Wroclaw

Introduction

Wroclaw- old town

© Monika28

Wroclaw is the capital city of the region of Lower Silesia in southwestern Poland, situated along the Oder river. With around 700,000 inhabitants in the city and over 1 million in the metropolitan area, it's the 4th largest city in the country. The city has been designated European Capital of Culture for 2016, along with San Sebastian in Spain, and the logos can already be seen throughout the city.

Neighbourhoods

Wroclaw is dived into 5 boroughs:

• Stare Miasto (Old Town)
• Śródmieście (City Centre)
• Fabryczna (Factory Quarter)
• Krzyki
• Psie Pole

Sights and Activities

• Rynek (market square) including the 14th century Town Hall
• Hala Stulecia (Centennial Hall) - a Unesco World Heritage Site
• Ostrów Tumski (Cathedral Island) with Wrocław Cathedral
• Panorama Racławicka
• Plac Grunwaldzki ("Grunwald Square)
• Kościół Św. Elżbiety ("St. Elisabeth's Church")
• Royal Palace and City Museum
• Jewish Cemetery
• Old University and University Museum
• Forum Muzyki - the new concert hall
• Wrocław Zoo
• Krasnoludki - the gnomes
• Skytower viewpoint on the 49th floor

Weather

Wroclaw has a temperate continental climate. Summers last from June to August with average daytime temperatures between 23 and 26º C and nights of 12-15 º C. Winters average around 2-4º C during the day and a few º C below zero at night. Most of the precipitation falls during the warmer summer months, winters are driest (combination of rain and snow), while spring and autumn fall in between those two regarding rainfall.

This has an impact on the way the city functions. In the warmer months, small ogrodki (beer gardens) pop up all over the city, especially on the main square and the streets around it, and also on floating pontoons off the island of Wyspa Slodowa. In the colder months, the beer gardens are taken down, and the cellars fill up with people instead.

Getting There

By Plane

Copernicus Airport Wroclaw (WRO) offers a growing number of flights.
Ryanair has flights to/from Alicante, Barcelona-Girona, Bristol, Brussels, Dublin, Düsseldorf (Weeze), East Midlands, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Rome, Shannon and Stockholm.
Several other airlines serve a few more cities, including Munich, Oslo, Warsaw, Gdansk and Copenhagen. Two to three flights per day to Frankfurt, where you connect to the entire world.

By Train

Fast trains to Katowice (3 hours) depart every two hours or so. Most continue to Krakow (4.5 hours). There are at least half a dozen fast trains and also three express trains to Warsaw (5-6 hours). Some also stop at Lodz (around 4 hours) en route. Wroclaw also has regular train links with Poznan (2-2.5 hours, roughly hourly), Zielona Gora and Szczecin and routes to towns in the region, e.g. Jelenia Gora, Walbrzych and Legnica.
There are also international trains to Hamburg (via Berlin), Prague, Dresden, Kiev (via Lviv) and Budapest.

By Car

Wroclaw is located just north of the main A4 highway corridor, running from the border with German (close to Legnica) in southeastern direction towards Krakow.

By Bus

Trzebnica (40 minutes), Sobótka (one hour), Swidnica (1½ hours), Lubiaz (1½ hours) and Nysa (2 hours) have no train connections, and thus are best reached by bus. Warsaw (5-6 hours), Poznan (2,5 hours) and Bialystok (7 hours) have regular bus services but trains are more comfortable and convenient.
Eurolines has some international connections. Prague is just 4 hours away.

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is common here, as in much of Poland, and this is one of the easier countries to do it. Car-sharing via websites such as Bla Bla Car is becoming increasingly common.

Getting Around

By Car

Beware when driving in Wroclaw as cars and trams share the roads in some places.

By Public Transport

Wroclaw has an extensive bus and tram network with a integrated ticketing system (i.e. tickets are the same for both). You buy tickets from machines at major tram stations (cash or card), or on board (card only). You must then punch them on board for them to be valid. Inspectors occasionally check tickets and issue fines. A standard ticket for half an hour's travel costs 3zl.

By Foot

The centre of Wroclaw is compact and is easily navigable on foot. Some parts of the centre are pedestrianised. Be aware if using pedestrian crossings that you can be fined for crossing when the red man is showing.

By Bike

Wroclaw is quite bike-friendly, and there are a number of bicycle lanes throughout the city. There is a city bike rental scheme run by Nextbike which is free for the first 20 minutes, and costs 2zl for 21-60 minutes. Every hour beyond is 4zl. It costs 1zl to register with the scheme.

Eat

Pierożek, Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego 20 (next to the Casino, close to the Scandic Hotel). According to many Wroclavians, the best pierogi in Wrocław, priced at about 10 zł for a small portion (you may need to order two if you're hungry). Try pierogi ruskie (with potatoes and cottage cheese) with kefir and barszcz (borscht) and "nalesniki" (crêpes) to experience what real Polish food ought to taste like. The place is small and basic, you may need to wait for a seat, but the food is top-notch.
Giselle, ul. Szewska 27. A French bakery/cafe with delicious breakfast dishes (served all day) and other food. Around 12-19 zł.
Bar Miś, 48 Kuźnicza Street (700 ft. north of Rynek (Market Place or central square)). M-F 7-18 and Sa 8-17. Offers an ample and diversified menu, including meat-based dishes. Students, staff and professors of the University of Wrocław usually eat there, together with homeless people, elderly and pensioners. After entering go to the cash desk (at the left corner) and order your meal (Polish only). Turn right, go to the food counter and hand your receipt to the person serving the meals. Mains 1.50-4.50 zł.
Bar Bazylia, Kuźnicza Street (corner of Uniwersytecki Square, 300 ft. after bar "Miś", inside the building of University's Law Department). Very clean and fast service. Offers a more stylish ambience. Mains 3-9 zł.
Bar Mewa, Dubois Street (7 minutes walk north from Rynek through University Main Building and Pomorski Bridge). M-F 8-18, Sa & Su 9-16. The cheapest. Offers some dishes only at specific hours: pirogi - 13:00, pancakes - 14:00, pirogi with cabbage - 15:00, potato pancakes - 16:00. You pay directly at the food delivery counter (Polish only).
U Beatki, Rynek-Ratusz 13/14 (entrance on the northern side of the Town Hall). Open every day from 9AM until the last guest leaves. May feel a bit small and old-fashioned inside but it's very clean and the staff are friendly, plus there's a beer garden open in the summer. Great and cheap pierogi, potato pancakes and soups.
Amalfi, Więzienna Street. A place serving authentic thin-slice Italian pizza from a proper, scorching-hot wood oven. About 15 zł for a pizza for one person. Italian owners.
Oregano, Igielna Street. Inexpensive restaurant with pizza and a variety of other dishes.
Piramida, Wita Stwosza Street. Egyptian restaurant. Kitschy interior and big portions.
Gruzińskie Chaczapuri, Mikolaja Street (nearly adjacent to Market Square). A budding franchise originating from Kraków, serves Georgian food (khachapuri). Try lawasz z adżapsandałem (dough-filled with a tasty mix of tomatoes, bell peppers, aubergines, garlic and goat cheese) for about 15 zł.
Mexico Bar, Rzeźnicza Street. As long as you are willing to eat a somewhat modified version of Mexican cuisine, you should enjoy the large, rich portions at Mexico Bar. You might want to order the "hot" (na ostro) version of your dish, as the regular dishes are surprisingly mild. This is a small, popular place, so you may have to wait for your seat at the bar. It is best to call ahead and make reservations especially on the weekends.
Masala Grill & Bar, ul. Kuźnicza 3 (close to the main square), ☏ +48 71 302 69 49. 11AM-midnight. An Indian restaurant. The restaurant is air conditioned, has a seating capacity of 110 and is child friendly. The cuisine is Indian keeping European tastes in mind. The Xpress Lunch combo is a favourite and very reasonably priced with a free soft drink. The main menu has a wide variety of dishes to choose from including soups, salads, starters, Tandoori Grill, special Indian curries, fragrant basmati rice and Indian bread (naan). The bar at the restaurant specializes in a wide variety of eye-catching cocktails and mocktails.
Le Bistrot Parisien (French restaurant in Wrocław), ul. Nożownicza I D. Small place, genuine French cuisine, good for dates.
Pod Papugami, ul. Sukiennice 9a (At Rynek, next to Spiż Cellar (see above)). Offers good meals and a good selection of salads.
Novocaina, Rynek 13, ☏ +48 71 3436915. Organic-based pizza and pasta dishes. Reservations are necessary, but can be made a day in advance through their website.

Drink

There are many different clubs and pubs in Wroclaw. Most of them are located in the centre of the old town, many good ones however, are situated a few crossings from the Town Square, not within its borders. The Town Square mostly contains some not very specific, quite expensive restaurants, although it is worth mentioning the Spiż Cellar, an interesting mini-brewery with a few tasty kinds of locally made beer and a unique interior design. There are also two discos that are popular among fans of house/techno music - Daytona and Związki. However, pub-wanderers, who want to meet interesting people and/or get involved in some discussions will probably enjoy places situated in some less obvious locations than right in the Town Square.

Kawiarnia Literatka, Rynek 56/57. Opens at 10AM and stays open as long as you can drink. Literatka is not exactly a coffee place, because it lacks own cakes and desserts. However, they do have coffee and lots of inexpensive alcohol, as well as book shelfs, free Wi-Fi connection, and nice atmosphere. Good place for a quick coffee, chat, or even evening drink. If you smoke, check the inner smoking room, which is larger and nicer than the outward non-smoking area.
Mleczarnia (pronounced 'Mletcharnya'), ul. Włodkowica 5. A bit further from the Town Square but still not too far, near the main courthouse in a quiet street - quite a large pub occupying the basement and ground level of an old fin-de-siecle building. It has unique dark, cozy, wooden interiors and a specific atmosphere. Music played is quite specific and varied - among the styles played are: Jewish music, jazz, progressive rock, film music and others. There are often some cultural events, like discussion clubs or film projections taking place in the basement. They also have a hostel in that same building.
Bezseność (Insomnia), ul. Ruska 51, upstairs. Concerts, film screenings. Popular place.
Setka, ul. Kazimierza Wielkiego 50A, on the corner. Supposedly Communist style, well - kitschy. But open 24/7 with cheap alcohol (4 zł for a glass of beer or shot of vodka) and good meals.
Spiż Cellar, Rynek-Ratusz 2. See how to brew beer and how delicious it tastes.
Browar Stu Mostów (100 Bridges Brewery), ul. Jana Długosza 2-6. A micro-brewery and pub that opened in 2014.
Targowa, ul. Piaskowa 17. Craft beer (including local ones) and food.

Sleep

Alien Hostel, ul. Sienkiewicza 31, ☏ +48 519 115 075 (Polish), +48 781 180 911 (English & German), ✉ [email protected]. English, German and Polish speaking staff. From 50 zł, no dorms.
Boogie Hostel, ul. Ruska 35, ☏ +48 71 342 44 72, ✉ [email protected]. Cheap, comfortable accommodation in the centre of town. 19 and very spacious but cosy private rooms (for 1, 2, 3 or 4 people), and dorms (8 or 10).
Flower Power Hostel, al. Lipowa 15/2, ☏ +48 71 794 98 68, ✉ [email protected]. Eco. Located in a '20s villa. Not in the centre. Pets welcome. 40 zł dorm bed.
HiWay Hostel. Price form: 35 zł (8 bedded dorm). Apparently the smallest hostel in Wroclaw. Comfortable facilities, WiFi, Internet, free breakfast, laundry, friendly staff. Only few minutes walk from Ostrow Tumski and Panorama Raclawicka. About 15 minutes from the Main Square.
Hostel Babel (Formerly called The Stranger Hostel), Kołłątaja 16, ☏ +48 71 342 02 50. Just around the corner from the train station. Sheets, lockers and Internet are provided. There is a media lounge where you can watch DVD movies and play video games. Dorm bed from 45 zl.
Youth Hostel on the Island (Hotel Tumski Wrocław/Na Wyspie), Ul. Wyspa Slodowa 10, ☏ +48 71 3226099, +48 71 3226088, fax: +48 71 3226113, ✉ [email protected].
Na Kielczowskiej, Ul.Kielczowska 43, ☏ +48 71 3457396, fax: +48 71 3457396, ✉ [email protected].
The One Hostel, Rynek 30, ☏ +48 71 337 2402, ✉ [email protected]. Elegant hostel in the centre (on the Main Square). Dorm beds from 40 zł. edit
Chopper Hostel, Kotlarska 42, ☏ +48 71 344 3781, ✉ [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. Biker friendly hostel in the centre of Wroclaw. Dorm beds from 35 zł.
U Szermierzy, ul. Zygmunta Krasińskiego 30b (By the large brown doors under the 'U Szermierzy' sign is an intercom; enter '55' and the receptionist will buzz you in. Walk directly ahead (through a large corridor and a second identical set of large brown doors) into the courtyard, where you will see the hostel entrance straight ahead.), ☏ +48 71 343 49 89. Check-in: noon, check-out: 10:00. Treading the line between hostel and cheap hotel, "U Szermierzy" has 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-bed rooms, the more expensive ones equipped with en suites and televisions. Dilapidated but clean, and less than 1 km from the Old Town Market. Free parking available, enter via ul. Generała Romualda Traugutta, 150m east of the intersection with ul. Zygmunta Krasińskiego. Free Wi-Fi internet access. single from 70 zł, double with bathroom and shower 90 zł.
Premiere Classe Wroclaw Centrum
Qubus Hotel Wrocław. Four-star hotel located in the heart of the city, near a beautiful Market Square. There is also a fitness centre with bodybuilding gym, sauna, jacuzzi and swimming pool.
Hotel System. Is one of the newest hotels in Wroclaw, conveniently situated close to the city centre but at the same time not far from major roads, (E67 8 Wrocław - Warsaw, and E261 5 Wrocław - Poznań).
Scandic Wrocław. The first hotel in Poland managed by the most popular Scandinavian hotel chain, it is situated in the centre of Wrocław, close to the Old Town and to the railway station, easily accessible from the A4 highway.
Campanile Wroclaw Centrum
Orbis Hotel Wroclaw
Hotel im. Jana Pawła II
HP Park Plaza
Best Western Hotel Prima Wrocław
Orbis Hotel Wroclaw
Novotel Wrocław
Art Hotel, Kiełbaśnicza 20. The best hotel in Wrocław in 2005 according to "Forbes".
Hotel Monopol, Heleny Modrzejewskiej 2. Located in the centre of the city. Room prices are generally around 250 zł for a single room and 400 zł for a double room. The hotel is located next door to the recently restored opera house.
Sofitel Wrocław Old Town, ul. Św. Mikołaja 67 (Stare Miasto). Check-in: 14:00-midnight, check-out: 07:00-noon. Just 50 metres from the Rynek Główny. 216 zł and up.
Radisson Blu, ul. Purkyniego 10 (Stare Miasto). Check-in: from 15:00, check-out: until noon. A bit farther from the Old Town, but right in front of the Panorama of Racławice. PLN 184 and up.
The Granary - La Suite Hotel
Europeum Hotel
Puro Hotel
Mercure Wrocław Centrum

Work

Companies

There are various multinational companies in Wroclaw, and they are often looking to employ foreign nationals. Native speakers of various types are often in demand, with work ranging from technical to customer service positions. IBM, Google, Credit Suisse, Nokia and HP all have offices in the city.

Language Teaching

There are also plenty of opportunities in language teaching for native speakers. English is widely spoken amongst young people in Wroclaw, but lessons are still in demand.

Freelancing

In terms of getting work done as a freelancer, there are a couple of co-working spaces - Ideaplace, in Plac Solny in the centre, and CO12, in the up and coming area of Nadodrze. The libraries are also easily accessible and offer free wifi.

Learn

Wroclaw has numerous universities.

• Wroclaw University
• Wroclaw University of Technology
• Wroclaw Medical University
• Wroclaw University of Economics

There are also plenty of language schools offering tuition, especially in English and Polish.

Keep Connected

Internet

In the cities there are more and more Wifi Hot Spots, so if you have your own mobile device, you can connect. Best chances of finding one are at airports, railway stations, in cafés, shopping malls and universities. Places like McDonald's and Starbucks usually have unlimited free wifi. In some hotels you can find free wifi, though you might have to pay as well or maybe just use it for a limited amount of time. Internet cafes become less popular recently as people prefer to use internet at homes.

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

To call to Poland from abroad, dial the Polish country code,48, then the number without the leading 0, as if calling from a domestic mobile phone.
The general emergency number is 112. Police (997), Ambulance (999) and Fire (998) have phone numbers as well, and municipal police has 986 as a number.

Mobile phones work almost across the whole country. There are four mobile phone operators in Poland: Plus, T-Mobile, Orange and Play. About 98% of the country is covered by the standard European GSM 900/1800 MHz network, the remaining 2% are wildlife reserves or high mountains. 3G is available in almost every town.
Domestic call rates are roughly the same across all services. Prepaid starter kits with SIM card (called starter in Polish) are widely available in reasonable prices (PLN5-20, most of which is available for calls), in most of the shops, supermarkets and news agents.

Just about every shopping centre has at least one independent cellphone shop, the guys who run them are usually knowledgeable and have a range of cheap handsets which you can use as a local / travel phone. This may be a good option since juggling SIM cards is always a pain.

Post

Poczta Polska is the Polish public post service. Post offices are generally open from 8:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday. Some offices are open on Saturday until 2:00pm and the main post offices in major cities are open daily, 24 hours. Services are generally ok, but don't expact it to be fast and it is not always reliable, though most letters, postcards and parcels will arrive at its destinations after a week or two. You can find the red post boxes dotted throughout the country. You can check this postal website to see how much sending a letter, postcard or parcels costs, both domestically as well as internationally. For sending packages internationally, you can also check FedEx, TNT, DHL or UPS, as they have fast and reliable services and generally competitive prices as well.

External Links

• Official Governmental Website
• Official Tourism Website