Wroclaw (Poland) en
07.01.15 - Guillaume - 716lavie
Going there:
– by plane
There’s a direct Eurolot flight from Paris. You have to select “Breslau” the old city name for Wroclaw.
– by bus
Polski bus
the website
The Polski buses that are used within the country are perfect. From Krakow, it’s going to be around 15 euros for a one way. You get WiFi, it doesn’t work well, but you also get an outlet, the atmosphere is good-natured ( a lot of the passengers are young) and finally, the staff is nice.
In the city
-I advise that you buy a bus and tram pass for several days, it’s a much better deal, especially since Wroclaw isn’t big but after walking all the time you end up hopping on trams you didn’t expect to in the first place, so it’s better to see the larger picture.
For example, the 3 day pass is 6 euros : http://www.komunikacja-wroclaw.com/ceny-biletow/ticketprices.html.
There’s a pretty expensive app, but you can use the website through your cellphone, it’s the public transport website:
http://wroclaw.jakdojade.pl/, perfect for putting in your itinerary, and finding the corresponding lines.
– otherwise, you can walk, from one place to another, the city is built for it.
I had a great time in Wroclaw, I really liked the city.
Even though there’s also a very touristic main square, there are less tourists here than in Krakow, it’s calmer.
It’s a city in which I enjoyed strolling around, it’s easy to go through it entirely on foot.
Here’s the 716 Wroclaw photo album
It’s an old German town that used to be called Breslau.
It was unfortunately destroyed by bombings during the Second World War, but the entire historic center has been renovated. Wroclaw will be Europe’s Cultural Capital in 2016.
As a matter of fact, there has been some criticism on the way the event was handled. It would seem that Wroclaw won thanks to an audacious application, but since that, the person who was running the campaign and who thought out the project left because he wasn’t happy how things have turned out, and it seems that now the choice is going to be geared towards big crowd events rather than creative ones, as was decided beforehand.
That’s what several people told me, I’m not a journalist though, so I pass on this info with due precautions.
– Ogarnij Miasto/Get Your Head Around the City
the website
There’s also a great guide (in English) on Wroclaw, but the name is a bit complicated: Ogarnij Miasto/Get Your Head Around the City
It was some Wroclaw locals that showed it to me, and it’s very detailed.
– Pitu Pitu
the website
It’s an awesome map on Wroclaw with all the good addresses, it’s free too I think. They also do other Polish city maps
– Wroclaw Uncut
There’s also the excellent local webiste Wroclaw Uncut, a kind of 716 site, with all the city’s events and happenings.
I warmly recommend it if you’re looking for the good restaurants, events or for any current news in the city.
– New Horizons Movie Theater
Kazimierza Wielkiego 19a-21
Wrocław
Tel : +48 71 786 65 66
the website
It’s a nice project that literally everyone is very proud of here. At first it was a mall, and then it changed directors, and it became a truly independent theater offering all kinds of movies, with a courageous lineup, but without skipping the big hits. There’s also a coffee shop opened all day long, the friend I was with wanted to eat on the go, so he grabbed some fajitas, I tried a piece, nothing spectacular; the important thing to keep in mind is that this is a cultural place open to all.
There’s notably the New Horizons film festival that is organized here each summer.
–Szczytnicki Park’s Japanese Garden
ul. Trzebnicka 33 50-231
Wrocław
Tel : +48 601 744 563 – +48 697 120 976
Open every day from April 1st to October 31st, 9 am- 7 pm
Trams 10, 4 and 1 (Hala Stulecia)
“It was one of my favorite places during my stay in Wroclaw, and in Poland.
Szczytnicki Park is huge, and of course you have to go see more than the Japanese Garden which doesn’t take long to see. The one thing you have to do here is sit down and enjoy the serenity of the place.”
Read the entire 716 review here
– Wroclaw’s Contemporary Art Museum
Wroclaw Contemporary Museum
Pl. Strzegomski 2a 53-681
Wrocław
Tel : +48 784 973 213
Open Monday 10 am- 6 pm, Tuesday closed, Open Wednesday-Sunday 12 pm- 8 pm
Trams : 3, 10, 12, 20, 23, 31, 32 Bus: 132, 142, 243, 253, 249, 435
“A very interesting museum to discover, I saw a really nice exhibition there, and there’s a great patio”
–
– Tajne Komplety
Przejście Garncarskie 2
50-107 Wrocław
Tel : +48 71 714 23 80
the website
It’s both a library and a space for cultural events. There’s a little coffee shop where you can sit and work in peace.
– Happy Little Truck
Wyspa Słodowa 9
50-266 Wroclaw
“One of the best pizzas I’ve eaten this year : incredible. This Polish food truck is run by two young guys, they have a first class wood burning oven that takes in three pizzas at a time !”
– KRVN, Karavan Bar
Świętego Antoniego 40
50-073 Wrocław
Tel : +48 881 630 495
the website
A trendy restaurant in which Gregor from Wroclaw Uncut brought me : the food was good, nothing to complain about, but I didn’t dig the service, too nonchalant and uninterested. For example, if you wanted water while you ate, the waitress tells you to go to the bar to order some, she doesn’t take any orders, a weird conception. I’m putting it here in case they raised the bar service wise, otherwise don’t bother.
– Kurna Chata
Odrzanska 17
Wroclaw 50113
Tel : +48 071 341 06 68
This is a restaurant that if often recommended when you’re looking for traditional Polish cuisine, I went there one night, I wasn’t blown away by the food or the service, pleasant, but a litle slow. That being said, there was nothing that was terrible, which is why I’m still recommending it here, for anyone who wants to check out the folk part of town. It did receive the 2014 Excellence certificate, so it’s worth checking out.
-Od Koochni
Oleśnicka 7a
52-007 Wrocław
Tel : +48 603 886 398
“One of my coup de cœur. For 10 euros I ate really well, I think they don’t serve coffee, which is too bad, otherwise, it’s definitely a spot to try out.”
-Pizzeria Piec Na Szewskiej
ul. Szewska 44-46
50-139 Wrocław
669 340 467
“Probably the best pizza place in Wroclaw, with Happy Little Truck of course: a real fire wood oven, the Polish chef learned her craft in Italy. It’s delicious.”
The restaurants that were recommended to me that I didn’t get to try :
-Bar Miś
Kuźnicza 48
50-138 Wrocław
Tel : 0713434963
It’s a “milk bar”, those old worker restaurants from the communist era, it’s located in front of Kalambur, a cult bar in Wroclaw. I went to check out the inside, it’s constantly full of students, and other people who want to eat cheap, but it didn’t look bad at all, and locals confirmed that it was good. The opinions on the net are sometimes a bit more reserved, but I think it’s definitely worth a try.
-Brajt
Odrzańska 18
Wrocław
Tel : +48 71 342 33 36
It’s one of the cheaper restaurants in the center which offers tradition Polish food, it was recommended to me by Gregor, founder of wroclaw uncut, as an honorable “save the day” kind of deal
-Gruzina
Curie Skłodowskiej 3a
Wroclaw
Tel: 602 601 741
the website
A popular Georgian street food spot, a student favorite, warmly recommended by our friends at Wroclaw Uncut in this article.
-Pasibus Burger Food Truck
Powstańców Śląskich 5
Wrocław
Tel +48 733 133 399
the website
A food truck that looks like it’s the real thing !
-Sakana Sushis
Odrzańska 17
50-113 Wrocław
Tel : +48 71 343 37 10
the website
A guy from Paris wrote to me to warmly recommend it By far on the of the best Sushi spots I ate in, including the big ones in Paris… », the opinions on Trip Advisor are conflicted, I’ll let you decide.
-Zupa
Szewska 24/26
Wrocław
Tel : +48 733 873 307
A buddy brought me there to check it out, because he likes it, I didn’t try it out, but it looked good.
– Bulka z Maslem
Wlodkowica 8a
Wroclaw
Tel: 663730537
the website
Let’s be real, the place has nothing to offer food wise ( very average burgers), the service doesn’t give a damn, but the patio is awesome, so come here for a beer, and when you’re done, off you go !
– Czajownia Tea Shop
Białoskórnicza 7 50-134
Wrocław
Tel : 717 279 575
Open Sunday-Wednesday 11am-10pm and Thursday-Sunday 11 am -11 pm
“It’s a well known tea shop in Wroclaw. Its positives are the quiet space, notably with the Asian garden at the back, and the tea choices which is relatively important in numbers. Besides that, the tea is nicely served, according to tradition, respecting the infusion periods. And of course, you can buy your tea to go. A nice pause in the center.”
– Café Targowa
Hala Targowa – Stoisko 11, Ul. Piaskowa 17,
50-158 Wroclaw
Tel : +48 536 591 286
the website
A coffee shop that has a booth in Wroclaw, check out their Facebook page. I found them because they were right beside the Happy Little Truck pizza food truck.
– Vinyl Café
ul. Kotlarska 35-36
50-120 Wrocław
Tel : +48 508 260 288
“A coffee shop that makes us feel really good, it was my hideout in Wroclaw. The staff is friendly, it’s a family business, we can choose a vinyl and play it on the turn table ( well, it’s a collector’s turn table, so the staff puts it in), the seats are nice, there’s Wifi, and it works. It’s not full of tourists, this Vinyle Café is a good deal!”
The coffee shops that were recommended to me by locals, but that I didn’t get to try :
–Frankies
Wita Stwosza 57
Wrocław
Tel : +48 537 314 333
the website
It’s the trendy coffee shop in the big square which sells smoothies, sandwiches, and salads. It was recommended to me by a passionate cook, so I trust the info, but when I went by it, it didn’t look so amazing that I had to run inside.
-Franz Kawka
Więzienna 1-4
Wrocław
Tel : +48 509 747 822
the website
It looks like it’s only a sandwich place. I would’ve really wanted to try one.
– Friends
Sukiennice 3/4
50-107 Wrocław
the website
Another trendy coffee shop in a hidden little street in the middle of the big square, same as Frankie’s : it was recommended to me by the same person, and even though there were some very good reviews online, I wasn’t inspired when I went.
-Mamalu Café
Ofiar Oświęcimskich 19
50-069 Wrocław
Tel : +48 531 786 571
the website
A coffee shop run by a buddy of mine’s friends, which is why I’m mentioning it here. He brought me there, and told me it was good. I have no idea how the food is, but this street is really becoming something, and this place is a prime example of it. Reviews are good, you’ll be the judge, let me know either way.
– Academus
Kiełbaśnicza 23
50-001 Wrocław
Tel : +48 71 788 77 10
the website
A bar known for its beers, I drank some really good beers there, and there a nice little patio outside ; the only little downfall is that it’s on a street where cars often speed, so it can get a little noisy, but it’s just a tiny thing.
The bars that were recommended to me by locals that I wasn’t able to try :
– Kalambur
Kuźnicza 29A
Wrocław
Tel : +48 71 372 35 71
the website
It’s a mythical place in Wroclaw, because artists used to get together here during the Soviet era. Today, it’s still a coffee shop (when it’s nice out people will usually go on the patio, because I thought it was a little on the sad side inside, there wasn’t anyone, just the staff that seemed to be busy in a meeting). So I definitely see it in the best light because some buddies in the electronic world told me that there has been some of the best nights in Wroclaw here. A place to keep an eye on.
– Kontynuacja
Ofiar Oświęcimskich 17
Wrocław
Tel : +48 792 400 084
the website
It’s the bar everyone recommends when you want a good beer.
– Nietota
Kazimierza Wielkiego 50
52-231 Wrocław
Tel : +48 664 007 610
Open Monday-Saturday 12 pm- 4 am, Sunday 5 pm- 2 am
the website
It’s Gregor’s (from wroclaw uncut ) favorite bar, so, since I trust him completely, and he’s Scottish, I think it’s totally worth checking out. Had I had the time, I would definitely have gone. The place opens at lunch and closes at 4 am in the morning, so you can also party there.
– Pod Latarniami
Ruska 3-4
50-130 Wrocław
the website
This is another pub that recently opened, aparently the English decor/ polish food/ beers mix is a success, but apparently the service could be better
– Headquarters
Kazimierza Wielkiego 41
Wrocław
Tel : +48 71 341 90 23
the website
A nice clothing store with some great Polish labels, like Misbehave (Misbhv) or Lokal Hero
– Winylove
Świdnicka 49
50-028 Wrocław
Tel : +48 796 466 812
the website
I didn’t go, but it looks like the good spot to buy vinyl in Wroclaw.
