Szczytnicki Park

Szczytnicki Park (roughly "shchit-NEE-tskee") is Wrocław's grand green lung: about 250 acres (100 ha) of old trees, ponds and lawns right next to the UNESCO-listed Centennial Hall. Laid out in 1783, it was one of the first English-style landscape parks on the European continent. If you are wondering what to do in Wrocław on a sunny afternoon, this is the place for a relaxed walk with a few surprises along the way.

A brief history

The land belonged to the village of Scheitnig, which became part of the city in 1868. In 1783 the commander of the local Prussian garrison, Prince Friedrich Ludwig zu Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen, bought it and created a landscape park in the English manner. Napoleon's troops wrecked the park while besieging the city in December 1806, but it was restored and later enlarged.

The big turning point came with the 1913 Centennial Exhibition, when Breslau (as Wrocław was then called) built the Centennial Hall and the Four Domes Pavilion next to the park. The park itself gained a Japanese Garden and a centuries-old wooden church moved here as an exhibit; the area around it was laid out as a model village cemetery for the exhibition's section on garden and cemetery art. The Japanese Garden was the idea of Count Fritz von Hochberg, and in the 1990s it was restored with help from the Japanese embassy.

What to see

• St. John of Nepomuk Church — a wooden larch church from around 1600, originally from Stare Koźle in Upper Silesia, brought to Wrocław in 1913. It is one of the most photographed spots in the park.
• Japanese Garden — created for the 1913 exhibition by Japanese gardener Mankichi Arai, wrecked by the 1997 flood and reopened in 1999. It has a separate ticket and is open seasonally.
• Old trees and ponds — around 350 species of trees and shrubs, winding streams and iron footbridges. Japanese cherry trees planted in 2008 bloom in spring.
• Monuments to Diana and Friedrich Schiller, and a column honoring King Frederick William II.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially in spring and in October, when the foliage turns gold. A loop takes 1.5–2 hours; add the Japanese Garden and Centennial Hall for half a day. Paths are flat and stroller-friendly, and the park is popular with joggers and cyclists.

Opening hours and tickets

As of October 2026: the park is free and open to the public year-round. The Japanese Garden charges admission (30 PLN standard in the 2026 season) and usually runs from April to the end of October.

How to get there

The park lies about 2 miles (3.5 km) east of the Market Square. Take a tram to the Hala Stulecia stop; there is paid parking by the Centennial Hall. Wrocław Airport (WRO) is about 6 miles (10 km) west of downtown.

Nearby

The Centennial Hall, the Pergola with its multimedia fountain, the Four Domes Pavilion (contemporary art) and Wrocław Zoo with its Africarium are all within a short walk.