Things to do in Gdańsk: the Old Town, the shipyard and the sea
Gdańsk is a rebuilt Hanseatic port on the Baltic, with tall merchant houses along the Motława river, an amber trade and a recent history that shaped Europe. Three days cover the Main Town, the shipyard museums and a day by the sea in Sopot. The one thing to know is that the Old Town is busiest on summer middays, so go early.
The short answer
- First trip
- Walk the Royal Way from the Golden Gate to the Crane, then spend a day on the shipyard sites and Westerplatte.
- Where to stay
- The Main Town for sights, Wrzeszcz for value, or Sopot for the sea. The full guide compares them.
- How many days
- Three days for Gdańsk. Add a day for Sopot, Gdynia or the beaches.
- Best time to go
- June to early September for beach weather, May and September for fewer people.
- Book ahead
- The Museum of the Second World War and Westerplatte tours in summer.
- From the airport
- The airport is about 12 km west. The train to the center takes around 25 minutes.
Where to stay in Gdańsk, in brief
Główne Miasto (Main Town)
sights and first-timers
The rebuilt center around the Long Market and the river. Everything is on foot. It is busy in summer, and streets near the bars are loud at weekends.
Wrzeszcz
value and local cafes
A residential district north of the center with its own station and the airport train. About 10 minutes by train to the Main Town, and cheaper.
Sopot
the beach and the pier
A seaside resort town about 20 minutes by train from Gdańsk. Pleasant in summer, noisy on summer weekends, and quiet in winter.
Dolne Miasto
a quieter, local base
A residential area just south-east of the Main Town, with cafes and the canal. Calmer, and a walk or a short tram ride from the sights.
Things to do in Gdańsk
The Royal Way and the Long Market
The main street from the Golden Gate to the Green Gate, widening into the Long Market. Look for the Neptune Fountain and the painted façades.
Main Town Hall and Artus Court
The town hall tower gives a view over the roofs, and Artus Court was the merchants' meeting hall. Check the opening times of the museum.
St Mary's Church
One of the largest brick churches in the world. The tower climb is steep, with a wide view of the city.
The Crane and the Motława waterfront
The medieval port crane is the symbol of the city and part of the National Maritime Museum. Walk the riverside and cross to Ołowianka island.
Mariacka Street
A short street of terraces, carved gargoyles and amber shops. Go early in the day, before the crowds.
Museum of the Second World War
A large museum that follows the war from the European and global view. Plan three hours or more.
a few days ahead in summer
European Solidarity Centre
A museum at the shipyard gate about the Solidarity movement and the fall of communism in Poland. Plan two hours.
Westerplatte
The peninsula where the Second World War began in 1939, now a memorial. Reach it by boat in season or by bus.
Oliwa Cathedral and park
A quiet cathedral with a famous organ, set beside a park. Check the organ concert times before you go.
Sopot pier and beach
The longest wooden pier in Europe, with a sandy beach and a pedestrian street. Take the train from Gdańsk.
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Gdańsk can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Gdańsk, and which to pick- Museum of the Second World War ticketsa few days ahead in summer
Entry is timed in busy periods, and the queue at the door can be long.
- Westerplatte boat or toura few days ahead in summer
Boats run on a season timetable and fill on warm days.
- Oliwa organ concerta few days ahead in summer
Concerts are on set days and sell out in July and August.
What to skip in Gdańsk
- Eating on the Long Market and Mariacka Street
Prices are high and the menus are written for tour groups. Walk a few streets away or to a milk bar.
- Amber from the first shop you see
Plastic and pressed amber are sold as the real thing. Buy from a shop that gives a certificate, or look at the museum shop.
Best time to visit Gdańsk
June to early September is the season for beaches and long evenings. May and September are calmer, with mild days and fewer groups. December has a Christmas market near the town hall.
Summer weekends are crowded in Sopot and on the waterfront. The Baltic is cold even in August. Winter is gray, windy and cold, but the museums are quiet.
- From Gdańsk airportA train runs from the airport to Gdańsk Wrzeszcz and on to the main station in about 25 minutes. Bus 210 also goes to the center.
- Trams and city trainsTrams cover the city and the fast city train (SKM) links Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia every few minutes at peak times.
- On footThe Main Town is small and flat, and everything in it is within about 20 minutes on foot.
Gdańsk in three days
- Day 1
The Royal Way, the Long Market, St Mary's Church, Mariacka Street and the Crane.
- Day 2
The European Solidarity Centre, the Museum of the Second World War, then Westerplatte.
- Day 3
Train to Oliwa for the cathedral and park, then Sopot for the pier and an evening by the sea.
Day trips from Gdańsk
- Sopot and GdyniaTwo Tricity towns on the same city train line, 20 to 40 minutes away. Sopot has the pier, Gdynia has the modernist center and the harbor.
- Malbork CastleThe largest brick castle in the world, about an hour by train. Plan most of a day.
- Hel PeninsulaA long sandy spit with beaches, reached by boat from Gdynia or Gdańsk in summer, or by train and bus.
Gdańsk: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Gdańsk?
Three days cover the Main Town, the shipyard museums and Westerplatte. Add one more for Sopot, Gdynia or Malbork.
Where should I stay in Gdańsk?
The Main Town for sights, Wrzeszcz for value, Sopot for the beach. Our full guide compares the areas.
Is Gdańsk expensive?
It is cheaper than most Western European cities, though dearer than other Polish cities in summer. Milk bars and trams keep costs down.
What is the best time to visit Gdańsk?
June to early September for beach weather, or May and September for fewer people.
Is Gdańsk worth visiting?
Yes, for the rebuilt Old Town, the Solidarity and war history, and the sea nearby. It rewards a slow three days.
How far is Sopot from Gdańsk?
About 20 minutes by city train, which runs every few minutes at peak times. Sopot has its own station near the pier.
Can you use euros in Gdańsk?
Poland uses the złoty. Pay by card where you can, and use a bank cash machine for cash.