A unique city I’ve visited time and time again – you’re reading this guide to find out “Is Wroclaw worth visiting” and I’m happy to tell you that it, in fact, is worth visiting. It’s a smaller, yet very charming, Polish city with more than 800 gnome figurines dotting the town, but that’s not even the best reason to visit.
Wrocław may be known for its maps and walking tours helping you uncover the quirky gnomes – some sharing a pint of beer, others playing tourist or relaxing on the cobblestones – but it’s just one part of why Wrocław is worth visiting.
I’ll dive into all my recommendations from its Polish cuisine, colorful main square, historic sites, and more. Here’s why you should visit Wrocław, Poland.
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Where is Wrocław, Poland?
Located in western Poland along the Oder River, Wrocław (pronounced Vrotz-wav) is one of the country’s hidden gems.
It’s about a 3-hour train ride from Krakow (the 2nd largest city in Poland) and about 3.5 hours from Dresden in Germany.
Wrocław is actually quite unique geographically. It spans 12 islands and is connected by over 100 bridges, giving it a unique character all its own.
Why is Wrocław worth visiting?
There are a lot of reasons why you should visit Wrocław, thanks to the things to city has to offer, but I’ll get into those details further below. For now, I’ll explain why Wrocław is a popular destination because of its affordability to accessibility from direct flights within Europe.
It’s easy to fly directly into Wrocław from other many parts of Europe with budget airlines, and that’s why it’s such a popular weekend destination in Poland.
There are direct flights from places like Munich, London, Amsterdam, Dublin, and more. It’s not hard to secure a round trip flight for under €50.
Then, once you arrive in Poland, your money will go far. Poland uses the Polish złoty. €1 is worth about 4 PLN. For example, a pint of beer is usually around 16 PLN (less than €4 and it’s bound to be tastier than your basic British lager).
Where to Stay in Wrocław
- Old Town Haston: Cozy mid-range hotel, minutes from Market Square with marble bathrooms
- The Bridge Wroclaw: 5-star eco-friendly hotel with spa & gorgeous rooms overlooking Oder
- Klubokawiarnia Mleczarnia: Popular budget hostel near Market Square with a cafe
What to See in Wrocław
So, time to decide for yourself, is Wroclaw worth visiting? Here are the best things to do in Wroclaw, Poland in a weekend.
Visit Market Square
First on your list should be the city’s market square (Rynek) where you’ll find a pedestrian-only square surrounded by beautiful, colorful buildings with a medieval Town Hall perched right in the middle.
The square is a photographer’s paradise with its gingerbread-style buildings. There are also plenty of cafes and pubs to stop in during your stroll.
Literatka is a great choice. It’s a cafe by day and turns into more of a cocktail bar in the evening. Books like the wall and helps create a truly cozy atmosphere. Very hygge!
While you’re in Market Square, climb the Lookout tower of the Church of the Garrison for sweet aerial views of the square. You’ll quickly see why Wroclaw is worth visiting.
The Square also holds the city’s old Town Hall, which is now the Museum of Bourgeois Art. It’s one of the oldest places in the city, dating back to the 13th and 16th centuries.
For the best experience on your first day in Wroclaw, do an Old Town and Ostrów Tumski walking tour like this one.
Go Gnome searching
As of 2024, Wrocław is home to over 800 little gnomes dispersed throughout the city. Each one is different and it’s a lot of fun when you accidentally stumble upon one. Imagine yourself casually getting lost and stumbling upon gnomes time after time.
Hostels and hotels have maps of the gnomes if you want to keep track of the ones you’ve seen. Go out and find the gnome that best represents you. Mine is the definitely the one kicked-back, contently drinking coffee.
You can also hop on a gnome-themed walking tour. You’ll learn a lot about the history of the gnomes/dwarves, why they were commissioned, and how the designs are chosen.
Visit the Christmas markets
If you’re visiting anytime from late November into early January, you’ll have the pleasure of wandering through Wrocław’s Christmas market located in Market Square.
There are vendors selling crafts, scarves, jewelry, purses, and more plus plenty of food and mulled wine. Wrocław’s Christmas market also has adorable little mug boots that you get to drink out of and you can take it home as a souvenir!
That’s not even the best part about this Christmas market, however. Many markets in Europe are constantly packed with tourists, as Wrocław’s is more under the radar, yet still mighty cute, you’ll be able to find a seat near a fire pit allowing you to sit back and fully enjoy the experience with a cup of mulled wine. Highly recommended to visit Wroclaw in winter for this reason!
And, if you’re wondering what to wear, see my guide on packing for winter in Europe.
Visit Tumski Bridge
The Tumski Bridge, or Cathedral Bridge, is basically Wrocław’s love-lock bridge that connects the mainland with one the islands.
It’s pedestrian-only made of steel, and connects the islands of Piaskowa and Ostrów Tumski. The bridge also lovely photographic perspectives, and being pedestrian-only, it makes for a pleasant walk during your Wroclaw itinerary.
Explore Ostrów Tumski (Cathedral Island)
Ostrów Tumski is the oldest area in Wrocław’s dating back to the 9th century. It has several bridges leading to it and offers stunning architecture and a number of churches and a striking cathedral. There’s several cafes and restaurants on this island and even a botanical garden.
You could easily spend a few hours wandering the ins and outs of the island and all its monuments. And if you’ll like to learn a lot more, book a walking tour of Cathedral Island.
See Wroclaw Cathedral
The Wroclaw Cathedral is actually the fourth one to built on the site. The current one is Gothic and is called the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Its construction began in 1244 and was the first brick building in Poland.
Inside, there is a 1522 paining of the Virgin Mary as well as the largest organ in Poland. You can also get fantastic city views from one of the towers. Besides, aside from the Sky Tower, its the highest point in the city.
Eat Pierogi (and Potato Pancakes)
You can’t go to Poland and not have pierogi (Polish dumplings) and other delicious food. My favorite spot is Pierogarnia Stary Młyn located in the market square. Try both lepiochy (traditional boiled pierogi) and pieuchy (baked pierogi), but my personal preference in lepiochy. The staff here will have plenty of recommendations, too.
Also, potato pancakes with mushroom sauce are a big hit in Poland, and certainly delicious. You can order it at the above restaurant and many others in the city.
Drink lots of beer
Beer in Poland is generally pretty cheap (and tasty). A great choice for cheap beer is Przedwojenna (Prewar) located just off Market Square.
The aesthetic is certainly prewar with wooden furniture, dim lights, and the walls filled with newspapers and items from before the World War II. It’s quite a cool place and a bucket list place to visit in Wroclaw.
Craft beer has also taken hold in Wroclaw. AleBrowar is one of the best pubs in Wroclaw for craft beer lovers. They serve everything from sour IPAs, classic pilsners, and whisky stouts. A little something for everyone!
See Wrocław from Sky Tower Viewpoint
Enjoy a leisurely walk or take the tram to the Sky Tower Viewpoint for some of the best views in Wroclaw. This is 51-floor skyscraper, so you’re bound to get some cool city views from the top viewpoint.
It costs 20zl to visit the viewpoint, and it’s well worth the experience. Oh! And there’s a Salvador Dalí melting clock sculpture at the entrance of the building, which I LOVED.
FAQ – Is Wroclaw Worth Visiting?
Here are some of the most common questions I see about visiting Wroclaw for the first time.
Which is better, Wrocław or Krakow?
The two cities are quite different. Wrocław is a lot more quaint where Krakow is the second largest city in the country. However, it’s also one of the oldest. You will see a lot more historic and cultural sites in Krakow than Wroclaw, but Wroclaw can be more charming (in my opinion).
If you have time during your trip, I highly recommond visiting both cities to get a better sense of southern Poland.
Is Wrocław touristy?
People come to Wrocław to chase gnomes and visit the Wrocław Christmas Market in winter. However, it’s not considered one of the most touristic cities in Poland. Some of the more popular places include Warsaw, Krakow, and Gdnask.
How many days in Wrocław?
Spending 2-3 days in Wroclaw is the perfect amount of time to get a sense of the city. It’s a charming weekend destination in Europe, thanks to the many direct flights. If you want to spend more time in Wroclaw, I suggest doing day trips or overnights in other places like Krakow or Poznan.
Essential Polish Phrases for Visiting Poland
To greet someone say: Dzień dobry (jeen doe-bray)
Hi (Informally): Czesc (cheshked)
Yes: Tak (tahk)
No: Nie (nee-eh)
Please: Prosze (proh-shay)
Thank you: Dziekuje (jink-wee-ah)
Beer: Piwo (pee-voh)
Thank you for reading my travel guide answering all the details on “Is Wroclaw worth visiting?” I hope you’ve decided to visit. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below and I will get back to you. Happy travels!
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