We had heard so many great things about Wroclaw, so we knew we had to include it in our next Poland trip! This city completely surprised us in the best way possible. It has so much to offer visitors, from the colorful Wroclaw old town, to all the history, and amazing Polish food! Here are all the best things to do in Wroclaw Poland we experienced on our recent trip.
How to Get to Wroclaw Poland
There are a few different ways to get to Wroclaw depending on where you’re coming from. The largest airports in Poland are Warsaw and Krakow, so if you’re traveling from outside of Europe, you likely won’t be able to get a direct flight to the city.
Luckily, it’s easy enough to catch a train or bus from one of the bigger Polish cities, or you can score a direct flight into Wroclaw from elsewhere in Europe. We were coming from Valencia, Spain, and took an easy 3 hour Ryanair flight for under 50 Euros. You can look at the current prices on Skyscanner here and lock in your own deal.
The train system is nice and efficient throughout the country. That makes it simple to design an itinerary starting in Warsaw, Krakow, or Gdansk, and include Wroclaw.
We’ve also used Flixbus quite a bit during our Poland travels. Although it’s not as smooth of a ride as the train, the bus tickets are super cheap and will get you where you need to go. For example, we paid just 10 Euros each to go from Wroclaw to Krakow at the end of our trip. We always use Omio to get the best prices on bus and train tickets!
Renting a car is also a fun way to explore more of Poland once you’re done with all the best things to do in Wroclaw. Just make sure to get an official international drivers license (in print form) if you don’t have one from the EU. Otherwise, you run the risk of being turned away at the rental counter!
Where to Stay in Wroclaw
Something we loved about Wroclaw is how small the city actually is. We loved how you can walk practically anywhere, which isn’t the case in some of Poland’s larger cities.
Even if you do need to get a lift somewhere, Ubers won’t cost you more than 5 to 6 Euros to get from one neighborhood to another. We took a taxi all the way from the airport to our hotel in the city center, and it was only around 15 euros.
When picking a place to stay we highly recommended a base around Market Square in Wroclaw Old Town. Below are some of the most highly-rated hotels to choose from!
Wyndham Wroclaw Old Town – Great location and newly renovated hotel in the heart of old town.
Hotel Monopol – This Michelin-rated hotel is definitely a holiday splurge. The 5 star accommodation is complete with a spa, rooftop bar, and spacious rooms.
RYNEK 30 Hostel – If you’ve visiting Wroclaw Poland on a budget, this hostel is the perfect choice! It’s right in the middle of old town and offers private rooms as well as dorms.
Best Things to do in Wroclaw Poland
1. Explore Wroclaw Old Town
Wroclaw Old Town if the undeniable heart of the city, filled with stunning architecture and history. Start your journey through the old town by heading to Market Square.
The entire Rynek we Wroclaw is lined with different color buildings, but the beautiful centerpiece is the Wroclaw Town Hall. This Gothic wonder dates back to the 13th century, and our eyes were immediately drawn to the astronomical clock.
Wroclaw Old Town and it’s amazing Market Square were where we spent a lot of our time on this past visit. Simply wandering around the streets is one of the best things to do in Wroclaw Poland!
If you really want to learn more about the history, then consider taking a walking tour. This one is even in English and goes to Ostrow Tumski, too!
2. Climb to the Witches’ Bridge
Ready for an epic view? Well, the mysterious Witches’ Bridge is one you don’t want to miss! First, you should know that there is a seriously wild story attached to it.
According to the legend, women during medieval times who would not conform to traditional marriage or the domestic roles of the time would have their souls condemned.
It’s said that they would haunt the bridge forever and have to sweep between the two towers for the afterlife… hence the name “Bridge of Penance.”
To get to the top, you’ll just have to climb the 250 steps up the historic St. Mary Magdalene Church. The famous bridge connects two Gothic towers, and gives off incredible views of the city.
3. Eat at Hala Targowa
If you didn’t know, many of the best things to do in Wroclow have to do with all the delicious food! One of the coolest places to start your food journey is Hala Targowa.
This sprawling market hall is full of restaurants, cafes, bakery treats, and food stalls to check out. Our first stop was for a coffee at Cafe Targowa. We originally thought it was just your everyday coffee shop, but they actually have an exciting amount of specialty drinks to try.
From there, we beelined straight to Bar Mleczny, to get our first taste of a Milk Bar. We had first tried these Milk bars in Gdansk, and have been obsessed ever since! They offer traditional Polish food in a cafeteria-style setting at extremely cheap prices.
We split a goulash over potato pancakes and cabbage roles, which made for the perfect lunch. You’ll also find flowers, fresh fruits, and clothing to shop for at Hala Targowa.
4. Wander Over the Bridges of Wroclaw Poland
Did you know Wroclaw is nicknamed the “Venice of Poland?” That’s right! It’s home on the Oder River has over 100 bridges that connect different neighborhoods and islands.
While it may not actually resemble Venice Italy, strolling along these bridges makes for a fun addition to your day. This area along the river is about a 20 minute walk from Wroclaw Old Town and conveniently located next to the food market we mentioned above.
One of the most famous is the Tumski Bridge (also known as the Love Bridge) that connects old town to Ostrow Tumski.
Another great way to see this area is by taking a boat tour. You can book one directly on the river or plan in advance with something like this.
5. Find the Wroclaw Lamplighter
We recommend planning to go back over to the Ostrow Tumski district around sunset. This is when you’ll see people gather on Cathedral Island for this magical time of night.
If you can believe it, Wroclaw is one of the last places in Europe that still lights the gas lamps by hand! Every night around dusk, there is an official lamplighter who keeps the tradition alive.
It was so cool watching him reach up with his pole and light each lantern. The only thing is, you’ll have to find the lamplighter yourself! There is no official designation where he starts the process of lighting the over 100 lamps, so you’ll need to track him down.
Many people were gathered around the impressive Cathedral of St. John the Baptist around dusk. We found him somewhere else just strolling around, but know that he should eventually end up there if you choose to wait.
6. Search for the Dwarf Statues
Another interesting part about the city is all the miniature statues that adorn the streets. Looking for them is definitely one of the best things to do in Wroclaw Poland on your first visit!
The originated during the anti-communist movement in the 1980’s. What started as a protest with dwarf graffiti evolved in the early 2000’s with these creative bronze statues around Wroclaw.
You can pick up an official map in the tourist information center or even take a dwarf tour. Yet, know that you will see them around every corner.
There are over 400 dwarfs after all, so keep your eyes opened. They’re doing everything from riding motorcycles to playing guitar, and fighting fires. We even saw one dwarf that may have had a little bit too much Polish vodka!
7. Hit a Traditional Polish Vodka Bar
Who’s ready for a drink? There are so many great restaurants around Wroclaw, but we particularly enjoyed the traditional “Wodka bars.”
These establishments serve both beer and Polish vodka, and offer delicious snacks. Some of our favorite things to order were steak tartare, herring, kielbasa, and gzik cheese spread.
If you only have time for one bar in Wroclaw Old Town, make it Prewar. We went multiple times to grab a snack and tall glass of beer. It was so easy for one to turn into two, just to keep the plates of food coming!
This was probably our favorite bar we found on our entire trip to Poland. If you have time you can also check out Kombinat, which is just a quick walk down the street.
8. Sip the Cherry Wine
Speaking of drinks, there is something else you need to try in Wroclaw Poland. Pijana Wiśnia is a hot spot located in Wroclaw Old Town.
What they call “Cherry Wine” is actually popular fruit liquor that is 25-30% alcohol. It’s made by soaking cherries in vodka or different spirits.
At Pijana Wiśnia, they only serve this one drink, and all you’ll have to decide is what size cup you want! They also make gluewine for the cold winter months.
The bar actually originated in Ukraine, but it fits in well with the fruit liquors and vodkas that Poland already loves. It makes for a fun stop while you’re wandering around old town and in between in all the best things to do in Wroclaw.
9. See the View From the Basilica of Saint Elisabeth
While the Witches’ Bridge may get all the shine, there’s another can’t miss view of Wroclaw! St. Elizabeth’s Church is also located in Wroclaw Old Town looking over the main square. It’s actually directly across from Prewar, the fun dive bar we mentioned earlier.
Built in the 14th century, it stands tall as one of the city’s most beautiful landmarks. To get to this epic panoramic viewpoint, you’ll just have to climb the 300+ steps to the top of the Gothic church. Just be aware that the steep spiral staircase is not suitable for everyone.
10. Eat Polish & International Treats
As you can tell by now, one of the best things to do in Wroclaw is eat, eat, and eat some more! We wrote a complete guide to the best restaurants in Wroclaw to read before your visit.
One experience you should not miss is trying one of the delicious donuts. Paczki are soft, fried treats sold at storefronts around the city. The most well-known is the rose flavor that’s filled with rose petal jam, but there are so many delectable options.
Of course, you’ll want to try some of the best pierogi spots around Wroclaw Old Town as well. One of our absolute favorites was Konspira and its anti-communist theme. They also do an amazing baked pierogi at Pierogarnia Stary Młyn, which is different than the steamed or fried version.
In addition to the milk bars and Polish hits such as zurek soup, pork cutlet, and stuffed cabbage, there are some great international restaurants to check out in Wroclaw. We especially loved Iggy Pizza and the unique flatbread at Szynkarnia brewery.
We did not expect to find so much great craft beer on our recent trip to Poland. Visiting a brewery like Spiz or AleBrowar is one of the most fun things to do in Wroclaw on your visit.
11. Have a Night on Train Bar Street
We absolutely loved the Vodka Bars and trying the cherry wine. However, there’s one more unique area of the city to see if you’re up for some drinks!
Wojciecha Bogusławskiego Street has been turned into a nightlife zone with a strip of bars and restaurants underneath the live train tracks. This is a great place to go out, especially on the weekends in Wroclaw.
Have any questions about this article or want to share your favorite things to do in Wroclaw Poland? Let us know in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
