynek)

The landmark of the city, the most important place to visit, is 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 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? Only if you are really interested in 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 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 in Wroclaw. It’s located right next to it but it’s usually less crowded than Rynek. In the middle of Plac Solny, there are 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 home to the souls of young and reckless girls who haven’t gotten married on time. They were too carefree during their lives, and that’s why they can’t go to heaven now.

The legend is not the reason why it’s worth climbing 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 above.

Garrison’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 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 in the Old Town area, look around. It’s very likely that you will see these tiny statues close by.

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 come 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.

Street Art

Wroclaw has one of the best street arts in Poland. You can see paintings and sculptures everywhere you go.

I’ve written a separate post about street art in Wroclaw (follow the link to read it).

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 Ostrow Tumski is to walk through the Love Bridge (Most Tumski). It’s full of padlocks. Another tourist attraction in Wroclaw Cathedral Island is Botanical Garden that I’ve already mentioned earlier on in the article.

Address: plac Katedralny 18, 50-329 Wroclaw

Hydropolis

The Earth is existing mainly because of the water. Hydropolis, one of the most interesting museums in Wroclaw, is all about it.

It’s a great place to visit for kids and adults. The museum is interactive, so you won’t get bored there.

Admission fee: Adults – 27 PLN ($7), Kids 18 PLN ($4.70)
Address: Na Grobli 17, 50-421 Wroclaw
Opening hours: 9 am – 6 pm on weekdays; 10 am – 8 pm on weekends

Grunwald Bridge (Most Grunwaldzki)

I’ve mentioned before that there are over 300 bridges in Wroclaw and it’s really hard to visit them all. The most famous that you need to see is Most Grunwaldzki. It was one of the first suspension bridges in the area.

According to the legend, its’ architect committed suicide because he believed the bridge will collapse. It’s only the legend though! It was designed by Richard Plüddemann, the very same architect whose signature you can spot at Geppert 4 street.

What’s interesting, at the end of World War II, Nazis built a small airport there. Over 13,000 have died during the construction work.

For what? Only Gauleiter of Lower Silesia, Karl Hanke was the only person that used this runway to escape the city. Ironically, he died one month later.

Wroclaw’s Oder Boulevards (Bulwar Marii i Lecha Kaczynskich)

Oder Boulevards are arguably the best place for a walk in Wroclaw. They are wheelchair and strollers-friendly.

If you get tired, you can sit on one of the benches. You can also take a Wroclaw river cruise from there to see the city from a different perspective.

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.

Things To Do In Wroclaw For Nature Lovers

Japanese Garden Wroclaw (Ogrod Japonski)

Visiting Ogrod Japonski is one of the best things to do in Wroclaw for nature lovers (but not only!). Even though it’s located a bit far from the city center, it’s worthwhile.

The main alleys of the garden are accessible, so it’s good to visit even if you are with a stroller or a wheelchair. It’s one of the most Instagrammable spots in Wroclaw, you can take pretty awesome photos in there.

Japanese Garden Wroclaw is situated within the walking distance of the Zoo, the Centennial Hall (Jahrhunderthalle), and the Pergola. It’s where you can watch one of the best Multimedia Fountain shows in the evening. 

Skip the lines and book your Japanese Garden & surroundings tour–> here.

Admission fee: Adults – 8 PLN ($2), Kids 5 PLN ($1.5), cash only!
Address: Adama Mickiewicza 1, 51-618 Wrocław
Opening hours: from April till October 9 am – 7 pm

Botanical Garden of the University of Wroclaw (Ogrod Botaniczny)

If you don’t have enough time to travel to the outskirts of town, visit Botanical Garden. It’s located in the city center, within the walking distance to Rynek.

Ogrod Botaniczny is not only one of the top Wroclaw things to do but also a green oasis where you can relax on a hot day. 

Admission fee: Adults – 15 PLN ($4), Kids 10 PLN ($2.5)
Address: Sienkiewicza 23, 50-335 Wrocław
Opening hours: from April till October; 9 am – 5/6/7 pm (depending on the month)

Green Maze in Park Brochowski

Green Maze located in Brochowski park is a hidden gem of Wroclaw. Even though it’s open all year round, it’s worth visiting when the labyrinth is green. The photo below was taken in the middle of April. The hedge is still missing the leaves. 2 weeks more and they will be all there.

If you are traveling to Wroclaw with kids, that’s definitely a place worth visiting. Finding the way out of the maze may be a fun thing to do for the entire family.

The labyrinth is located right behind Hotel Brochow. If you are traveling by car, just type the address Centralna 32, park your vehicle for free next to the hotel, and go to the maze.

Admission fee: free
Address: Konduktorska, 52-443 Wrocław
Opening hours: always open, best to visit from May till September

Ossolineum Garden

Contrary to the gardens I’ve mentioned before, Ossolineum has no admission fee. Going there is one of the free things to do in Wroclaw. Just like the Botanical Garden, it’s a beautiful and relaxing oasis located in the heart of the city.

The big red building is a library that is open to the public almost every day. It has one of the largest collections of scientific books in Poland.

Admission fee: free
Address: Szewska 37, 50-139 Wrocław
Opening hours: 8 am – 8 pm

Things To Do In Wroclaw With Kids

Afrykarium Zoo Wrocław

For Poles, visiting The Zoo is one of the best things to do in Wroclaw. It’s the oldest zoo in the country, and one of the largest (when it comes to the number of animal species) in the world. You can spend the entire day there. It’s a kid-friendly place. You don’t even need to take a stroller, they have special trolleys that you can rent (one trolley is enough for 1-4 children).

If you are traveling by car, it may be surprisingly difficult for you to find a good spot to leave your vehicle. There is no official parking zoo Wrocław. You can either park next to Centennial Hall (it’s really expensive) or behind the Zoo Hotel. The entire day there costs just 10-20 PLN ($2.5-$5) and it’s just a few steps away from the zoo. The official name of this parking zoo Wrocław is Park na Wyspie and the address is Wróblewskiego 9.

TIP: Wroclaw Fountain, Japanese Garden, Pergola, Centennial Garden, and ZaZoo Beach Bar are located really close to the zoo.

Kolejkowo

This place is one of the best Wroclaw tourist attractions for kids. The largest railway model in Poland is a fun spot to visit all year long, as it’s located inside the building.

There is a small playground in the Kolejkowo, great for toddlers who may be too young to enjoy watching the trains.

Admission fee: Adults – 23 PLN ($6), Kids 17 PLN ($4.5)
Address: plac Orlat Lwowskich 20B, 53-605 Wroclaw
Opening hours: 10 am – 6 pm

Polinka

If you are looking for Wroclaw tourist attractions for kids, you cannot miss Polinka. In fact, taking a ride by cable car over the Oder is a fun thing to do for everyone. It takes less than 3 minutes to get from one side of the river to another. 

Admission fee: Adults – 3.40 PLN ($1), Kids 1.70 PLN ($0.5)
Address: Na Grobli 2, 50-421 Wrocław
Opening hours: 7 am – 9 pm on weekdays, 11 am – 9 pm on weekends

Go Jump Wrocław

It’s the largest trampoline park in Poland and one of the top Wroclaw places to visit both for adults and kids (4+ years old). 

Skip the lines and buy your tickets to Go Jump Wrocław–> here.

Aquapark Wroclaw

If you are looking for the best swimming pool in Wroclaw, you should definitely visit Aquapark. There is a kid zone, sauna zone, and swimming zone inside. You can also find plenty of other attractions there, including an artificial wave, water slides, restaurants, and more.

Admission fee: See here
Address: Borowska 99, 50-558 Wroclaw
Opening hours: 9 am – 10 pm, more info here

Prices in Wroclaw

Poland is one of the cheapest countries in the European Union. Depending on the standards, the cost of living in Wroclaw is ranging between $500- $1,500, monthly. 

Here are the average prices in Wroclaw for some of the products/services:

Flat rental: $400-$1,500
Hotel/hostel: $20-$100
Dinner/lunch in a restaurant: $2.5-$8
Coffee: $1.3-$4
Bread: $1
Milk: $0.80
Eggs: $0.20/pc
Bottle of wine: $2.5-$25
Beer: $0.80
Bottle of Polish vodka: $5

As you can see, the prices in Wroclaw are relatively low, so it’s a great destination for budget travelers.

How to Get Around Wroclaw?

One of the most popular ways to get around Wroclaw is using Lime electric scooters. They are available all around the city. All you need to do is install an app, add your credit card, and travel wherever you want. It’s not the cheapest option but the huge advantage is that you can leave the scooter wherever you want. 

Of course, you can use Wroclaw public transport as well, especially if you want to go somewhere outside the Old Town. There are trams and buses available in the city.

The third option is car rent Wroclaw. It’s not recommended if you want to stay just in the city center. If you want to take day trips to Karpacz, Krakow, or anywhere else, then you should consider renting a vehicle (more about the best day trips from Wroclaw later on in this post).

You will find the useful links and websites in the table below:

Best Tours To Take In Wroclaw

Want to rent a car in Wroclaw? Find the best deals here.

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.

Here are the recommended Wroclaw tours (the links are clickable and affiliate; we earn a small commission from every booking you make which makes this blog run; we only recommended good tours with full buyer protection- you will always get a refund in case something goes wrong or you simply want to cancel):

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.

Traveling on a budget? See also free walking tour Wroclaw.

Where to Go Shopping in Wroclaw?

Wroclavia

It’s our favorite Wroclaw shopping mall. Why? Because it’s very child-friendly. Wroclavia has many family rooms, there is a kid toilet in every bathroom. There are also plenty of small playgrounds all around the mall. Right next to the cinema, there is a big playroom called Fikolki where you can leave your child and do some shopping.

Wroclavia has many other awesome facilities, like free high-speed WiFi, a lounge with comfortable chairs (a perfect place to work for digital nomads) drinkable water, and more. The shopping mall is located right next to the main Wroclaw bus station and the main Wroclaw train station.

Address: Sucha 1, 50-086 Wrocław
Opening hours: 9 AM – 9/10 PM

Galeria Dominikanska

This Wroclaw shopping mall is one of the closest to Rynek (less than 10 minutes walking). You will find there shops, restaurants, banks, beauty salons, money exchange services, laundry services, and even a small medical clinic. More info here.

Address:  plac Dominikanski 3, 50-159 Wroclaw
Opening hours: 9:30 AM – 9 PM Mon-Sat; 10 AM – 8 PM on Sundays

Hala Targowa

It’s arguably the best food market in Wroclaw. Not only you can buy there fresh local food but also souvenirs, and clothes. Hala Targowa is centrally located, within the walking distance to Rynek.

Address: Piaskowa 17, 50-359 Wroclaw
Opening hours: 8 AM – 6:30 PM Mon-Sat; closed on Sundays

The Final Word

Wroclaw truly is one of the best places to visit in Poland! I can’t wait to come back to this vibrant city. If you happen to have more time in Wroclaw, be sure to check out my post about the top day trips from Wroclaw.

There are many amazing places to visit in the region. The most interesting are Krakow, Ksiaz Castle, Czocha Castle, Moszna Castle, Wojanow Palace, and more. They are all located within about 2 hours drive from Wroclaw.

That’s it! I hope you enjoyed reading my post. If you have any questions about Wroclaw or Poland in general, join our Poland Travel Planning Support Facebook group, we will be happy to help you.

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