Is Wrocław Worth Visiting? 8 Reasons I Fell in Love With It

My friend had just been to Warsaw and Kraków, and she loved them both. So when she suggested Poland again, this time Wrocław, I said yes. There was just one problem. I’d never even heard of Wrocław.

I didn’t do much research and arrived with zero expectations. Then I stepped out of the train station, looked up and thought, “oh my God, it’s so beautiful.” That feeling stayed with me for the whole trip.

Is Wrocław worth visiting? Yes, absolutely. Wrocław is worth visiting for its colorful Old Town, more than 1,000 gnome statues, beautiful museums, relaxed riverside and easy vegan food. I came with zero expectations and fell in love. It even made me want to explore more of Poland.

1. It’s Beautiful From the Moment You Arrive

If you can, arrive by train. Wrocław Główny, the main train station, is so pretty that it feels like a sight of its own. It was my very first look at the city, and I was hooked before I’d even left the station.

From there, my friend and I walked to the center. On the way, we passed the Sakwowy Bastion, with its fountain and curved building. It made a lovely first photo stop and set the mood for the rest of the trip.

2. The Old Town Is the Real Thing

Wrocław’s Old Town is full of colorful facades, especially around the Market Square (Rynek). Just strolling the streets with no plan was one of my favorite things to do in Wrocław.

The houses reminded me of Prague. But in Prague, I mostly saw buildings like these on souvenirs. In Wrocław, you’re standing right in front of the real thing, and they’re super, super pretty.

My hotel was only about a 2 minute walk from the square, so I could pop back whenever I wanted (read my full Wyndham Wrocław Old Town review).

3. The Gnomes Make Every Walk Fun

Wrocław has more than 1,000 little gnome statues hidden all around the city, and I loved them. You don’t need a map or a plan to find them. Just keep your eyes open while you walk, and they’ll pop up everywhere.

Many shops have their own gnome out front. My favorite was a gnome drinking from a huge wine bottle outside a bar. Spotting them turned every walk into a little treasure hunt, which made exploring the city even more fun.

4. It’s Full of Quirky Surprises

Wrocław kept surprising me with little things I’d never seen anywhere else. These were my favorites:

• A 24 hour flower market: On Plac Solny, there’s a flower market that’s said to be open all day and all night. At around 11 p.m., people were still buying flowers. How crazy is that?
• The Neon Side Gallery: A courtyard full of old neon signs. Go after dark, when they glow.
• The backyards of Nadodrze: Walk through decorated entranceways into courtyards packed with street art.
• The Polinka cable car: A tiny cable car over the river, built for students. One way cost us about €1 (paid in złoty).

None of these are big famous sights. But they’re exactly the kind of things that made me fall for the city.

5. There’s Lots to Do on Rainy Days

We had one day of really bad weather during our trip. The good news? Wrocław has plenty to do indoors.

• University of Wrocław Museum: My favorite museum of the trip. The Aula Leopoldina is a stunning Baroque hall with ceiling paintings, and you can even sit on the wooden benches.
• National Museum in Wrocław: It’s really big, with a good mix of Polish and international artists. Plan more than an hour.
• Racławice Panorama: A huge 360 degree painting with a 3D foreground that makes the scene look like it’s coming to life.
• Kino Nowe Horyzonty: An artsy cinema that shows lots of films in their original language. We went one evening when we were tired, and it’s a popular spot for a drink too.

6. The River and Green Spaces Are Lovely

Wrocław sits on the Oder River, and some of my best moments happened near the water. A boat tour is a great way to get a first feel for the city. You sit back and drift under the bridges, which are really beautiful and reminded me of Budapest.

For a break from the city streets, head to the Japanese Garden. I think it’s the most beautiful Japanese garden I’ve seen in Central Europe. In late October, the leaves were turning red, golden and yellow, and it was so pretty.

The garden is right next to Centennial Hall, so you can walk the Pergola while you’re there. It’s a lovely walkway around a pond and an easy way to slow down for an hour.

7. It’s Easy to Eat Vegan

Wrocław has quite a few all vegan and vegetarian restaurants, and I ate so well. These were my highlights:

• Pod Przykrywką: A vegetarian spot for vegan pierogi, which you have to try in Poland.
• Cudo: All vegan Japanese food. The sushi was so good.
• Bez Lukru Kuchnia Roślinna: A hippie, flower power café. My vegan shakshuka with a homemade smoothie and chai latte was my favorite breakfast of the trip.
• Brew: An all vegan café with great matcha and a very tasty cheesecake.

My tip? Stick to vegan and vegetarian places. Vegan options at other restaurants didn’t seem very popular. For all my favorites, read my guide to the best vegan food in Wrocław.

8. It Feels Young, Hip and Good Value

Wrocław is a student city, and you can feel it. It has a cool, relaxed vibe, and from our boat tour we spotted lots of riverside beach bars. They made me want to come back in summer.

It’s also good value. At our hotel, I booked an oil massage and my friend had a traditional Thai massage. Both were really good and more affordable than in many other European countries. Since October is low season, there was even a discount when we visited.

I paid by card everywhere with my Wise card, so I never had to take out any złoty. It gives you great exchange rates and no service fee on transactions, and you won’t end up with leftover cash at the end of your trip.

💴 Get your Wise Card here

How Many Days Do You Need in Wrocław?

3 nights is a great amount of time for a first visit. It’s enough to see the highlights. To help you plan your days, check out my 3 day Wrocław itinerary.

That said, I could easily have stayed longer. In summer, I’d add a day just to chill by the river. In colder weather, an extra day for a cozy spa day would be perfect.

And even with three nights, we ran out of time. These are the places still on my list for next time:

• Museum of Cemetery Art (Old Jewish Cemetery), which sounded really interesting but was a bit too far out
• Ethnographic Museum and Four Domes Pavilion, both included with the Racławice Panorama ticket
• The tower of St. Elizabeth’s Basilica
• A cup of tea at the little tea shop in the Market Hall

When Is the Best Time to Visit Wrocław?

I visited in late October, and I’d happily go back in almost any season. Here’s how I’d choose:

• Autumn: This is when I went. It’s low season, so it’s quieter, and we even got a discount on our massages. The Japanese Garden was glowing in red and gold. Just plan a few indoor backups, because we had one day of really bad weather.
• Summer: This is my next trip. I want to see the riverside beach bars, the outdoor bars at the Sakwowy Bastion and an evening show at the Multimedia Fountain, none of which were on in autumn.
• December: The Market Square turns into one of the prettiest Christmas markets in Europe. I’m planning to go back for my guides to the best Christmas markets in Wrocław and things to do in Wrocław in December.

Ready to Book? Here’s Where to Stay in Wrocław

So, is Wrocław worth visiting? For me, it’s a big yes. I came with zero expectations and left already planning my next trip.

Once you’ve decided to go, the next step is finding the right place to stay. The Old Town is super central and lets you walk almost everywhere. But it can also get loud at night (my hotel handed out earplugs, and I needed them).

In my guide on where to stay in Wrocław, I share the best areas and hotels for your trip, so you can pick the one that fits your style.

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