Lesser-known European city is 'as beautiful as Prague' without tourist crowds

06 December 2023 , 10:55

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The centre of charming Wroclaw in Poland (Image: Getty Images/Moment RM)

A lesser-known European city is being hailed to be just as beautiful as the likes of Prague and Budapest - but without the crowds of tourists that flock to these hotspots.

With the advent of budget airline flights in recent decades, exploring the joys of Poland has been increasingly easy for Brits. Many have visited the cobble squares of Krakow and its well-regarded Christmas market, or headed to the hills to bask in the natural beauty of Zakopane.

Less often visited is Wroclaw, a city in the south west of the country close to the border of Czechia that isn't quite as famous as cities like Warsaw, Kraków, Łódź, or Gdańsk, reports the Express. In fact, last year Krakow had double the number of tourists that Wroclaw enjoyed - but for those after a city break without crowds, that can actually be a point in its favour.

Wroclaw is less popular than other Polish cities but still lovely (Getty Images)

Popular attractions include the Main Market Square, with its colourful medieval buildings, where you'll find the likes of the Museum of Bourgeois Art and the annual Christmas Market. The city also boasts a UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Centennial Hall, which is one of the most famous concrete structures in the world that is a site of pilgrimage for architectural enthusiasts keen to see some pre-Brutalist brutalism. It has a huge circular central space covered by a ribbed dome and topped with a lantern, with as many as 10,000 people able to fit in.

The United Nations concluded in 2006 that the hall, which was built between 1911 and 1913 by Max Berg, "transcends national boundaries" and is "of common importance for present and future generations of all humanity".

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The impressive Centennial Hall in Wroclaw (Getty Images)

Aside from local history and architecture, visitors also have their pick of trendy bars where they can settle down for a quick drink, or beautiful, vegan-friendly eateries. Despite forecasts that the faltering British economy might be overtaken by the Polish one by the end of this decade, Wroclaw remains full of bargains for those paid in pounds.

A cheap meal out from a milk bar in the city will only set you back the equivalent of £3 to £5, while an all out, fine dining experience is unlikely to cost more than £25 a person. A half litre of beer comes in at £2.50.

Getting around the city is also cheap and easy, with a bus ticket costing about 60p, Ubers about £3 for a 3km ride, and Wroclaw's bike hire scheme allowing 20 minutes free before charging just 60p an hour.

Wroclaw is a cultural hotspot and was elected the European Capital of Culture in 2016, making it a "real cultural laboratory", according to travel bloggers. Otherwise, it is a popular destination for couples, with flowers available 24 hours a day and bridges adorned with love locks.

Getting to the city from the UK is quite easy. Ryanair flies from Manchester, Stansted, East Midlands, Bristol and Bournemouth, with one way tickets currently on offer for as little as £15 this January.

Liam Doyle