A plan for Wrocław

History

Like many cities in Central Europe, it is a city with a troubled past, having seen a lot of violence and devastation. Prior to the Second World War, Breslau was the capital of the German province of Prussian Lower Silesia. It became Polish territory when, after the War, the Soviets moved the German/Polish border westward to the Oder/Neisse Line and ethnically cleansed the area of its overwhelmingly German population through mass expulsion. Breslau was almost completely destroyed during the end of the War as the Red Army fought its way into Germany towards Berlin, being declared a "Fortress City" by Adolf Hitler. However, since the end of the Communist regime in 1989 it has been wonderfully restored and can now be counted among the highlights of Poland and of all Central Europe.

Talk

The official language is Polish. The city is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination, and serves as Poland's secondary financial services centre (after Warsaw). Thus, you should be able to find a sufficient number of English speakers to get by. German is probably much more widely spoken and understood here than in other regions of Poland.

Tourist information

There are two tourist information points on the main market square (Rynek). There is a tourist information in the main railway station.

1 Market Square (Rynek). It is the architectural centre-point of Wroclaw, and its most obvious attraction. It is one of the biggest town squares in Europe, and is lined on all sides with photogenic and interesting buildings. Centre of tourist life, place where tourists drink beer.

2 Old Town Hall (Stary Ratusz), ul. Sukiennice 14 (south side of the Rynek). Tue-Sun 11:00-17:00 (closed Mon). It now serves as the Museum of Burgeois Art. Construction of the town hall began in the 13th century. It was one of the few major buildings in Wrocław to survive World War II. The interior features stunning Gothic interiors. admission 4 zł. (updated Apr 2023)

3 Salt Square (Plac Solny). Formerly a salt market, now a flower market.

4 Cathedral Island (Ostrów Tumski). A group of islands on the Oder River with beautiful cathedrals and a few hundred year old buildings, for those who would have romantic evening, walking through mystery brick stoned streets it is a must. It is complete with hand-lit oil lamps lit nightly.

5 Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Archikatedra św. Jana Chrzciciela), ul. Katedralna. Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00, Sun 14:00-16:00. Dating from the 13th century, featuring stunning architecture and the largest church organ in Poland. Has elevator to the top, so this is the one to go to if you can't climb. Good river views from the tower. Admission 15 zł, tower admission 25 zł. (updated Aug 2024)

6 St. Elizabeth's Church (Bazylika św. Elżbiety Węgierskiej), ul. Elżbiety 1 (On the northwest side of the Rynek). Mon-Sat 09:00-16:00, Sun 13:00-16:00. Tower: Apr-Oct: daily 10:00-19:00, Nov-Mar: closed. A large and imposing medieval building with a 90m high tower with spectacular views over the old town. Tower admission (no lift) 15 zł. (updated Aug 2023)

1 Opera Wrocławska, ul. Świdnicka 35.

2 Music Theatre Capitol, ul. Marszałka J. Piłsudskiego 67.

3 Polski Theatre, ul. Zapolskiej 3. Two additional stages are located at ul. Świdnicka 28 (Small Stage) and plac Orląt Lwowskich 20c (Świebodzki Train Station Stage).

Współczesny Theatre (Contemporary Theatre), Ul. Rzeźnicza 12.

4 Wrocław Philharmonic, Ul. Piłsudskiego 19. Different kinds of concerts: symphonic, choral, early music, jazz, popular music.

Football: Śląsk Wrocław were promoted in 2026 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their Tarczyński Arena (capacity 45,000) is 6 km northwest of city centre.

Free Walking Tours. (updated May 2016)

5 Wroclaw Food Tour, Pregierz,Rynek (Monument in front of Mc Donalds' in the Central Market), ☏ +48 791 782 792, wroclawfoodtour@gmail.com. Mon-Fri 13:00-16:30, Sat Sun 12:00-15:30. Wroclaw Food Tour is an easy and enjoyable way to discover traditional Polish food in authentic locales alongside with other food lovers from all over the world. It is not just about eating food, but also touching upon Polish culture by finding out about the many intriguing facts concerning Polish cuisine under the guidance of an English-speaking food expert. €40. (updated Aug 2015)

New Horizons Cinema (Kino Nowe Horyzonty), Kazimierza Wielkiego 19a/21, ☏ +48 532 726 581. The largest arthouse cinema in Poland. (updated Jul 2026)

Festivals

Long Night of Museums. Annual event in May.

Festival of Good Beer, Wrocław Municipal Stadium, Aleja Śląska 1. The largest beer festival in Poland and one of the largest in Europe. In June.

New Horizons (Nowe Horyzonty). International Film Festival. Ten days of films, concerts and exhibitions. End of July.

Dialog Festival. International Theatre Festival. October.

Budget

Cultural note: the "bars" listed below are in fact self-service canteens, known as milk bars (bar mleczny), offering inexpensive and traditional Polish meals. They are a gastronomic and cultural experience. They should be open even on national holidays. Expect short queues.

In the city centre

1 Bar Miś, 48 Kuźnicza Street (700 ft. north of Rynek (Market Place or central square)). Mon-Fri 07:00-18:00 and Sat 08:00-17:00. Offers an ample and diversified menu, including meat-based dishes. Students, staff and professors of the University of Wrocław usually eat there, together with homeless people, elderly and pensioners. After entering go to the cash desk (at the left corner) and order your meal (Polish only). Turn right, go to the food counter and hand your receipt to the person serving the meals. (updated May 2022)

2 Przedwojenna, Świętego Mikołaja 81, ☏ +48 791 120 525. Restaurant inspired by prewar Warsaw. The atmosphere and decor of the place takes you to another dimension. (updated Apr 2025)

3 iBO falafel, Świętego Mikołaja 15. Delicious vegan falafels, beautiful wraps and lovely service. The falafel is fresh, yummy, flavorful and filling. Small cosy place. (updated May 2022)

4 Pizzeria Piekielny Kupiec, Rynek 46/47. Very big variety of pizzas including some rare yet delicious combinations. You can order some additional sauce to make it even tastier. Fast, attentive and kindly service. (updated May 2022)

Near the city centre

5 Bar Pierożek Wrocław ul. Sądowa 7, Sądowa 7 (next to the Casino, close to the Scandic Hotel). According to many Wroclavians, the best pierogi in Wrocław. Try pierogi ruskie (with potatoes and cottage cheese) with kefir and barszcz (borscht) and "nalesniki" (crêpes) to experience what real Polish food ought to taste like. The place is small and basic, you may need to wait for a seat, but the food is top-notch. (updated May 2022)

Mid-range

Pijalni Bistro ul. Michała Wrocławczyka 42. Easy Natural Wines and dishes served every evening. One of the best curated wine lists in Wroclaw. Good chef and interesting food popups sometimes.

There are many different clubs and pubs in Wroclaw. Most of them are located in the centre of the old town, many good ones however, are situated a few crossings from the Town Square, not within its borders. The Town Square mostly contains some not very specific, quite expensive restaurants, although it is worth mentioning the Spiż Cellar, an interesting mini-brewery with a few tasty kinds of locally made beer and a unique interior design. There are also two discos that are popular among fans of house/techno music - Daytona and Związki. However, pub-wanderers, who want to meet interesting people and/or get involved in some discussions will probably enjoy places situated in some less obvious locations than right in the Town Square. Good examples of such places are:

Mleczarnia (pronounced 'Mletcharnya'), ul. Włodkowica 5. A bit further from the Town Square but still not too far, near the main courthouse in a quiet street - quite a large pub occupying the basement and ground level of an old fin-de-siecle building. It has unique dark, cozy, wooden interiors and a specific atmosphere. Music played is quite specific and varied - among the styles played are: Jewish music, jazz, progressive rock, film music and others. There are often some cultural events, like discussion clubs or film projections taking place in the basement. They also have a hostel in that same building.

Bezseność (Insomnia), ul. Ruska 51, upstairs. Concerts, film screenings. Popular place.

Setka, ul. Kazimierza Wielkiego 50A, on the corner. Supposedly Communist style, well - kitschy. But open 24/7 with cheap alcohol (4 zł for a glass of beer or shot of vodka) and good meals.

There are plenty of other clubs and pubs in Wroclaw. It's a great adventure to explore them because most have their own specific style and atmosphere.

Beer

1 Spiż Cellar, Rynek-Ratusz 2. See how to brew beer and how delicious it tastes.

The centre of Wrocław is navigable on foot, but the city has an excellent public-transport system for access to the suburbs and outlying attractions, with 57 bus lines, 22 tram lines and 13 night bus lines. As well as that, taxis are readily available and quite affordable, even for those on a budget.

By bus or tram

Details on how to travel around Wrocław and ticket types and prices. You can also use the journey planner. Google Maps and its peers do not work well for public transit in Wrocław as of 2025; instead, download the Jakdojade transit app.

Tickets

There are two types of tickets:

Single-ride tickets cost 4,60 zł. These tickets are not time-based or route-based - you must pay each time you enter a different vehicle.

Period tickets:

15-minutes for 3,20 zł,

30-minutes for 4 zł,

60-minutes for 5,20 zł,

90-minutes for 7 zł,

24-hours for 15 zł,

48-hours for 26 zł,

72-hours for 32 zł,

168-hours (7-days) 54 zł.

A reduced fare is available and costs 50% of the regular fare. Pupils of Polish schools under the age of 21 and seniors aged 65 and over ride for free. A proof of age or a school ID is needed.

You must validate all tickets on boarding the bus or tram, or you'll face a 150 zł fine (plus the price of a ticket) if caught by an inspector (100 zł if paid within 7 days). A period ticket only needs to validated on the first vehicle that you board. After that, you just need to keep it on you for inspection.

Tickets are sold in lots of places. Look for "Ruch" kiosks, post offices. You should be able to buy them in most newsagents also. In the city centre you can find lots of ticket machines offering all types of tickets.

In every bus and tram there is a ticket machine installed too. Payment is only possible by credit or debit card (Visa/MasterCard/American Express). Maestro cards are not accepted. The ticket machine on the bus or tram does not print your ticket – the ticket is coded on your payment card. The validity of the ticket (this service is particularly useful in time tickets) can be checked in the ticket machine.

Transporting baggage and animals requires no additional ticket.

If you're planning to stay longer, check out the Urbancard offer.

Wrocław, like most of Poland, is a very safe city but you should exercise the usual caution and keep guard of your valuables especially around crowded places or places popular with tourists like the main train station or the town square (Rynek).