Dzień dobry! Welcome to Wrocław, a beautiful Polish city that makes a perfect destination for a short European weekend city break. Hundreds of cute little dwarfs, colorful old town, interesting history, delicious food, many things to do and places to explore, and fairly cheap flights from many places in Europe… Doesn’t it all sound appealing? It sure does! Wroclaw is a city where we’ve spent many years and probably will spend many more. We love it, we know it well, and today we’ll show you how to spend 2 amazing days during your Wroclaw city break. Amazing time guaranteed!
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Wroclaw, Poland FAQ
Wroclaw is located in the southwestern part of Poland on the banks of the Oder River, not far from Germany and the Czech Republic. It’s the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, one out of 16 Polish administrative divisions. Wroclaw is the third biggest city in Poland.
Wrocław is known for its beautiful old town and the hundreds of dwarfs that took over the whole city. It’s also surrounded by rivers and canals featuring many bridges and footbridges thanks to which it’s often called Venice of Poland. What’s more, Wrocław is featured in the famous Netflix TV series – High Water, which focuses on the devastating 1997 flood of the century.
Of course! Wroclaw is charming and colorful. It’s a city where old is intertwined with new, and beautiful with shabby. Wrocław offers a wide variety of activities – from searching for cute little dwarfs scattered around the city, exploring nooks and crooks of the old town, to visiting interesting museums and eating delicious food… Wroclaw will please every traveler’s taste.
2 days in Wroclaw are enough to see most of the main landmarks and get a good feel of what this city is all about. But it’s definitely not enough to see all that Wroclaw offers. So if you want to experience it better, we recommend staying around 5 days.
According to the Internet, it’s pronounced vrowt-swaaf (en-us) or vrot-swaaf (en-gb). Although we, as Polish people, can’t read it correctly from this. So we found a YouTube video for you, where you’ll hear correct Wrocław pronunciation in Polish.
Wrocław is a walkable city and the main landmarks aren’t too far from each other. Sometimes you might need public transport (bus/tram) but don’t worry as the city is well connected – use jakdojade.pl to quickly find connections. You can also easily rent a bike or electric scooter and move around even quicker.
Things to do during Wroclaw city break
Dwarfs hunting
Dwarf hunting is a very popular thing to do in Wrocław among tourists, fun for both small and big ones. These cute little creatures started to take over Wrocław about 20 years ago and now no one really knows how many of them are here. The latest information we found says that there are more than 800 of them all around the city (May 2023).
How to find the Wroclaw’s dwarfs? You can spot them all over the city, not only in its center. The two most popular options to help with the search are:
- Head to the Krasnal Info – Tourist Information, located in Market Square where you can buy maps with dwarfs locations, as well as many dwarf souvenirs.
- Download the Wrocławskie Krasnale app on App Store or Play Store
Of course, you can also hunt for them without any help, while sightseeing in the city.
If you want to read the detailed history behind these cute little creatures read this section of our detailed Things to do in Wroclaw post.
Wroclaw Main Square
Wroclaw Main Square (pl. Rynek Wrocławski) is one the oldest and largest market squares in Poland and in Europe. Brick houses started to appear in the square in the 13th century, and during the following years, they came through many architectural changes. During World War II about 60% of the buildings around the market square were destroyed. Later, in the 60s, they were carefully rebuilt, to the look you can admire today.
The most peculiar thing about the Wrocław market square is the fact that its central part, the mid-market block, is twisted by 7° clockwise compared to the rest of the buildings. Why it looks like that is a mystery – one says it was the builders’ mistake, other that it was a planned action to simply create a larger commercial square.
Currently Wroclaw Main Square is vibrant, colorful, and always full of life. You’ll find there many restaurants and cafes, shops, and certainly, you’ll come across street artists who will try to entertain you. Exploring the market square is definitely a must-have thing to do during your Wrocław city break.
Points of interest in Wroclaw Main Market Square: Town Hall, Cloth Hall, St. Elisabeth’s Church, St. Mary Magdalene Church, Zdrój Fountain, and Pranger. Also, just around the corner, there’s Salt Square, another market square in the city. Market Square (and its surroundings) is also a place where you’ll find a lot of dwarfs!
In Wrocław Market Square you’ll also find the Tourist Office & Dwarfs Information Center (both close to Salt Square).
Book now: Private Wroclaw Old Town Guided Tour
Town Hall
Town Hall (pl. Ratusz) is one of the oldest town halls in Poland, as well as one of the best-preserved. It was built in several stages over about 250 years, between the end of the 13th century to the 16th century. Over the next few hundred years, it was renovated and rebuilt several times. Thankfully, during World War II Town Hall suffered only moderate damages and full renovation after the war ended in 1953.
In Town Hall cellars, you’ll find Piwnica Świdnicka (eng. Świdnicka Cellar) – it’s the oldest medieval restaurant in Poland and one of the oldest in Europe. It’s been operating since 1273!
Right in front of the Town Hall you’ll find a pranger (pl. Pręgierz). It’s a place that was used for punishments. Depending on the crime a person was tied to it for several hours, whipped, or even executed. Currently, pranger is a popular meeting place.
St. Mary Magdalene Church with Bridge of Penitents
St. Mary Magdalene Church (Kościół Św. Magdaleny) was built in the 13th century which makes it one of the oldest churches in Wroclaw. Like many other buildings in the market square, it was heavily damaged during WWII – about 70% of it was destroyed. The reconstruction started in 1946 and ended in 1953.
If you want to take a good look at Wroclaw from above, be sure to head to the Bridge of Penitents (pl. Mostek Pokutnic). It’s a footbridge at an altitude of 45m that connects two towers of Mary Magdalene church. Oh, and there you’ll also find two more dwarfs – Tekla and Martynka.
Keep in mind that there is no elevator to the top, and you’ll have to climb all 247 stairs. But the views are definitely worth it! We can also recommend visiting during golden hour.
Entrance to Bridge of Penitents cost: normal – 18zł, reduced – 12zł (October 2024). For current prices and opening hours visit visitwroclaw.eu website.
If you want to discover the intriguing legend behind Bridge of Penitents read this section of our Things to do in Wroclaw post.
Discover: Accommodation options in Wroclaw
St. Elizabeth’s Church with observation deck
St. Elizabeth’s Church (pl. Bazylika św. Elżbiety) is located on the market square. It’s most popular for its observation deck on the church tower, at an altitude of 75m. To get there you’ll have to climb more than 300 stairs, but panoramic views over the city will make up for the effort.
The entrance to St. Elizabeth’s Church tower cost: normal – 15zł, reduced – 10zł (October 2024). For current prices and opening hours visit visitwroclaw.eu website.
In front of St. Elizabeth’s Church also take a look at Hansel and Gretel houses (pl. Kamieniczki Jaś i Małgosia). These are two medieval buildings built in the 15th century, connected by an arched gate. Because of that gate, many think that buildings look like they are holding hands, like Hansel and Gretel from the fairy tale.
Salt Square
The Salt Square (pl. Plac Solny) is one of three market squares in Wrocław, and it acts as an auxiliary market for the main market square. It exists since 1242. In the past traders sold mainly salt from the Wieliczka and Bochnia salt mines there, but also honey, wax, or leather goods. Currently, many flower stands dominate the area and some of them are open even 24h a day.
Interesting fact. Under Salt Square, there is a bomb shelter that was created during World War II. It can fit only about 300 people.
Explore local attractions
Mathematical Tower Of Wroclaw University
Mathematical Tower Of Wroclaw University (pl. Wieża Matematyczna Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego) is located just a few steps from the market square. It was built in the 18th century and initially used as an astronomical observatory. Currently, it’s another great city viewpoint – from the terrace at a height of 42m, visitors can admire great views over Słodowa Island and the Old Town.
The tower is part of the Museum of the University of Wrocław which also includes: Aula Leopoldina, Oratorium Marianum, and some expositions. To enter the Mathematical Tower, you’ll need to buy a ticket, and the price depends on how many parts of the museum you want to visit (2,3 or 4). To check current prices visit muzeum.uni.wroc.pl website.
Four Denominations District
Four Denominations District (pl. Dzielnica Czterech Świątyń) is a small area in the Wrocław Old Town where you can find four places of worship for different denominations located in close proximity. These are Orthodox Cathedral, Roman Catholic Church, Augsburg Evangelical Church, and the Synagogue.
There, you’ll also find Neon Side Gallery (pl. Galeria Neonów), a unique place in Wroclaw’s map. It’s a small and hidden courtyard between Ruska and Antoniego streets filled with neon signs, murals, workshops, and art galleries. Neon Side Gallery is best to see after dark, when it’s most impressive and colorful.
Four Denominations District is also an area where you’ll find some of the finest Wrocław restaurants, cafes, and bars.
Cathedral Island
Another great thing to do during Wroclaw city break is exploring Cathedral Island (pl. Ostrów Tumski). There you’ll find points of interest like Tumski Bridge, Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross and St. Bartholomew.
Right before sunset, you can also spot a gas lamplighter on Cathedral Island. He walks around and lights up 103 original gas lamps. It’s the only place in Poland with such a unique attraction!
Tumski Bridge (pl. Most Tumski) connects Cathedral Island with Sand Island (pl. Wyspa Piasek). It’s also called Lovers Bridge as not that long ago it was full of padlocks that lovers left there to celebrate their feelings. It’s not the case anymore and after the renovations dwarfs keep an eye out for those wanting to hang a padlock again.
From the bridge, you can admire nice views over the Oder River, Bulwar Dunikowskiego, and part of the Nadodrze district. It also features a nice view over the Cathedral.
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (pl. Katedra św. Jana Chrzciciela) dates back to the 13th century and is the most impressive building in Ostrów Tumski. Its tower is almost 100m high and as a result, serves as a great viewpoint over the city (there’s an elevator).
Entrance to the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is free, although entrance to the tower with observation terrace, baroque chapels, and altar of St. John the Baptist is paid. You can check current prices on the katedra.archidiecezja.wroc.pl website.
Book now: Wrocław: Old Town and Ostrow Tumski Walking Tour
Xawery Dunikowski Boulevard
Xawery Dunikowski Boulevard (pl. Bulwar Xawerego Dunikowskiego) is located opposite Cathedral Island. It stretches from Market Hall up to Peace Bridge (pl. Most Pokoju), but you can continue a nice stroll up to the Grunwald Bridge. It’s a great place to walk and relax by the river with fantastic views.
Along the boulevard, you’ll also find marinas with kayaks to rent, and boats in which you can go on a cruise. For the great panoramic views climb a small hill, Bastion Ceglarski – from there you can admire Ostrów Tumski and the crown of the Panorama Racławicka building (where you can admire the huge (15x114m), 360° painting commemorating the Battle of Racławice, created by Jan Styk in just 9 months).
Just a few steps from Panorama Racławicka, you’ll also find an impressive 19th-century building covered in ivy. It houses the National Museum in Wrocław (pl. Muzeum Narodowe we Wrocławiu) and is home to one of the largest collections of art in Poland – more than 200.000 pieces are there! Visiting it is a great thing to do in Wroclaw for museums or art lovers.
Book now: Wrocław Long City Walk and Cruise
Viewpoint: Sky Tower Skyscraper
Sky Tower with a height of 212m is the tallest building in Wrocław, and the 4th tallest in Poland (as of December 2022). Its construction finished in 2012 and currently serves as a residential, business, commercial, and recreation complex. Take a good look at the shape of the building as for many it resembles something interesting and peculiar!
On its 49th floor, there is a viewpoint that offers amazing views over the whole city. The entrance to the Sky Tower viewpoint costs 49zł for a normal ticket and 35zł for a reduced one (October 2024). You can buy tickets online on bilety.skytower.pl website, or in the ticket office on the ground floor.
Colorful Backyards on Nadodrze
In the Nadodrze district (close to Cathedral Island) you’ll find spectacular Colorful Backyards (pl. Kolorowe Podwórka). As the name already suggests it’s a colorful place, a backyard, full of various street art.
Artists used free and blank spaces on the buildings to create spectacular paintings, murals, sculptures, and even installations with the use of everyday items. If during Wroclaw city break you’d like to visit a unique place, and slightly off the beaten track, be sure not to miss it.
Explore local attractions
Centennial Hall
Centennial Hall (pl. Hala Stulecia) is one of the most famous Wrocław landmarks. It was designed by the architect Max Berg and built between 1911-1913 when the city was part of the German Empire. Since the beginning, Centennial Hall has served as a multi-purpose building where many concerts, performances, exhibitions, cultural events, and business summits take place.
In 2006, Centennial Hall was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, to visit its interior you have to take part in one of the events held there.
While there, be sure to take a lovely (free) stroll around Pergola – a 640m long path among two rows of 750 concrete poles crowned with a grating overgrown with vines.
In the center, Pergola features a huge multimedia fountain that offers spectacular shows synchronized to music and lights. Shows take place every day from May to October, and they vary in length and type of music. All are free and you can check the repertoire on the pik.wroclaw.pl website.
Close to Centennial Hall, you’ll also find the Japanese Garden (pl. Ogród Japoński) – a real gem for lovers of plants and walks in green areas. It’s open from April to the end of October.
Book now: Wroclaw Old Town Highlights Private Walking Tour
Wrocław city moat
After a lot of sightseeing, you’ll need a relaxing walk among green spaces, direct your steps to Wrocław city moat (pl. Fosa Miejska we Wrocławiu). It starts near the OVO building and runs up to Sikorski Bridge where it almost connects with the Oder River. What we see today are the remains of the original 13th-century fortifications.
Depending on the path you choose, along the city moat you’ll find places like: OVO – modern and unique-looking building, Partisan Hill (pl. Wzgórze Partyzantów) – remains of the old fortification system with the Bastion Sakwowy, National Forum of Music (pl. Narodowe Forum Muzyki) – postmodern building with a large concert hall, Royal Palace (pl. Pałac Królewski) – building housing the Wroclaw City Museum, or Wrocław Opera House (pl. Opera Wrocławska).
Wrocław Główny train station
Wrocław Główny train station (pl. Dworzec Główny PKP Wrocław) is the biggest and most important train station in the city. It’s located in a castle-like building from the middle of the 19th century (1857). In our opinion, it’s one of the most beautiful train stations in Poland! We highly recommend seeing it not only from the outside but also from the inside. Also, use the escalators to see the main hall from the upper floor.
Discover: Accommodation options in Wroclaw
Food in Wroclaw
Wroclaw is heaven for food lovers. No matter what you like, you’ll find it here! From typical Polish dishes (like pierogi, bigos, or barszcz) to a wide choice of international cuisine. We already tried many restaurants and most of them are amazing – the bar is set really high. But we recommend checking out some options and reviews earlier – to avoid falling into some tourist traps. You’ll find our top choices at the end of this post.
For more details about the food scene in the city visit the food section of our Things to do in Wroclaw post.
Take advantage of a guided tour
If you don’t want to put too much effort into planning, you can always take advantage of the guided tours and let someone else take care of all the details. During your Wroclaw city break, you can for example take part in this Wroclaw Old Town Walking Tour or if you’re a foodie this Wroclaw Food Tasting Tour might be a great choice for you too.
For a wide selection and many more well-reviewed tour options be sure to visit GetYourGuide or Viator website.
How to get to Wrocław, Poland?
Wrocław is located about 360km from Warsaw, 270km from Krakow, 180km from Poznań, and 480km from Gdańsk. The most convenient way to get to Wrocław is by car, bus, or train.
Airports near Wrocław
Wrocław has its own airport. The next closest ones are in Poznań (180km away) and Katowice (205km away). The easiest way to get from Wrocław airport to the city center is to take a bus (line 106 or 206) which arrives near the main train station. You can also take a taxi or rent a car. From other airports, you can take direct buses to Wrocław. To learn more about connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
Where to park in Wroclaw?
If you choose to travel by car you need to know that cars are successively being pushed back from the city center and it’s quite hard to find a parking place for a car in the center.
Your best option is probably to find accommodation with parking space and then travel by bus/tram in the city center. But if you must use a car we think your best shot is to park in shopping malls (like Wroclavia or Galeria Dominikańska), as they are cheaper than parking meters and usually it’s easier to find an available spot there.
For great car rental deals visit Rentalcars website.
To Wrocław by bus
You can easily get to Wrocław by bus, especially from other big Polish cities. For example, the trip from Krakow will take about 3h15min (€8-25) and from Warsaw about 4h15min (€15-35). To learn more about bus connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com or Flixbus website.
To Wrocław by train
You can also get to Wrocław by train, as Poland is quite well connected by trains. For example, a trip from Katowice will take about 2h (€10-16), 4.5h from Warsaw (€13-21), and 5h from Gdańsk (€14-22). However, we feel obligated to warn you that trains are often unreliable and delayed. To learn more about connections that might interest you visit rozklad-pkp.pl website.
For great train ticket deals visit Trainline website.
City break Wroclaw – Summing up
Wrocław is such a beautiful Polish city, isn’t it? It’s charming, colorful, interesting, and very tasty. It’s a place with many things to do that will satisfy every traveler’s taste. And we’re sure that even after only 2 days you’ll understand why this city should be visited along with other popular names like Kraków, Gdańsk, Warsaw or Poznań.
Now, with our guide, you’re ready to explore Wroclaw in the best possible way during your city break. We showed the most important landmarks and a few hidden gems that can be seen in just a few hours. Enjoy your city break in Wrocław!
Pss. Do you have more time to spare or are already planning your second trip to Wroclaw? Awesome! Be sure to check out our post with all the amazing things to do in Wroclaw!
Our video from Wrocław
Our opinion about Wrocław
As we mentioned at the beginning, Wroclaw is a city where we’ve lived for many years before our digital nomads’ journey and where we come back every year – we still treat it as our Polish home. We know it pretty well and without hesitation, we can say this is our favorite one in Poland. While traveling we especially miss its amazing restaurants, mmm…
What we don’t like about it? Well, it’s a big and usually busy city that sometimes can be overwhelming (especially during the summer months and December). It’s also full of horrible graffiti on the walls even in the city center and there are lots of homeless/drunk people too. Pollution/smog is also a huge drawback but thankfully it’s noticeable almost exclusively during the autumn/winter. But no place is perfect and overall we like living in Wrocław.
Book now: 2-Hours Private Electric Car Tour with a Guide
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Wrocław City Break - How to spend 2 days in the city?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Wrocław City Break - How to spend 2 days in the city:
Where to sleep in Wrocław City Break - How to spend 2 days in the city?
Ibis Styles Wroclaw Centrum
Ibis Styles Wroclaw Centrum is a modern and stylish hotel located in the heart of Wrocław. The hotel features 133 comfortable rooms equipped with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs. Guests can also enjoy a buffet breakfast, fitness center, and 24-hour reception desk services during their stay.
Jungle Apartments
Jungle Apartments is an excellent choice for travelers visiting Wrocław, offering a unique and stylish accommodation option. Guests will enjoy the lush jungle-inspired decor, spacious and well-equipped apartments, and the convenient location close to the city's attractions.
Retro Apartment Old Town
Retro Apartment Old Town is a charming and comfortable accommodation located in the heart of Wrocław's historic district. This stylish apartment offers a unique retro-inspired interior with vintage furniture and decor, as well as modern amenities like free Wi-Fi and TV. Guests can enjoy the convenience of a fully equipped kitchen and a comfortable living room, making it a perfect choice for a short or long stay.
Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum
Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum is a stylish 4-star hotel located in the heart of the city. Its prime location provides easy access to many popular tourist attractions, restaurants, and shops. The hotel features modern rooms and suites, a fitness center, restaurant and bar, and conference facilities.
Accommodations photos source: booking.com
