Gdańsk
Gdańsk (also known by its German name Danzig) is a city in Poland on the Baltic Sea. Gdańsk is considered one of the most beautiful cities on the Baltic Sea and has magnificent architecture.
Understand
[edit]Gdańsk is the capital of Pomerania. In 2021, it was home to 471,000 people. Gdańsk with nearby Sopot and Gdynia are often referred to as Trójmiasto ("tricity").
Its position on the Baltic has made Gdańsk one of the most important port cities in Northern Europe, and the scene of a disturbing past. Gdańsk used to be the biggest and richest city in the Polish Kingdom. The first claim to fame for Danzig (as it was then known) was its membership in the Hanseatic League as an important Baltic port on the crossroads of North East and Central Europe.
World War II was ignited by a dispute over the control of the city. By the end of the war the city lay almost completely in ruins. The German population was expelled and replaced by Poles as the city came under Polish rule and changed its name to Gdańsk. However, the impact of its former German ties are still evident. Most of the old buildings were damaged or destroyed in World War II, but they have been painstakingly restored or rebuilt, although in a style that is not exactly the same as before the war.
In modern history, Gdańsk is known as the birthplace of Solidarity (pl: Solidarność), the labour and democracy movement that helped to bring down the Communist government in Poland at the end of the Cold War. The movement was led by the charismatic leader, Lech Wałęsa, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 and in 1990 became Poland's first post-Communist president.
Tourist information
[edit]- 1 Tourist Information Centre, Długi Targ 28/29 (Next to Green Gate (Zielona Brama)), ☏ +48 58 301 43 55, gcit@visitgdansk.com. May - August: daily 09:00-19:00; September - April: daily 09:00-17:00.
- Tourist Information Point, Rajska 10 (In the Madison shopping mall.), itmadison@visitgdansk.com. M-Sa 09:00-17:00, Su 10:00-17:00 (only Sundays when shopping is allowed).
- Tourist Information Point, Słowackiego 200 st. (at Lech Wałęsa Airport), ☏ +48 58 348 13 68, itlotnisko@visitgdansk.com. 24/7.
- 2 PTTK Tourist Information, 45 Długa st (opposite the Town Hall (Ratusz Głównego Miasta)), ☏ +48 58 301 91 51, +48 58 301 37 52, biuro@pttk-gdansk.pl.
Tourist Card
[edit]At every Tourist Information point you can buy the Tourist Card.
Within the "Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia-Plus" Tourist Card nearly 220 offers are available, including: accommodations, performances, concerts, exhibitions, souvenirs, books, amber jewellery purchase, dinners and other meals, water equipment hiring, car rental, paintball, Aquapark, visits in beauty salon, and entertainment.
Get in
[edit]
By plane
[edit]1 Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport (Polish: Port Lotniczy Gdańsk im. Lecha Wałęsy GDN IATA). West northwest of Gdańsk and not far from the city centre of the Tricity metropolitan area: Gdańsk 12 km (7.5 mi), Sopot 10 km (6.2 mi) and Gdynia 23 km (14 mi). The vast majority of flights to and from the airport are served by low-cost airlines Ryanair and WizzAir. 
Transport from airport to city
[edit]Bus 210 — operates between the airport (bus stop: Port Lotniczy) and Gdańsk, and makes a stop at the train station (Gdansk Glowny), 35–50 minutes away. Perhaps the preferred way to buy ticket is install Jakdojade: public transport app You get more information about route and stops in English with this app. The fare is 4,80 zł for single travel in one bus in one route. It is also possible to buy ticket from a news stand, ticket machine or Bilety shop and from driver. Make sure you have correct ticket and it is validated in validating machine inside bus. There is controller regularly after few stops on the route looking for foreign travelers who have wrong ticket, wrong punching, ticket machine malfunctions etc. There is fine of the order of 200-300 zł. (See videos in youtube also). Talk with fellow passengers, driver about validity of ticket if not 100% sure.
Train — There's a train connection to the city center roughly every 15-30 min during the day (Airport stop: Gdańsk Port Lotniczy). Since December 11, 2022, the railway transportation on the airport lines is operated by POLREGIO . Less frequent services in the morning, evening and at night. The train station is accessible from the west end of Terminal T2 via a covered bridge. Ticket machines are on the platforms. There are a few direct connections to the main train station in Gdańsk. For other connections to the main train station you need to switch trains in Gdańsk Wrzeszcz. Single tickets to the main train station cost 7 zł.
Airportbus shuttle — operates a transport service to Gdańsk centre for 9.90 zł (you can buy ticket directly in the bus). This is a direct line between airport and city's centre. Bus stop in Gdańsk is located in front of Mercure Hevelius hotel (it's 5 minutes walk from Main Railway Station). Journey depends on traffic and takes around 25–30 minutes.
Taxi — Avoid the unofficial, rip-off taxis who will pounce on you as soon as you have cleared security, unless you know how to deal with them. A taxi from the airport to the city centre should cost up to 100 zł however will cost more in the evenings or at weekends. "Neptun" is an officially recognized company. Taxi drivers will be waiting in the arrivals hall offering fixed price transfers, 100 zł is not unreasonable for an evening (after 22:00) transfer to the centre of Gdańsk. Uber and Bolt operate in the area too and cost is provided upfront for peace of mind.
Private transfers — MPA Poland provides transport services around Tri-City and Pomerania region. An airport transfer from/to airport costs 100 zł up to 8 people.
By train
[edit]
Gdańsk is a major hub on the Polish railway network. High-speed trains runs frequently from Krakow (6 h) via Warsaw (3 h) and there are slower intercity trains from most major Polish cities with at least a couple of departures every day. All inter-city trains to Gdańsk continue north up the coast to Sopot and Gdynia, a 25 min ride. Local SKM trains also shuttle on this route every 10 min or so.
There are a few international trains too. One daily train from Berlin, taking six hours via Frankfurt (Oder), Poznań, Gniezno and Bydgoszcz as well as one daily train from Vienna via Ostrava (for Prague), Katowice and Warsaw, 10 hr 30 min.
National operator PKP runs all high-speed and intercity trains while SKM operates the regional trains between Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia.
See Poland#Get in for general tips on rail travel. It helps to write down your destination and preferred time to show to ticket clerks as trains have different prices.
- 2 Gdańsk Główny railway station. The main railway station is an attractive building, opened in 1900. In the main hall there are cafés, a ticket office and a tourist information. Be aware that pickpockets are quite common within the station area.
- 3 Gdańsk Oliwa railway station. A smaller station in the northern parts of Gdańsk.
By car
[edit]The 
By bus
[edit]Buses can be used to travel to regional destinations that lack railway connections, such as the concentration camp in Sztutowo. Polskibus operates coach services from here, with direct connections going to Poznań, Wrocław and Warsaw.
- 4 Gdańsk Main bus station (Dworzec PKS Gdańsk) (behind the railway station, the big letters 'Dworzec PKS' on top of the building is visible from far).
By boat
[edit]
Polferries operates ferry service between Gdańsk and Nynäshamn, just south of Stockholm, Sweden. The trip takes 18 hours and costs ~€70.
Stena Line operates ferry service between Gdynia and Karlskrona, Sweden. The trip takes 12.5 hours and costs ~€50.
Get around
[edit]
By tram and bus
[edit]Zarząd Transportu Miejskiego, the City Transportation Office. Easyway journey planner helps to find schedules and routes.
Trams and buses are cheap (3.80 zł/hr) and frequent. Tickets can be bought from drivers, but it is easier to buy them from ticket machines (which are on most popular stops) and kiosks. The most popular website and mobile app for journey planning is jakdojade.pl. Google Maps has reliable public transport data, and is an excellent tool for planning your journeys.
Single journey tickets are valid until leaving the bus or tram. They cost 4.80 zł for a full-price and 2.40 zł for a half-price ticket.
Time tickets are based on travel time, so you must estimate the duration of the journey or have a few tickets extra to validate when your previous ticket expires. Time tickets are either valid for up to 24 hr and allow any amount of journeys and changes within that time. The 75-min time ticket costs 6.00 zł for a full-price ticket and 3.00 zł for a half-price ticket. The 24-hr ticket costs 22 zł for a full-price ticket and 11 zł for a half-price ticket and is valid on all trams, buses during the day and on night buses.
All tickets need to be validated at the start of the journey.
By train
[edit]SKM trains make 16 stops along the coast (from the first station,Gdańsk Śródmieście to Gdynia Główna. The main stops are Gdańsk Główny, Gdańsk Wrzeszcz, Gdańsk Oliwa, Sopot, and Gdynia Główna.
A ticket from Gdańsk Śródmieście to Gdynia Główna will cost 9 zł and from Gdańsk Śródmieście to Sopot is 6.40 zł.
By car
[edit]- Halorent Car Rental, ☏ +48 695-78-78-95, biuro@halorent.pl.
- MPA Poland, ☏ +48 515 181161, fax: +48 58 5549393, info@mpapoland.pl. Personalised private car hire with driver, or rental cars to self-drive.
- As-Car Car Rental 24h/7, Stężycka 107, ☏ +48 790 017 270, ascar.rent@gmail.com.
See
[edit]
Main city
[edit]The main city (Główne Miasto) is the historic part of Gdańsk and contains most of the sights. The Long Street (ulica Długa) and Long Market (Długi Targ) are two of the most beautiful streets in the city. They are enclosed first by the Upland Gate, then by the Golden Gate to the west and the Green Gate to the east close to the riverside. This entire stretch is also referred to as the Royal Way. Along those two streets there are many interesting sights.
- 1 Main Town Hall (Ratusz Głównego Miasta), ul. Długa 46/47, ☏ +48 58 76 79 100. Tu-Su. The old city hall (built 1378-1492) has a museum inside showing off a nicely decorated room where the town council once met and some historic exhibits about the history of Gdańsk. There are also impressive photos of the destruction after World War II. It is possible to purchase tickets to the tower, which offers a great view of the surroundings and St. Mary's Church. 12 zł adults, 6 zł concessions, tower 5 zł, Tu free.
- 2 Artus Court (Dwór Artusa), Długi Targ 43-44, ☏ +48 58 76 79 180. Tu-Su. Impressive mansion, a symbol of the city's power in the 16th and 17th centuries, served as an exchange and as the seat of St. George and the brotherhoods of rich patricians. Now part of the Gdańsk History Museum. 10 zł adults, 5 zł concessions, Tu free.
- 3 Neptune Fountain, Długi Targ. Statue of Neptune, patron of the city, installed in 1549. During World War II, the statue was hidden. In 1954 it was put back to its original location on the Long Market.
- 4 Golden House (Złota Kamienica), ul. Długi Targ 41/42.
- 5 Uphagen House (Dom Uphagena), ul. Długa 12, ☏ +48 58 301 23 71. Tu 10:00-13:00, W F Sa 10:00-16:00, Th 10:00-18:00, Su 11:00-16:00, M closed. Named after the merchant, Johann Uphagen, who bought this house in 1775. It was destroyed during the war in 1945, but completely rebuilt within ten years. In the 1990s, it was opened to the public. There are temporary exhibitions on the second floor. It is part of the Gdańsk History Museum. 10 zł adults, 5 zł concessions, Tu free.
- 6 Highland Gate (Brama Wyżynna). Also called Upplands Gate. It was built in 1576 as part of the city's fortifications. Once the main entrance to the city where the Polish Kings were officially welcomed.
- 7 Prison Tower and Torture Chamber (Wieża Więzienna i Katownia), Targ Węglowy 26 (between the Highland Gate and the Golden Gate). The viewing platform of the tower is open in summer months. This building also houses the Amber Museum. 12 zł for admission to the Amber Museum, +5 zł for the tower.
- 8 Golden Gate (Złota Brama).
- 9 Green Gate (Brama Zielona).
- 10 Motława River bank, Długie Pobrzeże. Impressive houses stand along the river bank. They can be nicely observed from the other bank of Motława.
- 11 Crane over the Motława River (Żuraw), ul. Szeroka 67/68, ☏ +48 58 301 69 38, +48 58 329 87 60. Opening hours for Dec and Jan: Tu-Su 10:00-15:00, M closed. The former port crane is one of the most well-known buildings in Gdańsk. It is first mentioned in 1367, but was rebuilt several times since then. During World War II it was partially destroyed again. In 1962 after final reconstructions it was turned over to the National Maritime Museum. It now houses an exhibition about the former port of the city. The mechanism for lifting the crane can be observed as well. 8 zł adults, 5 zł concession, 1 zł children. Last tickets sold 30 min before closing. Tickets available in the museum next door.
- 12 St. Mary's Street (Ulica Mariacka).
- Maiden in the window.
Religious buildings
[edit]
- 13 St. Mary's Church (Bazylika Mariacka), ul. Podkramarska 5. Open daily. Tower closed in winter months (around Dec-Mar) and at bad weather conditions. One of the largest Gothic churches in Europe and one of the three (almost equal sizes) second largest brick churches in the world. There is space for more than 20,000 people in the church. It is possible to take the stairs to the tower (78 m), but the view is not as inspiring as the one from Main Town Hall. The church also contains a large astronomical clock from 1464. There are tickets to visit the church and tickets to the tower, sold in different places. Apr-Nov: 6/3 zł including tower, 4/2 zł without tower; Dec-March: free (tower closed).
- 14 St. Nicholas Church.
- 15 St. John’s Church.
- 16 St. Catherine's Church.
- 17 St. Bridget’s Church.
- 18 Royal Chapel (Kaplica Królewska), ul. Świętego Ducha 58. Open only during Sunday mass. Differs from typical Gdańsk architecture.
- 19 Oliwa Cathedral (Archikatedra w Gdańsku-Oliwie), ul. Biskupa Edmunda Nowickiego 5 (at the western side of Oliwa Park). Contains an organ built in the mid-18th century as the largest organ in Europe at that time with slightly fewer than 8,000 pipes. There are daily organ recitals which are generally free (with some exceptions).
Other
[edit]- 20 Hall of the Old City (Ratusz Starego Miasta), ul. Korzenna 33/35. Built in the 16th century. Its most famous resident was the councillor and mayor of Danzig, Johannes Hevelius, who was also an astronomer in his later life and a brewer in his earlier life. The building is now home to the Baltic Sea Culture Centre.
- 21 New City Hall (Nowy Ratusz). The current seat of the Gdańsk City Council.
- 22 Memorial to fallen Shipyard Workers, Solidarity Square. Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers shot during communist regime in 1970.
- 23 Grand Mill, ul. Wielkie Młyny 16. Old mill (built 1350), with 18 water wheels up to 1939 produced 200 tonnes of flour daily, but is now a shopping centre.
- 24 Günter Grass Monument, Plac Wybickiego (close to the train station Gdańsk Wrzeszcz). A statue of the author Günter Grass, who was born in Gdańsk, facing his famous character Oskar Matzerath from The Tin Drum. Installed in October 2015, six months after his death, and on his 88th anniversary.
- 25 Great Armoury (Wielka Zbrojownia), ul. Targ Węglowy. Old city arsenal from 1605. Great example of Dutch design with astonishing stonework. These days the Great Armoury belongs to the Gdansk Academy of Fine Arts and visiting inside is only possible during art exhibitions which are organised from time to time by the Academy.
Museums
[edit]
- 26 Archaeological Museum, ul. Mariacka 25/26.
- 27 Tower Clock Museum, ul. Wielkie Młyny 10 (located in the tower of Saint Catherine’s Church), ☏ +48 58 305 64 92. M-W F-Su 11:00-19:00, Th 10:00-17:00. Part of the Gdańsk History Museum. Inside the museum you can also see a carillon and views from the top of the tower.
- 28 European Solidarity Centre (Europejskiego Centrum Solidarności), plac Solidarności 1, ☏ +48 506 195 673. May-Sep: daily 10:00-20:00; Oct-Apr: daily 10:00-18:00. A centre dedicated to the history of Solidarity, a trade union that became the opposition to the communist government). Among other things, the building contains a museum and viewpoint at the roof terrace (freely accessible via elevator). There is free Wi-Fi in the building. Entry to the ECS building is free. 17 zł for exhibitions.
- 29 Gdańsk Post Office and Museum, ul. Obrońców Poczty Polskiej 1-2. M 09:00–13:00, Tu–Th 09:00–16:00, F Sa 10:00–18:00, Su 10:00–16:00. There is a small museum which documents the events that happened on 1 September 1939 at the beginning of World War II. It also contains a small active post office. Even if the museum is closed, the square in front has a great (and free) series of billboards summarizing the start of the war. 8 zł adults, 5 zł concessions, Mon free.
- 30 National Maritime Museum (Narodowe Muzeum Morskie), ☏ +48 58 3018611, fax: +48 58 3018453, info@cmm.pl.
- 31 Sołdek Ship (Museum), ul. Ołowianka 9-13, ☏ +48 58 301 86 11. Closed in winter. The ship was launched in 1948 as the first Polish ocean-going vessel and used as a coal and ore carrier. It was named after the "shock worker" Stanisław Sołdek. It is part of the National Maritime Museum.
- 32 Museum of the Second World War (Muzeum II Wojny Światowej), pl. W. Bartoszewskiego 1. closed Monday. A museum with recreations of World War II realities (Polish street of 1930, a shell-damaged scene with a T-34 tank), in an unusual skewed building.
Further afield
[edit]- 33 Westerplatte (take bus 106 from bus stop Akademia Muzyczna or 606 from train station to Westerplatte, the bus ride takes about 20 minutes and leaves hourly, check schedule via jakdojade.pl). Park with many information panels about the first battle of World War II that took place here in September 1939. You can also see disused bunkers and a crumbled command-post, as well as a large monument to those who fought in the battle. From the monument you have a view of the Nowy Port area and the lighthouse. The bus ride also takes you past the enormous (now defunct) shipyards. Free.
- 34 Nowy Port Lighthouse, ul. Przemysłowa 6a (Tram 3 to Nowy Port, tram stop Latarnia Morska), ☏ +48587601642. May-Aug: daily 10:00-19:00, Sep: Sa Su 10:00-17:00. A 28m high lighthouse built in 1893. It features a time ball which was used to synchronize clocks on ships. 10 zł/6 zł for students.
- 35 Brzezno pier (take tram 5 to Brzezno, walk or bike along the coast with the sea on your right hand for about 1 km). A nice white-painted wooden pier. There is a small restaurant and an ice cream parlour. Free.
- 36 Gdańsk Zoo, ul. Karwieńska 3, ☏ +48 58 5520042, zoo@zoo.gd.pl.
- 37 Tricity Landscape Park (Trójmiejski Park Krajobrazowy).
- 38 Wisłoujście Fortress (Twierdza Wisłoujście), Stara Twierdza 1, ☏ +48 58 351 22 44.
Do
[edit]- 1 Polish Baltic Philharmonic, Ołowianka 1. Major orchestra for symphonic concerts and chamber music.
- 2 Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre (Gdański Teatr Szekspirowski), ul. Wojciecha Bogusławskiego 1. Guided tours (in English and Polish) are available.
- 3 Wyspa Institute of Art (Instytut Sztuki Wyspa, ISW), ul. Doki 1/145 B, ☏ +48 58 718 44 46. Tu-Su 12:00-20:00, M closed. Art Institute on the shipyard grounds. Exhibitions, concerts, performances. A bookshop, Zła Buka, has a selection of books on art and design.
Football
[edit]Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Polsat Plus Arena Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.
- 4 Municipal Stadium (Polsat Plus Arena Gdańsk), Pokoleń Lechii Gdańsk 1 (Polsat Plus Arena Gdańsk stop (lines 7, 10)). Home stadium of Lechia Gdańsk, also place of many domestic and international matches. Large events and concerts tend to be organized here.
Tours
[edit]- 5 Canoe-tour through the canals, ul. Żabi Kruk 15.
- Water tram ride. ZTM offers a seasonal water tram service: route F5 Żabi Kruk - Westerplatte and F6 Targ Rybny - National Sailing Centre. A single ticket costs 10 zł.
- 6 Walk the Mariacka street, Mariacka. Take an evening walk down one of Europe's most picturesque streets.
Beaches
[edit]The water is usually cold. Almost all of Gdańsk's coast consists of sandy beaches accessible for recreation. There are multiple areas with lifeguards, food stands and bars.
- 7 Jelitkowo beach (Jelitkowo stop - trams 2, 4, 6, 8). The most crowded beach in Gdańsk not far from Oliwa district and close to Sopot. Abundant leisure facilities and many places to get your fish or ice cream.
- 8 Brzeźno beach (Brzeźno Dom Zdrojowy or Wczasy stop - trams 3,5). Another quite crowded beach located bit closer to centre, behind large city park. Contains abundant leisure facilities and a pier (mentioned in See section above).
- 9 Stogi beach (Stogi Plaża stop - tram 9). Calm and very wide beach to the east of city centre in a forest. A bit harder to access than two above mentioned beaches. Water is very quiet on western side due to breakwater. Good viewpoint of container sea port. Naturist beach is a bit further on eastern side (entrance 22).
- 10 Sobieszewo beach (eastern outskirts of city - lines 115, 186, 212). Located furthest away from the city, it is the least crowded beach in Gdańsk. Generally quiet with relatively few eating spots. Many foot and bike trails are located in nearby forest. Good view of Tricity. On beach edges there are nature reserves, western with birds and eastern with (occasional) seals.
Events
[edit]- St. Dominic's Fair (Jarmark św. Dominika). Large fair held since 1260 during mid-July and mid-August every year.
- "Cult" Film Festival (Festiwal Filmów Kultowych). Festival of esteemed films taking place in June. There are many indoor and outdoor movie shows and concerts. Until 2017 the festival was organised in Katowice.
- Mystic Festival Largest metal festival in Poland
Work
[edit]Teaching English is a possibility.
Buy
[edit]
Gdańsk is sometimes called the Amber Capital of the World. The surrounding area is the richest known source of this semi-precious stone, and the product can be found in many of the city's shops. The ones with insects in are much more expensive.
- Galeria Sztuki Kaszubskiej (Kashubian Art Gallery), ul. Św. Ducha 48 (near St. Mary's church: one block left when facing church entrance), ☏ +48 503 0059783. Hand-embroidered items in traditional and contemporary designs and colours including clothing, tablecloths, napkins, curtains, and other regional folk art souvenirs.
- 1 Market Hall (Hala Targowa), Plac Dominkański 1. Fresh produce in the basement level.
Eat
[edit]Budget
[edit]City centre
[edit]- 1 Pyra Bar, Garbary 6/7. The food does not only has a nice name, but also tastes great. A large selection, solid portions. A quiet place, a garden on the corner of the street, away from the hustle and bustle of the city but still close.
- 2 Pijalnia Wódki I Piwa, Długi Targ 35/38. Interesting decor back of communists periods. Nice atmosphere and simple dishes. A revelation.
- 3 No To Cyk, Chlebnicka 2. Very recommended for people who want to feel the atmosphere of 1990s and underground. Food is simple but amazing. Very cool retro vibe.
- 4 Pasta House, Lawendowa 9. Cozy place, delicious Italian pasta, original packaging for dishes, friendly service and very short waiting time for food
- 5 Dominikański, Plac Dominikański 1. Best place with "home" cuisine. Delicious food, large portions. The tomato soup is poetry.
- 6 Bar Turystyczny, Szeroka 8/10. Very good home cooked food. Tasty and wonderful meals with a sense of humor.
- 7 Alanya Kebap, Kołodziejska 2. Turkish specials on the polish soil. Great kebab in a bun. Good meat (beef), good salads, lots of sauce, delicious cucumbers.
North-west Gdańsk
[edit]- 8 Manekin, ul. Aleja Grunwaldzka 270, ☏ +48 58 554 32 59. The place mainly serves pancakes with different type of sources, fillings. You can order not only sweet pancakes here. Recommended are the ones with potato flour. Or Try the crepe with chicken, camembert and cranberries.
Mid-range
[edit]You can buy fish on one of bars on Motława River bank (25 zł/meal)
- 9 Pierogarnia Mandu Gdańsk Śródmieście, Elżbietańska 4/8 (up from Neptune Fountain), ☏ +48 58 3016071. serves pierogi (dumplings). Big portions, do not order more than one per person. Because it's cheap and good, it's crowded in the season and during lunch time.
- 10 Swojski Smak, ul. Heweliusza 25/27. Good value, nice food, in a nicely decorated venue.
- 11 Gdański Bowke, Długie Pobrzeże 11. Lots of delicious traditional polish food. Even though it's in a tourist spot, the quality of the food is truly fine. The tatar tastes amazing with different shades of flavor. Just next to the riverside.
- 12 Słony Spichlerz, Chmielna 10. Nice place to seat outside and see river. Beautiful food hall with a chilled atmosphere and a great variety of vendors around.
- 13 Kafe Delfin, ul. Opata Jacka Rybińskiego 17, Oliwa (take a tram 2,6,11 or 12 and get off at the Oliwa Pętla Tramwajowa stop), ☏ +48 58 552 03 44, +48 698 46 88 33. A charming, cozy cafe serving delicious apple pie and coffee. Try also cheap and tasty bread toasts.
Splurge
[edit]- Restauracja Filharmonia, ul. Olowianka (in Philharmonia Baltica building), ☏ +48 58 3238358. 12:00-22:00 or until the last guest. "Molecular" cuisine in lovely building with great view on the river. Excellent service, but no vegetarian dishes. ~100 zł for 3-course meal.
- Fellini, Moltawa area, near Hilton. High-quality Italian cuisine and top-notch service. ~100 zł for three-course meal.
- Gdańska, ul. Św. Ducha 16, ☏ +48 58 3057671. An entertaining place to visit. The rooms are filled with antiques according to the principle less is not more, and the waiters are dressed like in the good old days. From 18-100 zł.
- Tawerna Mestwin, ul. Straganiarska 20/23 (Old Town). A regional restaurant serving traditional Kashubian dishes. Pretty expensive, but worth it.
Drink
[edit]Danziger Goldwasser, root and herbal liqueur which has been produced since 16th century is considered the city's drink (it is now made in Germany though). It's vodka-based, creamy and has small flakes of 22- or 23-karat gold in it. Cheaper alternatives include Gdańska Złotówka or Złota Woda.
Gdańsk's national drink before World War II was Stobbes Machandel juniper vodka. After the war it was rejected and slightly forgotten due to association with German soldiers occupying the city, but today is gaining popularity again. There is a special ritual to be followed while drinking a shot of Machandel with a dried plum for a snack.
Bars
[edit]- Brovarnia Gdańska, Szafarnia 9 (on the other side of the river next to the old city). A mini brewery making their own really good beers in the basement of a hotel in restored 18 century granary. Food also served. Beer: 10 zł.
- Bar Shpinx, Długi Targ (Main street). Another bar on the main street. Beer: 9 zł.
- Loft, ul. Młyńska 15 (near Jacks Tower). Nice late bar/club, no entry charges, free food late on weekends, good music and good young crowd. Beer: 6 zł, tatanka 8 zł.
- Sassy, Chmielna 10 (80-748).
Sleep
[edit]
As the TriCity is in effect conjoined and there are good, fast transit links, you can just as well consider accommodation in Gdynia or Sopot.
Budget
[edit]- Dom Harcerza, ul. Za Murami (200 m east of Długi Targ). Simple but very clean and tidy rooms. Singles at 50 zł, double at 120 zł. Generous breakfast offered by the café in the back at 9 zł.
- Baltic Hostel, ul Wałowa 52 (~10-min walk east of Gdańsk Główny train station, 10-min walk from Molatawa river and old town), ☏ +48 58 721 96 57, baltichostel@hotmail.com. Simple rooms in a one-story building near the old shipyard area. Dorm rooms at 40 zł, private rooms at 60 zł. Breakfast included. Free Internet (1 shared PC), coffee, tea..
- Gdańsk University of Technology, ul. Traugutta 115 (Take a bus 115 or 199 from Gdańsk Wrzeszcz railway station), ☏ +48583471597. During summer University offers places in student dormitories. 50 zł/single room, 70 zł/double.
- Old Town Hostel, ul. Długa Grobla 7, ☏ +48 58 3513131. Beds ranging from 40 zł/8 bed dorm, to 150 zł/double room. Free internet and breakfast.
- Wolna Chata Hostel, ul. Krzywoustego 8, Oliwa (SKM from Gdańsk Główny to Gdańsk Oliwa station, once off the train head in direction Droszyńskiego street, then on the roundabout cross the street and go straight ahead for about 4 minutes and the hostel is on the left), ☏ +48 500 121 809, +48 58 7463351, info@hostelwolnachata.com. Free internet and breakfast. From 36 zł/night - please refer to website for up to date prices.
- Grand Hostel, ul. Kołodziejska 2, Centrum, ☏ +48 666 061 350, kontakt@grandhostel.pl. Wi-Fi, warm drinks, breakfast, bike rental Please visit website for more information.
- 5Point Hostel, ul.Podmurze 2, 80-835 Gdańsk, Śródmieście, ☏ +48 882 70 30 70, 5point.hostel@gmail.com. Local breakfast, comfortable beds and rooms with a good view Very affordable place to stay, visit website for information.
Mid-range
[edit]- Hotel Willa Litarion, ul. Spichrzowa 18, ☏ +48 58 3202553. This small modern hotel is in the centre, 150 m from the Długi Targ market. Comfortable, carefully arranged rooms with bathrooms have TV, telephone, free wireless internet. From 255 zł per night.
- Hotel Parnas, ul. Spichrzowa 27, ☏ +48 58 3201275. A quiet, small and elegant hotel located in the heart of the city. Rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated. From 300 zł per night.
- Villa Palladium, ul. Czyżewskiego 20, ☏ +48 58 5543224, rezerwacje@villapalladium.com. Hotel made from stones from all over the world with comfortable rooms and the bathrooms. From 180 zł per night.
Splurge
[edit]- Qubus Hotel Gdańsk, ul. Chmielna 47/52, ☏ +48 58 7522100, gdansk@qubushotel.com. Opened in 2009 Qubus Hotel Gdańsk offers richly equipped rooms with a breakfast, free internet access and view of the Motława River and the Old Town.
- Hotel Wolne Miasto, Św. Ducha 2, ☏ +48 58 3222442, fax: +48 58 322-24-47, rezerwacja@hotelwm.pl. Helpful staff and central location. 320+ zł.
- Mariacka Residence, Mariacka 50/52, ☏ +48 697 736 784, rezerwacja@mariackaresidence.pl. Stylish luxury apartment in the heart of the old town of Gdansk.
Cope
[edit]Consulates
[edit]3 Germany, al. Zwycięstwa 23.
4 China, al. Grunwaldzka 1.
5 Ukraine, ul. Bernarda Chrzanowskiego 60a.
6 Hungary, plac Porozumienia Gdańskiego 1, ☏ +48 58 765 7535, mission.gdn@mfa.gov.hu.
Connect
[edit]Internet
[edit]Gdańsk provides an extensive network of public, free of charge wi-fi hotspots in public places, such as bus stops, parks, etc. clearly marked with 'GD@NSKwifi" logo. The map with all the hotspots is available on the project website. Free wi-fi is also available on all three major train stations, and in the majority of restaurants and bars.
Stay safe
[edit]On the whole, Gdańsk is a safe place to visit and explore. Normal precautions for the safe keeping of your personal possessions, as you would in any other city, are suggested to keep you feel safe when wandering around. Gdańsk seems very well organized from a tourist's point of view. There are frequent police patrols and visitors usually get the feeling of Gdańsk being a secure and tourist-friendly city.
When it comes to gay, lesbian, and non-white travelers, Gdansk is an oddball compared to the rest of Poland. The city is much more socially progressive and tolerant compared to the rest of the country, and you can be yourself with little to no violent reactions from locals.
In an emergency, telephone "112". This number connects to Police, Ambulance and Fire/Rescue services. You will be asked which of these three services you require before being connected to the relevant operator.
Go next
[edit]Gdańsk Bay:
- sea resort Sopot with the longest European pier
- sea resort and port Gdynia with the biggest Baltic port
- sea resort Puck
Many of the boats (to Sopot in particular) end up fully-booked and you can't buy your ticket on the boat itself. This is a harsh lesson to learn when you have already waited in a huge queue. Tickets for the Sopot ferry must be purchased from an office directly across from the terminal. Also be aware that in Sopot you will need to buy an access ticket for the pier (around 5 zł, even if you already have a return ticket to Gdańsk) in order to board your boat back.
Vistula Bay:
- medieval town of Elbląg
- sea resort and medieval town of Frombork with the grave of Nicolaus Copernicus.
- sea resort Kadyny with one of the best European studs.
Kashubian Coast:
- Slowinski National Park with the biggest dunes in Europe
- sea resort Rowy
- sea resort Łeba
- sea resort Jastrzębia Góra
- sea resort Rozewie
- sea resort Władysławowo
On the Vistula Peninsula:
- the concentration camp in Sztutowo
- sea resort Krynica Morska
On the Hel Peninsula:
Take the train to Hel. It's at the end of the peninsula opposite Gdańsk. SKM trains are the cheaper option. Train from Gdańsk Główny to Gdynia every 15 minutes and then SKM diesel to Hel. If you get the 09:45 from Gdańsk you have 7 minutes to change about 4 platforms across the underpass. The journey is wonderful - straight through pine forests and sometimes with the sea on either side. Single ticket costs 21.50 zł (get a 5.40 zł single from Gdańsk to Gdynia - and then the 16.10 zł single from Gdynia to Hel, just in case you miss the connection.) When you get to Hel have a walk into town, it's a Polish beach resort full of holiday makers. You should have time for lunch and then get the hydrofoil from the end of the pier at 15:30. But make sure you buy the ticket from the office halfway down the pier or you could be walking back! The trip is 50 zł back to Gdańsk but it will be the best value trip you can get. It takes 1hr 50 min but the first hour is getting across to Gdańsk, then the next 50 minutes is navigating the canals back to the town centre. You could pay a tourist company for this trip, but the cost is in your ticket, you see Westphalia lighthouse where the first shots of World War II were fired, the huge ships and the massive remains of the former Lenin Shipyards.