Gdańsk is a port city on the Baltic in which the history of Hanseatic trade, the Second World War and Polish Solidarity intertwine. The old town, faithfully rebuilt after the war, with coloured merchant houses, the Long Market and the Crane, looks like a picturesque stage set. It is also the city of amber, sold on every corner, and the cradle of the Solidarity movement, which in 1980 began the fall of communism in eastern Europe. On the coast it is joined by Sopot with its beach and pier and Gdynia with modern architecture, forming the Tricity. Gdańsk is cheaper than western Europe, easily reached from Prague by plane in an hour and a half, and suits an extended weekend or a summer stay by the sea. The best time is May to September; the Baltic warms to twenty degrees. In winter it is cold, but there is a Christmas market and amber shops. You pay in the złoty, and prices are lower than in the Czech Republic.
The places worth your time in Gdańsk, and what to expect at each
old town
The main street and square of Gdańsk's old town, lined with Renaissance houses and ending in the Golden Gate and the Green Gate. Here stand Artus Court and Neptune's Fountain. It is the loveliest promenade in Poland.
Tip: Go early in the morning, when it is calm, or in the evening when it is lit. Coffee on the square is pricier; go into side lanes.
Long Market
A bronze fountain of 1633 with Neptune in front of Artus Court, a symbol of Gdańsk. According to legend golden Goldwasser vodka flows in it. It is a popular place for photos.
Tip: Come early in the morning, without crowds. It is the start of a walk along the Long Market.
Motława quay
A Gothic port crane of the fifteenth century, the largest medieval crane in Europe, which was powered by men in wheels. Today it is a symbol of Gdańsk and part of the maritime museum. It stands on the Motława river.
Tip: The museum costs about six euros. Combine with a walk along the quay and a boat to Westerplatte.
old town
The largest brick church in the world, from the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries, which holds twenty-five thousand people. From the tower there is a view of the city. The interior is plain, Gothic.
Tip: The climb up the tower costs about seven euros and is three hundred and eighty steps. Come in the morning.
old town
The loveliest street in Gdańsk with terraces in front of the houses, amber shops and cafés. It is the centre of the amber trade. The cobbled lanes are romantic.
Tip: Amber prices vary; look for a certificate of authenticity. Come early in the morning or in the evening.
shipyards
A museum in the former shipyards where Solidarity arose in 1980, with an exhibition on the fall of communism. It is a modern and moving museum. In front stands a monument to fallen shipbuilders.
Tip: Entry costs about eight euros. Allow two hours. The audio guide is in English.
harbour mouth
A peninsula at the mouth of the harbour where on 1 September 1939 the Second World War began with a German attack on the Polish garrison. Today there is a memorial, the remains of barracks and a park. You get here by boat from Gdańsk.
Tip: Boats leave from the Motława quay; the trip takes an hour. The museum is small but instructive.
Sopot
A seaside resort with the longest wooden pier in Europe, four hundred and eleven metres long, a sandy beach and the Monte Cassino promenade. It is the centre of nightlife on the coast. From Gdańsk it is twenty minutes by train.
Tip: Entry to the pier costs about three euros. The SKM train runs every ten minutes. In summer it is crowded, so come early.
Malbork
The largest brick castle in the world, from the thirteenth century, seat of the Teutonic Order, on the UNESCO list. It stands on the Nogat river, sixty kilometres from Gdańsk. It is the best castle in Poland.
Tip: A train runs from Gdańsk in forty minutes. Entry costs about fifteen euros; allow half a day. The audio guide is in English.
Photos: The Long Market (Długi Targ) — Henryk Bielamowicz (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Neptune's Fountain — Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 3.0) · The Crane (Żuraw) — Marek Mróz (CC BY-SA 4.0) · St Mary's Church — Gyddanyzc (CC0) · Mariacka Street — Gracjan Rötke (CC BY 3.0) · The European Solidarity Centre — Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Westerplatte — Virtual-Pano (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Sopot and the Pier — Emptywords (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Malbork Castle — Gregy (CC BY-SA 3.0 pl)
Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking
Best for: monuments and strolls
The area around the Long Market and Mariacka Street with hotels and restaurants. Everything is at hand. Best for a first visit.
Best for: quay and modern
An island in the Motława river with a quay, museums and new hotels. It has a modern setting and a view of the Crane. A good choice for evening walks.
Best for: beach and nightlife
A seaside resort twenty minutes by train, with a pier, beach and bars. It is lively in summer. Suits the young and families.
Best for: calm and greenery
Quiet districts with a park and cathedral in Oliwa, and modern Gdynia with architecture. Prices are lower. Suits a longer stay.
Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport (GDN) is fourteen kilometres from the centre, with flights from Prague in an hour and a half. A train runs to the centre in twenty minutes. A train from Prague takes nine to ten hours and a Flixbus coach about fourteen. By car it is about nine hundred kilometres through Poland.
Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa (GDN) · 14 km
The centre of Gdańsk can be walked. The SKM commuter train links Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia every ten minutes. Trams and buses run around the city. Taxis are cheap; use an app.
Useful apps: Google Maps, Jakdojade, Bolt, Uber
Gdańsk has a mild oceanic to continental climate with a cool summer and a cold winter. In July it is around twenty-three degrees and the sea twenty. The best time is May to September. In winter it freezes.
Best time
May to September
What to avoid
January and February (frost)
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 2° | 3° | 7° | 13° | 18° | 21° | 23° | 23° | 19° | 13° | 7° | 4° |
| Night | -3° | -3° | 0° | 4° | 8° | 12° | 14° | 14° | 10° | 6° | 3° | 0° |
| Rainy days | 35 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 45 | 65 | 80 | 75 | 60 | 55 | 50 | 45 |
| Sea | 3° | 2° | 3° | 6° | 10° | 15° | 19° | 20° | 16° | 12° | 8° | 5° |
Polish cooking by the Baltic is hearty: fish, pierogi and soups. A main dish costs eight to fifteen euros. People drink beer, vodka and Goldwasser.
Pierogi
Dumplings filled with meat, cabbage and mushrooms or curd cheese. The most popular Polish dish.
Żurek
A sour rye soup with sausage and egg, served in bread. A typical Polish soup.
Baltic fish
Cod, herring and salmon, fried or smoked. Best by the harbour in Sopot.
Bigos
Stewed sauerkraut with meat and mushrooms, a traditional dish. It tastes better the second day.
Kashubian cooking
A local speciality of Kashubia: fish, potatoes and mushrooms. Taste it in traditional inns.
Goldwasser
A golden liqueur with gold flakes, a symbol of Gdańsk. Drunk after a meal.
Amber vodka and beer
Traditional drinks of the region. Taste local beer in a brewery.
Coffee
PLN 10–15
Lunch in a restaurant
PLN 40–70
Pierogi
PLN 25–40
A beer
PLN 12–20
The Crane (entry)
PLN 25
Solidarity Centre (entry)
PLN 35
3★ hotel (night)
PLN 250–500
Train to Sopot
PLN 5
Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.
1 day
2 days
3 days
Sopot
15 km · 20 min by train
A seaside resort with the longest wooden pier in Europe, a beach and a promenade. It suits half a day.
Malbork
60 km · 40 min by train
The largest brick castle in the world, seat of the Teutonic Order, a UNESCO site. It suits half a day.
Hel
85 km · 1 hr 30 min by train or boat
A long sandy peninsula with beaches and seals. It suits a full-day trip.
Two to three days suffice for the old town, Solidarity and Sopot. For Malbork add half a day. For the beach and relaxation a week.
By plane in an hour and a half, by train in nine to ten hours or by car, about nine hundred kilometres. By Flixbus coach in fourteen hours.
May to September, when it is warm and festivals are held. The Baltic warms only to twenty degrees. In winter it is cold, but there are Christmas markets.
It is cheap: lunch costs eight to fifteen euros, a hotel fifty to a hundred and twenty euros a night. Cheapest is a milk bar (bar mleczny).
Fossilised resin that the sea washes up on the Baltic coast. Gdańsk is the world capital of amber. Buy only with a certificate of authenticity.
Yes, it is safe, with beaches in Sopot and museums. Children enjoy the crane and boats. Prices are low.
The Polish złoty (PLN). Euros are accepted by only some places. Cards are accepted almost everywhere and ATMs are common.
Yes, by SKM train in twenty minutes, every ten minutes. It is the cheapest and fastest. A ticket costs about one euro.
Check the latest visa requirements for entering this country. Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa or e-visa before travel.
Check visa requirementsLanguage
Polish
Currency
PLN
Timezone
Europe/Warsaw
Dial Code
+48
Population
37.7M
Area
312,696 km²
Voltage
230V / 50Hz
Driving Side
Right
