Pomerania, Baltic coast · Poland
A rebuilt Hanseatic port of tall merchant houses and amber shops, where the Second World War began and the Solidarity movement toppled communism.
Photo: Gerda Arendt · CC0
Gdańsk, on the Baltic coast, was for centuries one of the richest ports in northern Europe, a Hanseatic trading city that shipped grain and timber, and grew wealthy on amber. Its Main Town is a display of tall, narrow merchant houses with sculpted gables, and the lively Long Market at its heart, lined with elaborate facades and topped by a Neptune fountain from the 17th century.
The city is also a place where twentieth-century history was made. The first shots of the Second World War were fired at Westerplatte in 1939, and most of the old town was destroyed in 1945 and then rebuilt with great care. In 1980, workers in the Gdańsk Shipyard formed Solidarity, the independent trade union led by Lech Wałęsa that helped bring down communism, and the European Solidarity Centre tells the story.
Away from history, Gdańsk is a relaxed seaside city, with the amber-shop lanes of Mariacka Street, seafood on the waterfront and beaches along the Bay of Gdańsk. Together with Sopot and Gdynia it forms the Tricity. Two or three days lets you cover the old town, the museums and a day at the beach.
Why visit
Gdańsk pairs a beautiful old town with some of Europe's most important modern history.
Tall gabled houses and the Long Market.
Museums and monuments.
The Baltic gold, sold on Mariacka Street.
Sopot and the Baltic.
A lively food scene.
Main attractions
The Main Town is compact, and the museums are a short walk or tram ride away.
The main street of the old town, lined with ornate merchant houses, with the Artus Court and a bronze Neptune in the middle.
Tip Walk it early or late.
One of the largest brick churches in the world, with a tower you can climb for views over the city.
Tip Climb the 400 steps.
A medieval wooden port crane, the largest in Europe in its day, beside the river promenade with restaurants and boat trips.
Tip Go at sunset.
A large, immersive museum on the causes and human cost of the war, in a striking modern building.
Tip Allow at least three hours.
The peninsula where the first shots of the Second World War were fired, with a memorial.
Tip Take a boat or bus.
A museum about the Solidarity movement, beside the shipyard gate.
Tip Allow two hours.
Things to do
Gdańsk mixes history and the seaside.
Mariacka Street's jewellers.
Tip Check for authentic amber.
To Westerplatte from the Crane.
Tip Book in summer.
A resort town with a very long wooden pier.
Tip Go by SKM train.
Baltic herring and cod.
Tip Book on weekends.
Learn about Solidarity.
Tip Join a guide.
Beaches from June to August.
Tip Water is cool.
Local food
Gdańsk's food is Baltic, with fish and amber-coloured spirits.
Fresh and smoked fish.
Where to try it Waterfront restaurants.
A herbal liqueur with gold flakes made in Gdańsk since 1598.
Where to try it Bars.
Dumplings.
Where to try it Milk bars.
Local breweries.
Where to try it Old Town pubs.
Regional cooking.
Where to try it Restaurants.
Accommodation
Stay in the Main Town.
Transport
Gdańsk is on the Baltic coast.
The Main Town is walkable.
When to go
Gdańsk has a cool maritime climate.
Mild and quiet.
Beach season and the St. Dominic's Fair.
Calm and golden.
Cold and grey, with Christmas markets.
Worth planning around: Grey winter days.
Itinerary
The old town and the history.
Gables and amber.
War and sea.
Travel tips
A few tips help you plan.
FAQ
Two or three.
Yes.
In summer, though the sea is cool.
Amber, Solidarity and its old town.
SKM train in 20 minutes.
Yes, after 1945.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with Gdańsk, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Pomerania, northern Poland, Poland
A UNESCO-listed Teutonic castle of red brick, the largest castle in the world by land area, with three sections, a Grand Master's palace, museums and an easy day trip from Gdańsk.
Don't miss The red-brick castle reflected in the Nogat river at sunset, seen from the far bank.
Explore Destination — Malbork CastleKuyavia-Pomerania, northern Poland, Poland
A UNESCO-listed medieval town on the Vistula with a Gothic Old Town Hall, Copernicus's birthplace, brick churches and a gingerbread tradition dating back to the Middle Ages.
Don't miss The Gothic Old Town Hall and the brick skyline across the Vistula at night.
Explore Destination — ToruńMasovia, central Poland, Poland
Poland's capital, with the reconstructed Old Town, the Royal Castle, Łazienki Park, the POLIN Museum, the Warsaw Uprising Museum, Palace of Culture and a lively restaurant and bar scene.
Don't miss The Old Town Market Square, meticulously reconstructed after 1945 from paintings and photographs, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Explore Destination — WarsawRead next
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