Gdansk in Poland - 25 tips for things to do

Gdansk in Poland is, in our opinion, one of the country's finest cities. The Hanseatic city of Gdansk lies on the Baltic Sea, surrounded by long, beautiful sandy beaches. Together with Gdynia and Sopot, Gdansk forms the pleasant tri-city area, which offers everything from historic buildings to cosy restaurants and lovely beaches in the summer. Here are some tips and things to do in Gdansk!

Hanseatic city of Gdansk

A Hanseatic city was a city that was a member of the Hanseatic League, the trading monopoly that traded with each other on the North Sea and the Baltic Sea from the 12th to the 17th century, protecting itself from competition.

The largest Hanseatic cities at the time were Lübeck in Germany, Tallinn (Revall) in Estonia, Riga in Latvia and ... Gdansk in Poland. The Hanseatic city of Gdansk (Danzig) was perfectly located with its sheltered harbour, and together with Sopot and Gdynia formed what is known as the Tri-City (Trojmiastro).

Gdansk is located on Poland's Baltic coast, just south-east of Gdynia and Sopot.

Things to do in Gdansk

Gdansk is a fantastic city with a lot to offer. Here you can stroll among beautiful houses or along the river, visit museums or discover historical sights. The Poles specialise in keeping the old and building into the modern. Here are 25 tips for things to do in Gdansk.

1. Experience Dlugi targ (Long Square)

The Old Town of Gdansk is definitely worth experiencing! Here you can walk along ul. Dluga (Dluga Street) to Dlugi targ (Long Square) where you will enjoy amazing buildings of all colours. Here you can also check out the famous Neptune fountain. The fountain has been in the square since 9 October 1633 and depicts the mythological god Neptune. Around the square there are also lots of stately statues on all the rooftops with beautiful facades.

2. Fascinated by the Artus Court

Behind the Neptune Fountain is Arthur's Court (opened 23 November 1742), named after the medieval legend of King Arthur. Rich merchants used to meet here and its heyday lasted until the 1920s. The house is open to the public and is part of the Gdansk Historical Museum.

Outside the vault on each side are two busts depicting the King of Poland Sigismund III Vasa and his son Władysław IV Vasa. The building also features four ancient heroes: Judas Maccabeus, Themistocles, Scipio Africanus and Marcus Furius Camillus.

3. Check out the golden house and the "lady in the window"

The Golden House at Dlugi Targ is perhaps one of the most beautiful houses in Gdansk. It was built in the early 17th century and commissioned by the mayor Jan Speymann. The beautiful decoration you see was meant to be the back, because the front decoration ordered in Italy sank on the way to Gdansk.

Right next door, next to Artus Court, you can also see the Nowy Dom Ławy house. The building dates back to the 15th century and for a while, at certain times, you could see the 'Lady in the Window' in the round window at the top. The woman is a character from a novel written in 1891 about a girl locked up by her cruel uncle in the 17th century.

4. Listening to music in the green doorway

Between the Dlugi targ square and the Motława river is a large beautiful building with four arches and it is the Green Gate. The building was erected around 1564, intending to be the residence of Polish kings. No king ever lived here, but President Lech Wałęsa once had an office here. Today, parts of the National Museum are located here. As you walk through the arches, there is almost always someone playing classical music for you to enjoy.

5. See the Gothic gate Chlebnicka gate

Chlenicka is the best preserved Gothic-style gate, dating from 1450. Look closely to find the oldest coat of arms in Gdansk facing the water, a coat of arms with two silver crosses on it. There is also a lily that was once the symbol of the Duchesses of Pomerania.

6. Take a ride on the pirate ship Black Pearl

Along the Motława River is the pirate ship Black Pearl. The ship takes you around and here you can eat and drink a good beer and experience Gdansk from the river and the sea.

7. Stroll along Mariagatan

St Mary's gate is the gate that also has the Archaeological Museum in it. After going through the gate from the river, you will find yourself on Gdansk's most beautiful and romantic street Mariacka. Here you will find beautiful facades, picturesque corners, cosy restaurants, amber sales and a lot of artists. Welcome to the old town!

8. Admire St Mary's Church

St Mary's Church in Gdansk is equipped with an 80 metre high tower and can accommodate 25,000 visitors. Built in 1342-1502, this is actually the largest brick church in the world! The area has also inspired many artists and writers over the years, as well as being used for many film shoots. Go up 80 metres and you have the best Instagram picture ever of Gdansk.

In the main entrance to St Mary's Church is a small bell with inscriptions in Swedish and Latin from Charles VII. He received it for storming Narva in 1700 and winning and helping the Swedes stationed there. Nobody knows why the bell was forgotten in Gdansk but it was discovered in the ruins after the war.

9. Photograph the Crane Gate

The Crane Gate (Harbour Crane) can perhaps be seen as one of the most important symbols of Gdansk, a must-see photo opportunity! In the Middle Ages, this was the largest harbour crane in all of Europe, and was used to move goods to and from ships. It also houses part of the Maritime Museum which is one of four and is called "the Crane".

10. Pass through the St John's gate.

St John's Gate (Brama Świętojańska) is also worth checking out during your walk along the river, also known as Fishermen's Riverside. The gates are called water gates and the origins of St John's Gate were built in the 14th century.

11. Visit St John's Church

St John's Church was conceived as a small chapel when construction began in 1358. Since then, this mighty church has been built on until 2019 with all the trouble imaginable. The Church of St John is 55.10 metres long and 20.18 metres wide. The four-storey tower is 47 metres high.

12. Check out the Straganiarska gate

The medieval water gate Stragniarska gate was built between 1481 and 1492 and is also known as the 'Traders Gate'. Straganiarska Gate is the northernmost preserved water gate and is located at the end of Straganiarska Street. In the years 1959-1963 Zbigniew Cybulski, a famous Polish actor lived in it.

13. Get to the island of Wyspa Spichrzów

Granary Island, as the island is called in English, is located opposite the large harbour crane and the river Motława closest and Nowa Motława on the other side of the island. On the northern cape is the newly constructed Spichlerz Długa Droga which was the large grain building destroyed by the Red Army in 1945.

On the far side of the island by the Stagiewna Bridge are two preserved brick towers called the Stągiewna Gate. This was built in the 16th century and is part of Gdansk's old fortification. Otherwise, the island is super-modern with apartment hotels and restaurants in the best Gdansk spirit.

14. Also go to the island of Ołowianka

Ołowianka Island is a small island just off Granary Island. Here you can experience two maritime museums and photograph the old town from the view of the Motława River. If you cross the Kamieniarski bridge on the far side of the island, you will find a beautiful baroque house from 1730. The house has been rebuilt and is called Dom pod Murzynkiem and is now a hotel. It's the perfect place to stay in a baroque, personal and very central location.

15. Learn history at the Historical Museum in the Town Hall

Another attraction in Gdansk is the Gothic Town Hall, Ratusz Starego Miasta, which dates back to the late 13th century. The Town Hall also houses the four-storey Historical Museum with its beautiful 'Red Hall'. If you want to get the best photos of the city and the King's Trail, you can get to the top of the town hall with views in all directions.

16. Walk royally through the Golden Gate in Gdansk

The Golden Gate (Złota Brama) was built in 1612-1614 and is a historic Renaissance gate. It is precisely the Golden Gate that the king's entourage went through to Long Street (ul. Długa). On the outside of the gate on the right you will come to the square where the St Dominic's fair started in 1260. Inside on Long Street (Dluga 12) you will find the Uphagen House and the museum after a politician J. Uphagen. The floor is exactly as it looked in the 18th century in a high bourgeois style.

17. See art in the Great Armoury in Gdansk

The Great Armory was built as an armoury in the early 17th century and is the finest example of Renaissance architecture in Gdansk. Today an art gallery, the Academy Of Fine Arts, has been opened in the building.

18. Take a trip to historic Westerplatte.

Westerplatte is a small peninsula on the Baltic Sea that you see at the entrance to the harbour when you take the boat to and from Sweden. This peninsula was the free Polish Gdansk with its own government when the rest of Gdansk was German for 80 years. Against this peninsula Hitler started the Second World War on 1 September 1939 at 04:45 where the training ship Schleswig Holstein started its shelling of Westerplatte.

The Poles were few in number in their bunkers and defended themselves for seven days but eventually had to give up. By 6 April 1945, the Poles had taken back Gdansk and Westerplatte. The heroes who are still alive from the war meet on Westerplatte on 1 September every year.

19. Visit museums in Gdansk

There are many different museums in Gdansk. The Maritime Museums consist of four individual museums and it is possible to buy a ticket for all of them, together called Gdańsk National Maritime Museum.

Gdansk has been a centre for amber since the Stone Age, and the museum tells the full story of amber from the Stone Age to the present day.

20. Going to restaurants in Gdansk

There are plenty of cosy restaurants in the old town, and in summer there are many pleasant outdoor cafes to choose from. Walk the cobbled streets of the old neighbourhoods and feel the history of the city.

Most of the restaurants don't stand out food-wise but a popular restaurant is for example Goldwasser, which is located on the canal and offers both Polish and French-European cuisine. There's also Cala Naprzód, where you can eat on the roof and have a great view of Gdansk.

21. Shopping in Gdansk

You can also choose to shop in all the small shops that line the streets. For example, you can stroll along the cosy Ulica Mariacka street, where bars and shops are located next to each other.

Here you can buy just about anything made of amber, but you can also find clothes, jewellery, trinkets, paintings and more. If you want, you can also take a look around the lovely market hall, or head to the Galeria Baltycka shopping centre where you'll find over 200 shops.

22. Shopping at St Dominic's Fair

Once a year, a fascinating market in Gdansk, which actually dates back to 1260. The market, called St. Dominic's Fair, is held in the first three weeks of August and sees the streets filled with stalls selling everything from clothing and jewellery to art and antiques. It brings together around a thousand merchants, artists and collectors and around 6 million people.

There are plenty of food stalls and treats such as grapes and apples dipped in chocolate. You can also be prepared for lots of performances and artists.

23. Sunbathing and swimming at Stogi Beach

What else can you do in Gdansk, Poland? Well, you can go to the beach! You might not think about it, but you can actually sunbathe and swim in Gdansk. Just a short distance outside the city are some really nice sandy beaches.

For example, you can easily reach Stogi beach by car or tram. If you are travelling with a motorhome, caravan or tent, you will also find a nice campsite here, which is well located both for visiting the beach (on foot) and the city (by tram).

24. Take a trip to Sopot

When you're in Gdansk, Poland, you can visit the other cities in the tri-city area: Sopot is perhaps the most luxurious seaside resort in Poland, with its impressive Grand Hotel and Europe's longest wooden pier. When you're here, you feel like you're on the Polish Riviera!

25. Also take a trip to Gdynia.

The third city in the "tri-city" is Gdynia, a charming summer city by the sea. The city offers, among other things, good shopping in the large mall The Riviera Centre, which is northern Poland's largest mall with 250 stores, and the slightly smaller mall Klif Gdynia. In Gdynia you will also find nice alleys, long sandy beaches and a lovely promenade, beer tasting and many restaurants with good food.

See more of Poland

Want to see even more of Poland? Poland has so much to offer. Along the coast, you'll find one great holiday resort after another, such as cosy Łeba and tongue of land Hel, with its magically long sandy beaches. If you are interested in history, a visit to the medieval castle is also recommended. Malborkwhich is about 50 miles north of Gdansk.

If you have plenty of time to spare, you can also head east to explore the world of Masurian Lakes, where you can embark on boat trips, or perhaps see wild bison in the sea. Bialowieza national park. If you prefer big cities instead, we recommend a visit to Krakow or Warsawa. We can also highly recommend, for example Torun with their gingerbread or Poznan with its historic square.

Travelling to Gdansk

You can travel to Gdansk from Sweden either by air or by ferry. There are several variants by air, but you can fly quickly and easily with Wizz Air from Skavsta Airport. By ferry you can travel from Nynäshamn to Gdansk, Ystad to Swinoujscie or from Karlskrona to Gdynia.

Living in Gdansk

The Celestin Residence is a very beautiful and modern boutique hotel and very affordable. It is very centrally located near the old town centre and we can highly recommend it.

Facts about Gdansk

• Country: Poland
• Vojvodship: Pomeranian Voivodeship
• Population: Around 574 000 (2018)
• Location: Gdansk is located on the Gulf of Gdansk in the southeastern Baltic Sea, about 20 kilometres west of the mouth of the Wisła River.
• Name: In historical documents the city is also referred to as Dantzk, Dantzig, Dantzigk, Dantiscum, Gyddanyzc, Gdanzc, Gedanum and Kdansk.

Early history

• 600s to 900s: As early as the 6th century there was a craftsman's and fisherman's village here. In the 10th century there was a fortified castle of the Pomeranian princes. The city of Gdansk was founded in the 13th century and was part of Poland until 1308. It was then controlled by the Teutonic Order before becoming a city republic under Polish rule in the 15th century.
• The founding of the city: Gdansk was founded in 1224 or 1225.
• Middle Ages: In the late Middle Ages, the city was an important trading centre and a member of the Hanseatic League. The 16th and 17th centuries were a period of prosperity, and the port was used for grain exports. At this time, Gdansk became a rich city with many magnificent buildings.

Prussia (1793-1919)

• Prussia: When Poland was partitioned in 1793, Gdansk fell to Prussia.
• The German Empire: Between 1871 and 1918/1919 it was part of the German Empire, in the province of West Prussia.
• The First World War: In 1918, Poland became a separate country again, for the first time in 125 years. Initially only the parts that had belonged to Russia were included, but over time parts of German territory were also reconquered.
• The Peace of Versailles: In 1919, Germany signed the Peace of Versaille, and further parts went to Poland.

Interwar period

• The sanctuary of Gdansk: After the fall of the German Empire, Gdansk (Danzig) became a self-governing 'sanctuary' with its own government and currency.
• Port of Gdynia: In the sanctuary of Danzig, most people spoke German and there was no desire to unload Polish war material. The Poles therefore built their own large harbour, just next door in Gdynia.

Second World War

• Attacks on Poland: On 1 September 1939, the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein attacked Poland.
• Reintroduction in Poland: The day after the attack, Gdansk was declared part of the Polish Empire and was occupied by Nazi Germany until 1945.
• Soviet occupation: In March 1945, the city was occupied by the Soviet Union, and suffered looting and fires.

Modern history

• The expulsion of Germans: Between 1945 and 1946, 10 million German speakers were expelled from East Prussia, Gdansk (Danzig) and other areas, to the future East and West Germany.
• The trade union Solidarity: In 1980, the Polish trade union Solidarity was formed at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk by shipyard worker Lech Wałęsa. This was the beginning of the collapse of Polish communism.