Wroclaw On a Budget
Wroclaw, Poland
Wroclaw is generally warmer than most cities in Poland. The coldest month is January when temperatures average around freezing and snow is common. The warmest month is July when temperatures average 20 degrees Celsius.
Sights
Popular sights within the city are the Rynek, or central square, Salt Square which has a flower market, Ostrow Tumski which are a group of islands in the Oder River, Saint Elizabeth's Church, the Centennial Hall, Park Szczytnicki, and the Eastern Park. Wroclaw also has many theaters around town so it is a great city to go and see a show. Opera is also popular here.The Ryneck is the architectural center of the city. It's a must-see part of town, as it is one of the biggest town squares in Europe. It is also surrounded by many interesting buildings and the square itself is a great place to grab a drink and relax.
Neighborhoods
Wroclaw is divided into five boroughs. As a tourist, you'll be most interested in the areas that are located near the center of town, although there are some attractions that are found further out. Stare Miasto is the commercial and tourist heart of the city. It is the city's Old Town and has many attractions and cultural events. Srodmiescie is where Ostrow Tumski is. This is a series of beautiful islands that have cobblestoned streets and nice parks. Psie Pole is the northern borough. It has predominantly residential and industrial buildings with little to offer tourists. Krzyki is mostly a residential borough that has the city's main rail and bus transportation centers. Fabryczna is in the western part of the city. It was originally an industrial area but today it is a quiet part of town with the city's main sports stadium as well as the international airport.Activities
Popular festivals in Wroclaw are the Festival of Good Beer, which is held every year on the second weekend in May, Nowe Horyzonty, which is the international film festival at the end of July, Dialog Festival, which is the international theatre festival in October, and the International Festival of Wratislavia Cantans in September.Food and Dining
Restaurants around town are diverse in price and style. You can easily pick up a cheap meal at a bar or fast food style restaurant. Pierogis are a popular option as are potato pancakes. Many of the "bars" in town are, in fact, self service canteen style restaurants. These are perhaps your cheapest and most filling option. You fill a dish with your chosen foods and the price is by weight. Most Polish dishes are quite hearty and filling so a little can go a long way.Mid range and high end restaurants include international options with choices ranging from Georgian to Mexican. There are also some good pizza or pasta restaurants around town if you get tired of the Polish cuisine. The newest trend is an influx of Japanese and Korean restaurants. Sushi and Korean barbecue are available now as well.
Transportation
The best prices for buses and trains in Poland can be found on Omio (formerly GoEuro). They let you search across all train, bus, and plane routes throughout Europe.You can walk around the city center and see many of the city's highlights. The suburbs and outlying attractions are generally accessible by bus or tram so no vehicle is necessary to fully experience this city. In total there are 60 bus lines and 25 tram lines. Road work and transit projects are common so you should expect some diversions and slow travel times in some areas.
You can buy tickets for the buses and trams all over town. Many places sell them including Ruch kiosks, post offices and newspaper stores. There are also modern ticket machines around the city center. Also, ticket machines are found on both buses and trams, but you have to pay with credit or debit cards. Make sure you validate your ticket as soon a you board the bus or tram, or you may face a serious fine.
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