Wroclaw – Attractions for the Weekend. What is Worth Seeing in Wroclaw?

Many foreigners say that Wroclaw is the most beautiful city in Poland, because Warsaw is too big, Krakow too touristic, and they haven’t been to other cities yet. I like to return to Wroclaw especially in spring and autumn, wandering around the old town or sipping coffee in one of the cozy cafes. Also in winter, Wroclaw’s Christmas market attracts growing crowds of visitors.

What attractions are worth seeing in Wroclaw, when we have one short weekend for sightseeing? Where to stay overnight and… eat? I have prepared a short guide for you. You can overlay the map below on your phone app.

Table of Contents

1 Old Town, Market Square and Town Hall
2 Wroclaw’s Dwarves
3 Raclawice Panorama
4 Wroclaw’s Museums
5 Botanical Garden in Wroclaw
6 Mural: a Colorful Courtyard in Nadodrze
7 Kolejkowo Exhibition
8 St. Elizabeth Church Observation Tower
9 Zoo and African Department
10 Where to Sleep in Wroclaw?
11 Where to Eat in Wroclaw?
- 11.1 Vegan and Vegetarian Options in Wroclaw
12 Where to Start Your Tour of Wroclaw?

Old Town, Market Square and Town Hall

This is a must-see point in Wroclaw! I mean, you can skip it, but why should you? In my opinion, this is the most charming part of Wroclaw, whose history begins as early as in the 9th century. It is here that the old tenements whisper their stories, intertwining with churches, monasteries, a palace or a synagogue. You can walk not only along the streets, but also through bridges. You can go to Ostrów Tumski or the eastern Odrzanski islands, which look different from each side, and all of them are beautiful. Interestingly, Ostrów Tumski is the oldest part of the city and, at the same time, many town residents say it is their favorite. Let’s remember that while walking around Wroclaw we can meet a lot of… dwarves along the way.

Wroclaw’s Dwarves

You can spend an entire weekend looking for dwarves, so it’s worth reading in advance about what kind of dwarves you will meet in Wroclaw, because they are not randomly placed figurines. You will meet Stomatologist, Painter, Botanist etc. Interestingly, the history of dwarves dates back to the communist era, when dwarves could be found painted on walls. Back then, anti-communist activists placed them on walls created after the communistic authorities painted over “anti-socialist” inscriptions and slogans.

Raclawice Panorama

It’s worth starting your tour of Wroclaw’s attractions with the Racławicka Panorama for three reasons: first, you have to make an appointment for a specific screening, second, tickets allow admission to three other places and third… it’s truly phenomenal. When you look at pictures of the panorama on the Internet, you might get the impression that it’s just a very large painting. However, being among the paintings of the battle scenes, which are shown in such a realistic way, causes extraordinary emotions. I myself at certain moments had to look away for a while, because I felt as if I was… a part of the painting. Until now I have not perceived art in such a personal way, and if only for that reason it is worth it.

Interesting fact! If you hesitate to go to the Racławicka Panorama, I’ll tell you a secret: if you buy a ticket to see the Panorama, you can later enjoy free admission to the National Museum, the Ethnographic Museum and the Pavilion of the Four Domes.

Wroclaw’s Museums

There aren’t as many museums in Wroclaw as in the capital, but there’s certainly something for everyone. It’s not just the National Museum, or the museum that is located in the Royal Palace (Medallic Art). You can go, for example, to the Pan Tadeusz Museum or the Pharmacy Museum. It is worth choosing two, maximum three interesting ones, otherwise you will stay in the museum until the end of the weekend. Note that admission to some museums on Saturdays is free.

Botanical Garden in Wroclaw

This is a must-see in my opinion, especially in summer. It delights with its colors, smells and variety of plants. It’s a great place for a coffee, a book or just a moment of rest while sightseeing. Note: in Wroclaw, you can also visit the Japanese Garden.

Mural: a Colorful Courtyard in Nadodrze

This place is rarely found in guidebooks. The courtyard with the form of an outdoor gallery is sure to be memorable. The painted courtyard on Roosevelt Street is more than 1,200 square meters, it is a combination of painting with ceramics and sculptures, and all residents were involved in the project: youth, seniors, football fans of different teams. Interestingly, it is the residents that you can see painted on the walls. Therefore, when viewing the mural, let’s keep your eyes around your head, because a painted figure may just pass you by.

Kolejkowo Exhibition

How many of you, as a child, dreamed of moving to a place where everything is miniature, and railroads run among it? That’s a rhetorical question, of course, because that’s probably what everyone dreamed of. Kolejkowo in Wroclaw is an unusual place, because there you can see Lower Silesia and Wroclaw in miniature, peep at everyday situations and for an hour or two forget about the reality around you in favor of this colorful one from Kolejkowo. More on the Kolejkowo’s website.

Note: This attraction is not only for children.

St. Elizabeth Church Observation Tower

There are a bit more viewpoints in Wroclaw, such as the Mathematical Tower. You can also go to the point in Sky Tower. In my opinion, it’s the most pleasant place for people with fear of heights (I know something about it).

Zoo and African Department

There’s a reason why people from all over the country come to the Wroclaw Zoo. Not only is it one of the more well-maintained zoos, but it also has an amazing African department, which seems to be getting more beautiful every year. Practical note: the zoo is really big, and that’s why it’s worth downloading an app with a map of the place. This will make it much easier to explore.

Where to Sleep in Wroclaw?

I rarely looked for accommodation in Wroclaw, as I usually either slept at my friends’ or my dad’s place. The choice is really big, and if you have a party weekend in mind, I highly recommend the Old Town area. For a more quiet, romantic getaway, you can book accommodation on the outskirts of the city or in the Sky Tower, the tallest building in Wroclaw. Waking up with such a view makes an incredible impression, doesn’t it?

Booking.com

Where to Eat in Wroclaw?

I know that most of you are eating normally, so I’ll recommend you some places where I ate before changing my diet. Unfortunately, the rotation of restaurants in Wroclaw is quite high and quite a few are already closed. I will continue with vegan and vegetarian options in Wroclaw.

Moa burger – huge, meaty burgers that anyone can eat.

Szajba – everything they have is delicious, and the portions of pasta or salads are simply huge. Note: not only in this pub, but in the whole alley, where it is located you will find a lot of delicious places.

BenePosto – although you can eat “normal” dinners there, it is worth going there for pizza.

Vegan and Vegetarian Options in Wroclaw

There are so many vegan restaurants in Wroclaw that it’s hard to decide where to go. Therefore, everyone is sure to find something delicious for themselves. I recommend:

W kontakcie – a great place for a breakfast.

Ahimsa – delicious Asian food with vegan… duck.

Mihiderka – I love the burgers there, except for the cabbage burger. For burgers you can also go to KroWarzywa, for example.

Bez lukru – their pies are so delicious and filling, you better go there hungry!

Kuźnia Dzięcioła – they have cool options for dinner and I always promise myself to make something similar at home and I… forget about it.

Where to Start Your Tour of Wroclaw?

Everyone has a place they’ve been to hundreds of times and wouldn’t know where to start a tour. That’s exactly what I have with Wroclaw. It was hard for me to decide what to recommend first, because, after all, everyone likes something different, and there is a lot to see in Wroclaw. However, after a few years I managed to prepare the first article about Wroclaw and I hope that I helped you at least a little in discovering the attractions of Wroclaw.

Add in the comments your favorite places in Wroclaw, I will be happy to check them out. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!