Jessica Viana has shared her advice on the best European city to visit if you’re looking for somewhere different to explore on the continent, claiming it is full of ‘magical things to do and experience’
If you’re contemplating booking a European break but desire something rather different from the norm, a travel expert has argued the case for what she considers the most “criminally underrated” city on the continent. Jessica Viana turned to TikTok to share her thoughts as she ventured to Central Europe for her own getaway.
“Wroclaw in Poland is a colourful, historical city that doesn’t feel ‘touristy’ at all – and yet it is full of magical things to do and experience,” she began in a video. Wandering along its charming cobbled lanes, Jessica disclosed the destination is dubbed the ‘City of Gnomes’, with 1,400 of the stone figures dotted throughout the city for tourists to hunt down and tick off.
“They’re everywhere,” Jessica said, standing beneath a gnome dangling from a lamppost. “Serving ice cream, running the ATM machines and sharing a bit of local history.”
Regarding Polish cuisine, Jessica suggested pierogi – dumplings created by encasing unleavened pastry around different fillings. “You might want to forget everything you think you know about Polish food here,” she continued. “The food scene here in Wroclaw is incredible – so much so that the city has been recognised in the Michelin Guide this year for the first time.”
Indeed, a total of 22 eateries in the city have secured places in the Guide, three of which have earned Michelin’s coveted Bib Gourmand Award – acknowledgement for superior quality cuisine offered at outstanding value prices.
“I never thought I would have watermelon steak or bread ice cream, but I did here,” Jessica shared about her experience with the local dishes.
The travel enthusiast also spent time “stalking” one of the last lamplighters in the world, exploring the city’s rivers which she likened to Venice, and visiting the nearby “breathtaking” monuments and castles. “I completely fell in love with Wroclaw and I think you would too,” Jessica enthused.
She concluded: “I was so impressed! For a city that’s relatively under-the-radar compared to others, the amount of cool things to do and see here just blew me away, and I think more people should know about it!”.
In the caption of her video, Jessica recommended checking out her accommodation. “The Old Town and Cathedral Island are the best areas in my opinion,” she detailed.
“I stayed at The Bridge Hotel Wroclaw, which has been beautifully renovated, with stunning views over the river, spa, and a very serene location.”
Jessica also provided a list of 10 “magical” things to do in the city, pronounced ‘Vrotz-waaf’.
These are:
- Wander through Wroclaw’s colourful Old Town Market Square
- Hunt more than 1,400 gnomes in the city
- Stalk the Wroclaw Lamplighter around Cathedral Island
- Get the best view in Wroclaw from the Bridge of Penitents (yes, the 247 steps are worth it!)
- Hop on an Oder River cruise
- Admire the Aula Leopoldina at Wroclaw University
- Have a sunset drink with a view over Wroclaw Cathedral at The Bridge Wroclaw MGallery Hotel
- Watch the free Multimedia Fountain Shows at the Centennial Hall
- Enjoy the nightlife at Neon Side Galleria
- Visit the Botanical Gardens of the University of Wroclaw
The city’s official tourism website proudly states: “Wroclaw is a pulsating metropolis in southwestern Poland. Its rich history, in which different traditions, cultures, religions intermingle, is combined with the present day of a dynamically developing city. Come and see for yourself what an interesting and nice city Wroclaw is.”
It continues: “Wroclaw (a city with county rights) is the capital of the Lower Silesian province. Located on the Oder River, it is a unique city of 12 islands and 112 bridges. In the heart of the city, strollers are tempted by the Old Town Promenade stretching along the moat and the Botanical Garden located on Ostrów Tumski. The riverside green boulevards can also be admired from the decks of cruise ships and gondolas, which are one of Wrocaw’s many tourist attractions. The latter also certainly include the fantastic multimedia fountain shows in Szczytnicki Park.”
