Known to Poles as Wrocław and to many travelers as Breslavia, this riverside city has worn many crowns—Piast duchy, Bohemian jewel, Habsburg stronghold, Prussian and German Breslau—before returning to Poland after WWII. Its layers show in every cobblestone: flamboyant Gothic, Baroque bravado, Modernist ambition. Today, it’s a university city with a playful spirit (watch your ankles—hundreds of bronze dwarfs are everywhere).

Wrocław’s heart is the vast Rynek (Market Square), lined with painted townhouses and the sculpted masterpiece of the Old Town Hall. The Oder River braids through the city, creating islands and over 100 bridges, from romantic Tumski Bridge to the green banks of Szczytnicki Park. A short tram ride away, you’ll find the UNESCO-listed Centennial Hall, Japan-influenced gardens, and Europe’s largest dedicated water museum.

Practical notes: card payments are widely accepted; tap water is safe; trams are efficient (single ticket ~5 PLN, buy on board with contactless). Expect hearty Polish cuisine—pierogi, duck, soups—and a strong coffee and craft beer scene. This 7-day itinerary balances must-see highlights, neighborhood gems, and two rewarding Lower Silesia excursions.

Wrocław (Breslavia)

Bright facades, church spires, and the hum of café life make Wrocław one of Central Europe’s most photogenic city breaks. Students keep it lively; the river keeps it relaxed. The city rewards wanderers: look down for the famous dwarfs (krasnale), each with a job and a story.

Top highlights include: the Rynek and Old Town Hall; Ostrów Tumski (Cathedral Island); the University’s Baroque Aula Leopoldina and Mathematical Tower; the Panorama of the Battle of Racławice; Hydropolis; the Wrocław Zoo with its Afrykarium; Szczytnicki Park with the UNESCO-listed Centennial Hall and Japanese Garden; and the Neon Side Gallery of rescued retro signage.

• Where to stay: Compare apartments and hotels near the Rynek or by the river. Try VRBO Wrocław or Hotels.com Wrocław.
• How to get here: Fly into Wrocław (WRO) or arrive by train from Kraków, Warsaw, Poznań, Berlin, or Prague. Search flights and rail across Europe on Omio (flights), Omio (trains), and Omio (buses). Typical times: Kraków–Wrocław train ~3h, Warsaw–Wrocław ~3h30, Berlin–Wrocław ~4h30.

Day 1: Arrival, Rynek Magic, and a First Taste of Polish Cuisine

Afternoon: Land at WRO and taxi/Bolt to the center (25–30 minutes; ~60–80 PLN) or bus 106 to the main station (Wrocław Główny). Check in near the Rynek via Hotels.com or a character flat from VRBO. Stretch your legs across the Market Square, circling the elaborate Old Town Hall—its stone lacework is late-Gothic bravado.

Evening: Classic Polish dinner at Kurna Chata (homey soups, potato pancakes with goulash) or Pod Fredrą (duck with apples, Silesian dumplings). For a post-dinner walk, hunt your first dwarfs around the square, then sip a cocktail at Papa Bar on Świdnicka (bartenders love Polish rye-based creations).

Day 2: Cathedral Island, Hala Targowa Bites, and University Views

Morning: Cross to Ostrów Tumski, the city’s oldest quarter. Step into the twin-towered Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and, if open, climb the tower by lift for Oder panoramas. Amble over the padlock-lined Tumski Bridge, then unwind in the Botanical Garden (spring and summer blooms feel miles from the city).

Afternoon: Wander the red-brick Hala Targowa (Market Hall). Grab coffee and a sweet at a stall inside, then have lunch across the street at Targowa – Craft Beer and Food (seasonal Polish plates, excellent pierogi, local taps). Continue to the University of Wrocław: tour the gilded Aula Leopoldina and the Mathematical Tower for rooftops of gables and spires.

Evening: Drift along the river on a one-hour Oder cruise (April–October; ~40–60 PLN). For dinner, try Okrasa (modern Polish—beetroot risotto, roast goose when in season). Nightcap in the Four Denominations District at Cocofli (wine bar and café with vinyl and soft lighting).

Day 3: Panorama of Racławice, National Museum, and UNESCO Centennial Hall

Morning: Pre-book a slot for the monumental Panorama of the Battle of Racławice—a 19th‑century 360° cyclorama that immerses you in Kościuszko’s 1794 victory. Walk next door to the National Museum to browse Silesian art and medieval sculpture.

Afternoon: Tram to Szczytnicki Park for the UNESCO-listed Centennial Hall (Hala Stulecia), a pioneering reinforced‑concrete dome by Max Berg. Stroll the Pergola, and, in season (Apr–Oct), catch the Multimedia Fountain shows. The Japanese Garden beside it is a serene detour with arched bridges and maples.

Evening: Dinner by the water at OK Wine Bar (river views, Polish cheeses, and a deep wine list) or Campo Modern Grill (Argentinian cuts, wood-fired). Sip a late craft beer at 4Hops (rotating Polish and European taps) near the center.

Day 4: Wrocław Zoo’s Afrykarium, Hydropolis, and a Brewer’s Dinner

Morning: Head early to Wrocław Zoo, one of Europe’s oldest and most diverse, and go straight to the Afrykarium, a world‑class oceanarium focusing on African ecosystems. Stingrays glide over your head; Nile hippos wallow behind glass.

Afternoon: Walk or tram to Hydropolis, a sleek museum devoted to the story of water—submarines, deep‑sea life, and interactive science. Glide over the river on the short Polinka gondola next to the technical university, then relax on car‑free Słodowa Island with locals.

Evening: Reserve at Browar Stu Mostów (the city’s celebrated craft brewery). Order a tasting flight—WRCLW roggenbier, New England IPA, seasonal sours—and share plates designed to pair with the beers. For dessert, grab a cone at Krasnolód (inventive, creamy scoops).

Day 5: Nadodrze Creativity, Neon Side Gallery, and Contemporary Culture

Morning: Start in artistic Nadodrze. Coffee at Rozrusznik (third‑wave pioneer) before a street‑art walk along Łokietka and Roosevelta. Pop into small ateliers and second‑hand shops; this is where Wrocław’s maker culture thrives.

Afternoon: Lunch at Powoli Bistro (seasonal comfort food, pierogi and tarts). Head to the courtyard at Ruska 46 for the open‑air Neon Side Gallery, a glowing collection of rescued Communist‑era neon signs. Tram to the Muzeum Współczesne Wrocław (Contemporary Museum) in a cylindrical WWII bunker; the rooftop café has surprising skyline views.

Evening: Charcuterie and Polish cheeses at Szynkarnia (also strong on craft taps), or rustic‑modern plates at Oda Bistro (think roasted cauliflower with tahini, pork shoulder with seasonal sides). Late cocktails at Nietota, a moody, wood‑carved bolthole with creative infusions.

Day 6: Day Trip to Książ Castle and the UNESCO Peace Church in Świdnica

Morning: Depart by train from Wrocław Główny to Wałbrzych Szczawienko (~1h15–1h30; ~25–35 PLN each way; check Omio trains). Short bus or taxi to Książ Castle, a clifftop giant with terraced gardens and WWII tunnels. Explore the princely rooms and the terraces overlooking the Pełcznica gorge.

Afternoon: Train to Świdnica (~30–40 min) for the UNESCO‑listed Church of Peace—a half‑timbered, 17th‑century Lutheran church built entirely of wood and clay. Its Baroque interior is jaw‑dropping. Lunch in Świdnica’s pastel Rynek at Rynek 43 (soups, Polish mains) before returning to Wrocław (~1h by train).

Evening: Back in town, go casual: Piec na Szewskiej for blistered Neapolitan pizza or Pasibus for Wrocław’s beloved burgers (born as a food truck). If you have the energy, check the program at the National Forum of Music—the acoustics are superb.

Day 7: Rynek Farewell, Market Hall Snacks, and Departure

Morning: Breakfast at Dinette (buttery croissants, shakshuka, sourdough toasts) or Central Café (bagels, pancakes, specialty coffee). Pick up edible souvenirs—smoked oscypek cheese, honey, piernik gingerbread—in Hala Targowa.

Afternoon: Last stroll past the dwarfs you missed and a quick visit to the Old Town Hall interiors if you skipped them on Day 1. Head to the airport by taxi/Bolt (~25–30 min) or bus 106/206 from the center. For onward trains or flights across Europe, compare on Omio (trains), Omio (buses), and Omio (flights).

Evening: If you’re catching a late departure, toast the city with a riverside glass at OK Wine Bar or a final brew near the Rynek at 4Hops.

Insider tips: Multimedia Fountain shows run seasonally (evenings are best); book Hydropolis and the Panorama in advance on weekends; tram inspectors check tickets—buy and validate on board; tipping 10% is appreciated in restaurants.

When you’re ready to compare stays, browse VRBO in Wrocław or explore hotels on Hotels.com. For rail and bus day trips across Lower Silesia, search times and prices on Omio trains and Omio buses.

Seven days in Breslavia lets you do more than tick boxes—you settle into its rhythm: morning bells over Cathedral Island, neon hues flickering at dusk, and the easy hush of the river. With world‑class museums, a playful dwarf‑hunt, and epic day trips, Wrocław rewards curiosity at every turn.