10 Best Things to Do and See in Gdansk
Let’s face it, the last 6 months have been pretty stressful and, at times, rather unexciting! Whether you’ve been working from home, furloughed or trying to learn remotely it’s been an unusual time, and I for one needed a well earned holiday by the end of August.
After a few weeks of day-dreaming about a summer trip, me and my partner finally took the plunge and booked a very cheap last-minute holiday to Poland! Having never looked into Gdansk as a holiday location, we had no idea what to expect when we arrived, but I can certainly say it exceeded our expectations.
With a lovely historical old town and lots of hidden gems, Gdansk is certainly worth a visit. Here are my top 10 best things to do and see whilst you are there.
GO ON A WALKATIVE! TOUR
Walkative! offer totally free guided tours around Gdansk which are definitely worth popping along to. During our stay, we went on the comprehensive 2 hour walking tour around the city centre, with our very helpful guide explaining the history and importance of all the beautiful buildings we had been taking photos of. If 2 hours sounds a bit daunting they also offer shorter, more specific tours (including the ‘Gdansk at night’ tour), which we will certainly be going on next time we come to Gdansk.
Walkative! provides great free tours across all of Europe, so even if you can’t get to Gdansk I’m sure there will be a tour in your next holiday destination.
VISIT GDANSK TOWN HALL
One of the most prominent buildings in Gdansk has to be the town hall. With its gothic architecture it certainly stands out among the other brightly coloured buildings! Not only does the exterior look beautiful, but the town hall is home to the Gdansk History Museum which I thoroughly enjoyed.
On Monday’s admissions to the town hall and museum are free for all, so definitely try to plan this one into your visit.
CLIMB ST MARY’S CHURCH
Situated in the heart of the Old Town, St Mary’s Church is the world's largest brick church and can hold over 25,000 people. Not only this, but its tower, standing at over 75m high, hosts an incredible view of the whole of Gdansk. Entry to the church is free and with it only costing £1 to climb the tower, St Mary’s Church is certainly worth the visit.
WALK THE ROYAL WAY
The tourist hub of Gdansk has got to be the Royal Way. This 500m stretch of street is filled with iconic buildings and monuments, including the Golden Gate, Town Hall and Neptune's fountain. It certainly is the focal point within the city, but I advise either visiting in the evening or early morning to avoid the crowds and get the best photographs!
VISIT THE LONG EMBANKMENT
Flowing through the heart of Gdansk is the Vistula River. Mass scale regeneration projects have recently been completed along the embankments of the river which have created a hub for trendy restaurants and bars. The Long Embankment is a great evening stroll as the lights from the buildings magically light up the Old Town behind them.
Also along the Embankment is the newly added Gdansk sign, an iconic spot to take a photo!
SEE THE GDANSK CRANE
Being the largest medieval crane in Europe, the Gdansk Crane is one of the city's most iconic buildings. The crane is currently home to the Polish Maritime Museum and well worth a visit if you want to find out more about the history of Gdansk (however, make sure you download Google Translate as not all of the exhibits have English subtitles!).
Even if the thought of visiting a crane doesn’t sound that exciting to you, I’d certainly recommend a quick visit just to see the giant “hamster-wheels” which used to power the crane.
GRAB A SCOOTER
Throughout Gdansk you will find scooters around every corner. These hireable scooters are a fun, quick and cheap way to travel around the city and are used by both locals and tourists. (Watch out, these scooters are offered by different operators and some charge more than others.) I think the Bolt scooters are both the best value for money and the quickest, so are definitely worth a go during your visit.
MEANDER DOWN ST MARY’S STREET
Undoubtedly one of the most picturesque streets in Gdansk, St Mary’s Street (also known as Ulica Marick) is situated just off the Long Embankment. Famous for its beautiful architecture and many specialist amber shops, St Mary’s Street offers an iconic Instagram photo!
VISIT THE SECOND WORLD WAR MUSEUM
Only opened in 2017, this is Gdansk's top museum and due to its size, I would recommend giving yourself a minimum of 3 hours to visit! The museum focuses largely on the effect of the war upon Polish civilians instead of the war itself, providing a great alternative view to the one I had learnt at school, which was really fascinating.
TRY SOME OF GDNASK’S AMAZING BISTROS
Being gluten-free I was a little bit sceptical about heading to Poland. Renowned for its dumplings and sausages, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find anywhere which catered for dietary requirements. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Up every street was an array of trendy cafes, bistros and restaurants all of which served a variety of vegan and gluten-free options at very reasonable prices.
My favourites had to be Pomelo Bistro, Kafebe Coffee and Bistro and Pikawa.
Gdansk really exceeded my expectations - I hope it will exceed your expectations too!
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Written by Josie Armstrong
