Parks and nature
a hundred-hectare landscape park with the Japanese Garden laid out between 1909 and 1912
Parks and nature
48 hectares laid out on a former municipal cemetery, with a lime avenue and the character of a natural forest
Parks and nature
a green area on a former town moat, right next to the Museum of Architecture and the Panorama of the Battle of Racławice
Parks and nature
a landscape park in Ołbin with a pond on a former bed of the Oder and an artificial mound
Parks and nature
a park inspired by Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens, next to the Wrocław Opera, with a carousel for children
Parks and nature
a park laid out partly on former cemeteries, with an avenue of oaks and First World War fortifications
Parks and nature
a complex of exhibition grounds with the Centennial Hall, a multimedia fountain and an entrance to the Japanese Garden
Parks and nature
a park on two islands formed by the branches of the Oława river, accessible only via Most Parkowy
Parks and nature
a park on the Ślęza river covering 9 hectares, with an amphitheatre, a football pitch and a dog run between two bridges
Parks and nature
an extensive park on both banks of the Ślęza with roller-skating tracks and the sculptures "Wolf Pit" and "Bear"
Parks and nature
Parks and nature
a former palace park on the Bystrzyca with a Renaissance castle, a hornbeam maze and ponds
Parks and nature
an eight-metre mammoth structure with tusk-slides, the park was built from the participatory budget of local residents
Cemeteries and monuments
fourteen bronze figures set into the pavement of Świdnicka Street, modelled on Jerzy Kalina's installation
Parks and nature
a park in Huby established on the site of former cemeteries, with avenues of chestnut and lime trees as a trace of the old paths
Parks and nature
a park on the left bank of the Oder with a magnificent pin oak, a playground and an outdoor gym
Parks and nature
a triangular park in Nadodrze, laid out on the site of a former horse market called Rossplatz
Parks and nature
a park on the Bystrzyca river with traces of two hillforts from the 9th-11th centuries and nine monumental oaks
Mountains
an artificially raised, wooded embankment made from earth excavated during the construction of the Flood Canal, today with cycling routes
Cemeteries and monuments
a bronze figure of the author of "Maidens' Vows", cast in Lwów in 1897, on the Market Square since 1956
Parks and nature
10 hectares of greenery in Biskupin with tennis courts, sports pitches and a fitness trail, created through community work
Parks and nature
a strip of greenery by the Oława, formerly known as Hollandwiese, reached by footbridges from the Oławskie Suburb
Parks and nature
neighbourhood greenery with a clearing and an impressive London plane tree, and an outdoor gym from 2018
Parks and nature
an intimate park in Ołbin separated from the neighbouring park in 2011, with the church of St Michael the Archangel
Free things to do in Wrocław include parks, hills with views, statues and monuments. Plan a day without tickets and see what you pass on the way.
The largest is Szczytnicki Park, about 100 hectares with the Japanese Garden, a wooden church and the Centennial Hall next door. Beside it spread the exhibition grounds by the Centennial Hall with a park, a multimedia fountain and the entrance to the Japanese Garden, listed by UNESCO. In the centre you find Nicolaus Copernicus Park by the Wrocław Opera, laid out in the style of the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, and Juliusz Słowacki Park, 5.74 ha with a fragment of the former city moat, next to the Museum of Architecture and the Racławice Panorama.
Leśnica Park covers 21 hectares of a former palace park on the Bystrzyca, with a Renaissance castle, a hornbeam maze and ponds. Grabiszyński Park covers 48 hectares and was created on a former municipal cemetery. Western Park has an oak avenue and remnants of First World War fortifications. Eastern Park lies on two islands formed by branches of the Oława river, and Stabłowice Park is the former private park of botanist Karol Lauterbach, now with three natural monuments.
Many Wrocław parks were created on the site of former cemeteries, and their history now lies hidden under the greenery. Tarnogaj Park was laid out in 2018 on a former cemetery, on about 5.5 hectares. Maria Dąbrowska Park in Karłowice-Różanka also occupies a former cemetery, and Anders Park in Huby, from 1975, has old tree avenues. Leonardo da Vinci Park in Gądów Mały shows a sculpture of the Vitruvian man and elements that refer to Leonardo inventions.
When you walk in such places, keep calm and show respect: these are former resting places, now open to all residents and guests.
Mammoth Park in Oporów has an eight-metre mammoth structure with slides and was funded by the citizens budget. Kleciński Park has an amphitheatre, a playground, a pitch and a dog run on the Ślęza. Stanisław Tołpa Park in Ołbin offers a pond, an artificial hill, playgrounds and a dog run, and Popowice Park a playground, an outdoor gym and a specimen of pin oak. In Copernicus Park children enjoy the carousel, and Strachowice Park has small ponds and a playground.
Millennium Park in Muchobór Wielki has roller-skating tracks, an avenue of the European Capital of Culture and outdoor sculptures. Skowroni Park is about 25 hectares in Gaj, once known as the Park of the 30th Anniversary of the People Republic.
The symbol of the city is the Monument to the Anonymous Passerby: fourteen bronze figures vanishing into and emerging from the pavement on Świdnicka Street. On the Market Square stands the Pillory, a reconstruction of the one from 1492 with a figure of the executioner called Roland. On Strzegomski Square you will see Train to Heaven, a vertically set historic steam locomotive Ty2-1035. By the lane Stare Jatki stands the Monument to Slaughtered Animals, and on Kościelny Square an 18th-century figure of St John of Nepomuk.
Tarnogaj Hill is 133 m above sea level and you can see the city from it. Similar views come from Gajowice Hill with its outdoor gym and Gaj Hill, the second highest in the city. The Las Pilczycki nature reserve is the first nature reserve in Wrocław, an alluvial forest where the Ślęza meets the Oder, protected with no entry to the area, so you look at it from outside. Dąbie Park lies on Great Island by the Oder, near the Zoo, Szczytnicki Park and the Centennial Hall.
A sample plan: start with the Pillory on the Market Square and Stare Jatki, then go to Szczytnicki Park and the exhibition grounds, and in the evening climb Tarnogaj Hill or Gajowice Hill for a view of the city. At none of these stops do you buy a ticket, and in one day you see sculpture, greenery and a panorama.
Combine the centre with a park: the pillory and the Anonymous Passerby in the morning, Szczytnicki Park in the afternoon. When it rains, see things to do in the rain, because some places there are free too. With kids look at attractions for children, and greenery and nature are gathered in parks and nature. Buildings you can admire from outside are described on the page about architecture in Wrocław. A wider list from the region is free attractions in Lower Silesia, and the full city overview is attractions in Wrocław.
Szczytnicki Park has about 100 hectares and lies by the Centennial Hall.
The Monument to the Anonymous Passerby stands on Świdnicka Street, Train to Heaven on Strzegomski Square, and the monument to slaughtered animals by Stare Jatki.
It is the first nature reserve in Wrocław, protected with no entry to the area.
Yes. Kleciński Park, Stanisław Tołpa Park, Popowice Park and Strachowice Park have playgrounds, and Mammoth Park has slides built into a mammoth.
Tarnogaj, Gajowice and Gaj hills carry the Solo tag, so they suit a stroll alone.
