Dwarfs of Wroclaw – All You Need To Know

Last updated on April 2nd, 2026 at 11:46 am

The dwarfs of Wroclaw are, without doubt, one of the main attractions in the city. Seemingly around every corner, you won’t have any difficulty in seeing them and you’ll likely come home with more photos of the cheeky characters than you thought possible!

I visited Wroclaw in December ostensibly for the Christmas markets, however seeing the dwarfs (or as many as I could!) was high on my to do list. In this post I’ll set out what you need to know about the dwarfs of Wroclaw. I’ll provide a bit of history, some options and advice for hunting them down and show you a few of my favourites.

Before I dive in though, it’s worth noting a few things. In Polish, the dwarfs are called “krasnale”. In English, some people refer to them as gnomes whilst others call them dwarfs. I have chosen to use the latter as this appeared, to me, to be the more common usage and is used on the map I purchased from the Information Centre (more on that below). I use the term “dwarfs” rather than “dwarves” to describe more than one dwarf. “Dwarfs” is the standard plural of “dwarf” whereas “dwarves” was used and popularised by JRR Tolkien in the Lord of the Rings books. You can use both terms however.

Why are there Dwarfs in Wroclaw?

It does seem like an odd thing for a city to be known for, but the whimsical nature of the Wroclaw dwarfs belies their more serious origins.

The history of the dwarfs of Wroclaw dates back to the early 1980s when images of dwarfs began appearing on walls and buildings in the city. They were put there by members of the Orange Alternative, an anti-communist movement, as a protest against the Polish Peoples Republic during the time of martial law. The authorities would, of course, paint over any anti communist graffiti so the choice of the image of dwarfs was intentional. After all, how ridiculous would the authorities look painting over pictures of dwarfs?!

In 2001, the first dwarf, Papa Dwarf, was installed on Świdnicka Street to commemorate the Orange Alternative. It was in this area that many of the Orange Alternative happenings (street events) took place.

In 2003, the then Mayor of Wrocław unveiled a small plaque on the door of the Dwarves Museum. Apparently, it is located (at knee height of course!) on the wall of an historic tenement called Jas between Market Square and St Elisabeth’s Church. Jas is one of the buildings comprising the Hansel and Gretel Houses – you can learn more about them in my post 14 of the Best Things to Do in Wroclaw. Although I stayed in this area, I can’t say that I saw this apparent museum!

The next five dwarfs, all designed by artist Tomasz Moczek, appeared in 2005. They are much smaller than Papa Dwarf however and are different in style. Included in this group of five are probably two of the more recognisable, the dwarfs known as Sisyphuses.

How many dwarfs are there in Wroclaw?

Unfortunately, I don’t have an exact number of how many dwarfs there are in Wroclaw. However, when I asked this question at the Information Centre, I was told that there are over 1,000! The dwarfs are so popular in fact, they even have their own festival during one weekend in September!

The number of dwarfs has grown over the years. Businesses have also gotten into the act and commissioned dwarfs that reflect their services/products.

Where are the Dwarfs?

The Dwarfs of Wroclaw are all over the city!

They have their own Information Centre (shown below) where you can purchase all manner of dwarf memorabilia. You can also buy a map for 12 PLN (about £2.5/$3 USD) showing the location of 100 of them. The Information Centre can be found in Wroclaw’s Old Town, next to the Town Hall on Market Square. On the ledge right outside the Information Centre you will see Little Helper…scroll down for a close up!

A map with stickers is also available for purchase. This would be a great option for kids as they can match the sticker to each dwarf they find.

For a small fee, you can also download an app for iPhone and Android, showing the location of the dwarfs. There is also a free app for Android devices. I did not use an app during my visit to Wroclaw so cannot give an opinion as to their usefulness.

Wroclaw’s little dwarfs are located all over the city however so you will definitely see some, with or without help!

Hunting Dwarfs in Wroclaw

When it comes to hunting dwarfs in Wroclaw, you can of course just rely on the tried and true method…spotting them as you visit the key tourist sites in the city.

Alternatively, you could set out with the single intention of finding them and ticking them off – this is where a map or app will be handy.

The third option is to join this dwarf finding challenge – you can check availability and book here:

Some of My Favourites

You may decide before arriving in Wroclaw that there are certain dwarfs you want to see. Maybe you’ll let yourself be surprised along the way. Whichever way you choose to see them, with over 1,000 of these little characters, you’re bound to find a few that become your favourites!

I was keen to see Sisyphuses (photo above), but there are a few others that I came across and which are now favourites (left to right below):

1. Tekla and Martynka – located on the Penitents Bridge between the towers of the St Mary Magdalene Church. You can learn more about their story in my post 14 of the Best Things to Do in Wroclaw Poland

2. The Motorcyclist – located outside the St Mary Magdalene Church

3. The Prisoner – located outside the old city prison. You can learn more about the old prison in my post Weird and Wonderful Wroclaw – 10 Alternative Things to See

4. Wroclaw Bookseller – located outside the bookshop next to the Cathedral on Cathedral Island

5. Disabled Dwarfs – located at the entrance to the Town Hall

6. Troszka and Admirer – located in the Main Market Square

7. Fire Dwarfs – located at St Elisabeth’s Church, they are a reminder of the fires that have damaged the church over the years. You can learn more about St Elisabeth’s Church and climbing its tower in my post 14 of the Best Things to Do in Wroclaw Poland

8. Sleepy – located at St Elisabeth’s Church close to the Fire Dwarfs, Sleepy is meant to be guarding the underground Dwarf city but he fell asleep!

9. WroClovek – located next to the Gretel building, he is rumoured to be the one that encouraged all the other dwarfs to reveal themselves to Wroclaw’s residents and visitors!

Tips for Hunting Wroclaw’s Dwarfs

Whilst hunting down Wroclaw’s dwarfs isn’t particularly difficult, here’s a few tips to make the task a bit easier:

• buy a map from the Information Centre showing the location of 100 dwarfs in the main tourist areas (or a map with stickers for the kids)
• research beforehand which particular dwarfs you want to see and build that into your itinerary e.g. see the Bookseller when visiting Wroclaw Cathedral
• make sure you look up, they aren’t all at ground level
• be aware that they are in a variety of places, including parks and buildings
• visit during working hours to see those dwarfs in buildings
• locations of dwarfs may change if they are owned by businesses who relocate premises
• wear comfortable shoes
• be aware of the cobbled nature of some walking surfaces

Final Thoughts

The dwarfs of Wroclaw will have you ooohhhing and aaahhhing your way around the city! With a huge array of characters awaiting your camera, you’ll definitely leave Wroclaw having seen many and favouring some. They aren’t in place however just for our enjoyment. They grew out of a darker part of the city’s history and in that way, perhaps they remind us to try and find humour even in difficult times.

If you need further help in planning your trip to Wroclaw, or elsewhere for that matter, do check my Resources page.

If you’re interested in visiting elsewhere in Poland, then do check out the blog posts on my Poland page.

Disclaimer – Information correct at the time of writing but do check before visiting.