Pictured left to right outside the new store are: Paul Hardwick, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents Director of Retail; Emma Bailey, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents; Tutti Taylor, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents; Councillor Candy Vaughan, Mayor of Eastbourne; Trevor Ridler, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents Business Development Manager; and Shirley Waters, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents..
Sales Consultant Poppy visited the Polish city of Wroclaw. She had no expectations of what this city was going to be like and didn't know much about it but, having now been, she highly recommends it!
There are direct flights to Wroclaw from Stansted with Ryanair. I flew out the Friday evening and returned the Monday morning, so the flights were perfect for a weekend away. When arriving into Wroclaw, the airport is tiny so it is very easy to navigate and get through passport control and security quickly.
I stayed just outside the city centre with a friend and we were able to take the tram into the city centre every day. This cost me 75p. The trams are very easy to use; you can buy tickets on board and there is an English language setting on the machines. However, if you were to stay more central than we did, it is very easy to walk everywhere.
Wroclaw is famous for its market square. The 'Old Town' is amazing with lots of multi-coloured buildings, cute cafes and outdoor markets. There is always something going on. This particular weekend in May they had outdoor bars and food stands, as well as manmade beaches in the market square. There were plenty of Polish delicacies to buy, including Oscypek (a really good cheese!), and the best thing is �� everything is so cheap! I think I paid 50p to have some Oscypek. In the winter, it is known for the square to host Christmas markets, so Wroclaw is perfect for a great winter city break too!
Walking out of the main square, you will see amazing churches and architecture. There are plenty of little side streets where you will find hidden cafes and those authentic local restaurants. In general, eating out isn't a problem �� all the restaurants have English menu alternatives, you just have to ask.
The city is located alongside the Oder River where you can walk across multiple bridges including the Tumski Bridge where many people have attached love locks. You can hire a boat on the river �� some come with BBQ's etc and offer a great option for anyone planning a stag do.
If you are visiting in the warmer months I highly recommend going to Zazoo Beach Bar, a man-made beach next to the river. It doesn't cost anything, there are plenty of sun loungers to use and they have a bar on site. You can even take your own food and have a picnic.
You will find plenty of botanical gardens to stroll around in Wroclaw, which gives you a chance to escape from the city centre and see that Wroclaw has more than one side to it. In one of the gardens I visited, they had a large pool of water in the centre with multiple fountains. The weekend I was there, they did daily fountain shows in the evening and there were lots of vendors to get food/drinks �� great evening activity for families.
The city is also known for great nightlife. It is a university town, so it is great for the younger generation. I would highly recommend it for hen and stag dos.
The city has so much to offer and I will definitely be returning in the future. In many ways, it is an unknown destination. So if you are wanting to avoid those overcrowded tourist cities, then Wroclaw is for you! Make sure you try Pierogis too!
