Family adventure

Wroclaw is the world capital of dwarfs! Almost a thousand of them already live here. In just a few years they have taken over Wroclaw’s Old Town, and recently they have been appearing more and more often in the city’s districts far from the center. They have their own names, professions, hobbies, and even a newspaper and a holiday.

Want to meet as many dwarves as possible? Use the special map, thanks to which you will get to know not only the dwarf celebrities, such as Życzliwek, Papa Krasnal or Syzyfki, but you will also find the more shy ones, hidden in the city’s nooks and crannies.

It’s worth dropping by in September, when the Wrocław Dwarf Festival takes place – the largest family event in the city and a true celebration of dwarves.

zoo.wroclaw.pl

The largest and oldest zoological garden in Poland (established in 1865).

At the Wroclaw zoo, history blends harmoniously with modernity – high-tech structures have been integrated into the historic surroundings. Here you can see more than a thousand species of animals, both the well-known ones, such as the oversympathetic donkeys, and those whose existence is known only to specialists.

When visiting the Wroclaw zoo, you can’t miss the Afrykarium. Seven large pools are home to animals associated with the aquatic environment of Africa. It is the largest of its kind in Poland (the sheer weight of the water in the pools is equal to that of a hundred whales or three thousand adult elephants).

hydropolis.pl

A unique in the country center of knowledge about water and everything related to it. Here you will learn, among other things, where water on Earth came from, what happens in the sea depths, how waves and snow are formed, and what role water plays in human life. You will see the world’s largest ships (in miniature, of course), a water printer, an ancient water clock and a bathyscaphe. You will learn about the methods of camouflage used by coral reef inhabitants.

Visiting Hydropolis is a great adventure for everyone, as the knowledge here is conveyed in a modern way – through interactive exhibitions, multimedia installations, as well as games that will draw in not only children (who wouldn’t want to swim with dolphins).

Hydropolis is housed in a historic 19th-century underground drinking water reservoir, which is worth seeing in itself.

If you want to see what Wrocław looks like from above, visit one or more of Wrocław’s vantage points. The most interesting of these are: the observation deck on the 49th floor of the Sky Tower (at a height of about 200 m, accessible by elevator), from which, in addition to Wrocław, you can also see Śnieżka, Ślęża or Mt. Chełmiec; the Bridge of the Pokutnic, or Footbridge connecting the two towers of St. Mary Magdalene Church (at a height of 45 m, ascent by stairs); the terrace on the Mathematical Tower in the main building of Wrocław University (at a height of 42 m, ascent by stairs); the tower of the Garrison Church of St. Elizabeth (at a height of 75 m, ascent by stairs); the tower of Wrocław Cathedral on Ostrów Tumski (at a height of 97 m, ascent by elevator); the vantage point on the glass roof of the Concordia Design office building (at a height of 20 m, ascent by elevator).

A cruise on the Oder River is a great way to get to know Wroclaw in a less obvious way. Visiting the city from the river side, you will understand why Wroclaw is called the Venice of the North. You can take a cruise on a large cruise ship or a smaller boat, a modern motorboat or an eco-friendly boat powered by solar batteries. You will find harbors in the city center, near tourist attractions. You can also admire Wroclaw from the side of the river during a trip in a canoe, rowboat or small motorboat. Water equipment rentals operate from May until late autumn.

You can learn about the extraordinary role of the Oder River in the life of Wroclaw by visiting the Odra Centrum – a meeting place on the water, the only educational and cultural center of its kind in Europe. Odra Centrum is housed on a floating structure of 800 sqm. The facility is moored near the historic Grunwald Bridge. Odra Centrum deals with the subject of ecology and environmental protection of rivers and bodies of water, and undertakes cultural and social activities under the name “We build the identity of the Oder people.”

Kolejkowo.pl

You don’t have to be interested in railroading to feel the thrill at the sight of this largest railroad mock-up in Poland. Precisely reproduced steam locomotives, carriages, overpasses, tracks, turnouts, platforms and stations… Miniature trains speed through Wroclaw and Lower Silesia, so you can get to know the entire region from this unusual perspective. You will see the daily life of the inhabitants of Lower Silesia, visit tourist attractions, and in the blink of an eye you will move from Wroclaw’s Market Square to Sněžka. The exhibition is constantly changing to reproduce reality as accurately as possible. The exhibition is located in the Sky Tower – one of the tallest buildings in Wroclaw (it’s worth going up to the observation deck on the top floor).

aquapark.wroc.pl

Aquapark Wroclaw is one of the most visited water parks in Europe, as well as one of the largest recreational and sports facilities in Poland. It is available all week long. You’ll find both outdoor and indoor pools for people of all ages. The recreational pools are ideal for both fun and relaxation. If you only want to swim, choose a sports pool. If you just want to have fun, visit the recreation area, where you’ll find, among other things, a wave pool, a lazy river, a saltwater pool and as many as six slides (including two for children). If you dream of relaxing after a day’s sightseeing, head to the saunarium, where you can choose from 20 saunas, enjoy massages and take part in a fragrance ceremony or aroma session.

gardenbotaniczny.wroclaw.pl

It is the second oldest botanical garden in Poland, after Kraków’s. It is a green island in the center of the city, where you can relax among unusual plants. Here you will find, among other things, a unique and the largest collection of ivies in the country, a rich collection of aquatic plants – nenuphar and water lilies, an alpinarium with a collection of mountain and upland plants, and an arboretum with a collection of trees and shrubs numbering more than three thousand species. The garden hosts many periodic family events, such as May Day in the Garden, the Lower Silesian Pumpkin Festival, Bee Day and the Wrocław Flour Festival.

museum-nature.uni.wroc.pl

It has been in existence for more than 200 years and has the largest natural history collection in Poland. The museum’s scientific collection has about three million exhibits. You will see here, among others, the skeleton of a blue whale, the largest animal in the history of the Earth, the skeleton of a giant deer with an impressive antler span of 2.5 meters, extinct about 10,000 years ago, and the skull of an aurochs – an ancestor of the cow.

If you’re visiting Wroclaw with children, be sure to plan a short visit to the Old Town Park, located in the city center, where you’ll find a modern playground in the shape of an ellipse, with swings, rockers, and climbing devices scattered on a safe, flexible surface. Next to it is a classic French-type merry-go-round, styled after the 19th century. Toddlers can choose to ride on wooden horses or in gondolas. Bicycles cannot be ridden in the Old Town Park, and dogs are not allowed here. It’s also worth visiting the playground on Bielarska Island, where the little ones can enjoy such attractions as a pirate shipwreck, ladders, slides, scaffolding, ropes and a sandbox. If you have more time on your hands, a great idea would be a trip to Mammoth Park, where there is a huge, eight-meter-tall play structure in the shape of a mammoth. For those who like a bigger dose of adrenaline, several trampoline parks await in Wroclaw.

moviegate.pl

Here the tourist attraction is the very location of the facility, as the gallery is located in a World War II air raid shelter, six meters underground. Here you will see original set pieces, props and costumes from such films as: “Alien,” “The Matrix,” “Gladiator” and “Star Wars.” In addition to attractions from movie sets, MovieGate offers Mad Scientist Shows, during which knowledge of chemistry and physics is imparted in the form of fascinating experiments.

zajezdnia.org

The center is located in the MPK depot, where the Wroclaw Solidarity movement was born in 1980 during a solidarity strike with workers from the coast. The main exhibition “History of Wroclaw 1945-2016” is a presentation of the most important events in the post-war history of the city, using modern exhibition techniques that engage visitors, making learning about history an interesting adventure. Among the issues presented are: the exchange of population after World War II, the reconstruction of the city from war damage, the cultural and scientific life of Wroclaw, the post-war everyday life of its inhabitants.

teatrlalek.wroclaw.pl

The Wroclaw Puppet Theater is housed in a beautiful neo-Baroque building near the Market Square. In addition to three permanent stages, it has a seasonal Summer Stage and a mobile outdoor stage. The theater offers performances for children and teenagers, workshops and an interactive walk through the building’s interior. Right next to the Puppet Theater stretches the Old Town Park, which resembles a pre-war urban garden – with its high, openwork, beautifully wrought iron fence, carefully maintained lawns and charming alleys in a recreated 19th-century layout. Next to the garden’s entrance is a sandstone fountain with a statue of the “Boy with Swan,” which is a copy of a work by renowned sculptor Theodor Erdmann Kalide.

Xawery Dunikowski Boulevard is one of the most beautiful walking routes in Wroclaw. It is also a great place to meet outdoors and relax by the water. You can sit here on the amphitheater steps, admiring the panorama of Ostrów Tumski. There are two open-air bars on Dunikowski Boulevard – near the Sand Bridge and by the steps over the Oder River. There are several marinas for tourist ships and boats at the boulevard – cruise ships, several-masted galleys, motor boats and catamarans have their stops here. You can also moor a canoe, rowboat, pedal boat or motorboat at the steps. In Gondola Bay, just off the boulevard, you can rent a canoe or boat from spring to autumn, and from here you can also take a small boat cruise on the Oder River.

Closer to the Sand Bridge is the Market Hall. The building was constructed in 1908-1909 and was extremely modern and original for the time – it is a reinforced concrete structure based on parabolic arches.

muzeumpanatadeusza.ossolineum.pl

A museum dedicated to one book? Will it be boring? Absolutely not! The manuscript of “Pan Tadeusz” became the leaven for a modern, interactive exhibition showing the era of the Napoleonic wars, traditions, customs and culture of the Polish nobility. Here you will learn what they drank and ate, how they dressed, how they spent their time in Poland at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. In addition to the exhibition devoted to “Pan Tadeusz,” at the museum you will see the expositions “Mission: Poland” – whose heroes are Władysław Bartoszewski and Jan Nowak-Jeziorański, and “Pan Tadeusz Różewicz” – dedicated to the life and works of this outstanding poet.

halastulecia.pl

The Visitor Center is a tourist gateway to the Centennial Hall and an interactive, multimedia exhibition that will help you learn all about this remarkable site, a UNESCO-class monument. The exhibition consists of touch screens and maps, film and sound recordings, as well as two virtual tours developed with virtual reality technology. During them, you will meet the architect of the Centennial Hall himself – Max Berg, take a look at places inaccessible to visitors, and, most exciting of all, soar above the Hall and the Spire to explore the Centennial Hall complex from a height and see the incredible panorama of Wroclaw.

Next to the Centennial Hall, a multimedia fountain show is held from spring to autumn, which is the largest in Poland and one of the largest of its kind in Europe. The structure occupies an area of nearly one hectare, with light points, 300 water jets and three fire jets placed at its bottom. The water shows are accompanied by music. The grand opening of the fountain was held on June 4, 2009, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the first free elections in post-war Poland.

The Japanese Garden has been arranged according to the design rules of traditional oriental gardens. It is a symbol-filled example of the harmonious combination of natural forces and human action. It attracts with its architecture, arrangement and rare plants. Specialists from Japan – landscape architects and gardeners – took part in its construction. Walking through this original garden, you will feel like you are in the Land of Cherry Blossom!

museumiluzjiwr.pl

The Wroclaw Museum of Illusions is a fascinating place where art meets magic and science. You can think of this museum as a mini-laboratory of entertainment, with equipment that uses playing with perspective, curved mirrors and lenses. Here you can take part in arch-interesting lessons in physics, chemistry, optics or mathematics on a completely different basis than in school.

zooteam.co.uk

Here you can see (and more) more than a hundred exotic animals. At your fingertips here are giant bird spiders, menacing-looking scorpions, intriguing snakes, agile geckos, agamas, iguanas, as well as giant whirlpools and scolopendras. Many of these animals you can not only see, but also pick up, which is done under the supervision of experienced guides who take care of the safety of the animals and visitors.

museum.wroclaw.pl

The only museum of its kind in Poland. Here you will find exhibits bearing witness to the activity of the postal service on Polish soil – from the time of the Polish Post established by King Sigismund Augustus in 1558.The museum is located in the historic building of the Main Post Office, Wroclaw’s first high-rise building, dating back to 1926. The museum houses many valuable exhibits, including: letters (including those of King John Casimir), documents with the signature of Tadeusz Kosciuszko, the oldest Polish postage stamps, decorative stationery, an Italian travel guide, and menus from the postal station restaurant. One of the biggest attractions is the collection of antique postal vehicles.

gikme.co.uk

This small museum collects computer hardware, consoles and game machines from the 1970s-90s. Depending on your age, you’ll take a sentimental journey here, or experience moments of immense amazement when you see the size of computers with computing power of just a fraction of what today’s smartphone offers.

museum-czlowieka.uni.wroc.pl

An intimate, very interesting museum at the UWr Institute of Anthropology. The museum provides three exhibition halls. In the hall of ontogeny you can learn about the process of development of the human skull and skeleton over the course of life, and see how bones change under the influence of disease and trauma. In the burial room you can see, among other things, examples of natural mummification of corpses. The third room is devoted to the origin and evolution of man – here you can see, for example, a cast of the skull of an australopithecus and Homo habilis. One of the most interesting exhibits at the Museum of Man is the mummy of the “Wroclaw princess,” which, along with two other mummies, came to the city in the late 16th century as one of the exhibits of the then-popular cabinets of curiosities. Two of the three mummies were lost, probably ground up – mummy powder was considered a cure for many ailments at the time. The girl’s mummy was found in 1945 in the basement of a pharmacy on Solny Square. It ended up in the Department of Anthropology, where, after examination, it turned out to be the mummy of a young woman in her twenties.