Gdańsk

Gdańsk (also known by its German name Danzig) is a city in Poland on the Baltic Sea. Gdańsk is considered one of the most beautiful cities on the Baltic Sea and has magnificent architecture.

Understand
Gdańsk is the capital of Pomerania. In 2021, it was home to 471,000 people. Gdańsk with nearby Sopot and Gdynia are often referred to as Trójmiasto ("tricity").

Its position on the Baltic has made Gdańsk one of the most important port cities in Northern Europe, and the scene of a disturbing past. Gdańsk used to be the biggest and richest city in the Polish Kingdom. The first claim to fame for Danzig (as it was then known) was its membership in the Hanseatic League as an important Baltic port on the crossroads of North East and Central Europe.

World War II was ignited by a dispute over the control of the city. By the end of the war the city lay almost completely in ruins. The German population was expelled and replaced by Poles as the city came under Polish rule and changed its name to Gdańsk. However, the impact of its former German ties are still evident. Most of the old buildings were damaged or destroyed in World War II, but they have been painstakingly restored or rebuilt, although in a style that is not exactly the same as before the war.

In modern history, Gdańsk is known as the birthplace of Solidarity (pl: Solidarność), the labour and democracy movement that helped to bring down the Communist government in Poland at the end of the Cold War. The movement was led by the charismatic leader, Lech Wałęsa, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 and in 1990 became Poland's first post-Communist president.

Tourist Card
At every Tourist Information point you can buy the Tourist Card.

Within the "Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia-Plus" Tourist Card nearly 220 offers are available, including: accommodations, performances, concerts, exhibitions, souvenirs, books, amber jewellery purchase, dinners and other meals, water equipment hiring, car rental, paintball, Aquapark, visits in beauty salon, and entertainment.

Transport from airport to city
Bus 210 — operates between the airport (bus stop: Port Lotniczy) and Gdańsk, and makes a stop at the train station, 35–50 minutes away. Perhaps the preferred way to buy ticket is install Jakdojade: public transport app You get more information about route and stops in English with this app. The fare is 4,80 zł for single travel in one bus in one route. It is also possible to buy ticket from a news stand, ticket machine or Bilety shop and from driver. Make sure you have correct ticket and it is validated in validating machine inside bus. There is controller regularly after few stops on the route looking for foreign travelers who have wrong ticket, wrong punching, ticket machine malfunctions etc. There is fine of the order of 200-300 zł. (See videos in youtube also). Talk with fellow passengers, driver about validity of ticket if not 100% sure.

Train &mdash; There's a train connection to the city center roughly every 15 min during the day (Airport stop: Gdańsk Port Lotniczy). Less frequent services in the morning, evening and at night. The train station is accessible from the west end of Terminal T2 via a covered bridge. Ticket machines are on the platforms. There are a few direct connections to the main train station in Gdańsk. For other connections to the main train station you need to switch trains in Gdańsk Wrzeszcz. Single tickets to the main train station cost 3.50 zł.

Airportbus shuttle — operates a transport service to Gdańsk centre for 9.90 zł (you can buy ticket directly in the bus). This is a direct line between airport and city's centre. Bus stop in Gdańsk is located in front of Mercure Hevelius hotel (it's 5 minutes walk from Main Railway Station). Journey depends on traffic and takes around 25–30 minutes.

Taxi — Avoid the unofficial, rip-off taxis who will pounce on you as soon as you have cleared security, unless you know how to deal with them. A taxi from the airport to the city centre should cost up to 100 zł however will cost more in the evenings or at weekends. "Neptun" is an officially recognized company. Taxi drivers will be waiting in the arrivals hall offering fixed price transfers, 100 zł is not unreasonable for an evening (after 22:00) transfer to the centre of Gdańsk. Uber and Bolt operate in the area too and cost is provided upfront for peace of mind.

Private transfers — MPA Poland provides transport services around Tri-City and Pomerania region. An airport transfer from/to airport costs 100 zł up to 8 people.

By train


Gdańsk is a major hub on the Polish railway network. High-speed trains runs frequently from Krakow (6 h) via Warsaw (3 h) and there are slower intercity trains from most major Polish cities with at least a couple of departures every day. All inter-city trains to Gdańsk continue north up the coast to Sopot and Gdynia, a 25 min ride. Local SKM trains also shuttle on this route every 10 min or so.

There are a few international trains too. One daily train from Berlin, taking six hours via Frankfurt (Oder), Poznań, Gniezno and Bydgoszcz as well as one daily train from Vienna via Ostrava (for Prague), Katowice and Warsaw, 10 hr 30 min.

National operator PKP runs all high-speed and intercity trains while SKM operates the regional trains between Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia.

See Poland for general tips on rail travel. It helps to write down your destination and preferred time to show to ticket clerks as trains have different prices.



By car
The motorway connects Gdańsk with Toruń, Łódź, and Katowice to the south. The connects Gdańsk with Warsaw and Kraków.

By bus
Buses can be used to travel to regional destinations that lack railway connections, such as the concentration camp in Sztutowo. Polskibus operates coach services from here, with direct connections going to Poznań, Wrocław and Warsaw.



By boat
Polferries operates ferry service between Gdańsk and Nynäshamn, just south of Stockholm, Sweden. The trip takes 18 hours and costs ~€70.

Stena Line operates ferry service between Gdynia and Karlskrona, Sweden. The trip takes 12.5 hours and costs ~€50.

By tram and bus
Zarząd Transportu Miejskiego, the City Transportation Office. Easyway journey planner helps to find schedules and routes.

Trams and buses are cheap (3.80 zł/hr) and frequent. Tickets can be bought from drivers, but it is easier to buy them from ticket machines (which are on most popular stops) and kiosks. The most popular website and mobile app for journey planning is jakdojade.pl. Google Maps has reliable public transport data, and is an excellent tool for planning your journeys.

Single journey tickets are valid until leaving the bus or tram. They cost 4.80 zł for a full-price and 2.40 zł for a half-price ticket.

Time tickets are based on travel time, so you must estimate the duration of the journey or have a few tickets extra to validate when your previous ticket expires. Time tickets are either valid for up to 24 hr and allow any amount of journeys and changes within that time. The 75-min time ticket costs 6.00 zł for a full-price ticket and 3.00 zł for a half-price ticket. The 24-hr ticket costs 22 zł for a full-price ticket and 11 zł for a half-price ticket and is valid on all trams, buses during the day and on night buses.

All tickets need to be validated at the start of the journey.

By train
SKM trains make 16 stops along the coast (from the first station,Gdańsk Śródmieście to Gdynia Główna. The main stops are Gdańsk Główny, Gdańsk Wrzeszcz, Gdańsk Oliwa, Sopot, and Gdynia Główna.

A ticket from Gdańsk Śródmieście to Gdynia Główna will cost 9 zł and from Gdańsk Śródmieście to Sopot is 6.40 zł.

Main city
The main city (Główne Miasto) is the historic part of Gdańsk and contains most of the sights. The Long Street (ulica Długa) and Long Market (Długi Targ) are two of the most beautiful streets in the city. They are enclosed first by the Upland Gate, then by the Golden Gate to the west and the Green Gate to the east close to the riverside. This entire stretch is also referred to as the Royal Way. Along those two streets there are many interesting sights.

Do

 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.
 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.
 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.
 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.
 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.
 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.
 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.
 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.
 * Football: Lechia Gdańsk were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk (capacity 41,600), 3 km north of town centre.

Events

 * Mystic Festival Largest metal festival in Poland
 * Mystic Festival Largest metal festival in Poland

Work
Teaching English is a possibility.

Buy
Gdańsk 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.



Mid-range
You can buy fish on one of bars on Motława River bank (25 zł/meal)



Drink
Danziger Goldwasser, root and herbal liqueur which has been produced since 16th century is considered the city's drink (it is now made in Germany though). It's vodka-based, creamy and has small flakes of 22- or 23-karat gold in it. Cheaper alternatives include Gdańska Złotówka or Złota Woda.

Gdańsk's national drink before World War II was Stobbes Machandel juniper vodka. After the war it was rejected and slightly forgotten due to association with German soldiers occupying the city, but today is gaining popularity again. There is a special ritual to be followed while drinking a shot of Machandel with a dried plum for a snack.

Sleep
As the TriCity is in effect conjoined and there are good, fast transit links, you can just as well consider accommodation in Gdynia or Sopot.

Consulates

 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇺🇦 Ukraine
 * 🇭🇺 Hungary

Internet
Gdańsk provides an extensive network of public, free of charge wi-fi hotspots in public places, such as bus stops, parks, etc. clearly marked with 'GD@NSKwifi" logo. The map with all the hotspots is available on the project website. Free wi-fi is also available on all three major train stations, and in the majority of restaurants and bars.

Stay safe
On the whole, Gdańsk is a safe place to visit and explore. Normal precautions for the safe keeping of your personal possessions, as you would in any other city, are suggested to keep you feel safe when wandering around. Gdańsk seems very well organized from a tourist's point of view. There are frequent police patrols and visitors usually get the feeling of Gdańsk being a secure and tourist-friendly city.

When it comes to gay, lesbian, and non-white travelers, Gdansk is an oddball compared to the rest of Poland. The city is much more socially progressive and tolerant compared to the rest of the country, and you can be yourself with little to no violent reactions from locals.

In an emergency, telephone "112". This number connects to Police, Ambulance and Fire/Rescue services. You will be asked which of these three services you require before being connected to the relevant operator.

Go next
Gdańsk Bay:


 * sea resort Sopot with the longest European pier
 * sea resort and port Gdynia with the biggest Baltic port
 * sea resort Puck

Many of the boats (to Sopot in particular) end up fully-booked and you can't buy your ticket on the boat itself. This is a harsh lesson to learn when you have already waited in a huge queue. Tickets for the Sopot ferry must be purchased from an office directly across from the terminal. Also be aware that in Sopot you will need to buy an access ticket for the pier (around 5 zł, even if you already have a return ticket to Gdańsk) in order to board your boat back.

Vistula Bay:


 * medieval town of Elbląg
 * 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:


 * Slowinski National Park with the biggest dunes in Europe
 * sea resort Rowy
 * sea resort Łeba
 * sea resort Jastrzębia Góra
 * sea resort Rozewie
 * sea resort Władysławowo

On the Vistula Peninsula:
 * the concentration camp in Sztutowo
 * sea resort Krynica Morska

On the Hel Peninsula:


 * sea resort Chałupy
 * sea resort Jastarnia
 * sea resort Jurata

Take the train to Hel. It's at the end of the peninsula opposite Gdańsk. SKM trains are the cheaper option. Train from Gdańsk Główny to Gdynia every 15 minutes and then SKM diesel to Hel. If you get the 09:45 from Gdańsk you have 7 minutes to change about 4 platforms across the underpass. The journey is wonderful - straight through pine forests and sometimes with the sea on either side. Single ticket costs 21.50 zł (get a 5.40 zł single from Gdańsk to Gdynia - and then the 16.10 zł single from Gdynia to Hel, just in case you miss the connection.) When you get to Hel have a walk into town, it's a Polish beach resort full of holiday makers. You should have time for lunch and then get the hydrofoil from the end of the pier at 15:30. But make sure you buy the ticket from the office halfway down the pier or you could be walking back! The trip is 50 zł back to Gdańsk but it will be the best value trip you can get. It takes 1hr 50 min but the first hour is getting across to Gdańsk, then the next 50 minutes is navigating the canals back to the town centre. You could pay a tourist company for this trip, but the cost is in your ticket, you see Westphalia lighthouse where the first shots of World War II were fired, the huge ships and the massive remains of the former Lenin Shipyards.