The ‘Venice of Eastern Europe’ is a ‘youthful’ city with £29 flights — and 800 gnomes

Cobbled squares, colourful houses and boats bobbing along winding waterways.

Sound familiar? Nope, we’re not describing an Italian jaunt, but rather Wrocław, a city in Poland dubbed ‘the Venice of Eastern Europe’.

It earned its title thanks to the 12 islands that make up Wrocław, each connected by bridges (there are 130 in total) and canals reminiscent of the famous sinking city in Italy.

The chances are, you’ve never heard of Wrocław, except maybe if you’re a Chelsea fan. Supporters will be flocking to Poland ahead of the Europa Conference League final tonight.

But if you’re after a laid-back — and cheap — city-break, it’s time to give Wrocław a try.

How to get to Wrocław

It’s pretty easy to get to Wrocław from the UK, with direct flights to Port Lotniczy, the city’s major airport, which is just 12km from the centre.

The cheapest flights currently available on Skyscanner can be found in June, flying with Ryanair from Glasgow for just £29 return.

However, the low-cost carrier also has flights available from various UK airports, including Manchester, East Midlands and London Stansted.

What to do in Wrocław

The Market Square is at the heart of Wrocław’s Old Town, and a good place to start for any tourist. The city is easily walkable, so be sure to wander around the streets, marvelling at the architecture that dates back to the 12th century.

From the old to the new(ish), the modernist Centennial Hall is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, built in 1911. Take a tour, or check out it’s schedule of concerts, plays and performances.

Wrocław is also a market-lovers paradise. There’s the Hala Świebodzki, a street-food market located in an old train station, as well as the Hala Targowa, which was built in 1908, selling everything from fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, sweets, and plenty of flowers. Tucked away inside is also Café Targowa, which is somewhat of an institution.

As Eastern Europe’s answer to Venice, it’d be remiss of you not to wander along the city’s waterways and explore it’s many bridges connecting the islands. Cathedral Island is perhaps the most famous – dating back to the 10th century – and also the most beautiful.

For something a bit different, head to Nadodrze, an artsy neighbourhood famed for its street art. Roosevelt Street, with its ‘colourful courtyards’ is worth checking out.

And, with so much to see and do in Wrocław, don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for the cities smallest tourist attraction: the Wrocław Gnomes. There are more than 800 cute gnomes scattered around the city, a tradition which began back in 2001, when a statue of a gnome, the symbol of Poland’s anti-communist movement, was placed on one of the city’s main streets.

Since then, they’ve been popping up all over the place, and a festival in their honour is held every September. Tourists can download a map from Wrocław Tourism Board’s website to follow a trail around the city.

If you’re still unsure about booking a trip to Wrocław, Metro’s Patrycja Zaras suggests pairing it with a break to Krakow instead.

‘These two cities make the perfect pair,’ says Patrycja, who is originally from Poland. ‘Kraków, rich in history and full of stunning early 20th-century architecture, shows you a side of Poland you won’t find anywhere else. But once you’ve had your fill of castles and lazy afternoons by the Vistula River, hop on a speedy three-hour train to Wrocław.

‘It’s a vibrant city bursting with youthful energy, creative spirit, and trendy restaurants that’ll have your Instagram followers wondering if you’re still in Poland.’

Is Wrocław safe right now?

The Foreign Office has not issued any updated warnings ahead of the final tonight. However, with a staggering 70,000 football supporters expected to arrive in Wrocław, as Chelsea take on Real Betis, it’s important to be mindful that tensions could flare.

There have already been reports of violence between fans, with supporters clashing outside a restaurant — although authorities intervened.

Police in Wroclaw issued a statement, confirming that the safety of visitors and locals alike is their ‘priority’.

‘The uniformed officers reacted immediately after the incident, which resulted in no further escalation of the conflict or negative behavior,’ reads the statement.

‘The fans scattered in different directions and currently the police officers of the criminal division are conducting activities aimed at identifying them.

‘The number of preventive and operational police forces and their saturation is so large in places where residents and sports fans gather or move around that everyone can feel safe.’

Police also clarified that there would be foot patrols and monitoring from both helicopters and drones for added safety measures.

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