Getting Around Wroclaw

Cabs, cabs, cabs – this is the only recommendation I can give you. It will cost you, but you are sure that you don’t find yourself drunk and naked somewhere on the outskirts. Alternatively you can use your feet, as the most interesting places in Wrocław are located near its centre.

Trams and Buses

If you are a person who likes to take risks and is looking for adventures, you can try using local public transport. Buses and trams – here is the answer for people who would like to try something different from typical tourist routes. Basically, most of the trams were built in 1970s, and the tracks are even older than that. Apart from 3 or 4 new Porsche design trams from Skoda, the majority of them are old, crowded and shaky. But hey! It’s a lot of fun to ride them!

The buses are much better than trams. They are mostly Volvos and they do not differ much from buses in other western European countries. But again – they are very crowded. It’s a good point to mention that Wroclaw has one of the worst streets in Poland – not only they are jammed more than London streets, but also holes the size of craters are not an  uncommon view. You should not wonder, however, as some of the streets still remember Second World War and Russian bombings. So when getting on a bus, prepare yourself for a bumpy ride!

One more thing – make sure not only to buy a ticket before boarding, but also punch it in a special ticket puncher. Otherwise you will be liable for a penalty of around 100zl.

Tickets and Travel Cards

In Wroclaw, there are not special tickets separate for trams and buses. The only difference is the price variations. The normal single ticket costs 2zl and allows you to use buses AND trams, but again, if you want to travel at night (buses only) you need a different ticket. It costs 2.8zl and is also used for special bus lines with letters instead of numbers. For example bus “A” or “D” – those buses are called “fast”, but the inverted comas are there for a reason. Basically they are stuck in the traffic jams just the same as normal buses, the only difference being they stop at every other bus stop. My advice – stick with normal buses.

It is also worth mentioning that trams are not that complicated. You just need a standard 2zl ticket irrespective of the line and time of travel.

If you plan to ride the public transport more often, it’s best to buy a daily travel card. It costs only 9zl and allows you to travel by all means of public transport in Wroclaw. However, it's valid only until 12 o'clock at night. You can buy it in a ticket machine or at local newsagents.

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