Lower Silesia, south-western Poland · Poland
A city of a hundred bridges on the Oder, with a colourful market square, a cathedral island and hundreds of tiny bronze gnomes hiding in the streets.
Photo: Jacek Halicki · CC BY-SA 4.0
Wrocław is Poland's fourth-largest city, on the Oder river in the south-west, and it has been Bohemian, Austrian, Prussian and German (as Breslau) before becoming Polish after 1945. That layered past shows in its architecture. The Market Square, one of the largest in Poland, is surrounded by pastel gabled houses and a Gothic town hall, and behind it run cobbled streets and canals.
The city is built on islands and riverbanks, with about 100 bridges. Ostrów Tumski, the oldest part, is a quiet island of churches, gas lamps and a cathedral with two tall spires, and a lit-lantern-lighting ceremony each evening. South-east of the centre, the Centennial Hall, a pioneering concrete dome of 1913, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Wrocław is also playful. Hundreds of small bronze gnomes hide around the streets, a legacy of a 1980s anti-communist art protest, and hunting for them is a popular activity. As a university city, it has lively bars, and it was European Capital of Culture in 2016. Two days is enough for the highlights.
Why visit
Wrocław is a fun, walkable city with pretty squares, islands and quirky charm.
One of Poland's largest market squares.
Ostrów Tumski.
Hundreds of bronze figures.
The Centennial Hall.
Bars and cafés.
Main attractions
Most sights are within a short walk of the Market Square.
A large square with a Gothic town hall, pastel houses and cafés, and the heart of city life.
Tip Visit at night.
The oldest part of the city, an island with churches, a cathedral and gas lamps, lit by hand each evening.
Tip Go at dusk.
A reinforced concrete dome completed in 1913, then the largest of its kind, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a multimedia fountain nearby.
Tip See the fountain show.
Hundreds of tiny bronze gnomes, or krasnale, around the city, in doorways, on pavements and on lampposts.
Tip Pick up a gnome map.
A giant circular painting of a 1794 battle, in a special rotunda.
Tip Book a slot.
A tower with a city view.
Tip Take the lift.
Things to do
Wrocław is for walking and gnome-spotting.
Follow a map and spot them.
Tip Good for families.
River boats and canals.
Tip Go in summer.
A garden near Ostrów Tumski.
Tip Free in parts.
At the Centennial Hall.
Tip Evening.
A trendy district.
Tip Go on weekends.
One of Poland's oldest zoos.
Tip With children.
Local food
Wrocław's food is Polish with Silesian and Lviv influences.
Dumplings.
Where to try it Restaurants.
Potato dumplings with roulade.
Where to try it Traditional restaurants.
Local breweries.
Where to try it Pubs.
Toasted baguettes.
Where to try it Street stalls.
Poppy seed and cheesecake.
Where to try it Cafés.
Accommodation
Stay near the Market Square.
Transport
Wrocław is a rail and air hub.
The centre is walkable.
When to go
Wrocław is warmer than most of Poland.
Mild.
Riverside life.
Golden.
Christmas market.
Worth planning around: Grey winter days.
Itinerary
The square, the island and the hall.
Square and gnomes.
Dome and river.
Travel tips
A few tips help you plan.
FAQ
Two.
Small bronze statues placed around the city.
Yes.
About three hours by train.
Yes.
The oldest part of the city.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with Wrocław, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Lesser Poland, southern Poland, Poland
A UNESCO-listed old town with the Main Market Square, Wawel Castle, Kazimierz, Schindler's Factory and easy trips to Wieliczka Salt Mine and Auschwitz.
Don't miss The Main Market Square at dusk, with the trumpeter's call from St. Mary's tower and horse carriages passing the Cloth Hall.
Explore Destination — KrakówGreater Poland, western Poland, Poland
A relaxed western city with a colourful Old Market Square, a Renaissance Town Hall and its famous goats, Ostrów Tumski cathedral, the Croissant Museum and a base for the first Polish capital at Gniezno.
Don't miss The two mechanical goats emerging from the Town Hall clock at noon, to a crowd in the Old Market Square.
Explore Destination — PoznańMasovia, central Poland, Poland
Poland's capital, with the reconstructed Old Town, the Royal Castle, Łazienki Park, the POLIN Museum, the Warsaw Uprising Museum, Palace of Culture and a lively restaurant and bar scene.
Don't miss The Old Town Market Square, meticulously reconstructed after 1945 from paintings and photographs, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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