1,000 Years of Intrigue, 600 Dwarfs: Wrocław Self-Guided Tour
Description
Wrocław has been ruled by Polish kings, Bohemian dukes, Habsburg emperors and Prussian generals — and its Old Town still keeps the receipts: a bridge where accused witches had to choose between falling and burning, and 600 bronze dwarfs born as a joke against Communist rule. This self-guided GPS audio tour narrates each story automatically as you approach, at your own pace, with no group to keep up with. At St Mary Magdalene Church, you'll stand beneath that very bridge, 45 metres up between the church's twin towers, where accused witches were once forced to walk its railing to prove their innocence. The church itself has been flattened by Mongol invaders, gutted by fire, host to the first Lutheran service in Silesia, and rebuilt from rubble after the Second World War. Along the way, you'll also learn how the dwarf statues multiplied across the city, and see the Old Town's Gothic architecture up close. By the end, you'll know Wrocław the way locals do — one story at a time.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Start your tour at the vibrant Wrocław Market Square, one of the largest market squares in Europe. Here, you’ll learn about its rich history and the architectural beauty of the surrounding buildings, including the impressive Old Town Hall.
Visit the Monument of Alexander Fredro, a tribute to the famous Polish playwright. Learn about his contributions to Polish literature and the cultural importance of his works.
"Piwnica Świdnicka" — the Świdnica Cellar — has served drinkers from this Gothic cellar beneath the Old Town Hall since 1273: over 750 years on the same spot, making it one of the oldest continuously operating inns in the world. The name comes from Świdnica, a nearby town famous for its strong, dark beer. "Świdnicka Cellar" taverns even opened under the same name in Kraków and Toruń — only Wrocław's survives. By the 1500s, a tunnel connected this cellar to a brewery next door, in the tenement nicknamed "Under the Golden Jug," on your left. Look up at the entrance for a Christian Behrens sculpture: a drunken patron caught by his furious wife, jugs in hand. Famous guests have followed for centuries — composer Frédéric Chopin, writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, playwright Gerhart Hauptmann, socialist founder Ferdinand Lassalle, even Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg. Today it's one of the city's grandest restaurants — and since 2022, it brews its own beer on-site again.
Discover the Pillory, an ancient site of public punishment. Hear stories about its historical significance and the role it played in Wrocław's medieval justice system.
The twin-towered church behind you began as a Romanesque chapel in the 1100s, was flattened during a Mongol raid in 1241, and rose again as the Gothic basilica you see now after a catastrophic city fire in 1342. Its south wall holds Poland's finest Romanesque portal, rescued from a ruined monastery. In 1523, this became the first church in Silesia to hold a Lutheran service, tipping the whole region toward the Reformation. It was gutted again in the Second World War and stood roofless for over a decade before restoration finished in the 1970s. High between its two towers, 45 metres up, runs a narrow bridge first recorded in 1459, built to reach the "Sinner's Bell," Silesia's largest bell. It earned a dark nickname: the "Witches' Bridge." During the witch trials of the 1500s and 1600s, accused women were forced to walk its railing. Survive, and you were guilty of sorcery. Fall, and the 45-metre drop killed you.
Explore the charming twin houses known as "Jaś i Małgosia" (Hansel and Gretel). These iconic buildings are a symbol of Wrocław’s fairy-tale charm and rich folklore.
See the Slaughtered Animals Monument near the University of Wrocław. Hear the intriguing story behind this unique sculpture and its connection to the city's history.
Visit the prestigious University of Wrocław, one of the oldest universities in Central Europe. Discover its rich academic heritage and the notable figures associated with it.
Admire the grandeur of St. Elizabeth's Church, also known as the Garrison Church. Climb the tower for stunning panoramic views of the city and learn about its historical significance.
Cross the Sand Bridge, one of Wrocław's many historic bridges. Learn why Wrocław is called the City of Bridges and enjoy the picturesque views of the Oder River.
Visit the bustling Market Hall, a hub of local commerce. Discover the variety of goods on offer and the building's historical significance as "the Cathedral of Commerce."
Explore the Ossolineum Institute, a renowned research and cultural institution. Learn about its role in preserving Polish cultural and literary heritage.
Stroll across Tumski Bridge, also known as Lovers' Bridge. This romantic spot is famous for its padlocks left by couples as a symbol of their love.
End your tour at Wrocław Cathedral, a magnificent Gothic structure. Learn about its architectural history and significance in the religious and cultural life of the city.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please bring your own smartphone and headphones
Reviews(12)
This was ok, we had some glitches with the app which eventually settled. We enjoyed the freedom to stop and get drinks etc and stay a little longer and it was very helpful to get out bearing but I would not buy again. Prefer a face to face tour.
Hi there, I'm sorry that you were unhappy with your experience. Can you email more information to support@voicemap.me? This way, we can identify exactly what went wrong and process a refund if there was a technical issue. I'm sorry for your frustrating experience. Best, Helene
Really easy to use and very informative. Allowed us flexibility to stop at certain points to explore more and get coffee.
I've never used the VoiceMap app before but all instructions were provided and it was really easy to set up. This tour was ideal for when I went because the weather was not very nice and the app allowed me to stop as often as I wanted to to get inside from the rain/have a coffee/go to the loo. The guide has a nice manner about him, nice to listen to and he includes lots of interesting facts and anecdotes. It was just about the right length, long enough to see a lot of interesting sites, but not so long as to drag on. In fact I then wondered if maybe there is one for where I live! You can play the tour as often as you like so it's ideal if you want to revisit Wroclaw at a later date, or more than once during your visit.
Once we got used to negotiating map this way of visiting a city was excellent . Fun and informative. Love the Dwarf Trail
This was an excellent tour, very informative and enjoyable. The narrator had a very interesting and pleasant voice. We went the wrong way a couple of times but were soon back on track thanks to our guide putting us straight! Would highly recommend this to anyone.
Good directions and very interesting. The map that moves with you is particularly useful. It took me longer that 60 minutes as it’s nice to linger and go into some of the places
This is such a great idea. A downloaded guide to walk at your own pace. Loved when the "voice" came on to advise I may be lost and check the map. I used Bluetooth earphones so I didn't have to hold the phone. Really excellent tour and the amount of detail was brilliant.
For the price you pay, this is a very good experience. Well worth doing if you’re solo travelling as I am now. I didn’t arrive in the city until the afternoon when meant the walking tours were finished for the day. I took a chance on this audio tour and I was not disappointed. It probably won’t be the best option if there’s more than one of you as you’ll need your headphones on. Solo travellers though, give this a go it’s a great way to spend a couple of hours 👏🏻
It was good for the History of the city. There are loads of dwarves and it would have been good to know about them too So disappointed that there was no information about dwarves ghosts or beer as advertised.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about our Wroclaw Old Town audio guide. While we want to clarify that dwarves, ghosts, and beer are indeed covered in the tour as part of Wroclaw's rich cultural tapestry, you're right that our primary focus is on the city's fascinating history. You can verify all the included topics by checking the tour description as well as the script in your VoiceMap app.
What a wonderful voice trip! Great choice of the places, easy to follow and understand and sooooo (unexpectedly) interesting. I highly recommend!!!
