Gdańsk tours and tickets
Gdańsk is easy to visit without much booking. The Museum of the Second World War and the Westerplatte boat are worth reserving in summer. The Royal Way, St Mary's and the waterfront are free or cheap. Malbork Castle and Sopot are simple day trips by train.
Book these first
- Museum of the Second World War tickets
- a few days ahead in summer. Entry is timed in busy periods, and the queue at the door can be long.
- Westerplatte boat or tour
- a few days ahead in summer. Boats run on a season timetable and fill on warm days.
- Oliwa organ concert
- a few days ahead in summer. Concerts are on set days and sell out in July and August.
Nobody pays to be on this page. The Viator buttons are partner links: if you book through one, Viator may pay us a commission, at no cost to you. Where the official site sells the ticket, we link it too. How we rank
Museums and galleries
Museum of the Second World War
A large museum with a long route through the origins and course of the war, built mostly underground. Visits take at least three hours, and guided tours are available.
Which to pick. Buy a timed ticket online for the morning. Plan a break, and pick a guide if you want help with the sheer amount of material.
A few days ahead in summerVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorEuropean Solidarity Centre
A museum on the shipyard site about the Solidarity movement, with large exhibits and a strong sense of place. It takes about two hours.
Which to pick. Buy at the door or online. Combine it with a walk around the old shipyard cranes.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorMain Town Hall and Artus Court
The town hall tower and the interiors of Artus Court, reached through the Long Market. Tickets cover the museum rooms and the tower climb.
Which to pick. Buy at the door and climb the tower for the view. A guide is optional.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Churches and palaces
St Mary's Church
One of the largest brick churches in the world, with a tower climb of about 400 steps. Entry to the nave is free or cheap, and the tower has its own ticket.
Which to pick. Climb the tower for the view and a sense of scale. Check the closing hours and services.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorOliwa Cathedral
A grand church in the northern suburb, known for its organ concerts. Short concerts are held at set times, and tickets are sold at the door or online.
Which to pick. Book the concert if you want a seat in summer. Combine with a walk in the adjacent park.
A few days ahead in summerOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
On the water
Westerplatte boat
A boat trip from the city center to the Westerplatte peninsula, where the Second World War began. The route passes the shipyards and the harbor.
Which to pick. Book a morning sailing in summer, and check the weather. A tour by bus is the alternative.
A few days ahead in summerTours and tickets on ViatorMotława river cruise
A short sightseeing cruise past the medieval Crane and the old granaries on the river, with commentary in several languages. Sailings run on a regular timetable through the season.
Which to pick. Take it near sunset for the best views of the waterfront. Tickets are sold at the dock.
On the day is fineTours and tickets on ViatorPirate ship cruise
A themed replica boat that sails on the bay, popular with families and with children who like pirates, leaving from the Long Embankment on a short loop.
Which to pick. Choose it only if you have children, since adults will find it more of a show than a tour. Check the sailing times when you arrive.
On the day is fineTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Malbork Castle
The largest brick castle in the world, about an hour by train, with audio guides and guided tours. A visit takes at least three hours.
Which to pick. Book the ticket and audio guide ahead in summer. Allow half a day, and do not rush the museum rooms.
A week ahead in summerOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorSopot and Gdynia
The seaside towns along the bay, reached by a regular city train. Sopot has a long wooden pier, and Gdynia has a modernist center.
Which to pick. Go by train, and pay for the pier on the spot. No tour is needed.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
City and museum passes in Gdańsk
- Gdańsk CardA card that offers free or reduced entry to many museums and public transport in the city for a set period. It suits a visit with several paid sights. Check its list before buying. Official page
Booking tours and tickets in Gdańsk
Can I buy museum tickets on the day?
In most cases, yes. The Museum of the Second World War is the one where booking ahead in summer saves time.
Is Malbork worth a day trip?
Yes, if you like castles. It is big, and the audio guide is good. Allow at least half a day.
Do I need a guide in the old town?
Not really. The Royal Way is easy to follow. A guide helps for the history of the Hanseatic city.
Is there a city card?
Yes, and it can pay for itself if you plan several museums. For two or three, individual tickets are simpler.
Is the Westerplatte boat worth it?
It gives a good view of the port and the shipyards. Some visitors prefer the bus or a guided tour on land.
What can wait until I arrive?
The Long Market, Mariacka Street, St Mary's, the waterfront and trains to Sopot can be done on the day. Book the Second World War museum and Malbork in summer.