A WEEKEND IN WROCLAW, POLAND

Wroclaw is such a unique town centered around the market square. I always love checking out lesser known towns, which is why I decided to add Wroclaw to my itinerary when exploring Eastern Europe. It was my first time to Poland so I honestly had no idea what to expect when heading to Wroclaw. Having been, I highly recommend making a trip. There is so much history and culture wrapped up in this town making it a must see.

Pro Tip: Be sure to check out the pronunciation before arriving to Wroclaw as you will never guess how it is pronounced!

This post contains affiliate links to the products that I use and trust. Meaning that I might receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase using any of my links below. See full disclosure here.

Located on the south western corner of Poland, Wroclaw is actually the fourth largest city in Poland. As such, there is plenty of reliable transportation to Wroclaw. Warsaw and Krakow are less than 4 hours away so Wroclaw can easily be visited on a trip to Poland.

You can travel Poland by bus or train. There are a few options you can choose from when traveling by train but InterCity trains are the quickest and best for travelers. You can purchase tickets on board but double check the rules prior to your trip. If you prefer traveling by bus I’ve linked the best site to use. Buses are generally a more affordable but less comfortable option.

You can also visit Wroclaw from surrounding cities such as Berlin or Prague which are about 4 hours by car. I traveled to Wroclaw from Prague by bus and it was an experience. The bus driver barely spoke English so I wasn’t sure whether or not I was on the right bus. After 5.5-6 hours thankfully I arrived to the correct destination!

Like most places in Europe, Wroclaw is a great place to visit year round. With that said, summers are generally hotter and more crowded. I always prefer traveling Europe during the shoulder seasons either from April-June or September-November. The weather is perfect for traveling hovering around the 60s by late April/early May. The weather starts to cool from the warm summer in September with temperatures in the 60s cooling down to the 40s by November. The winters are cold and grey however, if you like Christmas Markets, it’s still a great time to visit! Last time we went to Poland, we went mid December which we loved!

While Wroclaw is one of the largest cities in Poland, it’s relatively quick to explore. I recommend spending 1-2 days in town. If you’re headed to Poland, spend at least 7-10 days travelling the country.

I recommend staying as close as possible to the Market Square in Wroclaw. It’s where you’ll want to spend the marjority of your time! We’ve always booked Airbnbs throughout our travels in Poland. We’ve found we can usually get an entire apartment within walking distance of the Old Town. All of the Airbnbs we’ve stayed in were renovated and reasonably priced. We haven’t stayed in the airbnbs linked below however, they’re in a great location with excellent reviews!

Airbnbs in Town:

• Apartment with a View of Town Square
• Apartment in Wroclaw

Most of our trip consisted of eating delicious pierogies, however, there is so much to do in Wroclaw! While eating pierogies was definitely a highlight of my trip, visiting Wroclaw would not be complete without searching for gnomes and checking out the market square. I recommend starting your trip in Wroclaw with a free walking tour to get a layout of town and learn the history. From there, you will have a good idea of where to spend the rest of your time.

Wander the streets of the Market Square. This was honestly my favorite thing to do in Wroclaw. The town is such a perfect place to just wander around without an agenda. The colorful buildings will leave you truly amazed. Grab a drink outside and soak in the beauty of the market square!

Be on the lookout for gnomes! When I say there are gnomes everywhere I mean there are literally gnomes everywhere. Hundreds of gnomes are scattered around the town so be sure to search them out.

There is actually so much history to the gnomes as they represent the anti-Soviet resistance movement. The gnomes were used as a way to peacefully protest communism in the early 1980’s. It was a way for people to come together to peacefully fight against the system.

The lookout tower of the Church of Garrison is located on the outside of Market Square making for an easy activity. While it sits just on the outside of the square, it’s quite the climb to the top of the lookout tower. You will walk up a spiral staircase that feels like it is never going to end however, it’s totally worth it. The view from the lookout tower is unbelievable. You are able to get an amazing view of the Market Square as well as the rest of the town.

A trip to Poland is not complete without Pierogies! You can order just about any type of pierogi you can think of – there are baked, fried, as well as a number of other Pierogies. There was a food market in town while we were visiting and some of the best Pierogies were from the street vendors. There are also a number of restaurants with some incredible Pierogies, Pierogarnia Stary Mlyn was my personal favorite. The restaurant is located in the Market Square. The Pierogies are absolutely amazing but don’t take my word for it, be sure to have your fill.

Considering Poland’s proximity to Germany and the Czech Republic it is no surprise Poland is one of the largest producers of beer in Europe. While craft beer is becoming more and more popular in Poland, Zywiec and Tyskie are among the most popular Polish beers

Vodka tasking is one of the most popular attractions in Wroclaw. Tours range from about $35-$70 depending on the tour. Most tours take you to about 4-5 different pubs that serve high quality vodka..

When we arrived in Wroclaw, everyone kept telling us to go to Slodowa Island. Since all the locals were recommending it, we decided to check it out for ourselves! Truth be told, I think it’s a locals scene. It’s very dirty and popular for locals because we were told the island isn’t policed. My advice, skip Slodowa Island and check out Ostrow Tumski.

I absolutely loved my time in Wroclaw and hope this post encourages you to make the trip! Poland is such a cool country with so much history. I can’t wait to go back to check out more incredible cities.

Safe Travels,

Sarah :)

Don’t forget to pin this for later!