Nicknamed the “Polish Venice,” the watery city of Wroclaw was recently voted the 2018 “winning city” by European Best Destinations. Crisscrossed by the Dobra River, the River Oder and four of its tributaries, western Poland’s largest city is an ideal walking destination. Among its many interesting sites are the Zdrój Fountain, The Museum of Pharmacy and the Penitent Bridge — a footbridge suspended between the towers of the Mary Magdalene Church. Numerous public sculptures include “The Swordsman” by Hugo Lederer in Uniwersytecki Square and the giant “Chair” by Tadeusz, located between Rzeźnicza and Nowy Świat streets. Be sure to climb the tower at the Garrison Church, regarded as the best tourist viewing spot in the city.

One of the city’s charming eccentricities is its population of decorative dwarfs, currently numbering 350. The original figure was mounted on Świdnicka Street to commemorate Poland’s anti-communist movement. Since then, the proliferation of other dwarf statues scattered around the city has become a tourist obsession, with special maps and a mobile app that helps visitors track down their locations.

Each September, a festival celebrates the statues. The festival kicks off with the Great Dwarf Parade in Market Square, leading to the location of the Great Dwarf Village where sculptures demonstrate the creation of the beloved statues.