Here you can catch a great combination of price and quality.
The city of Wrocław is a true gem in western Poland that tourists often unjustly overlook on their travel maps.
Make it to Poland's Largest Christmas Market
The Wrocław Christmas Market has long held legendary status - it is considered the largest and one of the most beautiful in Poland, and it frequently appears in European rankings: travel experts appreciate it for its decorations, variety of products, drinks, and souvenirs, as well as relatively affordable prices.
The heart of the festive town traditionally consists of two neighboring squares - the Market Square and the Salt Square. However, each year the market expands further, taking over the adjacent streets where beautiful houses sell souvenirs, handmade goods, and craft products.
Meanwhile, in the square near the Town Hall, the main Christmas tree, two-story restaurant houses, attractions, and stalls selling mulled wine and traditional treats are set up. A hallmark of the Wrocław market is the boot-shaped mugs in which drinks are served to guests - each year they are designed in a uniform style but in different colors: this year it is pink, while three years ago it was blue. Additionally, guests are offered traditional Polish oscypek cheese (similar to sulguni) - a piece can be purchased grilled for 5 zlotys - 1.2 euros. It is also worth noting that this season the market will operate until January 7, so you still have time to visit it.
See Poland's Best Aquarium
Wrocław is home to Poland's oldest zoo - this year it celebrated its 160th anniversary. It is also one of the largest and most visited zoos not only in the country but in Europe as a whole.
The zoo is home to over 10,000 animals of more than a thousand species, and there are several pavilions that are architectural monuments, a large area for walks, and a quite decent and relatively inexpensive restaurant, Laguna Bistro & Cafe, compared to dining establishments in other similar institutions, with wonderful views of the pools with penguins and sea lions.
A separate pride of the zoo is its aquarium, or rather, the Africarium (since it exclusively houses inhabitants from Africa). The complex opened in 2014 and was the first institution of its kind in Poland. Here you can see sea lions, penguins, hippos, manatees, rays, sand sharks, as well as many fish and birds (the latter fly right over visitors' heads among tropical greenery).
Visit Museums for Every Taste
Wrocław boasts a large number of diverse (and sometimes quite original) museums - and winter is the perfect time to visit them, especially when the weather outside is not very pleasant.
The first is the historical museum Centrum Historii Zajezdnia, opened in 2016. It is dedicated to exploring the history of Lower Silesia, particularly post-war Wrocław and the activities of the anti-Soviet movement "Solidarity" in the region.
The information in the museum is presented in an understandable and interesting manner, and visitors can even touch a considerable number of exhibits. A historical fact - after World War II, when Breslau (the name of the city that belonged to Germany until 1945) was handed over to Poland and the Germans were forcibly expelled, a significant number of residents from western Ukraine moved there, who did not want to remain in the Soviet Union. This "great resettlement" is also given attention in the museum. Today, many residents of Wrocław have ancestors from Ukraine, and since 2014, a new wave of Ukrainians has come to the city. Moreover, according to available statistics, after 2022, Wrocław's population grew by a third - from about 600,000 to 900,000, making it the third largest city in Poland by population.
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