Poland: Wroclaw - 12 Attractions & Tips for your Trip

When thinking about a city trip, Wroclaw might not be the first place that comes to mind. However, we’ll tell you why a short trip to this Polish city is definitely worthwhile.
Known as Wrocław in Polish, Wroclaw is the fourth-largest city in Poland, with around 650,000 residents.
It lies directly on the Oder River and was almost entirely destroyed during World War II. Today, Wroclaw is considered one of Poland's most beautifully restored cities.
In fact, it was named the European Capital of Culture in 2016.

In this post, we've compiled the top 12 sights and more tips for your Wroclaw trip.

1. THE OLD TOWN & RYNEK OF WROCLAW

The main square (Polish: Rynek) is, as in many Polish cities, the central historic marketplace of Wroclaw. Located in the heart of the old town (Stare Miasto), it serves as the city’s lively hub. The colorful square is surrounded by beautiful townhouses and offers numerous cafes, bars, and restaurants.
Especially impressive is the old town hall, with its striking architecture and large astronomical clock.

The atmosphere in the Rynek is particularly magical in the evening, when the sun sets behind the colorful facades of the buildings.
In winter, the Christmas market transforms the square into a glowing sea of lights and festive decor. Take your time strolling through the streets and soaking in the unique ambiance!

ACCOMMODATION TIP FOR WROCLAW

Our stay at the Korona Hotel Wrocław Market Square was a perfect choice. Located right on the market square, its location is unbeatable, and thanks to a partnership with a nearby parking garage, we didn’t have to worry about lengthy parking searches or high parking fees in the city center. This made our stay in Wroclaw especially relaxing.

2. THE WROCLAW DWARFS

Scattered throughout the city are small bronze dwarfs, known as Krasnale. There are now over 700 of these approximately 30 cm tall figures, each unique.
Originally created in 2001 as part of an art project by Wroclaw students, they’ve since become a permanent feature of the city.

The dwarfs keep multiplying and have become a popular photo opportunity for tourists.
If you set yourself the goal of photographing all the Krasnale, you’ll be kept busy for a while – but the fun and discoveries along the way are guaranteed!

3. THE BRIDGE OF THE PENITENTS - VIEWPOINT OF ST. MARY MAGDALENE CATHEDRAL

The best view of any city is often from above, so we recommend visiting the Bridge of the Penitents, located between the twin towers of St. Mary Magdalene Cathedral (Polish: Mostek Pokutnic w Katedrze św. Marii Magdaleny).

After climbing 247 steps, you’ll reach the Bridge of the Penitents at 45 meters high.
The bridge’s name comes from a legend claiming it’s haunted by the souls of young women who, instead of taking care of their households, spent their time partying and flirting with men.
As punishment, they were made to walk across the narrow bridge between the towers.

Although we didn’t encounter any penitents, we did meet a Krasnal – and enjoyed a fantastic view over the city. A visit is worthwhile in the daytime or at sunset.
During the day, on a clear day, you’ll have a wide view over the city, while in the evening, the city slowly transforms as the lights come on.

The tower to the Bridge of the Penitents is open daily from 10:00 am to 06:00 pm.

4. 360-DEGREE VIEW FROM THE TOWER OF ST. ELIZABETH CHURCH

Behind the main square, you'll find the viewing tower of St. Elizabeth Church, offering one of the most popular attractions in the city – and deservedly so.
After a bit of a sweat-inducing climb up narrow, winding stairs, you'll reach the viewing platform of the 91-meter-high church tower.
From here, you'll have a breathtaking view over the city center and, on clear days, over all of Wroclaw’s outer districts.

Our tip: Visit the platform just before sunset! The city takes on a warm, golden glow, creating a unique charm.

The tower of St. Elizabeth Church is open from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and on Sundays from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

5. THE SKY TOWER – THE TALLEST BUILDING IN WROCLAW

You can spot Poland's third-tallest building and the highest viewpoint in Wroclaw from far away. Standing at 212 meters, this skyscraper is slightly outside the old town.
An elevator whisks you up to the 49th floor in under a minute, where the observation deck offers spectacular views over Wroclaw.
You’ll have about 20 minutes to enjoy the view before a staff member asks you to head back down.

Unfortunately, we had somewhat gloomy weather. Nevertheless, the visit was worth it.

The Sky Tower is open from Monday to Thursday from 9:00 am to 8:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 9:30 pm, and Sundays from 10:00 am to 9:30 pm.
Tickets for the observation deck can be purchased on the ground floor of the shopping center below.

Since only 50 people are allowed on the observation deck at a time, tickets are issued in 30-minute slots, making it challenging for a spontaneous visit.
Especially during peak season, we recommend buying tickets the day before. We couldn’t secure tickets for our preferred time and ended up going the next day.
Access to the elevators is located on the street side (ul. Gwiaździsta).

6. HALA TARGOWA – THE MARKET HALL

In Wroclaw's over 100-year-old Market Hall, located just before Cathedral Island, you’ll find a diverse selection of meats, fruits, vegetables, baked goods, flowers, as well as regional products and Polish delicacies spread across two levels. It’s a popular shopping spot for locals in the old town, making it worth a short stop.

The market hall is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm and on Saturdays from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.

7. CATHEDRAL BRIDGE

The Cathedral Bridge connects the old town with Cathedral Island (Ostrów Tumski), Wroclaw's oldest district. Originally made of wood, it was replaced by a sturdier stone and steel version in 1890 – a necessary upgrade, as the bridge bore heavy loads until 2019. In addition to the daily crowds, thousands of love locks engraved with messages once adorned its railings.

Over time, the locks began to rust, damaging the bridge’s railing. Consequently, Cathedral Bridge was cleared of its massive load in 2019.
Today, only a few locks remain on the bridge, but the fences near the bridge still bear numerous locks that you can admire.

8. CATHEDRAL ISLAND

Crossing Cathedral Bridge leads you to Cathedral Island (Ostrów Tumski) – one of Wroclaw's most picturesque attractions.
As the name suggests, the island is known for its abundance of churches, including the Wroclaw Cathedral, St. Martin’s Church, and St. John’s Cathedral.

Narrow stairs inside the cathedral lead you to one of its towers, where a fantastic view of Wroclaw awaits. The cathedral tower is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.

A unique highlight on Cathedral Island is the historic gas lamps.
Every evening, just before dusk, a lamplighter manually lights these lamps, adding a nostalgic charm to the area, and then extinguishes them in the morning.

9. CENTENNIAL HALL

Upon its completion, the Centennial Hall (Polish: Hala Stulecia) was the largest reinforced concrete building in the world and a marvel of engineering.
Critics predicted it would collapse under its own weight. Fortunately, the hall has withstood the test of time and even survived a war, remaining as solid as ever.
As such, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.

The hall is still used for fairs, sporting events, and cultural gatherings, with around 6,000 seats and standing room for nearly 20,000 people.

While the hall itself may not be particularly interesting for tourists, its surroundings are. Here, you'll find the Wroclaw Fountain.

THE WROCLAW FOUNTAIN

From April to October, colorful water shows take place at the Wroclaw Fountain (Polish: Fontanna Multimedialna) near Centennial Hall.
Featuring 300 water jets and 800 light sources, the performances are synchronized to classical, rock, and pop music.

Free shows run daily between 10:00 am and 10:00 pm, with performances ranging from four to nearly twenty minutes.
Although we couldn’t catch a show on our recent visit since we were there off-season, we had the pleasure of experiencing the Wroclaw Fountain in summer on a previous trip.

Our tip: While you're there, make sure to also visit the Japanese Garden located behind the fountain. It’s open from April to October, daily from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.

10. WROCLAW MAIN STATION (WROCŁAW GŁÓWNY)

About a kilometer from the old town is Wrocław Główny, Wroclaw's main train station.
From the outside, it resembles more of a castle than a train station and is considered one of the most beautiful train stations in Poland.
Built in 1857, the station’s architecture is impressive, making it worth a visit on your Wroclaw tour.

11. MONUMENT OF THE ANONYMOUS PASSERBY

Another highlight you shouldn't miss in Wroclaw is the Monument of the Anonymous Passerby.
This captivating sculpture group depicts life-size figures that appear to descend into the ground on one side of Piłsudskiego Street, only to re-emerge on the other.

Created by artist Jerzy Kalina in 1977, the figures wear clothing typical of the 1970s, although the monument itself wasn’t erected until 2005.
The artwork symbolizes the anonymity and invisibility of individuals during challenging political times, serving as a thought-provoking public art installation.

12. WINTERTIME BONUS – THE CHRISTMAS MARKET

If you visit Wroclaw between November and December, you'll get to experience Poland’s most beautiful Christmas market (Polish: Jarmark Bożonarodzeniowy) around the market square.

The warm glow of festive lights, the scent of sweet and savory foods, and the sound of Christmas music draw locals and tourists alike each year.
In addition to stalls with regional specialties like smoked Oscypek cheese, bratwurst, shashlik, and potato pancakes, you'll find churros, chimney cakes, and various kinds of mulled wine.

The Christmas market is open daily from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, although it is closed on December 24 and 25.

INSIDER TIP: WROCLAW’S WINTER LIGHT WORLDS

An insider tip for winter visitors is the Lumina Park Wrocław Magiczna Podróż, located about a 15-minute drive outside the city center.
From November to February, the Topacz Hotel's castle park transforms into a dazzling world of lights.
During a 90-minute walk, you can explore themed areas illuminated by thousands of colorful lights.

Lumina Park is open daily from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, and tickets are available at the entrance. This magical light display is definitely worth a visit to experience the enchanting atmosphere!

SHOPPING IN WROCLAW

Wroclaw offers a variety of shopping options, with two large malls in the city center just a few minutes' walk apart: the Dominikańska Gallery and the Wroclaw Arcades.
For even more choices, the Magnolia Park on the outskirts of the center features 250 stores.

If you're visiting for just the weekend, you won't have to worry about store hours, as all major malls in Wroclaw are open on Sundays.

If you’re not up for a big shopping spree but need essentials, you'll find Żabka, Biedronka, and Carrefour Express stores on nearly every corner.
These small shops are typically open from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.

GETTING AROUND WROCLAW

Despite Wroclaw’s size, you can easily reach most attractions on foot. For a quicker, fun way to explore, e-scooters are available for rent throughout the city via various apps.
Of course, you can also use traditional public transportation, like buses and trams.

We recommend avoiding car travel in the city center since you can get to most places on foot or by using the transportation options mentioned, and parking in the center, as in most cities, can be limited.

FOOD & DRINK IN WROCLAW

Polish cuisine is hearty and incredibly delicious. Among Poland’s culinary highlights are pierogi – filled dumplings that are a must-try, especially for first-time visitors.
These dumplings usually come with savory fillings like sauerkraut and mushrooms, cheese, or meat, but sweet versions like strawberry-filled pierogi are also popular.

Pierogi are featured on nearly every restaurant menu. Other traditional Polish dishes include Bigos (a sauerkraut stew with various meats and sausages), Żurek (a sour flour soup with sausage, eggs, and vegetables), Barszcz (beet soup), Kotlet schabowy (a pork cutlet similar to German schnitzel), Gołąbki (cabbage rolls in tomato sauce), and Rolada śląska z kluskami (Silesian roulade with red cabbage and dumplings).

Recommended restaurants include Restauracja Wrocławska, SETKA Wrocław, and Browar Złoty Pies.

When it comes to dessert, we highly recommend trying the traditional pączki (a type of doughnut) and the Polish sernik(cheesecake).

While not a traditional dessert, the freshly made chimney cakes from Chimney Cake Bakery were absolutely delicious.

Our coffee tip: For a slightly pricier but incredibly charming experience, visit Blossome_cafe just behind the market square.
Enjoy a coffee in a beautiful atmosphere paired with one of their delectable sweet treats.

HOTELS & ACCOMMODATIONS IN WROCLAW

Wroclaw offers a wide range of accommodations, from hotels and vacation rentals to apartments, hostels, and private rooms, usually at a great price-to-value ratio.

We were very pleased with our stay at the Korona Hotel Wrocław Market Square. The location right on the market square was unbeatable, and thanks to a nearby parking garage partnership, we didn’t have to worry about finding parking or paying high parking fees in the city center.

For a similarly convenient and enjoyable experience, we highly recommend the Korona Hotel Wrocław Market Square.

Given the compact nature of Wroclaw, we believe two to four days is enough to explore all the main sights.

CURRENCY & PRICES

Poland's currency is the Polish Złoty.

In general, nearly everything in Poland can be paid for with a debit or credit card. If you're only staying for a weekend and your bank doesn’t charge international transaction fees, it may be convenient to skip exchanging currency altogether and avoid leftover cash at the end of your trip.

For longer stays or if you prefer cash, there are plenty of exchange offices. Be sure to check the current exchange rate, as it can vary between exchange points.

Prices in Poland are generally lower, particularly for food, accommodations, cigarettes, and fuel. However, items such as drugstore products, sweets from premium brands like Milka or Lindt, and laundry detergent are often more expensive, sometimes even pricier than in other Western countries.
In our experience, electronics in Poland aren’t significantly cheaper, so you shouldn’t expect major discounts on larger electronic items.

USEFUL LINKS & RECOMMENDED TRAVEL GUIDES FOR YOU

• Find affordable rental cars at rentalcars.com‍
• Find affordable flights at skyscanner.com‍
• Discover the best accommodations‍
• Die besten Travel Guides for Wroclaw
• Unique Excursions to Experience in Wroclaw

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