Wroclaw

Day 1: Old Town, islands and gas‑lit romance

Wrocław’s centre is compact and perfect for wandering. Today layers of Gothic spires and rebuilt townhouses meet student buzz, river breezes and dusk-time magic on Cathedral Island.

• Morning: Start in the Market Square with coffee on a side street, then climb St. Elizabeth’s tower for the best rooftop panorama (over 300 steps; check wind/wet-weather closures). Stroll Plac Solny’s 24/7 flower stalls and spot a few dwarfs en route to Jatki Street’s tiny galleries.
• Midday: Browse Hala Targowa for a simple market lunch (pierogi or a soup upstairs; cash helpful), then cross to the University; if open, the Mathematical Tower gives a mid-height view over Wyspa Słodowa and the Oder. Tip: buy a 24‑hour tram ticket to hop between sights without fuss.
• Afternoon: Drift along Bulwar Xawerego Dunikowskiego for postcard views of Ostrów Tumski; take the Cathedral lift for an easy viewpoint. Linger on Tumski Bridge and the cobbles of Katedralna Street.
• Evening: Arrive before dusk to follow the lamplighter as the 19th‑century gas lamps glow to life (times shift seasonally). Dine around the Four Denominations District on Włodkowica (cosy courtyards, wine bars, candle-lit cafés); in winter, swap this for the Christmas Market with mulled wine and oscypek.

Day 2: Creative quarters, rivers and neon nights

Today blends bohemian courtyards and artisan studios with lazy river time and after-dark colour. It’s slower-paced and great for people-watching.

• Morning: Tram to Nadodrze for street art, indie roasters and old craftsmen’s courtyards; duck into a tiny workshop or ceramics studio. Tip: façades can look scruffy—step through gateways to find revived passageways and murals.
• Midday: Head east to the Centennial Hall area: stroll the Pergola and Szczytnicki Park; the Japanese Garden is loveliest late April–May (cherry blossom) and in October (autumn colour). Families can swap this for the Zoo’s Afrykarium (reserve online on weekends/holidays).
• Afternoon: Return to the river: take a one‑hour Oder cruise (Apr–Nov), or ride the short Polinka cable car for fun aerial views. In summer, pause at pop‑up “beach bars” with deckchairs; in colder months, warm up in a craft‑beer multitap on Bogusławskiego under the railway arches.
• Evening: Explore Ruska 46C’s Neon Side Gallery once it’s dark—PRL‑era signs glow in a hidden courtyard (great photos). Continue with a relaxed bar hop under the arches or, for full‑throttle student energy after 23:00, venture into Pasaż Niepolda; night buses run from Galeria Dominikańska, or use ride‑hailing.

Day 3: Big views, modern flavours and riverside lounging

Round off with sky‑high panoramas, modern Wrocław, and a slow farewell by the water. Keep plans flexible—this city rewards detours.

• Morning: Book the Sky Tower viewpoint (49th floor) for a weather‑dependent, map‑like sweep over the city and, on clear days, the Sudetes. Tram back towards the centre for a late breakfast at a market stall or café near the University.
• Midday: Wander Kępa Mieszczańska’s new riverside paths, then lunch at a local bistro or a brewery kitchen (craft beer is a Wrocław strength—ask for a tasting flight). Tip: many kitchens take a mid‑afternoon break; aim for 12:30–14:30.
• Afternoon: Picnic and people‑watch on Wyspa Słodowa or the amphitheatre steps of Bulwar Dunikowskiego; it’s the city’s living room on warm days. Note: outdoor drinking is allowed only in designated riverside areas like here—fines apply elsewhere.
• Evening: Choose your finale: a river cruise at sunset (Apr–Nov), live jazz at Vertigo, or a refined glass at a riverside wine bar. If you missed it, squeeze in the Penitents’ Bridge at St. Mary Magdalene for a twilight view down the Old Town’s lanes; Monday–Thursday evenings are quieter.

By Air

• Wrocław–Copernicus Airport (WRO), 12 km west of the centre.
  • Into town: city bus 106 (day) and 206 (night) to the main rail/bus area; about 30–40 minutes. Tickets from machines on board or at the stop. Taxis/ride‑hailing take 20–30 minutes to the Old Town.
• Alternative airports within reach:
  • Poznań (POZ) ~2–2.5 h by train/bus.
  • Katowice (KTW) ~2–2.5 h by car; 3–4 h by bus/train.
  • Kraków (KRK) ~3–3.5 h by train/bus.
  • Berlin (BER) ~4–5 h by train/bus.
  • Prague (PRG) ~4–5 h by bus/train.

By Train

• Main station: Wrocław Główny (central; easy walk or tram to the Old Town).
• Key direct routes (typical fastest times):
  • Warsaw: 3 h 40–4 h 20.
  • Kraków: 3 h 15–3 h 45.
  • Poznań: ~2 h.
  • Gdańsk/Gdynia: 5.5–6.5 h.
  • Berlin: ~4 h 30 (at least one direct daily), more options with a change (Rzepin/Poznań).
  • Dresden: ~3–3.5 h with a change (Görlitz/Zgorzelec); some direct weekend services operate seasonally.
• Operators: PKP Intercity (long‑distance), Polregio and Koleje Dolnośląskie (regional). Buy at pkp.pl, app, or station machines.

By Bus

• Main bus station: Dworzec Autobusowy (ul. Sucha, inside the Wroclavia mall), next to Wrocław Główny.
• Frequent long‑distance coaches to:
  • Warsaw (4.5–5.5 h), Kraków (3–4 h), Poznań (~2.5–3 h).
  • Berlin (4–5 h), Dresden (3–3.5 h), Prague (4–4.5 h), Vienna (6–7 h).
• Tickets via operator apps/websites; services run late and can complement train options.

By Car

• Key roads: A4 motorway (east–west), A8 Wrocław ring road, S5 (to Poznań), S8 (to Łódź/Warsaw and the Czech border via Kudowa).
• Typical drive times (traffic‑dependent):
  • Poznań ~2 h; Katowice ~2 h; Kraków ~3 h; Warsaw 3.5–4 h; Berlin 3.5–4 h; Prague 3.5–4 h.
• Notes:
  • A4 between Wrocław and Katowice is tolled at barrier plazas (cards accepted).
  • The Old Town has paid parking zones and restricted streets; use signed car parks or park‑and‑ride where available.