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Have you ever heard of Hydropolis? It’s a unique place in Wrocław where you can learn all about…water! Hydropolis is an interactive science center where both kids and adults can have fun while gaining knowledge in different areas, all related to water.
Hydropolis – location, directions, and parking.
Hydropolis is a science center located in Wrocław at Na Grobli 17 street. If you’re planning to explore the area, it’s good to know that Wrocław ZOO and the Ethnographic Museum are nearby.
Right next to Hydropolis, you will find a parking lot that was free of charge during our visit for tourism purposes. It only takes a few minutes to walk from the parking lot to the facility. You can also reach Hydropolis by public transportation. You can take bus 920 to the Na Grobli (Hydropolis) stop or buses D, 145, 146, and 149 to the Urząd Wojewódzki (Impart) stop. If you want to get to Hydropolis by tram, choose numbers 3, 5, 16, or 70 and ride to Plac Wróblewskiego or numbers 4 and 33 and ride to the Urząd Wojewódzki (Impart) stop.
Opening Hours and Ticket Prices
Hydropolis is open seven days a week. From Monday to Friday, it is open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (last admission at 5:00 PM). On the weekend, however, the place awaits you from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM (last admission at 7:00 PM).
You can purchase tickets to Hydropolis on-site or online. For weekends, it is better to do it online to ensure that there will definitely be a spot for you. Ticket prices vary depending on whether you want to visit Hydropolis during the week or on the weekend or holiday. For a standard ticket during the week, you will pay 45 PLN, while on weekends and holidays it’s 47 PLN. For a concessionary ticket, it will be 36 PLN and 38 PLN respectively. You can take advantage of the family ticket (2+2), which costs 130 PLN or 140 PLN, similarly depending on the day as mentioned before.
We decided to buy a combined family ticket. As we were also going to the Wrocław Zoo, we chose this option. For a family (2+ up to 3) it costs 330 PLN. Buying separately would cost us 30 PLN more.
History od Hydropolis
Hydropolis is a place managed by the Municipal Water and Sewage Company in Wrocław. Hydropolis is intended to fulfill the educational mission of the company.
It’s worth starting by looking back into the past. In the 19th century, the city of Wrocław drew its drinking water from the Oder River. Before entering the water supply network, it was cleaned by filtering through sand and gravel. In 1892, the first closed tank was built. Unlike the four previous ones, it was covered with a roof. All these installations operated at the “Na Grobli” waterworks plant. In the 1920s, Wrocław changed its method of water extraction. From that point on, the city obtained its water from groundwater. However, this water had to be filtered and stored somewhere, and for this purpose, tank number five was used.
After cleaning, this tank had a capacity of 12 million liters and was the main reservoir for the city’s drinking water. It functioned until 1945, was heavily damaged during World War II, but after numerous repairs, it returned to function. Another important event in the history of the tank is the flood of 1997, which inundated the entire “Na Grobli” plant.
In 2002, the plant underwent modernization, and the tank was entered into the register of monuments. It stopped serving its function in 2011, and four years later, Hydropolis opened its doors. It is inside tank number five where the exhibition you will be visiting is located.
Biggest water printer om the Europe
Have you ever seen a water printer? It’s an extraordinary curtain/fountain on which, by regulating the flow of water, you can display texts or graphics. The one located in Hydropolis awaits you before the entrance to the exhibition and measures an impressive 46.5 meters! It is active from May 1st to October 31st.
In front of the water printer, which is also in front of the main building, there are benches where you can sit after your tour, gazing into the somewhat mesmerizing water!
Exhibition
When heading to Hydropolis, it’s a good idea to install the audioguide app beforehand (available on Google Play and App Store). Once you connect your headphones, the guide will lead you through the exhibition. Of course, it’s not that you can’t get by without the app; you’ll manage perfectly fine without it too.
At the entrance to the main building, the aforementioned water printer awaits you. Upon entering, we find ourselves in the hall where we can use lockers, bathrooms, and look at the water vortex located in the center. The first zone from which we start our tour is “Planet of Water.” Here we learn about where water comes from and its significance in space, but also on our planet. A large model of Earth awaits us in the center, and films are displayed on the surrounding walls. The voice introducing us to the topic is that of Krystyna Czubówna.
The next place we go to, following the lines on the floor, is the “Deep Sea Zone.” There you will find a replica of the “Trieste” bathyscaphe and models of creatures living in the depths. You can also see what the animals from the models look like in recordings and learn more about them.
Next, we proceed to the “Ocean of Life” zone. Hanging from the ceiling, there’s a shark and a school of tuna. Thanks to a projector, the tuna look as though they are swimming. The main theme of this room is the evolution of life. You will also learn a lot about coral reefs here.
The next zone is “Man and Water,” from which we can also peek into the area for temporary exhibitions. In the “Man and Water” zone, the exhibition reminds us that humans are composed of about 60% water. The next part of the visit is the “History of Water Engineering” zone. There you will find lots of interesting facts. You can observe replicas of ancient inventions (activate a water wheel or turn Archimedes’ screw), look at models of various types of ships (from sailboats to container ships), and see a model of the Nile River.
The penultimate zone in Hydropolis is “City and Water.” Here you will learn everything about water in the context of the city. The presented data cover both historical and contemporary issues. You can also get to know the schematic of the Municipal Water and Sewage Company. To conclude the journey through Hydropolis, we have the “States of Water” zone. In the center, there’s a snowstorm simulator where we can observe the movement of “snowflakes.” This room also contains “fire from water” – specially illuminated water vapor that looks like billowing flames!
Hydropolis also offers a souvenir/gadget shop related to water, a bistro, and a cafe.
Is it worth visiting Hydropolis?
Hydropolis is a place where you can learn everything about water. Its historical location, modern narration, plenty of multimedia, and interesting facts make it appealing to both children and adults. Each room discusses a different topic and addresses themes that some may find more interesting than others, but the overall experience is very satisfying!
Are you interested in water in the context of transport? You’ve got it! The deep sea and its inhabitants? They have it! Water as a substance and its physical states? An excellent choice! You will definitely find something for yourself!
