Main Town
First-timersThe Royal Route and the riverfront.
Gdańsk city guide
Things To Do In Gdańsk
A Hanseatic port of tall, painted merchants' houses, amber shops and the shipyard where Solidarity began. The Second World War started here, and the Baltic beaches are a train ride away.
8
Hostels in the city
8.3
Average, from 6,712 reviews
1 Sept 1939
The war begins at Westerplatte
1980
Solidarity is born
1260
St Dominic's Fair first held
Where the twentieth century began and ended
Gdańsk was one of the richest ports of the Hanseatic League, and its Main Town, with its tall gabled merchants' houses, grand gates and the great medieval crane on the river, shows it. Most of it was destroyed in 1945 and carefully rebuilt.
The city has been at the centre of European history twice. The Second World War began here, at Westerplatte, on 1 September 1939. In 1980, strikes at the Gdańsk shipyard gave birth to Solidarity, the movement that helped bring down communism across the Soviet bloc.
Gdańsk is one of the Tricity, with the seaside resort of Sopot and the port of Gdynia, joined by a fast local train. Three days is right, with a day for Malbork castle.
Where to stay
The Main Town is compact and walkable. Sopot, twenty minutes away, is the seaside option.
Old Town
ValueNorth of the Main Town, near the station and shipyard.
Sopot
Beach and nightlifeThe seaside resort, twenty minutes by train.
Wrzeszcz
Living like a localA residential district between the centre and the airport.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 6 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Gdańsk
Walk the Royal Route through the Main Town: in through the Golden Gate, along Długa and the Long Market, past the Neptune fountain, the Artus Court and the Town Hall, whose tower you can climb, and out through the Green Gate to the river.
Along the Motława, the medieval crane, the Żuraw, is one of the symbols of the city. Mariacka street, with stone terraces and amber shops, is the prettiest in town. St Mary's Church is one of the largest brick churches in the world, with a tower to climb.
The European Solidarity Centre, in the shipyard, explains how a strike became a movement that ended the Cold War. The Museum of the Second World War is one of the best war museums in Europe. Westerplatte, where the war began, is a short boat or bus ride away.
Take the train to Sopot for the beach and the longest wooden pier in Europe.
Free things
Free things to do in Gdańsk
The Main Town, the Royal Route and the riverfront are free.
The shipyard gates and the monument to the fallen shipyard workers, outside the Solidarity Centre, are free.
The Baltic beaches, from Brzeźno to Sopot, are free.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Gdańsk
Gdańsk has good fish from the Baltic, especially herring and smoked fish. Pierogi and milk bars are as cheap as anywhere in Poland.
Goldwasser, a herbal liqueur with flakes of gold, was made here for centuries.
The restaurants on the Long Market charge for the setting; the streets behind are cheaper. A meal is €10 to €18.
Nightlife
Going out in Gdańsk
Gdańsk has a lively bar scene in the Main Town and around the river. Sopot, twenty minutes away, is the Tricity's party town in summer, with beach bars and clubs.
A beer is €3 to €4.
Getting around
Getting around Gdańsk
The Main Town is walkable.
The SKM local train connects Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia every few minutes. From the airport, trains and buses reach the centre in about half an hour.
Trains reach Warsaw in about three hours and Malbork in about forty-five minutes. Ferries run from Gdańsk and Gdynia to Scandinavia.
Costs
What Gdańsk costs
Gdańsk is cheap by European standards but more expensive than Kraków in summer, when the coast is busy. Dorms start around €12. A careful day is €40 to €55.
The currency is the złoty, not the euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere; use a bank ATM and decline the machine's currency conversion.
Safety
Staying safe in Gdańsk
Gdańsk is safe, with low crime.
Avoid strangers' invitations to bars. On the Baltic, swim only where lifeguards are on duty.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Gdańsk
The largest castle in the world, and the Baltic coast.
Malbork Castle
The castle of the Teutonic Knights, the largest in the world by area.
Sopot
The seaside resort, with the longest wooden pier in Europe.
Hel Peninsula
A narrow sandbar with beaches, fishing villages and seals.
What's on
What is on while you are there
St Dominic's Fair has run since 1260.
Staff pick
20 Nov – 23 Dec
Gdańsk Christmas Market
The Gdańsk Christmas Market in Gdańsk, Poland, is a magical holiday destination known for its enchanting illuminations, festive atmosphere, and rich history dating back…
Staff pick
7 Oct – 25 Nov
Restaurant Week Autumn
Restaurant Week Autumn in Gdańsk, Poland, invites food lovers to explore the city’s culinary scene with specially crafted three-course menus at a fixed, affordable…
Staff pick
21–25 October
Jazz Jantar Festival
Jazz Jantar Festival in Gdańsk, Poland, is a cornerstone of the European jazz scene, renowned for its adventurous programming and commitment to artistic integrity.…
Staff pick
13–14 November
Inside Seaside
Inside Seaside is an immersive autumn festival in Gdańsk, Poland, bringing together music lovers for two days of live performances by both international and…
Staff pick
7–11 November
Animafest Gdańsk
Animafest Gdańsk is a celebrated four-day festival in Gdańsk, Poland, dedicated to showcasing the best in international and Polish animated cinema. The event features…
Hostels
Where to stay in Gdańsk
The top-rated places to stay in Gdańsk right now, live from Hostelworld.
Dzien Dobry Hostel
Dorms from €16 a night
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World Hostel
Dorms from €18 a night
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Hostel Mamas & Papas
Dorms from €8 a night
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Hostel Gdansk Szafarnia 10
Dorms from €21 a night
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La Guitarra Hostel Gdansk
Dorms from €6 a night
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Hostel4u
Dorms from €10 a night
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When to go
June to September for the coast. St Dominic's Fair fills the city in late summer.
Jan
Cold and quiet
Feb
Quiet
Mar
Cold
Apr
Spring
May
Good
Jun
Beach season begins
Jul
Open'er. Peak
Aug
St Dominic's Fair
Sep
Excellent
Oct
Quiet
Nov
Grey
Dec
Christmas market
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. The Baltic keeps it cooler than inland Poland.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in złoty locally; these are euro equivalents.
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- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Gdańsk travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Gdańsk worth visiting?
Yes, for the Main Town, the Solidarity and Second World War museums, and the Baltic coast.
How do I get to Malbork?
By train, about forty-five minutes.
Where did the Second World War start?
At Westerplatte, in Gdańsk, on 1 September 1939.
How do I get to Sopot?
By SKM train, about twenty minutes.
How many days do you need?
Three, with Malbork and Sopot.
Is the old town original?
Most of it was rebuilt after being destroyed in 1945.
When is the best time to visit?
June to September.
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