Wroclaw in winter for two days - what to do and what to see

Wroclaw in winter for two days – what to do and what to see: a fair on Market Square, free museums, city walks, gnome hunting.

It was my second time in Wroclaw, and I had visited this city before Xmas. It was interesting to see a fabulous winter city, which shined with festive lights on Christmas Eve. I advise you to go in winter to Wroclaw exactly at this time.

A Christmas tale from Wroclaw

The Christmas celebration takes place on Wroclaw’s main Market Square. Every year, nativity scenes are built around the perimeter of the square, and festive restaurant huts are set up. And carousels and attractions are also available.

The main Christmas tree in Wroclaw is lit in the middle of Advent year it was later. We were on December 5, and the lights on the tree had not yet been lit. But it was a good idea to spend Xmas weekend in Wroclaw.

The fair also has a decorative mill and many gnomes, which are a symbol of the city. A large number of photo zones for taking pictures, and tables where you can drink mulled wine and eat traditional sausages. But there is one traditional structure at the fair: a majestic nativity scene. It is impossible to miss because it is very beautiful and brightly lit.

We bought a nice boot as a souvenir, which is made in a new style every year. It is a Xmas cup looks like a boot filled with mulled wine, or “gżaniec” in Polish. Xmas cups can be of several types: red or white wine, cherry or apple juice.

This year’s boot was navy blue – nice a souvenir as a memento of our meeting on Christmas Eve.

Old Town – walking from church to church

You can start your city walk with the standard sights: the market square, the opera, Tum Island, and the main building of the University of Wroclaw. But first, I recommend seeing the city from above to get a wow effect and understand where and what is located.

Viewpoints in Wroclaw

There is a wide range of observation platforms for this purpose:

1. Tower of St. Elzbieta’s Basilica (or Garrison Church). From here you can see a classic view of the city and the Market Square. Be prepared to climb to the top on foot, but the view of the colorful houses of the Old Market is worth it.

2. The observation deck of the Cathedral on Tumsky Island. It offers a magnificent panorama of the Cathedral Island, as well as a view of the entire Old Town of Wroclaw with the Odra River.

3.The Mathematical Tower of the University of Wroclaw. The view is a breathtaking panorama of the Old Town and the Sky Tower skyscraper in the distance. While at the University of Wroclaw, don’t miss the stunning Baroque Aula Leopoldina – a must-see in Wroclaw.

4. The Church of St. Mary Magdalene is an observation deck and a bridge between the two towers of the church, which is called the Bridge of Penitents. It’s not very tall – 45 meters high – but it’s very interesting.

Some additional view points in Wroclaw

5. The Grunwald Bridge and Tum Island are some one of the city’s symbols. It opens from the Polinka cable car, built by students of the local polytechnic. At an altitude of 7 meters above the Odra, two trolleys run every 10 minutes from 11 am to 6 pm in calm weather. You can buy a ticket on the spot from a vending machine and it costs the same as a single tram ride. The stations are located at Na Grobli 2 and Wybrzeże Stanisława Wyspiańskiego 23.

6. Renoma Gallery observation deck. It was building in the renovated gallery, you can not only shop, but also climb to the highest point of the building and get to the parking lot), which is also an observation deck. You can go there absolutely free of charge – a magnificent panorama of Wroclaw opens from the top.

7. The Sky Tower shopping center observation view point on the top floor. It is the tallest building in Wroclaw – 212 meters, 50 floors. From the panoramic observation deck on the 49th floor (accessible by elevator), you can see not only the entire city but also the Góra Ślęża, the nearest mountain to Wrocław, in good weather.

Walking around the city

Did you know that Tum Island is the oldest part of Wroclaw? Its historic buildings are in perfect harmony with its romantic aura. No wonder it is a real showcase for the capital of Lower Silesia. The Cathedral of St. George. John the Baptist, a statue of St. John the Baptist, and a statue of St. Jan Nepomuksky, the Archbishop’s Palace, and the Tumsky Bridge. This is just a small part of what you will see while walking around Tumsky Island.

To get to the island, you have to cross the Tumsky Bridge, where you usually take a selfie. The majestic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is located on the island. The island is small and can be walked around in half an hour along the promenade.

Not far from the center is the Four Religions Quarter , a place where an Orthodox cathedral, a Catholic church, and a Lutheran church are located within a few hundred meters of each other. A very pleasant location for walking, with good cafes and restaurants.

Bulwar Dunikowskiego is a beautiful lively promenade with a huge staircase where you can spend hours watching the slowly passing tourist ships. In the evening, even more people gather there, and concerts are organized.

Wroclaw is a city of murals and street art. Visit the Nadodrze district, a neighborhood literally saturated with painted murals and small graffiti. After the war, many beautiful old houses were preserved in the area, attracting artists and local creative youth who paint on the walls in the open air. In addition to street art, there are many cozy cafes in Nadodrze.

A route in search of Wroclaw gnomes

Hunting for gnomes is very popular among tourists who come to Wroclaw. It’s an incredibly fun alternative to traditional sightseeing and a great way to engage not only children but also adults while walking around the city.

To find and see the gnomes, you can ask for a map of the city center with the locations of the gnomes in one of the tourist offices. And where do the stickers come with the map, which you can stick on the map when you find a new gnome.

Or you can type in the phrase Wrocławskie Krasnale in Google Maps, which will also show you where they are located. We did exactly that a few years ago, when there were not as many gnomes as there are now. Today there are more than 800 gnomes in Wroclaw – why are there so many? Because now every company or restaurant can order their own gnome through the municipal office. This significantly increased their number, and now there are gnomes on almost every corner of the Old Town of Wroclaw.

In addition, download the city game app “Wrocław Dwarfs / Wrocławskie Krasnale” on your smartphone, which includes the locations of more than 800dwarvesto collect achievements and compete with otherdwarfhunters.

However, to be honest, you don’t need any of this to find dozens of gnomes on your own. With these little fairy tale characters located literally every 200 meters, all you really need is attention and if you don’t find them, they will find you.

Free museums in Wroclaw

Wroclaw City Museum – is the best place to learn about the city’s history. The museum offers free admission to the main building, where you can see a permanent exhibition: “1000 Years of Wrocław” to learn more about the history of the capital of Lower Silesia.

Neon Side Gallery – The gallery is located on the site of the former headquarters of the Reklamation company, which produced neon signs. Neon Side Gallery is located in a courtyard on Ruska Street. Why is it worth visiting? This magical place on the cultural map of Wroclaw is illuminated in the evenings by the light of several dozen old neon signs.

Wroclaw Archaeological Museum (9 Antoniego Cieszyńskiego Street) is one of the oldest and most interesting institutions in the city. It was established more than two centuries ago, accumulating rich private collections. Today it is one of seven permanent exhibitions in the Wroclaw City Museum. By visiting them, you can learn about the history of the capital of Lower Silesia from the Stone Age, to the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Middle Ages. Admission to permanent exhibitions is free.

Contemporary art

Modern Museum of Wroclaw – is located on Strzegomski Square at number 2a. The building was constructed at the end of World War II, in 1942. A few decades later, it was turned into an exhibition space. Nowadays, MWW offers works of international contemporary art and works by local artists of the second half of the 20th century. If you’re not too interested in art, go up to the top floor of the museum, where there is a rooftop bar with another good view of the city.

The BWA, an organization that organizes exhibitions of contemporary Polish artists and designers, is responsible for Polish contemporary art in the city. The design gallery Dizajn at 2-4 Świdnicka Street is one of those places in Wroclaw where artists associated with a broad understanding of the topic of design gather. The gallery is connected with publishers of books, brochures, magazines, and posters. And what’s more, admission to all events held at Dizajno is free. BWA Avangard is located at 32 Wita Stwosza Street and is the largest gallery in Wroclaw. Visitors can observe the latest developments in contemporary art and participate in many workshops, meetings with authors and other events.

The Four Domes Pavilion – is one of the most interesting modernist buildings in Wrocław and a pearl of Wrocław. It is part of the Hall of the Century exhibition complex, and since 2006 it has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Now you can admire the collection of Polish contemporary art in the Pavilion. Information about the next exhibitions can be found on the website. But book a Tuesday – then you won’t have to spend a single gold coin to see the exhibition under the domes at 1 Vystavochnaya Street.

Useful information about organizing a trip to Wroclaw

I really liked the public transportation in Wroclaw. Trams and buses, where you can buy a ticket through vending machines located right in the middle of the cars. That is, you need to have a bank card or a phone with a payment system. You need to select the number of tickets on the scoreboard and pay for the fare by card or phone. The fare in the city center is 3.2 Polish zlotys (0.8 euros).

I went to Wroclaw by bus FlixBus – I bought tickets three days before the trip. It’s very convenient, comfortable, and inexpensive if you travel to Wroclaw from other European cities (I traveled from Prague).

However, Wroclaw has its own airport, which is served by Ryanair and Wizz Air.

Hotels and hostels as always I look for on Booking – Wroclaw. It has the best prices and reviews from other guests. Very fast and convenient.

Useful articles and links:

Bus schedule and bus tickets are available at InfoBus.ua

Booking of hotels and apartments – Booking.com

Winter Wroclaw in two days – what to see in the city of gnomes

A Christmas tale from Wroclaw