From Wikitravel

Wrocław [1] (pronounced Vrots-waf, German: Breslau) is the largest city in the Dolnośląskie Vovoidship in Poland.

Contents 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 By plane 2.2 By train 2.3 By bus 3 Get around 3.1 By bus or tram 3.1.1 Tickets 3.1.2 Route numbers 3.1.3 Timetables 3.2 By taxi 4 See 5 Do 6 Eat 6.1 Budget 6.2 Mid-range 6.3 Splurge 7 Drink 8 Beer 9 Sleep 9.1 Budget 9.2 Mid-range 9.3 Splurge 10 Contact 11 Cope 12 Get out

Understand

Wrocław is large undiscovered gem, boasting fascinating architecture, many rivers and bridges, and a lively and metropolitan cultural scene. It is a city with a troubled past, having seen much violence and devestation, and was almost completely destroyed during the second world war. However, it has been brilliantly restored and can now be counted amongst the highlights of Poland, and the entire central European region. As Poland rushes headlong into further integration with the rest of Europe, now is the time to visit before the tourist hordes (and high prices) arrive. Read "Davies, Norman and Moorhouse, Roger. Microcosm: Portrait of a Central European City" to understand the complicated history of the town.

Get in

By plane

Wrocław is served by an international airport. LOT fly here from Warsaw, Frankfurt and Munich. SAS fly here from Copenhagen and Wizzair from Dortmund, Centralwings from Dublin and Rome. From March 2005, Ryanair fly here from London Stansted and East Midlands with fares from £15 one-way all-inclusive. You can find departures and arrivals table at Wrocław website

From the airport, bus 406 operates from the terminal building to central Wrocław (schedule).

By train

Wrocław is a major hub in the Polish rail network, with several trains a day to all large Polish cities (route planner). There are about 10 daily departures to Warsaw (travel time varies from 5h by a InterCity train, up to almost 7h with a pospieszny train) as well as quite a lot of trains to Poznan (from there you can go to Warsaw or Berlin). Several trains a day travel to Krakow. Wrocław has also a direct railway connection with Prague, Hamburg and Berlin.

By bus

Wrocław is a stop on the Eurolines international coach network.

Get around

The centre of Wrocław is navigable on foot, but the feature has an excellent public-transport system for access to the suburbs and outlying attractions. The city has 60 bus lines and 25 tram lines.

By bus or tram

Tickets

To use the system, you must buy a ticket before you board from a ticket machine or any shop with a sign saying "Ruch" or "Bilety".

Ticket prices:

One ride ticket: Normal 2.00zł/1.00zł, students (with ISIC identification) pay half. Express or night bus - 2.80zł. You must validate your ticket on board, or face a 70zł fine if caught by an inspector. Tickets are not time-based nor route-based, i.e. you pay each time you enter a different vehicle.

One day ticket (jednodniowy), valid for all lines: 9/4.50

Period tickets:

5-day in city borders: 23,00/11,50 (only normal lines), 27,00/13,50 (also express)

10-day in city borders: 40,00/20,00 (normal), 48,00/24,00 (also express)

If you travel with large bags (such as backpacks) you must also buy a 1.00zł ticket for the bag. Owner of a period-ticket can drive one child for free (up to 13 years old) on Sat. Sun. and holidays.

There's a possibility to obtain "name" 30-day ticket (needed picture) which is little cheaper. All prices are listed here (PL): [2]

Route numbers

• 0-24 — trams
• 70-79 — temporary trams
• A,C,D,E,K,N — express lines (ticket costs 2,80zł)
• 100-149 — normal buses
• 3xx — normal buses, peak hours only
• 4xx — accelerated buses
• 6xx — suburban buses (if outside town, ticket costs 2,60zł)
• 7xx — temporary buses
• 240-259 — night buses (ticket costs 2,80zł)

Timetables

• Online timetables

By taxi

• List of Taxi companies.

See

• Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, ul. Katedralna, open 10am-6pm (closed Sundays), admission 4zł, tower admission 5zł. Dating from the 13th century, featuring stunning architecture and the largest church organ in Poland.
• The Rynek, or central square, is the archictural centre-point of Wrocław, and its most obvious attraction. It is one of the biggest town squares in Europe, and is lined on all sides with photogenic and interesting buildings. Centre of tourist life, place where tourists drink beer.

• Town Hall, ul. Sukiennice 14, south side of the Rynek, open 11am-5pm (closed Monday), admission 4zł. Construction of the town hall began in the 14th century. It was one of the few major buildings in Wroclaw to survive World War 2, and it now serves as the Museum of Burgher Art. The interior features stunning gothic interiors.
• Świdnicka Cellar, academically documented more than 500 years of beer drinking in this place.
• Ostrow Tumski, group of islands on Odra River with beautiful Cathedral and few hunders year old biuidings, for those who would have romantic evening, walking through mistery brick stoned streets it is a MUST. It is complete with hand-lit oil lamps lit nightly
• St. Elizabeth's Church, ul. Elzbiety 1, open 9am-4pm (1pm-4pm Sundays), tower admission (no lift) 5zł. On the northeast side of the Rynek, this is a large and imposing medieval building with a 90m high tower with spectacular views over the old town.
• Salt Square Pl. Solny, formerly salt market,now flower market,
• Panorama of the battle of Racławice, (pl: Panorama Racławicka), ul. Purkyniego 11, open 9am-4pm Tuesday-Sunday, admission 20zł (includes admission to National Museum). This giant 360-degree painting, depicting a Polish military victory in 1794, is popular symbol of Polish nationalism. Guided tours in English, French and German run every 30 minutes at no extra cost.
• National Museum, Pl. Powstancow, open 10am-4pm (closed Monday), admission 15zł. Features a large collection of Polish art.
• Opera House, ul. Swidnicka
• Japanese Garden, Park Szczytnicki, open 9am-7pm April - October, admission 2zł. A remainder from the 'World Expo' of 1913 held in Wroclaw, this is a large landscaped garden restored with the assistance of the Japanese government.

• Botanic Garden, ul. Sienkiewicza
• Max Berg's Centennial Hall (Breslau Dome, former Jahrhundert Halle, pl: Hala Ludowa)One of the first and biggest concrete hall, mentioned in any history of architecture. See article.
• Breslau Office Building by Hans Poelzig
• Synagogue "Under the White Stork", 19th century synagogue

Interesting structures in Wroclaw

• Wroclaw Aiguille - a distinctive object placed close to the Hala Ludowa.
• Grunwaldzki suspended bridge, beginning of 20th century; Zwierzyniecki bridge, end of 19th

Do

Eat

Just of the sqaure opposite a bar called Error, there is an alleyway leading to a cobbled street and a shirt way along, down a side street to the left is a restaurant called Mercado. Boasting a selection of cuisines inlcuding Egyptian, Greek and Polish, amongst others. The dimly lit, rustic interior offers a warm and comfortable atmosphere, with a selection of beverages from the bar to finish of an evening.

Budget

Watch out! Those "bars" are not bars but canteens, in Poland inexpensive self-service restaurants which sell no alcohol are often called "bar mleczny" (milk bar).

Bar "Miś", Kuźnicza Street - 2 minutes walk north from Rynek ( Market Place of central square ) - offers inexpensive meals, students of nearby University usually eat there. Rarely you can meet there homeless people, but it's not dangerous. Just after entering you must go to the cash desk (on the left in the corner) to order a meal (Polish only), you will be given a bill. Stand in the queue and give the bill to person serving meals. Open Mon.-Fri. 7-19 Sat. & Sun. ???

Bar "Bazylia", Kuźnicza Street, just after bar "Miś", inside building of University Law Depratment, near Universtiy Main building. Prices twice as much as in "Miś", but still very cheap. Very clean and fast service.

Bar "Mewa" Dubois street 7 minutes walk north from Rynek through University Main Builidng and Pomorski Bridge. Cheaper than Bar "Miś" but some dishes are offered only at special hours. (Pierogi - 13; Pancakes - 14; Pierogi with cabbage - 15; Potatoe pancakes - 16). Rarely you can meet there homeless people, but it's not dangeruos. No cash desk, you pay during order (Polish only). Open: Mon.-Fri. 8-18, Sat. & Sun. 9-16

All of these places may be filled with people and have long queues (up to 10 min. of standing in a queue) during working day 11-17. Bars should be also open during National Holidays.

Mid-range

"Oregano" - Igielna street - Italian restaurant.

"Piramida" - Wita Stwosza street - Egiptian restaurant. Kitschy interior and big portions.

Many other restaurants are located in the center.

Splurge

Radisson Hotel, next to Panorama Raclawicka

Pod papugami at the City Hall, entrance next to Spiż Cellar (see below). Lots of good meals, especially salads.

Drink

Beer

• Spiz Cellar - see how to brew beer and how deliciuos it taste
• Beer gardens on the main square in the summer

The most popular bars and night clubs are situated in the old town, main square:

• Thursdays: students night, usually free entry, not as crowded as friday and saturday

PRICES:

• Beer 0,5 L: 4-7 PLN in bars, 2-4 PLN in shops
• Wine glass: 7-12 PLN
• Vodka shot: 4-7 PLN

Sleep

Budget

• The Stranger Hostel, [3]. Located within a stone's throw of the old city, just around the corner from the train station. Expect to pay 50-60zl for a dorm bed, including breakfast (bread, jam and cheese), laundry, sheets, lockers, internet, and a media lounge where you can watch dvd movies and play xbox video games.

• International Youth Hostel
  • Na Wyspie ul. Wyspa Slodowa 10, 50-266 Wroclaw, tel.(71)3226099; 3226088, fax.(71)3226113, hotel@hotel-tumski.com.pl
  • Na Kielczowskiej ul.Kielczowska 43, 51-315 Wroclaw,tel.(71)3457396, fax.(71)3457396, ssm-lzn@com.pl
• Hospitality exchange
  • Wrocław has an active community of Hospitality Club members, you can contact them at [4]

Mid-range

Splurge

• Art Hotel is the best hotel in Wrocław according to the "Forbes"

Contact

keep good care of your wallets..

Cope

Get out

• Bolesławiec - some 100 km (60 mi) away, with a nearby Kliczków Castle converted to a hotel

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