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Gdansk Travel Guide

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Gdansk [1] (Polish: Gdańsk, German: Danzig) is a city in Poland on the Baltic Sea. It is the capital of Pomerania. Gdańsk with nearby Sopot and Gdynia are often referred as Tri-city (pl: Trójmiasto).


Contents

Understand

Its position on the Baltic has historically made Gdansk one of the most important port cities in Eastern Europe.

Gdansk is also known as the birthplace of Solidarity, the labor and democracy movement that helped to bring down the Communist government in Poland. Do not be fooled by the Gdansk being famous for its ship yards, Gdansk is a beautiful city. Although many of the old buildings were damaged or destroyed in WW II, they have been sympathetically restored or recreated.

Tourist information

  • Tourist Information Centre, 27 Heweliusza Street, +48 58 301 43 55
  • PTTK Gdańsk, 45 Długa st., +48 58 301 91 51, +48 58 301 37 52, [2], http://www.pttk-gdansk.pl/

Get in

By plane

There is a range of flights from international destinations to Gdansk's own small airport, including Cologne, Copenhagen, Dortmund, Dublin, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Liverpool, London, Munich, Oslo, Shannon, and Stockholm. Domestic flights are also available from Kraków, Warsaw and Wrocław. Avoid the unofficial rip off taxi's who will pounce on you as soon as you have cleared security, and if you are travelling light you can take a bus to the city centre.

By train

Train timetable available here: http://rozklad.pkp.pl/bin/query.exe/en?

By car

By bus

By boat

From Sweden:

Nynäshamn(just south ofStockholm)-Gdansk, 18 h., approx 70 euros. Operated by Polferries, www.polferries.se.

Karlskrona-Gdynia, 12.5 h, 50 euros. Operated by Stena Line, www.stenaline.se / www.stenaline.pl.

Get around

Trams and buses are cheap and frequent. Locals are keen to help with directions but always ask several people and see if they agree.

  • Tickets are based on travel time, so you need to know estimate duration of journey or have a few tickets to check when the previous expired.
  • There is 24h ticket (9.10 zł) valid on all trams, buses during the day and on night buses.

Use local train (SKM) to quickly go to further destinations.

See

  • Old Town, wander around the old streets admiring the architecture
    • Long Street and Long Market
    • The Hall of the Main City
    • Artus Court
    • Neptune Fountain
    • Crane over the Motława River
    • Długie Pobrzerze (Motława River bank)
    • Golden Gate
    • Green Gate
    • Golden House
    • St Mary's Street
    • St Mary's Church
    • St Nicholas Church
    • St John’s Church
    • St Catherine's Church
    • St Bridget’s Church
    • Sołdek Ship (Museum)
    • Royal Chapel
    • Grand Mill
    • Highland Gate
    • Hall of the Old City
    • New City Hall
  • Nowy Port Lighthouse
  • Memorial to fallen Shipyard Workers in Solidarity Square
  • Museums
    • “Roads to Freedom” exhibition
    • Maritime Museum
    • Archaeological Museum
    • Tower Clock Museum
  • Brzezno peer
  • Gdansk Post Office
  • Uphagen house
  • Maiden in the window
  • Oliwa Cathedral, Oliwa Park
  • Dominician Fair
  • Amber shops
  • ZOO

Do

  • Take a ferry
  • Swim in the sea (often cold)
  • Make a canooe-tour through the canals

Learn

Work

Buy

Gdansk is sometimes called the Amber Capital of the World. The surrounding area is the richest known source of this semi-precious stone, and the product can be found in many of the city's shops. The ones with insects in are much more expensive!

Eat

Budget

  • There's a Bar Mleczny (Milk Bar) roughly at the middle of ul. Długa (Long Street). Hearty polish food at affordable prices.

Mid-range

  • Fish on one of bars on Motława River bank (25 zł/meal)

Splurge

Drink

Sleep

Budget

  • Dom Hercarza. A hostel/budget hotel located on ul. Za Murami, 200 m. east of Długi Targ (Long Square). Simple but very clean and tidy rooms. Singles at 40 zł, double at 75 zł. Generous breakfast offered by the café in the back at 9 zł.


  • During summer vacation months places in students hostels.
    • Gdansk University of Technology. DS nr 1 (students hostel #1). Traugutta 115, +48583471597, 50 zł/single room, 70 zł/double. Take a bus 115 or 19 from Gdańsk Wrzeszcz railway station.

Mid-range

Splurge

Contact

Stay safe

Cope

Get out

Gdansk Bay:

  • sea resort Sopot with the longest European mole
  • sea resort and port Gdynia with the biggest Baltic port
  • sea resort Puck

Vistuala Bay:

  • medieval town of Elblag
  • sea resort and medieval town of Frombork with the grave of Nicolaus Copernicus
  • sea resort Kadyny with one of the best European studs

Kashubian Coast:

On the Hel Peninsula:

On the Vistula Peninsula:


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