My Favorite 14 Things to do Wroclaw
Wroclaw - a major Polish city - was built on the grounds of Germany's Breslau after WWII. The city is blessed with a well-restored Old Town that has undergone a full restoration.
Understand
Wroclaw - a major Polish city - was built on the grounds of Germany's Breslau after WWII. The city is blessed with a well-restored Old Town that has undergone a full restoration. Wroclaw has many waterways crossing the downtown area which make it extra pretty but make road traffic rather nightmarish.
Wroclaw is a surprisingly lively little city with many friendly people - think German work ethics with Slavic drinks and nightlife and a general business and service-friendly environment.
Poland is great value; expect nominal prices in Zloty to be close to what we pay at home (or somewhat higher) but the exchange rate is actually 1:4! Food, drinks, transport and hotels are generally excellent value.
Get Around
Uber is in town but is of limited use since there are so few drivers and the traffic is rather manic given the city's odd geography. We waited 20-30 minutes for an Uber pickup which would only cost a few dollars anywhere in the city. It's usually a good idea to stick to walking only in the Old Town and ask the locals for their secret to navigating the many old trams that chug around the city.
Safety
Wroclaw is safe; besides the possibility of being in a bar fight, I find it rather impossible to become a victim of crime here. While Poland has become more xenophobic, it is still much better than the German border areas to the west.
Sights
Rynek (Market)Rynek is the central square that is surrounded by beautifully restored houses. There are plenty of (touristy) restaurants and shops but it isn't as trashy as you may fear. It's all well done and clean, with fountains aplenty.
The old Town Hall is the center point of attention at Rynek. If it reminds you of Prague, you're not the only one.
One of many old town churches in Wroclaw, this one allows you to climb up to the very high church tower to get a view all over the city for a fee of $2. It is a strenuous climb in a small stairway that has two-way traffic, but once up on the platform, the reward is high on a beautiful day.
Ostrów Tumisk is a bit outside the city center and houses even more historic buildings. It's just a small walkway but the connecting 'lock bridge" and the cathedral are worth an afternoon stroll.
About 2 miles outside the city center is the Centennial Hall, which showcases some grand architecture. There are also fountains that go off based on classical concert music that runs every 30 minutes. If that sounds a bit too much like Eastern Europe it probably is, but it is entertaining.
Right behind the fountains is the local Japanese Garden that imports a piece of Japan into Wroclaw and is extremely well done. The entrance fee is just $2 for a lovely 30 minutes or so exploring the gardens.
This huge indoor panorama is a huge attraction for all the tour buses going through Wroclaw. I duly skipped this expensive sight.
Eat & Drink
Wroclaw has some surprisingly sophisticated cuisine, as well as coffee and drinks options. The many students power a pretty decent range of options.
Mango Mama has excellent Indian food in a pretty setting, including an outdoor patio. The chicken tikka and chicken tikka masala were both excellent and very well done. However, a vegetable korma curry came with a sweet sauce that was barely edible. So it is a bit hit or miss but a hit is lovely for the low prices posted by this restaurant.
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frankie's is a mini chain all over Poland that serves healthy food and fresh juices. The low prices and friendly staff make the Wita Stwosza location a winner.
Dubbed the best pizza in Wroclaw, this place looks like a run-of-the-mill take-out pizza place. Make no mistake, though, as it is all about incredible Italian food for ultra-low prices ($5 each). The salad and pizza were both fantastic and I paid less than $10 all-in. Incredible!
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Targowa has a seemingly endless list of beers on tap. The interior and outdoors will strike you as modern yet original. I tasted all the IPAs and stouts and thought they were fantastic. It's not cheap though, with a half liter costing $10.
Giselle is all about original French bistro atmosphere and great food. I loved their breakfast food at minimal prices. There is also fast WiFi. What a winner!
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The Bolesława Drobnera location of Bema is a bit outside the city's center of action but convinces with super-friendly staff, fast WiFi, delicious sandwiches and bagels and excellent coffee. It also has a powerful AC for those hot summer days.
Gniazado is yet another excellent coffee shop, serving fresh hummus among the large menu of hot and cold snacks and coffee. The atmosphere is a bit more classy and upscale than the other coffee shops mentioned above.
Ice cream and Polish Lody are synonymous in Wroclaw. The ice cream at the Koscuiszki location is incredibly cheap at just $1 and extremely popular. It tastes a bit more like a sorbet but is milk-based and very sweet. You may like it a lot!
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