Wroclaw is undoubtedly my favourite city in Poland. It was voted the European Capital of Culture in 2016 and is slowly starting to gain popularity on the backpacking circuit. It has a beautiful historic Old Town, an interesting history and a large youthful population that ensures there is always something going on in the city! There are plenty of cool things to do in Wroclaw and I urge to come visit this fantastic city in Poland!
8 Unusual and Cool Things To Do in Wroclaw
1. Take a free walking tour
Just like in almost any city in Europe, one of the best things to do in Wroclaw when you first arrive is to go on a free walking tour of the city. Free Walkative! Tour runs multiple tours per day including their most popular tour of the Old Town and more specialised tours if you want to get a deeper understanding of topics such as WWII and Communist Wroclaw. In additional to English tours, they offer a smaller selection of tours in German, Spanish and Polish. All the tour guides work only for tips so please ensure you leave a contribution if you enjoy the tour!
2. Go dwarf hunting
One of the most unusual things to do in Wroclaw is to go hunting for dwarfs! Don’t worry this isn’t as sinister at it sounds – there are over 350 miniature dwarf statues dotted around the city!
The first statue appeared on the streets of Wroclaw in 2001 to commemorate Poland’s Anti-Communist movement. Since then, statues of dwarfs doing all kinds of things have been unveiled all over the streets of Wroclaw and one of the best things to do in Wroclaw is to try and find as many of them as you can! You can grab a map containing their locations from the tourism office, join a tour or simply hunt for them yourself!
3. Enjoy Old Town Square at dusk
Whilst the Old Town Square is a great place to explore any time of day, my favourite time to visit is at a dusk when there are a number of buskers playing music which adds to the already lovely atmosphere of Wroclaw’s Old Town Square. There are also a number of restaurants and cafes in the Old Town Square which makes this the perfect place to enjoy an evening in Wroclaw and one of the best things to do in Wroclaw at night!
4. Eat your way through the city
Wroclaw has arguably the largest variety of cuisine in Poland with a plethora of Polish and international restaurants to suit anyone’s budget. There are still a few traditional milk bars in Wroclaw that are especially popular with students and offer cheap Polish food in a cafeteria style setting. You can also get a wide range of international food including Italian and Turkish, as well as an increasing number of vegan and vegetarian restaurants that cater to the young local and somewhat hipster population.
5. Visit Cathedral Island
Cathedral Island in Wroclaw is the oldest area of the city and an interesting area to explore and wander the cobblestone streets. The island is located a short stroll away from the Old Town and is home to a number of churches and religious sites that are worth exploring. Nearby Tumski Bridge is Wroclaw’s answer to Paris’ love lock bridges making it a popular spots for locals on a date!
6. Relax in one of the many parks
Wroclaw is full of parks and green spaces that come alive as the weather gets warmer as locals try to make the most of the sun! Slodowa Island, which is located in the centre of Wroclaw, is one of the most popular outdoor spots and often has festivals and pop-up cafes and bars during the warmer months. Another lovely spot is the Japanese Garden in Szczytnicki Park, which brings a little bit of Asian culture to this Polish city!
7. Experience the nightlife
Whilst Krakow gets most of the fame when it comes to Polish nightlife, Wroclaw hasn’t been quite as overrun by lads abroad to anywhere near the same degree. This means that the nightlife in Wroclaw has a more pleasant vibe associated with it.
Like most cities, there are definitely venues to avoid, however, the youthful population in Wroclaw means there a number of great bars and clubs to suit anybody’s taste. There are a number of places in Market Square as well as local haunts dotted around the centre of Wroclaw.
If you want somebody with insider knowledge to show you Wroclaw’s nightlife and also meet other travellers then you should consider joining the Wroclaw Pub Crawl that runs a few nights per week. This is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Wroclaw at night!
8. Find street art
One of the coolest things to do in Wroclaw is to go looking for all the amazing street art and explore the alternative culture of Wroclaw. The street art movement in Wroclaw is the largest in Poland, predominately due to the young population here and has started to gain mainstream acceptance in recent times.
You can see many large murals in the Nadodrze area of Wroclaw which is just north of the Old Town. If you’re interested in some of the history of alternative Wroclaw – make sure to visit the Polish Poster Gallery where you can browse and buy thousands of images including propaganda posters.
How to get to and around Wroclaw
Wroclaw is a fairly small and compact city and most places that are of interest can be reached by walking. There is also an extensive tram and bus network in the city which can be used if you don’t feel like walking. You can either buy tickets at the tram or bus stop or on board.
Wroclaw is also very well connected to all other Polish cities and a number of international cities such as Prague and Dresden. It’s also a logical train stop if travelling between Prague and Warsaw.
Where to stay in Wroclaw
Grampas Hostel – this is one of the best places to stay in Wroclaw if you’re on a budget as they offer free breakfasts, occasional free dinners and organise a number of social events if you want to meet other travellers. It is also well located, clean and has great facilities. Check out the latest reviews on Hostelworld or Booking.com!
PURO Wrocław Stare Miasto – a great option to stay in Wroclaw is you’d prefer not to stay in a hostel. This boutique hotel is located right in the centre of Wroclaw, has modern and clean rooms and a funky interior. Click here to see their latest prices
Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse other rooms available in Wroclaw!
Wroclaw is starting to make a name for itself as one of the best cities to visit in Poland, particularly for younger travellers. There are many cool and unusual things to do in Wroclaw and I urge to visit this city and experience all it has to offer!
Are you planning a trip to Wroclaw? What are some of your favourite things to do in Wroclaw? Let us know in the comments below!
Wroclaw has some interesting viewpoints. I especially recommend the Witches’ Bridge. Beautiful panorama and interesting history.
This was one of my favourite cities in Poland and also the favourite city of my guide. Especially good if you are able to stay close to the city square. Thanks for sharing this info so others can experience what Wroclaw has to offer.
Glad you enjoyed your time in Wroclaw, Amanda!