Don’t let the name fool you, because Kolejkowo is not only about trains :) It is a world in miniature: elaborate, full of details, references to current events, and full of movement and sound, all with changing times of the day. Passengers, the train to Kolejkov is about to start!
Is Kolejkowo in Wroclaw more trains or more miniatures of Lower Silesia? We asked ourselves this question after we left, and there is no clear answer. Some people will probably focus on mock-ups, buildings, people, and some will focus only on vehicles. And that’s what the Queue is all about – there’s something for everyone here, everyone can find a scene that’s interesting to them, find objects they know and associate with, and on top of that children will have fun looking for hidden characters and animals.
Note, there are two Kolejkowo: one Kolejkowo Wrocław and the other Kolejkowo Gliwice. The following post is only about the one in Wroclaw.
This was not our first visit to the Wroclaw Railway, but the first since it was moved to the Sky Tower. The first time we were there was less than 3 years ago, when the mock-ups were located at Świebodzki Station, and we wrote about this place in our post about attractions for children in Wroclaw. Although it was quite cramped, the place had its own unique atmosphere and we had a hard time imagining moving Kolejkov to a modern high-rise building.
Table of contents
See Queue Wroclaw on our video
To get you started, we still recommend you a short 🎬 video report from Kolejkowa in Wroclaw on our YouTube channel. There you will find some simple film footage of what to see in Kolejkovo. Of course, you will find photos and a handful of practical information below :)
Railroad tour
So we decided to see what Kolejkowo Wrocław looks like after the changes and…. enlarged! The space in the Sky Tower is several times larger, which is evident as soon as you enter. There is more space, so you can spend even more time looking at individual scenes without feeling the breath on the backs of other visitors. This does not mean that there is too much space. Unfortunately, it is still sometimes cramped, sometimes it is difficult to pass, but you can see that it is better organized in the new place.
The mock-ups are still incredibly impressive! Being here again, one can rediscover scenes from the life of the residents, look for new characters, look at what has changed.
Because in Kolejkovo we won’t see an idealized world – here everything seems to come from real life: there are anointed and damaged buildings, there are fights and falls. People love or hate each other, children run and make noise, animals run away. There is so much going on in these mock-ups that you don’t know what to look at first (there are almost 3,500 figures!).
Interestingly, there are times of day in Kolejkovo. A day lasts 13 minutes, of which 4 minutes is night. When dusk comes the lights go out and the lights on the street and buildings are turned on. Then you can take a new look at the scenes of the life of the residents of the mock-ups, because we can suspect what they do under the cover of night ;)
We recommend looking closely not only at the buildings but also at the individual characters, as you will find famous people, fairy tale characters, or references to current events (such as the swabbing point on COVID ;) ).
Another aspect is the mock-ups showing the towns and regions of Lower Silesia. Here we have not only Wroclaw, but also Karpacz, the ski slope, Sněžka, there are Wroclaw’s blocks of flats and City Hall. There is even Swiebodz Station and the move of Kolejkov is shown. What’s more, there is a reservoir with ships!
Let’s not forget that Kolejkowo is trains! There are more than 500 meters of tracks, r15 trains with cars run on them, and more than 200 cars drive on the streets. We can observe intercity, regional and heritage trains. And only from us we will add that a little of these trains are few for such large mockups.
Fortunately, this is rewarded by streetcars, fire department, police,, excavator, roller coaster…. There is really a lot going on at the mock-ups!
Additional attractions
As part of the entry, we also had an introduction to mock-ups made of gingerbread! In a separate room we could admire gingerbread houses, a giant Christmas tree and a town hall made entirely of sweets. Gingerbreads are beautifully decorated, colorful, until you want to munch them ;)
Even though it’s long after Christmas, you can still feel the festive atmosphere here. The exhibition is until February 28, 2022, after that, there will probably be some other novelty in this place.
Practical information
Here are some important practical tips about Kolejkowo Wroclaw.
Queue Wroclaw for children
We definitely recommend this place to families with children (but not only!). Here the children are really delighted, and let the fact that we did not hear any (ANY!) baby crying be proof of that. Even the younger ones were eager to watch the mock-ups and wait for the trains.
On the plus side, wooden platforms for children, so they can reach the mock-ups with their eyes.
Leaflets are prepared for children with elements to find on the mock-ups (some are really hard to find), which makes them look at the mock-ups even more and look out for people and animals.
Unfortunately, the place is not yet fully family-friendly with children. There is a lack of changing table, and the toilets are quite cramped. Fortunately, there are toilets in the mall, so you can use them after leaving the Queue.
Behind the entrance is an alcove where there was (or is supposed to be) a play area, but it is currently a locker room.
Catering
There is a cafe on site at Kolejkowo Wroclaw, where you can order coffee from the coffee machine, buy some drinks and snacks.
The offer is quite limited.
Opening hours Kolejkowo Wroclaw
Mind you, this is probably the first place we visited that is open daily! Every day, 365 days a year, Saint Friday and Sunday ;)
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm,
- Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 – 19:00.
Railroad Wroclaw ticket prices
Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online at the Kolejkowa website.
Prices for 2023 are as follows:
- Normal ticket – 36 zloty,
- Discounted ticket – 29 zlotys,
- Children under 3 years of age enter for free.
Getting to Kolejkowo Wrocław
Kolejkowo is located in one of Wrocław’s most iconic buildings – the Sky Tower skyscraper, on the second floor. It is possible to get there:
- By bus: 125 (stop: Pl. Hirszfelda).
- By streetcar: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 17, 20, 23, 31, 33, 70, 74 (stop: Great).
- By car: On site, there is paid parking at Sky Tower (from 20 minutes to an hour – 4 zlotys, 2h and more – 5 zlotys). You can also park your car on nearby streets.
The exact address:
Queue
Sky Tower first floor
Powstańców Śląskich 95
53-332 Wroclaw
Accommodation in Wroclaw
In Wroclaw you will easily find the right accommodation for you – the offer is very large.
We stayed at the Novotel hotel, which we were very satisfied with – delicious breakfasts, friendly staff, and a nice corner for children ;) The hotel itself is located in a nearby neighborhood. Here are some suggestions:
- Novotel Wroclaw Centrum
Address: Powstancow Slaskich 7b, Krzyki, 53-332 Wroclaw
Prices: from 220 PLN for a double room
Link:
http://r4b.link/novotel-wroclaw
- Mercure Wroclaw Centrum
Address: Pl. Dominikański 1, Old Town, 50-159 Wrocław
Prices: from 360 PLN for a double room
Link:
http://r4b.link/mercure-wroclaw
- Scandic Wroclaw
Address: ul. Piłsudskiego 49/57, Old Town, 50-032 Wrocław
Prices: from 300 PLN for a double room
Link:
http://r4b.link/scandic-wroclaw
- Traffic Hotel Wroclaw
Address: ul. Świdnicka 28, Old Town, 50-029 Wrocław
Prices: from 240 PLN for a double room
Link:
http://r4b.link/traffic-wroclaw
Our opinion about Kolejkowo Wrocław
Despite our concerns about whether Kolejkowo will be as attractive after the change of location, we think it is even better now. Although it lacks the atmosphere of the old station, the move gives us more space, large mock-ups, better sound and lighting.
Although we already knew some of it, discovering new scenes and objects was great fun for adults as well (because the fact that children were delighted I don’t think I need to add?). It is definitely a place we will return to more than once.
If you are already in Wroclaw, we also recommend you to see, among others. local Zoo Wroclaw. If you are interested in miniatures, there is a great Miniature Park Kowary – Lower Silesia in a Nutshell – not far away in Kowary.
>> See also other attractions in Wroclaw described in our blog.