The historic city of Gdańsk, located on Poland’s northern coastline, is one of Poland’s most beautiful seaside cities. With a very rich heritage and history, this city is the perfect place to visit for a weekend city break.
I’ve always wanted to visit Poland but found it really hard to choose as there are so many amazing cities and natural parks to see. Until I “discovered” the quaint city of Gdańsk.
After what felt like an eternity of waiting, we were finally able to book our tickets, choose a location, and decide on the best places to see in this relatively small Polish city.
How to get there?
Poland has a well-established international flight network, making it relatively easy to travel to the city, even just for a weekend.
The flight from London cost around 50 euros round trip, but don’t think this is the only way to get to Gdańsk.
The city is served by the European rail network and is easily accessible if you are planning a visit as part of a wider exploration of Europe.
Where to stay in Gdańsk
Gdańsk offers a vibrant variety of accommodation options. We wanted to stay in a period property, typical of historic Gdańsk, while we were there.We quickly found a place to stay using the power of the interwebs airbnb.
After a little searching, we found a beautiful apartment for the weekend. Its history dates back to the time when Gdańsk was part of the Free City of Danzig. The Free City of Danzig is an autonomous city-state similar in size to several picturesque microstates. Europe that I really want to explore more of.
The apartment was so beautiful I think I actually screamed when I walked through the door. It was amazing.
Travel within Gdańsk
After doing a quick exploration of the city, I quickly realized how walkable Gdańsk is. We actually walked the entire city center in a few hours. Public transportation is relatively cheap and easy to find.
I wish I had known this before arriving. For some reason I thought a rental car would be a good idea (don’t ask me why), but in the end I only used it for transportation to and from the airport.
The only time I actually recommend buying a car is if you want to explore the surrounding coastline (which is amazing, by the way).
8 things to see in the city
We had a wonderful few days in Gdańsk, the weather was perfect and we were able to visit some amazing sights. Here are some great places to visit during your visit.
1.) See the colors of the old town
The city’s historic center is a beautiful place to start exploring, with stunning architecture heavily influenced by Germanic and Polish traditions.
The colorful streets of Dolga Street are a quaint place to spend hours wandering. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the hundreds of gargoyles that line the city’s streets. Some are terrifying, some are majestic, and some are downright adorable.
The old town has great character and is one of the best places to spend a sunny (or snowy) afternoon. Don’t forget to end warmly with the latter. 🙂
2.) Amber shopping on Mariacka Street
Amber is part of Gdańsk’s heritage. It seems to be everywhere, with traditions that date back hundreds of years, when local people were (and still are) creating some of the most intricate and beautiful jewelry throughout Eastern Europe.
Baltic amber was highly prized for its beauty. Much of the amber in the Amber Room in Kaliningrad, Russia, is actually sourced from the Gdansk Bay, demonstrating the historical value and precious properties of this natural resin.
3.) European Solidarity Center
A relatively new place to explore in Gdańsk, the European Solidarity Center showcases some of the region’s history.
Spend an hour walking around and learning more about the area. The imposing 45-metre-high cross serves as a reminder of the many lives lost in this area, and you can really feel the change in the atmosphere of the building itself.
4.) See Cosion Mariac
It wasn’t intentional, but for some reason Yaya and I always end up visiting church on Sundays when we travel. And Cosion Mariak is a wonderful place to visit, whether you are religious or not.
If you’re feeling energetic, you can also climb the tower for a few euros and get a great view of the city.
5.) Durgi Pobrzeze
A short distance north (about 100 meters) from the old town, you will find the area along the Motlawa River.
This impressive embankment is the perfect place to see some of Gdańsk’s historic buildings. One thing I really wish I could have done is take a boat tour from this area. This seemed like a great way to explore other areas around Gdańsk. Also, there’s always next time 🙂
6.) Zrow Crane
The world’s only fully restored and largest rebuilt Zarrow crane is worth a visit. This medieval crane dates back more than 500 years, but was rebuilt due to the severe impact of World War II.
Zuraw Crane will be open to visitors completely free of charge on Saturdays throughout the summer.
7.) Polish Greek God
Don’t miss the Neptune Fountain in Gdańsk’s popular Long Market area. Over the past century, Gdańsk has come to be represented throughout Eastern Europe.
It would be hard to overlook the “god of the sea”, even if its roots are in Greek mythology.
8.) Sopot seaside fun
The spa town of Sopot, just 10-15 minutes away by train or taxi, is one of Poland’s most popular seaside resorts and has an impressive pier that leads to the sea.
Although we visited in winter, Sopot is worth a visit to see the beautiful coastline, even if you can see a storm brewing in the distance. If you’re lucky enough to visit in the summer, grab your towel, sunscreen, bucket and shovel and enjoy the golden sands of this stunning coastline.
Read more: Best places to visit in Poland
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