For families

Family attractions in Lower Silesia: zoos, miniature parks, a gold mine and play centres. See where to take the kids and what to do in rain.

Where can kids see animals in Lower Silesia?

Animals are the easiest place to start. The best-known address is Wrocław Zoo, opened in 1865 and described as the oldest zoo on present-day Polish territory. It covers 33 hectares next to Szczytnicki Park and the Oder, so plan a whole day for a relaxed visit. Inside the grounds is the Afrykarium, the first oceanarium in Poland devoted to African ecosystems. It works well when the weather turns, because part of the visit is indoors.

A smaller and free option is the zoo in Lubin, set in the former Wrocław Park. It has themed educational paths and natural monuments, so a walk doubles as a nature lesson. In the Karkonosze (Giant Mountains), ZOObaczysko in Sosnówka is a bird park where birds fly freely and visitors can feed them.

For exotic animals on a smaller scale, head to the Kubuś & Endriu parrot house in Kuraszków. More than a hundred exotic birds live there, along with rabbits, ponies and other animals that children can touch and feed.

Where do children see Lower Silesia in miniature?

In Kowary you will find the Park of Miniatures of Lower Silesian Monuments. The models are built at a scale of 1:25 on the grounds of a former carpet factory, and visits are guided. Kids see in one place what you will later look at in real life across the region, which makes it a good first stop. In Kłodzko, Minieuroland is a private park with replicas of buildings from Lower Silesia, Europe and North America. It also has a botanical garden and animal zones, so parents have something to look at too.

In Wrocław, model trains do the same job. Kolejkowo in Sky Tower is a moving railway layout with models of trains, trams, boats and aircraft.

What to do with kids when it rains or turns cold?

When the weather is unpredictable, choose indoor places. Aquapark Wrocław has three locations in one city: the main site in Huby and branches in Brochów and Zakrzów. It offers pools, slides and saunas, so parents can rest while the kids splash. Outside Wrocław, the ATOL complex in Oleśnica has an aquapark-style indoor pool plus a bowling alley, climbing wall, courts, an ice rink and a sauna area. In summer, try the outdoor pools at the Regional Sports Centre in Lubin, with slides and a children's zone. Trzebnica has the Municipal Water Park, with classes for children, seniors and people with disabilities.

When the kids have energy to burn and it is pouring outside, play centres and activity parks help. In Wrocław, GOjump MEGApark Długosza offers trampolines, an obstacle course and air cushions across 5,500 m² in Karłowice-Różanka. Smaller play centres include Bobolandia in Księże, Loopy's World in Bielany Wrocławskie, Nibylandia in Oborniki Śląskie and Ola's Play Centre in Bolesławiec, open since 2005. Most also run birthday parties.

Which museums and underground routes do kids enjoy?

Children rarely like museums where everything sits behind glass, so pick places where something happens. The Gold Mine in Złoty Stok runs routes through a former gold and arsenic mine, with an underground waterfall, a boat ride and a narrow-gauge railway. The Riese Włodarz underground complex in the Owl Mountains has about 3,200 metres of tunnels, an underground cinema and a boat crossing. The subject is a German project from 1943-1945, so with younger children decide whether the story will be too heavy.

The pace is gentler at the Trail of Vanishing Trades open-air museum in Kudowa-Zdrój: a historic windmill from 1902, pottery demonstrations, a forge, a bread house and a mini zoo. In Kletno, the Earth Museum shows minerals and fossils, including dinosaur egg nests, and outside there is a Jurassic Park for children. In Karpacz, visit Karkonoskie Tajemnice, an interactive underground exhibition about the Spirit of the Mountains and the legends of the Karkonosze.

Older kids who like technology will enjoy the Museum of Games and Computers of a Bygone Era in Wrocław, the first retro-computing museum in Poland, housed in the Świebodzki railway station. The WENA Motoring Museum in Oława holds hundreds of vehicles, aircraft and motorcycles, plus exhibitions from the communist era.

Where to combine play with history and nature?

Historic sites can work for kids if you choose well. Kłodzko Fortress has above-ground bastions and underground countermine passages that easily turn into an explorers' expedition. Bolków Castle is a ruin with a round tower and the oldest surviving window in Poland. In Wrocław, the Royal Palace houses the City Museum with an exhibition on the city's thousand years, and the Town Hall on the Market Square holds the Museum of Bourgeois Art.

For fresh air, take the kids to Trollandia in Szklarska Poręba. The rope park in the forest has five routes for children from age 3 and for adults, with a continuous belay system. Plant lovers can visit the Wojsławice Arboretum near Niemcza, home to National Collections of rhododendrons, daylilies, boxwoods and peonies.

Where to find family attractions in a specific town?

This page covers the whole region. If you already know your destination, go to the list for that town: Wrocław, Jelenia Góra, Karpacz, Kłodzko or Lubin. Families in Legnica, Wałbrzych or Bolesławiec will find their sets at Legnica, Wałbrzych and Bolesławiec. Also available are Kudowa-Zdrój and Oława.

Frequently asked questions

What can I do with a child in Lower Silesia when it rains?

Choose indoor places: Aquapark Wrocław, the Afrykarium, play centres, the trampolines at GOjump or a museum. Many entries on this list carry the "Na deszcz" (rainy day) label, so you can prepare a backup plan in advance.

Which places suit the youngest children?

Play centres, Kolejkowo, the parrot house in Kuraszków and the zoos work well. Trollandia in Szklarska Poręba has rope routes for children from age 3. Check age and height limits with the organiser at every place.

Is there anything free for families?

The zoo in Lubin is free. Check entry conditions and opening hours on each venue's own page before you travel, because they can change.

What should I pick for a full day outside Wrocław?

Kłodzko is a good choice: a fortress with underground passages and Minieuroland in one town. Around Karpacz and Szklarska Poręba you can combine a rope park, the birds in Sosnówka and an exhibition on Karkonosze legends.

Where can I organise a child's birthday party?

Play centres in Oborniki Śląskie and Bolesławiec, among others, offer birthday packages. Agree dates and conditions directly with the organiser.