When considering a weekend trip to Poland, the cities that often come to mind are Gdansk, Krakow, and Warsaw. It’s time to add another city to that list. Wroclaw is becoming popular among Norwegians, but there are still many who are not familiar with this city. In my opinion, Wroclaw is a more exciting destination than the other major Polish cities, and it is (for now) not overcrowded with tourists.
What is Wroclaw?
Wroclaw is Poland’s fourth-largest city with approximately 600,000 inhabitants. It is located south of Gdansk, not far from the borders of Germany and the Czech Republic. From Oslo, it takes just under 2 hours by flight, for example, with Ryanair.
This is one of the oldest cities in Poland, and people have lived here as early as the beginning of the 11th century. The city was under Prussian and German rule from the early 1900s until World War II, which is reflected in many of its most popular attractions that were built during this time.
What Can You Do Here?
A better question might be, “What can’t you do here?” The city offers everything from sightseeing to great restaurants and nightlife. Here are some of our tips to make the most of your visit:
1. Old Town
The mere existence of an Old Town in Wroclaw is quite incredible. Towards the end of World War II, a battle raged here for 3 months, and large parts of the city were more or less destroyed. After the war, the Old Town was restored, and it is impossible to tell that the buildings are not hundreds of years old.
2. Find the Dwarves
We’re not talking about Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but rather the small bronze dwarves scattered around the Old Town. Finding them all can be a challenge since there are about 300 of them hidden in the oddest places. They may look charming, but they were created for a more somber reason. The dwarves were a silent protest against the Soviet regime and contributed to the end of communist rule in Poland in the 1980s. Today, they may serve as a reminder of that for some, but for most of us, they are simply amusing figures to take pictures of.
3. Explore the Market Square / Rynek
In the heart of Wroclaw, you’ll find the market square. This square, dating back to the mid-14th century, is actually the largest square in Europe, covering almost 38,000 square meters. The layout remains the same today as it was over 700 years ago, although much of it was restored after World War II. The square is surrounded by colorful buildings, and at its center, you’ll find the town hall, which is now a museum of civic art.
4. Visit Cathedral Island
In the middle of the Oder River, you can visit Ostrów Tumski, or Cathedral Island, as it’s easier to pronounce. This is the oldest part of Wroclaw and is known for its beautiful monuments. Here you’ll find the restored cathedral of St. John the Baptist and, notably, the two-story brick basilica of the Holy Cross and St. Bartholomew’s Collegiate Church. On the island, you can also visit the Archdiocesan Museum, which houses a large collection of sacred art. The museum also has a copy of the Henryków Book, which contains the first sentence ever written in Polish. Even if you’re not particularly interested in museums and history, I recommend visiting the island, as simply taking a stroll here is worth the trip.
5. Neon Gallery
If you want to see something out of the ordinary and maybe get a bit of a Vegas feel, you should visit the Neon Gallery in Wroclaw. This is a combination of a gallery and a museum located in an old factory that used to produce neon signs. Here, you can see a collection of around 30 neon signs from old bars, shops, cinemas, and more. You won’t spend hours here, but it’s fun to visit if you have some spare time.
6. Visit Butcher’s Street – Stare Jatki
As the name suggests, this was once the street to go to for buying meat. Today, there are no butchers here, but instead, it has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Wroclaw. The street is particularly known for its statues of a goat, pig, rooster, goose with an egg, and a rabbit. Tourists line up to take pictures while interacting with the various statues.
7. Wroclaw Christmas Market
Few countries in the world do Christmas markets as well as Poland, and Wroclaw is no exception. On November 24th, one of Poland’s largest and most beautiful Christmas markets opens. Here, you’ll find over 260 different stalls offering everything from food and mulled wine to traditional homemade products. Unlike many other Christmas markets, this one is spread out over such a large area that you rarely get the claustrophobic feeling that is often associated with such events.
8. Experience Art in Nadodrze
What was once a rather run-down area that people avoided has now become a trendy and artistic part of the city. Here, you’ll find an eclectic mix of old and new, with historic buildings often decorated with various types of street art and decorations. The area isn’t too large, so if you’re not particularly interested in art and don’t plan to visit the many galleries and studios here, you can quickly complete your visit.
9. Wroclaw Zoo
Wroclaw Zoo first opened in 1865 and is Poland’s oldest zoo. Unfortunately, it has been destroyed and closed due to wars several times in history, but today it is Poland’s largest zoo. On the vast 33-hectare area, you can see over 10,500 animals belonging to 1,132 different species. This makes the zoo the third-largest in the world. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Wroclaw Zoo is the fifth most visited zoo in Europe, with almost 2 million visitors each year (for comparison, Kristiansand Zoo in Norway doesn’t even make it to the top 20 with its 880,000 visitors).
10. Go to a Beach Bar in Wroclaw
It may not sound quite right, but Wroclaw offers dozens of different beach bars and clubs along the river. Here, you’ll find everything from quiet lounges to beach bars with live music and a great atmosphere. There’s plenty to
