Wrocław Botanical Gardens

To complete a thorough tour of Ostrów Tumski you should not miss the charming Botanical Gardens. The gardens began life as a scientific pursuit, but have become a favourite retreat for Wrocław's residents. The garden was built from 1811 to 1816 on the riverbed where the Odra once flowed around Ostrów Tumski. The 7.4 hectare grounds include a huge diversity of plant life, aquariums, sculptures, a plant shop and two cafes, and a large pond with picturesque bridges. Open seasonally from early April until end of October, on some days your peace and quiet could be disturbed by noisy groups of schoolkids (especially April-June), but the beautiful manicured landscapes include enough nooks and crannies that you should have no trouble forgetting you're in the centre of a big city. Highly recommended.