Why you should visit Gdansk in Poland

Last Updated on January 19, 2022

This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I receive a small commission at NO EXTRA COST TO YOU.

Every year 20 new cities compete for the prestigious title of the hot new European destination. In 2017 one of the cities in the competition was Gdansk, and it ended up in the Top 3 Best European destinations 2017 ( along with Porto and Milan ). When you visit, you will see that this was very deserving. It’s beautiful, vibrant and full of history. Even though I found Gdansk to be more expensive than other parts of Poland, it’s still a great value compared to other European destinations.

Where is Gdansk ?

Gdansk is a city in Poland, on the Baltic coast and it’s the capital of Pomeranian Voivodeship. It’s part of the so called Tricity ( Trojmiasto ), which is made up, like the name suggests, by 3 cities: Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot. Because of how close they are, and how easy it is to travel between them by SKM trains, it’s not hard to include either Gdynia or Sopot ( or both ) in your visit to Gdansk.

Aside from the beautiful architecture, so typical for old polish cities, Gdansk is also a great destination for water enthusiasts. It’s right on the Motlawa River and very close to the Baltic Sea. There are many opportunities for water activities on the river, with kayaks, many different boats to rent and water taxis. You can also take advantage of the ferry to venture further out into the Baltic Sea. Zegluga Gdanska runs cruises to the nearby city of Sopot or the Hel peninsula. Both make great day trips from Gdansk.

Amber and Solidarity

Strolling through the city, it’s impossible to miss all the stores, vendors and galleries selling amber. It’s often called Baltic’s gold due to its abundance in the region. You can buy a whole variety of amber jewelry, ranging in size from small to some elaborate pieces. For the most scenic street in the city, which also happens to be the most popular to buy amber, make sure to head over to Mariacka Street ( ulica Mariacka ). This short and narrow street is filled with beautiful galleries selling amber. Most have stands outside to grab your attention and convince you to step inside into one of their charming stores, to hopefully purchase a piece or two. There’s definitely no better souvenir or a gift to bring from Gdansk.

Many who have interest in history, will remember that Gdansk was the birthplace of the Solidarity trade union movement ( Solidarność ), that eventually led to the fall of communism in Poland. The Gdansk shipyard, where Lech Walesa led the movement in 1980, is now home to European Solidarity Center. There you can find out more about what life was like in communist Poland. Even though we didn’t make it there during our trip, I hear they did a really great job showing Poland’s struggles in the communism and a long road to democracy.

Things to do in Gdansk, Poland

Long Market ( Ulica Długa )

Unlike most cities in Poland, Gdansk doesn’t have a main Market Square. What it does have in its place, is a wide, cobblestone, pedestrian street: ulica Dluga, that is the most central part of the city. It’s long, like the name indicates, and it runs between the Green and Golden Gate.

Ulica Dluga is lined with beautiful buildings, many outdoor cafes and restaurants. Even though most buildings seen in Old Town Gdansk had to be rebuilt after the devastation of World War 2, they do not lack in old European charm. I think the pictures don’t do it justice, you have to see it in person.

One of the most popular landmarks of Long Market is the historic Neptune Fountain. It sits in the center of Old Town, right by the entrance of Arthur’s court. With the backdrop of beautiful buildings, the fountain makes for a very popular photo op, so you will almost always find people taking pictures next to it.

Motlawa River Embankment ( Długie Pobrzeże )

No matter how long you’ll stay in Gdansk, you will find yourself doing that beautiful walk along the river more than once. I know, we have done it many times over 3 days. It’s a very lively place, with many bars and restaurants along the way. Yeah, they might be overpriced ( like most places in the most popular spots during the hot tourist season ), but great for grabbing a cold drink and enjoying the scene and people watching.

Crane ( Żuraw )

Along that walk by the Motlawa river, you will quickly notice a building, that sure stands out: Żuraw. That building is a wooden port crane, that was used in the 15th century to load and unload ships. The crane is definitely a symbol of Gdansk’s maritime and trading past. These days it’s part of the Maritime Museum.

Soldek ship

To continue with the Maritime theme, on the opposite side of the river from the Crane, there is a ship called Soldek. SS Soldek was the coal and ore freighter and it was the first ship built post World War 2. In 1985 it became a museum, and it’s now part of the Maritime museum. For just a few zlotys you can tour the ship and see what it was like to work and live at sea. You can visit on a combined ticket with the rest of the Maritime Museum, or separately.

The ship is open for visiting only seasonally, closing down on November 1 for the winter season.

Take a boat cruise

It would be a shame not to take advantage of Gdansk’s location on the water. Both Motlawa river and Baltic Sea invite you to explore the area by boat.

Zegluga Gdanska is the most popular company and they offer a lot of day trips from Gdansk. Their cruises leave from the waterfront by the Green Gate and that’s where the ticket office is located as well. A lot of their destinations like Sopot or Westerplatte can be reached by train or bus much quicker and cheaper. Having said that, nothing can beat being on a boat on a beautiful day, going at a much slower pace and getting a glimpse of the city from a different perspective.

Westerplatte

The 30 minute boat ride is one of the most popular cruises. It brings you to the historic site, where World War 2 broke out on September 1, 1939. This spot is a big part of the history and quite a moving tribute to the fallen Polish soldiers.

Warning: there’s no commentary in English. Only Polish and German. So if you are looking for a sightseeing trip with narration, you might be disappointed. However, there is nothing spectacular to see on the way to Westerplatte ( mostly shipyards ), so it’s basically an enjoyable means of transportation to the monument.

Sopot

Another great day trip from Gdansk is a cruise to Sopot which is part of Tricity and a very popular seaside resort city. One of the things Sopot is most famous for is its Molo – the longest wooden pier in Europe. In high season, there is a fee of 8 zloty to walk the Pier, which goes toward the upkeep of Molo.

There are a couple of other ways to spend your time in Sopot. If you fancy a beach, there is one right there, when you step off the ferry. It does get really crowded on a beautiful summer day, especially on the weekend, so it might be a challenge to find a quiet spot.

You can’t miss the most popular street in Sopot : Monte Cassino or Monciak, as locals call it. This is a pedestrian street with many stores and outdoor restaurants. Even though most of them are quite overpriced, there’s no denying, that it’s a pretty enjoyable way to spend an hour or two.

Hel

For the classic beach day many take a cruise to Hel. Not to be confused with hell 🙂 Hel peninsula is approximately 34 km long and it’s a popular beach destination. The cruise from Gdansk takes about 2 1/2 hours each way.

Check the complete schedule on the Zegluga Gdanska Website 

Enjoy the views from the top of St Mary’s Church

If you’re a fan of roof top views of cities like I am, you need to go up to the tower of St Mary’s Church. It’s a little over 400 steps, but because it gets really narrow at certain spots, it’s quite challenging. Once you make it to the top, your reward will be a great panoramic view of Gdansk.

I really enjoy visiting old churches, especially in Europe, but I found the inside of this one not that impressive. The view form the tower however, well worth the climb and the 6 PLN admission.

Where to stay in Gdansk

When looking for accommodations in Gdansk, you will have plenty of options ranging from budget hotels to high end places. I recommend staying anywhere in or near the Old Town, so you can be close to everything. Although Gdansk tends to be a bit pricier than the rest of Poland, it’s still much cheaper than other European destinations.

• Radisson Blue Hotel – this beautiful 5 star hotel is my absolute top recommendation. It’s located in the prime location right on the Long Street, so when you step out of the hotel, you are in the middle of action. The rooms are modern, spacious and comfortable.

• PURO Gdańsk Stare Miasto – a modern, boutique hotel located in the Old Town.

• Craft Beer Central Hotel – a great choice if you are looking for a midrange hotel in Gdansk. If you are a craft beer fan, you will sure appreciate the PG4 Restaurant Brewery on site. The hotel is located close to the main Train Station, which is convenient if you are arriving by train or plan on taking a day trip to Sopot or Gdynia. The Old Town and all the main attractions are about a 10 minute walk away.

Things to know before you visit Gdansk

• Gdansk has an aiport ( Lech Walesa Airport ) located 7.5 miles ( 17 km ) away from the city
• Gdansk Glowny is the main train station, connecting Gdansk with cities all over Poland
• SKM trains connect Gdansk with Gdynia and Sopot. You can buy tickets either at the window, or in a machine. It’s not uncommon that the lines are long at the window, so machines are often much better choice. If you’re running late, you can always buy the ticket from the conductor for an extra fee. 
• The currency is Polish Zloty ( PLN )

If you enjoyed this article, you can download it via the GPSmyCity app – it will give you access to the guide, you will be able to use, even if you’re offline. Download it here.

READ MORE: Sopot in Poland – the perfect day trip from Gdansk

Click on the Pin below to save for later!