Wroclaw in Western Poland, also known under the German name Breslau, is a beautiful city with a charming market at it’s heart, an impressive church island in the Oder river and great food and drink to enjoy a summer evening. All of that can be had for far less than in Western Europe, making Wroclaw a great weekend getaway – check out my weekend itinerary for Wroclaw and start planning your next city getaway!
Perfect Weekend Itinerary: After settling into your hotel in Wroclaw’s old town on Friday evening, you go for a stroll along the alleys and get a glimpse at the beautifully restored market square and houses, before sitting down for dinner! The restaurants along Olawska Street and around the Market Square are very popular with tourists and give you a chance for lots of people watching. Nearby, Mama Manousch offers local food and Pasibus makes some great burgers! For a quieter evening, head to the courtyards near the Synagogue: Few tourists make it there, there is plenty of outdoor seating and the food is good and inexpensive. I really liked Dojutra and you’ll have a number of others to choose from!
After a satisfying breakfast at your hotel, it’s time for a Free Walking Tour of Wroclaw’s Old Town. In a leisurely walk of about 2.5h, you’ll see the town hall, market square, church island and many historic sights of the city.
You’ll also learn a lot about the ups and downs over 1,000 years and the strive of different groups in the city. You’ll also meet dwarfs all over the town, representing their spots from the prison to women washing clothes in the river, and hear their story! Make sure you bring your camera – Wroclaw is a beautiful!
The folks from Walkative offer morning and afternoon tours (depending on season) in English, German and Polish. If you still have an appetite for more information, they also have a tour of Jewish history and World War II, as well as bridges & islands and dwarfs & communists! The tour is free and the guides live of your tips – be generous, if you enjoyed it!
The afternoon is a great chance to visit the Royal Palace and the Museum of Wroclaw. It used to be the residence of the Prussian Kings in Wroclaw (or Breslau at the time). You can see the Royal chambers, learn about 1,000 years of history and see art over the centuries!
As the evening rolls around, make sure to go for a stroll along the river with the views of church island or along the moat around the old town with its lovely park, before finding a new, favorite spot for dinner!
Your Sunday morning starts with a leisurely brunch. If you want to pick up some gifts for friends (or yourself), Galeria Dominikanska is a large, modern mall on the edge of Old Town, making it easy to find whatever you need before you head back to the airport!
Getting there and around: Wroclaw is served by Ryan Air, Wizz Air and other low-cost carriers, making it very inexpensive to get there, a one-way flight is often less than $20 or cheaper than bus or train. From the modern airport, you can take a public bus into town (30 minutes) or a taxi (20minutes).
You also have high-speed train connections to Katowice, Poznan and other cities in Poland as well as to Berlin (4h).
The old town is compact and easy to explore on foot. Most of the places you’ll want to see are near the city center and for destinations further afield, local trams are easy to use and inexpensive.
Where to stay: To make the most of your weekend and be able to see everything on foot, it’s best to stay near the old town. I stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Wroclaw and loved it – It’s a new and very modern 5-star hotel with all the amenities and great value to boot! Just steps away from the Market Square is the Sofitel Wroclaw and nearby are the Radisson Blu Hotel as well as the independent Art Hotel and PURO Hotel. If you are on a budget, the ibis Wroclaw Centrum is near the train station, making it great for transportation, but a bit of a walk from the old town!
| Hotel | Category | Location | Chain/Rewards | Great for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DoubleTree Wroclaw | 5* | Old Town | Hilton Honors | Luxury, Shopping, Sight Seeing, Spa |
| Sofitel Wroclaw | 5* | Old Town | Accor LeClub | Location, Style, Luxury, Sight Seeing |
| Radisson Blu Wroclaw | 5* | Old Town | Radisson | Sight Seeing, Shopping, Luxury |
| Mercure Wroclaw Centrum | 4* | Old Town | Accor LeClub | Location, Shopping, Sight Seeing |
| Art Hotel Wroclaw | 4* | Old Town | - | Location, Style, Sight Seeing |
| PURO Wroclaw | 3* | Old Town | - | Location, Value, Sight Seeing |
| Ibis Wroclaw Centrum | 3* | Train Station | Accor LeClub | Transportation, Value |
Hotels are very good value and often half of what a night in Vienna or Prague will cost you!
When to go: Wroclaw has typical Central European weather, with cold winters and hot summers. The best time to go is from May to September, when all the restaurants have outdoor tables and the old town is lively, without being too crowded!
Explore More: To get a “lay of the land” and see where all the hotels, restaurants and sights are, check out my map below and plan your perfect weekend itinerary in Wroclaw! Click on the box in the upper right corner for a full map! Where are you going to stay? What’s your number one thing to do? Or have questions – feel free to comment below and I’ll help with your trip!
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