Gdansk attractions - a great place for a nice trip

Today we present a guest article

Eating in Gdansk

Travelling is a great way to discover new things. And on every trip, food is also important. It's good to try new dishes and local products. There are many restaurants in Gdansk where you can eat typical food, but it is also worth checking out the more unique ones.

One such place is Elixir, which is both a restaurant and a cocktail bar. The restaurant is famous for its food pairing, which is the combination of dishes with cocktails. This can be called an interesting attraction, especially since the dishes and cocktails are combined by the chef and the bartender. If you want to surprise friends or family, Eliksir can be a good choice for celebrating birthdays or anniversaries.

The menu offers many interesting dishes. I recommend the tasting menu. You can try five dishes combined with four cocktails or seven dishes combined with six cocktails. Eliksir is based on regional and seasonal products, and the menu changes every three months.

Good food is not all the restaurant offers. If you want to smoke a cigar, it is possible. In the cigar room you can choose and smoke one of the many cigars. The cigars come from the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Honduras, among others.

Visit the Eliksir website in English.

Eliksir is located in the Wrzeszcz district, in the popular part of Gdańsk, Garnizon. It is 10 minutes by car from the airport and 15 minutes from Gdansk Old Town, so the location is excellent.

What to do in Gdansk?

There is much to see in Gdansk. It is a large city with many attractions, exciting museums and fine restaurants. In addition, it is worth being outside and enjoying nature. Remember two beautiful events that take place in Gdansk: St Dominic's Fair in summer and the Christmas Market in winter. There are many more or less famous attractions in Gdansk. Let us familiarise ourselves with some of them.

Old Town

The Old Town is one of the most beautiful parts of Gdansk. It is a very colourful area with small streets and many attractions. It is worth starting sightseeing from Dluga street, which is the most popular street in Gdansk.

The Town Hall is one of the most characteristic buildings in the city. Inside there is a museum and an observation tower. The Neptune Fountain stands in front of Dwór Artusa, next to the Town Hall in the Old Town. It is one of the symbols of Gdansk. People from Kashubia call Neptune Krësztof. According to legend, everyone who comes to Gdansk for the first time must kiss the sculpture on the back.

Tourists often visit St Mary's Church in Gdansk. It is often called the Crown of Gdansk. This building was built in 159 years and is the largest brick church in Europe.

St Mary's Church has a transept 66 m wide and 105.5 m long, the nave is 44 m wide and 30 m high. The church spire is 82 metres high and consists of 409 steps leading to the top.

The church has 31 chapels and 41 large windows, some with beautiful stained glass windows. There are 7 gates leading to the temple - Kaletnicza, Radnych, Wysoka, Mariacka, Groblowa, Szewska and the gate under the tower.

In 1945, a large part of the temple was destroyed. From 1952, the reconstruction of the church began.

When you visit St Mary's Church, you should see several things. The first is the late Gothic oak main altar from 1517, which depicts the coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The 15th century statue of the Madonna of Gdansk or the Gothic Pieta are also worth seeing. On 12 June 1987, Pope John Paul II met the faithful in the Church of the Virgin Mary.

Remember that there is also a viewpoint there.

Westerplatte

This is a place worth visiting. The Second World War started here. The German battleship Schleswig-Holstein attacked Poland on 1 September 1939. The defence of Westerplatte lasted until 7 September.

The Germans called it 'Little Verdun', referring to the very bloody Franco-German battle of the First World War.

Westerplatte was a satellite camp of the Stutthof concentration camp between 1940 and 1941.

The main attraction is the "Monument of Coastal Defence", which depicts a loaded bayonet stuck in the ground. It is also worth visiting another monument 'Never more war' (Nigdy więcej wojny).

There are also ruins of barracks on Westerplatte, they were destroyed after 1945.

How to get to Westerplatte?

• Bus

You can take a bus from the bus stop "Dworzec Główny". The journey takes about 20 minutes.

• Pirate ship

Another option is to take a pirate ship, located at Długie Pobrzeże Street. The journey takes about 40 minutes. In addition, during the cruise you will learn the history of the places you pass and Westerplatte.

Oliwa Park

This is one of the most famous parks in Gdansk. The historic park is located in the Oliwa neighbourhood and its origins are linked to the Cistercian order. Besides thousands of beautiful plants, there is also a palm house where several exotic species grow. The "Cave of Whispers" (Grota Szeptów) is worth a visit. In one cave you can hear what the person in the other cave is saying (also very quiet). In winter, the park is just as beautiful, then you can see light installations there.

Near Oliwa Park is Pachołek Hill (100.8 m above sea level), which is a symbol of Oliwa - one of Gdańsk's neighbourhoods. In clear weather, the viewing tower offers a view of Gdańsk Bay and the Hel Peninsula.

Museum of the Second World War

If you are interested in history, you should visit the Museum of the Second World War. The museum is one of the most modern museums on this topic in Europe. This place shows the Polish experience in a European and global context. The main exhibition is divided into three parts: The Road to War, The Horrors of War and The Long Shadow of War. In the museum you can also see the everyday life of people before, during and after the war.

Amber Museum

When you are in Gdansk, you should visit the Amber Museum. This little thing we look for by the sea has an interesting history. Amber is found on almost every continent (except Antarctica), and Baltic amber was formed over 40 million years ago. Last year, over 164,000 tourists visited this museum. The museum has over 1000 exhibits, both historical and modern. At the Amber Museum you will find the world's largest amber lump, weighing a whopping 68kg.

Amber is also one of the typical souvenirs that tourists buy in Gdańsk. There are many shops in the city where you can buy amber jewellery or other souvenirs. Twice a year Gdansk hosts the International Amber & Jewellery Fair, which is the largest in the world. There you will see even more amazing amber products.

Things to do in Gdansk with children

When exploring the city, there is one thing that can interest children. In some places in Gdańsk you will see small bronze lions. This is the Hewelion lion and he is a small guide. The hiking trail with the lion Hewelion is a great idea for exploring the city for both adults and children. There are 15 lions in Gdansk and the first one can be found at the airport. Others can be found, for example, at the pier in Brzeźno, Madison Shopping Centre or Gdańsk Tourist Information Centre.

The zoo will also be a great place for children. The zoo in Gdańsk is the largest in Poland and covers 126 hectares. It has existed since 1954 and is considered one of the best in Eastern Europe. An extra attractive feature is a miniature train that you can ride on.

Currently, 162 animal species live in the zoo, and children can see lions, penguins, meerkats, elephants, giraffes and monkeys, among others. In addition to the traditional zoo, there is also a Small Zoo. This is a place for children where they can meet goats, sheep, rabbits and alpacas, among others. For children there is also Matilda's Garden where various edible plants grow. In 2021, Gdańsk Zoo was visited by over half a million people.

Area around Gdańsk: Sopot

Gdańsk is one of the best cities in Poland. If you are travelling to Gdansk, you can also visit other cities nearby. The journey from Gdańsk to Sopot takes about 20 minutes, to Gdynia about 30 minutes, and to the Hel Peninsula 2 hours by train.

In Sopot you should visit Bohaterów Monte Cassino street, called Monciak. There are many shops, restaurants and a tourist attraction, which is Krzywy Domek (The Crooked House). This is one of the most famous buildings in Sopot. Krzywy Domek was ranked number one on the list of the 50 strangest buildings in the world, published by Portal Village of Joy. The building was also mentioned on the BBC's list of places that look like they come from a fairy tale.

Now we can admire the city's biggest attraction - the breakwater in Sopot. It is the longest pier in Poland and extends over 500 metres into the sea. The attraction has an entrance fee (April-September).

Shopping in Gdansk

There are many shopping opportunities in Gdansk. There are five major shopping centres in Gdansk.

Madison is a smaller shopping centre, but you will find both local and global shops. There are several hotels in the area.

A good choice is the Forum shopping centre, where there are over 80 plant species in addition to many shops. The Forum and Madison shopping centres are closest to the old town.

In Wrzeszcz district is the most famous shopping centre in Gdansk - Bałtycka Shopping Centre. There are over 200 different shops, so you will probably find what you need there.

Right next door is another shopping centre - Metropolia, which is slightly smaller.

The last shopping centre is Manhattan, which is also located in the Wrzeszcz district. It has 70 shops, cafes and restaurants.

It is worth visiting Gdansk

Located on the Baltic Sea, Gdansk is one of Poland's most fascinating cities, often chosen by Norwegians. Here you can explore the colourful Old Town of Gdansk, stroll along the popular Dluga Street and admire architectural masterpieces such as the Town Hall. One of the city's main landmarks is Europe's largest brick church, St Mary's Church, which offers a unique insight into the region's rich history.

But Gdansk is not just history. Modern shopping centres, gastronomic adventures and nearby gems like Sopot make it a complete destination for any traveller. Whether you're a history lover, a shopping enthusiast or just want to experience Polish hospitality, Gdansk will not disappoint.