48 Hours in Wrocław, Poland
Welcome to my latest Brume & Daisy travel series, featuring 48 Hours in Wrocław, Poland! This is part of my most recent backpacking Europe series. I’m so excited to bring you this posts because it’s my first time in Poland!
Wrocław is in western Poland. It’s a university city and the large student population makes it feel very youthful and arty, plus it’s affordable (milk bars, anyone?)! It’s located on the River Odra and there are lots of gorgeous riverfront walks you can talk on your visit. Alright, let’s get into it!
Where to Stay in Wrocław
You definitely want to stay in the Old Market Square. It is several blocks in each direction and is one of the biggest and most colorful pedestrian squares I’ve seen in Europe. There are very affordable AirBnb options in Wrocław, so I recommend you pick something within that central square.
Wrocław is a very walkable city. Though there are buses and trams available, we didn’t need to use public transit after we arrived in the city. We love to do a ton of walking when we vacation, but now there are plenty of bike and scooter options you can try, too!
What to Eat & Drink in Wrocław
Start your day off with coffee at Czarna Magia. They have delicious esprosso, and also tea and freshly squeezed juice. The sweet case is also divine! They have a full cocktail, wine and craft beer menu as well, but we only stopped by in the mornings. I commented that I love the interior decor of the place and the owner told me she furnished it all with finds from flea markets, and works from local artist friends. Definitely Pre-Loved approved!
We love to look up where local college students like to eat so we can find some cheap eats on a long backpacking trip. Pizzeria Margherita did not let us down — our pizza was about $6 USD! I kept doing the math of zlotys to dollars over and over, because it didn’t seem right, but it sure was. The pizza was really delicious and the ingredients were fresh, too. We own a pizza place so you can talk our word for it!
Another option for young people (or backpackers on a budget!) is the Polish milk bar, or bar mleczny. Milk bars were a Communist-era cafeteria-like concept, meant to feed a lot of people at once. Most serve the traditional Polish foods by the kilo. We were told to try out Misz Masz… and we ate our fill.
You know we always have to keep out the craft beer places, so a visit to Kontynuacja was a must. It’s the largest multi-tap craft beer bar in Wrocław, with 22 taps featuring beers from mostly Poland, Czech Republic, and Germany. We went back twice!
For a late night cap, check out the Vinyl Cafe. It’s a cozy cafe right in the center, with a living room feel. They have board games, record players (of course) and books to read or borrow.
Something to note about Wrocław eating and drinking — usually when we travel we like to pick up deli snacks at the grocery store so we don’t have to eat out big meals multiple times per day. Wrocław didn’t have a central grocery store in the city center, like we’re used to in other European cities, an Aldi for example. They have Zabkas on every corner, but these are more like convenience stores. Some have decent snack options — and we scored baguettes for about $0.30 USD– but it’s just something to plan on. Fortunately meals out in Wrocław were very affordable so we got by just find. Also take note, not all of the Zabka’s sell alcohol, some will have 0% beer for sale, so check before you buy!
Walk and Wander in Wrocław:
Wrocław had some of the most gorgeous walking areas we’ve seen. I highly recommend you walk along the River Odra as far as you can east (toward Most Pokoju — the bridge), then cross the river and walk the other side. There are beautiful views, and it’s gorgeous to watch the sunset over the river.
You can stroll along literally hundreds of foot bridges on the River Odra, which create tiny islands and canals in the city center. There are “floating bars” on boats and docks and it’s a great place to spend an evening. The students tend to just pack some beers and a picnic and sit in the riverside parks, so you could do that too!
PS: As you’re strolling the city center, from the Old Market Square to the Hala Targowa ( the major market hall where you can always grab a snack or an ice cream cone), you’ll notice the Wrocław gnomes. It’s a kitschy little photo-op thing, and they are everywhere!
That’s all for now!
I hope you enjoyed this guide to spending 48 hours in Wrocław, Poland! Until next time — let’s chat on Instagram or Twitter, where I’m @brumeanddaisy.
Want more of this backpacking tour? We also visited Berlin, Germany; Warsaw, Poland; Ostrava, Czech Republic, Kosice, Slovakia; and Budapest, Hungary. Plus I have loads more guides and travel content here!
