Wrocław – a city of bridges, meetings and dwarves
Wrocław is one of the largest cities in Poland, known for its mosaic cultural heritage, beautiful architecture and well-preserved historic buildings, over 130 bridges and nearly 400 dwarves!
Urban public transport service – MPK
Public transport in Wrocław consists mainly of tram an bus networks operated by the urban public transport service – MPK. There are over twenty tram lines in the city, and buses cover about fifty routes. In addition to daytime lines, operating from 5AM till around midnight, there are also thirteen night bus lines.
A route finder is also a useful tool which helps you to easily navigate around the city.
There are three types of tickets for the MPK – time tickets, one ride tickets and long term tickets. They can be bought online, in kiosks, ticket machines and on the buses and trams by card. Tickets bought onboard the bus or tram come as a token signed to the card you are paying with. More information on the tickets can be found on the city's website.
If you pay your taxes in Wrocław, you can also join a program called "Nasz Wrocław". This program allows taxpayers to buy cheaper transportation tickets.
Benefits:
- Traveling by tram allows you to avoid traffic jams - up to 95% of tram tracks in the city are separated from car traffic.
- Many buses use a dedicated bus lane on the road or run along a tram track.
- Catching connections is quick and safe.
- At the intersections, trams and some buses have priority.
- Each vehicle is equipped with a GPS transmitter, so you can track the current location of the vehicle. You can see it in the iMPK app.
- Travel planners make it easier to choose the right line. Urbancard, JakDojadę or Moovit apps can be helpful in this. They show the actual times of arrival of the chosen line at a selected stop.
Trains
In some neighborhoods close to city limits where the railway passes through, the train can be the fastest and most convenient means of transport to reach the city center. There are 21 stations and railway stations within the city limits of Wrocław, and the main railway station in Wrocław is one of the largest in Poland. There are also several comprehensive connection spots in the city connecting the railway with public transport, e.g. Wrocław Stadion, Wrocław Nadodrze, Wrocław Mikołajów. Railway carriers in Wrocław are: Koleje Dolnośląskie, POLREGIO and PKP Intercity.
It is possible to purchase tickets on-line directly from carriers, season tickets are also available.
Participants of the "Nasz Wrocław" program, with a valid monthly named return ticket, for routes between stations within the city limits (station names must include "Wrocław" or "Iwiny"), can buy a special ticket for PLN 1, allowing travel by public transport around Wrocław.
Travel by car
Wrocław is a city that struggles with traffic jams, which is why authorities focus more on the development of public transport and cycling. There are more and more park and ride areas outside the city centre. Cars are not allowed to move on many streets within the old town and on separate bus lanes. Nevertheless, there is a well-developed paid parking zone in the city. You can pay with coins, a mobile phone or payment cards.
Taxis
Using taxis is relatively easy and quick. Taxis have separate lanes (like MPK vehicles) and can enter some urban areas in which car traffic is limited or closed. Taxi companies and corporations may charge maximum fares per kilometer based on the resolutions of the City Council. For example, a trip from the airport to the city center is around PLN 50-60.
Cycling
Wrocław has one of the best cycle networks in Poland and new routes are created every year - along streets, in parks and along rivers (they can be found on the city geo map). Traveling around Wrocław is quick and convenient. One of the city's priorities is to relieve car traffic and new investments related to cycling infrastructure are made every year.
As in most major European cities, Wrocław has a city bike rental system. There are about 1,000 bicycles for public use in over 200 locations around the city. The first 20 minutes of the ride is free, then over 20 minutes up to an hour you have to pay PLN 2, and each subsequent hour is PLN 4. More information.
Electric scooters
Electric scooter rental apps are popular in Wrocław. They work on Android and IOS systems. Riding an e-scooter does not require permissions and they don't take up any parking spaces. Electric scooters are a good transport alternative to less accessible places. The maximum speed of such a device is 25 km/h.
Carpooling, car-sharing, scooter-sharing
You don't need your own car or scooter to travel by car around Wrocław, by using a carpool system.
When looking for options for your regular commute to work, it's worth using the www.inonecar.com platform, which is used by UPWr and PWr employees. After registering on the website, you can check if there is anyone with whom you can share rides.
There are also a few companies in the city that offer car rental services by the minute. This option is good for people who rarely drive a car or scooter and don't want to invest money in their own vehicle.
Wrocław is a student-friendly city so it offers a lot of properties to rent.
Things to consider when looking for properties to rent in Wrocław:
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properties close to tram or city bus stations – less than 10 mins walk (however trams are the fastest public transport here)
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ideally find a property near the city centre or university campus. Wrocław is a centralised city. Most cultural events happen in the city centre or near the market square – however, it’s worth noting that these properties can be a bit more expensive.
There are multiple websites you can use to find rental adverts:
Wrocław is a city full of interesting cultural events, festivals, concerts, theatre performances and attractions for both adults and children.
Among the most popular places to visit are:
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The Market Place (Rynek of Wrocław)
Below, you can find some links to websites providing more information about events in Wrocław:
Where to obtain medical aid, hospitals, primary health care clinics, addresses, medical specialists.
Pharmacies on duty are located in each of the city's districts and work 24/7. Pharmacies on duty are also open on Sundays and public holidays.
