The best things to do in the city of Wrocław to relax, to learn something, and to have fun

Why Wrocław is worth visiting

Wrocław is the third largest city in Poland (after Warsaw and Kraków), a vibrant student city, attracting many international businesses and thousands of tourists from Poland and abroad. Although the name of the city is difficult to pronounce for foreigners (‘vrotz-wav‘), Wrocław is a city open to tourists and offers many great attractions. From Gothic architecture to picturesque bridges, comforting gardens located in the heart of the city, the only oceanarium in the world dedicated to Africa’s water wildlife and over 300 small bronze figures of… dwarfs scattered around the city.

Wrocław offers plenty of things to do on a rainy day, indoor attractions to escape the cold or the heat so you can enjoy the city at any time of the year. You should definitely consider Wrocław when you are planning your next weekend getaway in Poland and include it in your list of places to visit in Poland.

How to get to Wrocław

Wrocław is located in southwest Poland. Wrocław’s location on Google map.

By train

The main railway station in Wrocław is called in Polish Dworzec Główny/Wrocław Główny. It’s located about 1,6 km from Market Square in the neo-Gothic style building renovated in 2012. The most popular domestic connections include Warsaw (the shortest travel time: 3 hrs 37 mins), Kraków (2 hrs 59 mins), Poznań (1 hr 38 mins), Gdańsk (4 hrs 48 mins), Łódź Widzew (3 hrs 15 mins), Katowice (1 hr 50 mins), Lublin (6 hrs 21 mins). Train timetable.

By car

Wrocław is well connected with other cities in Poland. Approximate (depending on traffic) travel time from: Warsaw 3 hrs 40 mins, Krakow 3 hrs, Poznań 2 hrs, Gdańsk 4 hrs 50 mins, Łódź 2 hrs 15 mins, Katowice 2 hrs 10 mins, Lublin 5 hrs 10 mins.

By plane

Wrocław has its own international airport (Wrocław Airport) located about 12 km from the Market Square/city center. How to get from Wrocław airport to the city center? One option is to take a municipal bus no. 106. You can buy tickets from the machine (with an English interface, cash or card) next to the stop. It runs every 15 minutes but it takes longer to get to Wrocław (about 40-50 minutes) since the bus has many stops (bus no. 106’s timetable and list of stops). The final stop is in front of the railway station as well (Dworcowa stop). You can also take a taxi waiting outside the terminal.

Attractions in Wrocław that both adults and kids will enjoy

Wrocław Zoo and Africarium

Wróblewskiego 1-5 Street (about 4 km from the Market Square)

Wrocław Zoo is not only the oldest zoo in Poland (established in 1865), but it also includes Africarium – opened in 2014 – the only oceanarium in the world dedicated to Africa’s water environment and wildlife. Africarium is located within the area of Wrocław Zoo and you do NOT need to buy any separate entrance tickets to Africarium. The opening hours of Africarium are the same as the whole Wrocław Zoo.

To skip the line and avoid crowds, it is recommended to visit the Wrocław Zoo in the morning, preferably at 9 am. The Zoo in Wrocław is a fantastic tourist attraction and top tourist attraction in Poland in terms of sold tickets (the fifth place among European zoos and aquariums). If you arrive in the morning, the lines are short and Africarium is not so crowded.

Click here to read our tips in English on visiting the Wrocław Zoo: opening hours, how to get to Wrocław Zoo (by car, by public transport, entrances to the Zoo), tickets to Wrocław Zoo, pony rides and rope park in Wrocław Zoo.

Photo source: Kids in the City and Wrocław Zoo

Wrocław gnomes / Dwarfs of Wrocław / Krasnale wrocławskie

Wrocław’s dwarfs are small bronze figures (each no more than a foot tall) scattered around the city. When you look closer you will notice they are very imaginative and each gnome refers to a particular part of the city or history. Next to Wrocław Philharmonic House, you will find the whole orchestra of gnomes, next to the bank – a gnome withdrawing money from ATM. You may find a doctor with a stethoscope, a gnome concierge, a hairdresser, an excavator operator.

You can imagine it’s so much fun for kids to walk around the city discovering new statues of dwarves. In the Wrocław tourist information office and in most of the souvenir shops you can buy a dwarf map of Wrocław, available also in English.

Dwarfs are a symbol of Wrocław but their history is relatively new. The tradition started in 2001 with a single dwarf – a statue commemorating an anti-communist underground movement (the dwarf was their symbol). Now you can spot over 300 gnomes in Wrocław!

Kolejkowo – a unique miniature model of the region

The name Kolejkowo comes from the Polish word – kolej – meaning rail. It’s an engaging attraction in Poland for both adults and children. Kolejkowo presents a unique small-scale model of the region of Lower Silesia featuring hundreds of models (railways, cars, buildings, bridges) and thousands of figures of people and animals including such details as a wedding reception and a waiter dropping a wedding cake. All models and figures are hand-made and mirror the originals. Kids and adults will love the miniature replicas of cities, landscapes, and of course the main attraction of Kolejkowo – the biggest railway model in Poland (510 meters of railway tracks, 15 trains, 60 railway carriages – all moving!). You can include Kolejkowo in your list of things to do in Wrocław – especially for a bad weather day in Wrocław – when it’s raining or it’s too cold or too hot to stay outside.

Click here to read our tips in English on visiting Kolejkowo: opening hours of Kolejkowo, tickets to Kolejkowo, and what is available in English in Kolejkowo.

Hydropolis – knowledge center about water in Wrocław

Na grobli 17 Street (about 2,5 km from the Market Square)

A great destination in Wrocław for adults and children. You can learn about water from different perspectives – the evolution of life in water, water animals’ camouflage techniques, deep sea creatures, the bathyscaphe, the states of water, water engineering. The Hydropolis Center was opened in 2015 – it’s very modern, full of multimedia technologies, installations, touch screens, etc. Hydropolis includes interactive installations dedicated to kids as well as a relaxation zone – a room with deckchairs and jungle sounds, designed as a garden.

After or before visiting Hydropolis, you could take the opportunity and ride with Polinka cable car over the Oder river. The car looks exactly like a mountain gondola! The Polinka stop is located only 300 meter-walk from Hydropolis. The ride takes about 2-3 minutes, a cable car goes about seven meters above the water. More about the Polinka cable car.

Click here to read our tips in English on visiting Hydropolis: opening hours of Hydropolis, how to get to Hydropolis, tickets to Hydropolis, and what is available in English in Hydropolis.

Wrocław Old Town, market square with the City Hall, viewing towers in Wrocław, Ostrów Tumski – the oldest part of Wrocław

Wrocław has one of the largest market squares in Europe, with the late-Gothic City Hall in the center and dozen of tenement houses hosting cafes and restaurants. If you don’t mind walking up the stairs, church towers in the Old Town offer the best view. One option is to climb the tower of St. Elizabeth’s Church (Kościół św. Elżbiety, ul. św. Elżbiety 1/2). The church tower is over 90 m high, it’s open every day April-October, 10 am – 7 pm. Another interesting option is to climb ‘the highest bridge’ in Wrocław – it’s a short footbridge joining two towers of the Cathedral of St. Mary Magdalene (Katedra św. Marii Magdaleny, ul. Szewska 10), open every day: 10 am – 7 pm.

Make sure to include in your Wrocław must-see list the Ostrów Tumski district – the oldest part of Wrocław that used to be an island (about 1,5 km from the Market Square). Ostrów Tumski is full of sacral architecture, including the oldest fully preserved building in Wrocław – Church of St. Giles (Kościół św. Idziego) from the first half of the thirteenth century, located on Plac Katedralny (Cathedral Square), next to the impressive Gothic Cathedral of Wrocław. If the weather is nice you can visit the Botanical Garden which is located in Ostrów Tumski just a few steps from the monumental churches.

An interesting experience (especially when your legs need a break from sightseeing or you travel with kids) is to explore Wrocław with one of many Melexes available around the old town. They offer sightseeing in plenty of languages and different routes to select. A trip takes usually about 1-2 hours and includes stops.

The Japanese Garden (Ogród Japoński) in the city of Wrocław

The history of the Japanese Garden in Wrocław dates back to 1913 when it was established as part of the World Exhibition. The garden was revitalized in 1996 and restored again in 1999 after the flood.
The garden is not large, but situated in an interesting and convenient location – during one trip you can visit the Wrocław zoo, Hala Stulecia (Centennial Hall building listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site) or take a walk in the neighboring park – Park Szczytnicki.
The Japanese Garden in Wrocław is one the most spectacular fall foliage spots in Poland!

The Japanese Garden on Google map.

Botanical Garden in Wrocław

Henryka Sienkiewicza 23 Street (about 2 km from the Market Square)

If you need a break from typical tourist attractions, the Botanical Garden is a green oasis of calm in the center of the city. Established in 1811, the park includes ponds with wooden bridges, a greenhouse, and thousands of plants – many of them bloom colorfully. The Garden is open every day (including holidays) from April 1 until October 31 (April and September: 9 am – 6 pm, May-August 9 am – 7 pm, October 9 am – 5 pm). Wrocław botanical garden on Google map. Website in Polish, Facebook page.

Photo source: Ogród Botaniczny Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego

Wrocław cruises on the Oder river

Sometimes Wrocław is called ‘the Venice of the North’ – there are over 100 bridges, 25 islets, 7 rivers (the Oder/Odra being the largest in Wrocław and the third-longest river in Poland after the Vistula and Warta), and many streams and channels.

Cruises on the Oder are very popular and you can select cruises of different lengths and with different kinds of carriers – from motorboats and catamarans to bigger sightseeing boats. Most of them depart from Przystań Kardynalska (a landing place on Wyspa Piasek / Piasek Island, Bulwar Włostowica) and Przystań Zwierzyniecka (Wróblewskiego 1 Street). Another option is to rent a kayak (at Zatoka Gondoli, Purkyniego 9 Street) or a pedal boat (at Przystań Zwierzyniecka).

Carousel and playground in the Staromiejski Park

Park Staromiejski, Teatralna Street (about 2 km from Market Square)

To take a breather and chill out after sightseeing, you can relax in Park Staromiejski. If you have children, they can unwind in the playground and have fun on a cute little carousel. The carousel operates in good weather conditions, usually from April: Monday – Friday 11 am – 6 pm, Saturday – Sunday 11 am – 7 pm.

“Aquapark Wrocław” – water park in the city of Wrocław

Location: Aquapark Wrocław, Borowska 99 Street, 50-558 Wrocław, 2,5 km from the Old Town (location on Google map).
Aquapark Wrocław offers indoor and outdoor swimming pools with seven slides, a Lazy River, a playground for children, a sports pool, and a brine pool.
The outdoor pools consist of four parts: 4 swimming lanes, a relaxation area with geysers and showers, a recreational pool of 35 meters, an outdoor paddling pool.
Website in English. Facebook page.
Online tickets.

Photo source: Aquapark Wrocław

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“MovieGate” – original costumes and props from the biggest film sets

The museum presents a collection of unique set pieces, props, and costumes from the most prominent film hits ever, including Harry Potter, Star Wars, Matrix, X-Men, and James Bond. MovieGate’s film collection includes weapons, unusual costumes, props, and secret agent vehicles.

The Museum is located in an exceptionally well-preserved World War II shelter, 6 meters underground, in the center of Wrocław. A historical tour is available.

Photo source: MovieGate

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Escape rooms in Wrocław (available in English)

LetMeOut Escape Rooms in Wrocław

Location: LetMeOut, Wrocław, Bernardyńska 4 Street (location on Google Maps).
Six rooms for children and adults, with different difficulty levels (the difficulty level of the room can be checked on the website). Two family-friendly rooms: “Kraina Czarów”/”Wonderland” and “Tajemnica Księgi Lasu”/”The Secret of the Book of the Forest”.
Example room/scenario: “Sherlock Holmes”. Sherlock Holmes is in serious trouble, most likely kidnapped by enemies of Her Majesty. Not two days ago, priceless scepters and a crown were stolen from the royal treasury, for which Holmes suspects close associates of the queen, traitors quite dangerous and ruthless. Sensing the danger, he hid evidence of their guilt in his office, which he planned to present soon in the palace. You have only one hour! Before midnight strikes, you must find evidence in the office that Sherlock hid. Hurry up. The queen’s traitors are already on their way.
Languages: all rooms are available in English and Polish.
Offers for birthday parties and school groups are available.
Website in Polish. Website in English. Facebook. Instagram.

Exit19 Escape Rooms in three locations in Wrocław

Location no. 1: Exit19, Wrocław, Pawła Włodkowica 21 Street (location on Google Maps).
Location no. 2& 3: Exit19, Wrocław, Ofiar Oświęcimskich 17 Street and Ofiar Oświęcimskich 19 Street (location on Google Maps).
Thirteen rooms for children and adults, with different difficulty levels (the difficulty level of the room can be checked on the website). Taking children to rooms marked 16+ is not recommended due to inappropriate content for younger players.
Example room/scenario: “Klątwa Skarbu Majów”/”The Curse of the Mayan Treasure”. In the middle of the Guatemalan jungle, a part of Tikal’s lost city–the Mayan state’s former capital – has been found. A secret entrance to the Temple of the Great Jaguar has been discovered in its ruins. According to the notes of archaeology professor George Tillman, this most famous Mayan structure hides three hearts that give the power to rule the world. The professor disappeared during one of the research expeditions of this extraordinary civilization. Legends circulating among the inhabitants of a nearby village say that he was killed by the curse of the Mayan treasure, which he was also looking for. You decided to find and acquire these artifacts, desired by everyone, on your own. However, this was not easy because the Mayans had an extraordinary way of hiding their most valuable treasures.
Languages: all rooms are available in English and Polish.
Offers for birthday parties and school groups are available.
Website in Polish. Website in English. Facebook. Instagram.

Trapped Escape Rooms in Wrocław

Location: Trapped, Wrocław, Kazimierza Wielkiego 67a Street (location on Google Maps).
Four rooms for children and adults, with different difficulty levels (the difficulty level of the room can be checked on the website). “Chata Wiedźmy”/”The Witch’s Cottage” for participants aged 16+. “Piraci”/”Pirates” room – family-friendly. “Zakopani żywcem” room for participants aged 18+.
Example room/scenario: “Piraci”/”Pirates”. Your tropical vacation went according to plan: beautiful weather and cloudless skies. Today, you decided to change your plans a bit – you rented a small wooden boat and without looking back, you sailed out to the open sea. Unfortunately, this was your biggest mistake. When you were far from the shore in a split second, the weather changed drastically. Suddenly, a ship with a flag appeared in the distance, which made every sailor shiver… Pirates! You could hear shots and screams, and with every second, the ship was getting closer to you… It was over; a gust of wind capsized your boat, and you were all up to your necks in water in the blink of an eye. After some time, you wake up on a dry deck, rescued. Unfortunately, the real fight for survival is only now beginning – you have been kidnapped by pirates and imprisoned in a cabin below deck. The captain has given you a choice: Will you be able to fulfill his condition and regain your freedom?
Languages: all rooms except one (“Zakopani żywcem” room) are available in English.
Website in Polish.

Secret Room & Brain Code Escape Rooms in Wrocław

Location: Secret Room & Brain Code, Wrocław, Kazimierza Wielkiego 27c Street (location on Google Maps).
Five rooms for children and adults, with different difficulty levels (the difficulty level of the room can be checked on the website). Family-friendly rooms: “Kraina Wiecznej Nocy”/”Land of Eternal Night”, “Przeklęty Pierścień”/”Cursed Ring”, and “Wiedźma i Albercik”/”The Witch and Albert”. A room for participants aged 16+: “Prosektorium”/”Mortuary”.
Example room/scenario: Wiedźma i Albercik”/”The Witch and Albert”. During your journey through the ancient forest, you are hosted in a village named Skrzacikowo. They tell you the story of their friend – the dwarf Albercik, imprisoned five years ago by the evil witch Rzepicha. You decide to save him. The night of the Sabbath on Babia Góra is the only time of the year when the witch is outside her cottage.
Languages: all rooms are available in English and Polish.
Website in Polish. Facebook. Instagram.

Piwnica Quest Escape Rooms in Wrocław

Location: Piwnica Quest, Wrocław, Tęczowa 7 Street (location on Google Maps).
Three rooms: two family-friendly rooms: “Schron bankowy”/”Bank vault” and “Fantazja”/”Fantasy”. A room for participants aged 18+: “Midnight Killer”.
Example room/scenario: Schron bankowy”/”Bank vault”. Ready to rob a bank vault? This time, escaping is not the only task you have to complete. In addition to the fact that you are pressed for time, the security services are also hot on your heels, and they are already on their way. You must work closely together because you have one goal – to get the loot out of the bank vault and escape those looking for you within an hour!
Languages: all rooms are available in English and Polish.
Website in Polish.

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