Gdansk in Poland is a colorful and romantic port town, nestled on the Baltic Sea coast, and it’s totally surprising! Much of the city was destroyed during WWII, but it came back stronger and better than before. Spend your days gazing at the pretty pastel-colored houses that line the wide cobblestone avenues, or get up high by climbing one of the many towers around town. There are many things to do in Gdansk so you can even extend your itinerary and see beautiful nature outside of the city too!
Day 1: Gdansk Old Town
Part of the charm of Gdansk is its small size. This means that the old town is easily walkable, as all the main sights are within touching distance of each other.
Piwna Street & St Mary’s Basilica
Start your day on the peaceful street of Piwna. Wander along the cobbled avenue, sip a coffee at the many cafes, and visit the cute souvenir shops. It’s the perfect place to sit outside one of the restaurants, people watching and admiring the beautiful architecture in summer. There’s plenty of places to try a typical ‘pierogi’ (polish dumpling) here too!
St Mary’s Basilica
The main attraction on Piwna Street is the St Mary’s Basilica: the largest brick church in the world! It’s so large, in fact, that it can fit up to 25,000 people inside.
Four Quarters Fountain
Opposite the Royal Chapel is the Four Quarters Fountain. The fountain is a contemporary piece of street art created to show where the old four quarters of Gdansk once met. On a hot summer’s day, people are cooling down in the fountains of water!
Mariacka Street was almost completely destroyed during WWII and has been restored to its former glory. Thus, the architecture is stunning and has some unique features, such as the ornate gargoyles found on many of the rain gutters.
Tip: Stop for a coffee & cake break at the cool and contemporary Drukarnia Cafe.
Dluga Street & Dlugi Targ
Gdansk’s main street, named Dluga Street, runs through rows of beautiful, colored townhouses and is alive with the buzz of street artists and musicians. The lively street is the very heart of the city and is an absolute must-see while in Gdansk.
Check out the grand houses, gold gilding, and stunning paintwork, with the Uphagen House as the absolute eye-catcher. This was an 18th-century merchant’s house reconstructed after the war and is now part of the main Gdansk City Museum.
Also visit: Charming Krakow in Poland
Dlugi Targ Street
Continue to walk along Dluga Street until it runs into Dlugi Targ Street (the Long Market). This is the street where the main market of the city once was. It is quite busy and touristy, but it is still worth walking along to admire the beautiful architecture.
Green Gate & Green Bridge
At the end of Dlugi Targ, pass through the Green Gate before crossing the Green Bridge over the river. The Green Gate is particularly impressive with its four huge stone passageways.
Make sure to visit: The painted village Zalipie in Poland
Neptune’s Fountain in Gdansk
At the beginning of Dlugi Targ, after coming off Dluga Street, is the most iconic statue in Gdansk: ‘Neptune, the God of the Sea’. The bronze statue is iconic to the city and is popular among visitors. If you are visiting during Christmas, this is also the spot for the huge Christmas tree with twinkling lights.
Artus Court
The fountain sits in front of Artus Court, a beautiful building which is now part of the Gdansk History Museum. Its white brick facade sits beautifully between the vibrant pinks, yellows, and oranges of the surrounding mansions, making it a great setting for photographers.
Tip: Next to the Neptune Fountain is the main town hall, with its gothic green spire. You can climb to the top of the tower for awesome views across the city. This is a really worthwhile climb to look down on the colored townhouses lined up in neat rows below.
Motlowa River & The Holy Spirit Bridge
The Motlowa River runs through Gdansk and out to the Baltic Sea. The lovely promenade along the river has many incredible restaurants. It’s a lively place with many boats and ‘pirate’ ships coming in. It’s even possible to do a history tour by kayak along the river, which is a great way of viewing the buildings from a different vantage point.
The interesting new footbridge (2016) lights up at night and twists and rotates when it opens or closes for passing boats. It’s located HERE.
The Crane, Gdansk (Zuraw)
Another iconic symbol of Gdansk is the Crane. This building was once a port crane, used to remove cargo from ships. During the war, like many other buildings in Gdansk, it was destroyed. However, it was later returned to its former glory in the 1950s and now houses the National Maritime Museum of Gdansk.
Wielki Młyn (Great Mill)
A 10-minute walk from the Crane is the Great Mill. It’s currently closed for renovations so it’s not possible to visit inside, but its sheer size is extraordinary to see if you’re nearby.
Day 2: Outside Gdansk
Jump in your car, a bus/tram, or on a water ferry, and head out towards the Baltic coast for all of day two’s activities.
Westerplatte
First, make a stop at the phenomenal memorial of Westerplatte, located on a peninsula off the Baltic Sea. This was where the first battle of WWII took place. Now an impressive stone column stands here as a memorial to the soldiers who died. Here’s an in-depth tour to learn even more about the history.
Via public transport: Bus 106 or in the summer there is the option of taking the F5 water tram.
Vistula Mouth Fortress (Wisloujscie Fortress)
On your way back from Westerplatte, further inland, visit this circular fortress. From above, the circular building sits on top of a star-shaped green bank, surrounded by a moat. The shapes and symmetry of this incredible building are a must-see and a surprising find in Gdansk.
Get there: Driving, bus 106, or in the summer via the F5 water tram.
Tickets: Visiting the exterior is free but tickets are required to visit some of the interior rooms or towers.
Kepa Redlowska
Don’t miss out on a trip out a little further along the coast to Kepa Redlowska, an incredible nature reserve. This area is beyond surprising; you truly won’t believe you’re in Poland!
Discover more in our: 2-week travel guide through Poland
Discover stunning white beaches with crystal clear water that gives it an almost Mediterranean feel, apart from the colder water ;-) ! Walk on one of several nature trails alongside white cliffs and lush green forest and enjoy this slice of Polish wilderness.
Via public transport: Take the train + a short walk. Use Google maps for the exact timing.
Sopot
Just 20 minutes from Gdansk is the small seaside city of Sopot. It is known for its beach and great sunset at the pier. Don’t miss out on visiting the weird and wonderful ‘crooked house’ on Monte Cassino Street; a warped, twisted building like the one in Prague!
Restaurants in Gdansk
Gdansk has a great selection of restaurants. These were our favorite places to eat:
- Lao Thai
- Ostro (Italian)
- Guga Sweet & Spicy (Vegan)
- Familia Bistro Garbary
- Machina Eats and Beats
- MANNA 68
- Dom Sushi
Getting To & Around Gdansk
Gdansk has its own international airport, so it’s possible to fly directly into the city from other European destinations. If you are coming from Krakow or Warsaw, there is also the option of taking the train. This can be done in roughly 7 hours from Krakow or a shorter 3-hour journey from Warsaw. The best option, for both nature and the city, is to travel by car on a Poland road trip itinerary.
We recommend to rent a car in Poland through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here.
Getting Around
All the best things come in small packages, and Gdansk is no exception. The city is small and perfectly formed so that you can see all the main sights within a 30-minute walk. If you’re wishing to venture further outside the city, there are good public transport options.
Alternatively visit cities like Sopot and Gydnia on a private day tour from Gdansk.
Where to Stay in Gdansk
Stay anywhere inside the old town to soak up the charming atmosphere of the historical city and be close to all the top things to do in Gdansk.
We stayed at Hotel Hanza, a contemporary hotel located right on the waterfront, right next to the iconic ‘Crane’ building. This is a good option for a nice outlook over the harbor.
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