For families: Wrocław

Wrocław for families: the zoo with Afrykarium, Kolejkowo, trampoline parks and play rooms. Ready ideas for a day with kids, even when it rains.

What to see with children in Wrocław so nobody gets bored?

Begin with the biggest item on the programme. The Wrocław Zoo has operated since 1865 and is the oldest zoo on present-day Polish territory. It covers 33 hectares on Zygmunta Wróblewskiego street, close to Szczytnicki Park and the Oder. On its grounds stands Afrykarium, the first oceanarium in Poland presenting African ecosystems, opened in October 2014. The building is shaped like a ship, and outside you will also find the Zoolandia Mini Rope Park, with routes for children from age 3 and for adults, next to the wolves, pelicans and bison.

The second hit is Kolejkowo, a moving model railway in the Sky Tower. Miniature trains and trams run among scenes from Silesia and Lower Silesia, and ships and aircraft move too. It suits a cloudy day, because the whole exhibition is indoors.

The zoo opened on 10 July 1865 on the initiative of mayor Julius Elwanger, and the layout was drawn up by Karl Lüdecke. The main Afrykarium building is 160.1 metres long, so set aside more time than for an ordinary walk. You can also see animals up close at Zoo Team in Ołbin: a pet shop with a display of reptiles and arachnids, an educational offer and children's birthday parties, where some animals may be touched and photographed under the care of staff.

Where can kids jump and play?

Trampolines are a safe choice when the kids have energy to burn. Jump Hall on Szybowcowa street has about 54 trampolines in six zones, including a twelve-metre one leading into a foam pit. There are also rope and climbing parks and the Pixel Court and Neo Wall zones that react to movement. GOjump MEGApark Długosza covers 5,500 square metres and has three zones: trampolines, obstacle courses and the newer GOtrix zone. From its cafe you can see the whole hall, so parents rest without losing sight of the child. Jump 4U in Tarnogaj has almost 1,700 square metres, parkour areas and a foam pit.

For younger children, play rooms work well. Klub Fikołki in Wroclavia in Huby takes children from 0 to 11, with a separate zone for the youngest, foam structures and a ball pit. Sala Zabaw Piotruś in Szczepin has run since 2004 and is open every day of the year. Pixel XL on Świdnicka street is an interactive mat of tiles on which you play minigames of reflex and memory, for children and adults alike. Milu Malu in Psie Pole, Malinkowo and Hopsaki in Sołtysowice combine a play room with a cafe, so a parent can sit down with a coffee. GOkidz in Karłowice has an obstacle course and slides. Hopsaki runs classes, and Malinkowo offers LEGO Education workshops and birthday parties. In the Dominikańska Gallery there is Strefa Rozrywki with ticket machines, ride-on toys for the youngest and sports devices, and on Opolska street in Księże you will find the Bobolandia play room.

Which museums and cultural places do children like?

Not every museum is boring for kids. The Museum of Illusions in the Old Town shows interactive installations and optical illusions that you can view and photograph on your own. The Museum of Games and Computers of the Past Era in the Świebodzki Station building presents over 200 computers and consoles and about 500 handheld consoles, which older kids and parents who remember those machines will enjoy. The Museum of Architecture in the former Bernardine complex holds over 20,000 exhibits. The Town Hall on the Market Square with the Museum of Bourgeois Art, and the Royal Palace with the exhibition 1000 Years of Wrocław, make it easier to tell the story of the city.

Looking for more? See the museums in Wrocław and a separate list of attractions for children.

What to do with teenagers and the whole family?

When kids are older, go for activity. TOP1 Karting in Muchobór Wielki has over 850 metres of track, indoor and outdoor, plus karts for juniors and a tandem kart. Zagrywki is an activity bar with shuffleboard, mini golf, karaoke, darts and beer pong, plus arcade machines and pizza. Aquapark Wrocław in Huby has pools, slides and saunas, and branches in Brochów and Zakrzów. The Wrocław SPA Centre on Teatralna street sits in a former bathhouse and has two pools.

How to plan a family day, even in the rain?

Most places on this list are indoors, so a plan for bad weather is easy. See the page Wrocław in the rain. When the weather is good, start at the zoo and move to Kolejkowo or a play room after lunch. All family ideas from the whole region are collected on the page For families.

Frequently asked questions

What can we do with kids in Wrocław when it rains?

Visit Kolejkowo, the Museum of Illusions, the Museum of Games or Afrykarium. For energetic children we suggest trampoline parks and play rooms.

Where can children jump on trampolines?

At Jump Hall on Szybowcowa street, at GOjump MEGApark on Długosza street and at Jump 4U in Tarnogaj.

Can a parent sit down with a coffee in a play room?

Yes, in several places: Milu Malu, Malinkowo, Hopsaki and GOkidz combine a play room with a cafe or bar for carers.

What to do with teenagers?

Choose TOP1 Karting, the Zagrywki activity bar or Aquapark Wrocław.