Ey up! We’ve just got back from a cracking 4-day jaunt to Wrocław, Poland, and let’s just say – it’s a budget traveller’s dream. Think Prague’s quirky little cousin, but with fewer crowds, more colour, and over 400 tiny gnomes hiding across the city. We’re talking cobbles, cathedrals, and craft beer – all without having to remortgage your house.
- Why We Went: £32 return flights with Ryanair – daft not to.
- When: March 2025
- Budget: ~£27/day per person
- Trip Length: 4 days
Day 1: Touchdown, Trams & First Gnomes
Landed late morning, greeted by that “brisk but sunny” kind of March weather. Airport bus into the city was a doddle – cost about £1.20, took half an hour, and dropped us a short stroll from our digs.
Checked into Starter 24 Wrocław – £11pp/night. It’s basically student halls pretending to be a hotel, but clean, quiet, and even had a kitchenette. Spot on for tight travellers.
⭐ Tight Win: Made a brew, ate out homemade banana bread and then we were good to go.
First impressions? Wrocław’s got bags of charm, no doubt about it. We made a beeline for the Rynek (Market Square) – pastel buildings, proper fairy-tale feel, and loads of spots to sit with a brew and watch the world go by. Had a bit of a wander, spotted our first gnome (yes, we pointed like daft tourists), then grabbed a pizza – surprisingly decent, very Eastern Europe.
Stopped by the Cathedral of St. Mary and paid to go up to the Bridge of Penitents – cracking views from up there. Treated ourselves to a chimney cake and then strolled back to our student digs via Cathedral Island.
We thought we would keep our eye out for the lamp lighter, who we didn’t take long to find. And because of the time of year, there was only a small crowd following him.
Day 2: Old Town Charm, Gnome Madness & a Bit of Snow
Started the day with brekkie in our little kitchenette – shoutout to Polish Lidl, absolute lifesaver. Stocked up on pastries, fruit.
Wandered back to the Rynek for a proper look in daylight, then headed to Piwnica Świdnicka, which reckons it’s the oldest restaurant in Wrocław. Dark wood, vaulted ceilings – proper atmospheric. Prices weren’t bad either.
When we came back outside, it had only started snowing! Classic fairytale vibes. Took shelter in the Museum of Bourgeois Art, which luckily had free entry that day – warm, quiet, and a nice bonus we hadn’t planned on.
Spent the afternoon chasing gnomes around the Old Town – over 400 of them hidden all over. Some are tucked away, others just sat bold as brass. Got surprisingly competitive about who could spot the weirdest one.
Topped the day off with a cheeky donut on the walk back. No regrets.
⭐ Tight Win: Free museum entry + snow = magical budget day.
Day 3: Croissants, Castles & a Bit of Magic
Started strong with breakfast at Poko Bakery – hands down the best croissants we’ve had in ages. Flaky, buttery, and just the right amount of posh without being pricey. Proper start to the day.
Wandered over to the University of Wrocław, had a nosey around inside, then climbed up to the Mathematical Tower for another cracking viewpoint. Bit of a hidden gem – no crowds, and the views over the rooftops were class.
Lunch was a bargain zapiekanka from Bar Witek – Polish street food classic, basically a loaded baguette with mushrooms, cheese and whatever else they’ve got going. Cheap, tasty, and sorted us right out.
In the afternoon, we gave in to the novelty and stopped by the Harry Potter bar (yes, really) for a mug of butterbeer. Surprisingly decent – sweet, but not sickly. Good fun even if you’re only a casual fan.
For tea, it was pierogi again (obviously) – this time at Pierogarnia Stary Młyn. Not quite as good as the ones day before, but still hit the spot. We took a quick detour to neon side gallery, but we were unlucky and none of the signs were on. Don’t know how we managed that but we weren’t staying out any later to see if they’d eventually come on.
Day 4 – Sunshine, Schnitzel & Saying Goodbye
The sun made a welcome return on our final day, so we set off to see the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in full daylight — and it didn’t disappoint. After soaking in the views, we continued wandering around Cathedral Island, a peaceful and picturesque area perfect for a slow morning stroll.
We passed by a cute little spot called FC Cafe, which looked like a great place for a budget-friendly breakfast. We let ourselves get wonderfully lost, exploring charming side streets and window-shopping our way past what felt like dozens of donut shops. Spoiler: we couldn’t resist. 🍩
Later, we popped into Market Hall for a quick look around, then followed the river for one last scenic walk. Before heading to the airport, we found a no-fuss local restaurant serving schnitzel at backpacker-approved prices — the perfect farewell meal.
⭐ Tight Win: Our £1.20 airport bus was on time, warm, and made us feel smug about not paying for a taxi.
🍽️ What We Ate (on the cheap)
- Pierogi: Fried, boiled, with meat, cheese, mushroom – we tried them all.
- Bar Mleczny: Traditional canteen-style spots serving soups, stews, cutlets – all for pennies.
- Student cafés: Big lunches under £4. The holy grail for budget travellers.
- Lidl + kitchenette = DIY breakfasts and midnight noodles.
🏡 Where We Stayed
- £11/night pp
- Clean, basic, decent location (20 mins walk to the square)
- Own bathroom & kitchen area
- Free Wi-Fi and heating that actually worked
Not glamorous, but who needs glam when you’ve got pierogi? And the best bit, it’s room bingo! You don’t know which style you’re going to get.
🚌 Getting Around
- Walkable city – we averaged 18,000 steps/day.
- Trams are frequent, reliable, and cost pennies. Use the Jakdojade app for easy ticketing.
- Airport bus: 30 mins to city centre, easy peasy.
Other Worth-a-Look Spots
- Hydropolis Museum – science nerds will love it
- Panorama of Racławice – if you don’t mind a queue
- Neon Side Gallery – Instagram gold and totally free
- Centennial Hall – architecture lovers, this one’s for you
- Cathedral of St. John the Baptist – top-notch views
Final Thoughts: Wrocław on a Tight Budget
Wrocław surprised us – proper pretty, easy to explore, and full of character. From chasing gnomes to feasting on dumplings, we managed a full 4-day trip without breaking the bank.
We stuck to walking, cooking, and budget bites – and still felt like we’d had a rich travel experience. So if you’re after a European city break that’s full of colour, charm, and cheap eats – Wrocław’s your answer.
Now go grab those bargain flights and get hunting gnomes.
Tight Travellers 