Visiting Gdansk: 18 Wonderful Things to Do | Ultimate City Guide

Nestled on the Baltic Sea coast, this cute port town boasts rich and complicated history, plenty of exciting sights to see, and one of the mesmerizing museums, to name a few. Visiting Gdansk should be on anyone’s plans when planning a trip to Poland. Therefore, this ultimate guide to visiting Gdansk is packed with all the necessary information, the best things to do in Gdansk, and much more. 

Even though this post is based on my travels to Gdansk in winter, you can enjoy and experience most of the things listed here all year round. 

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Why Visit Gdansk? 

Located in northern Poland, Gdansk is the fourth-largest city. Together with the cities of Sopot and Gdynia, it forms a metropolitan area called Trojmiasto in Polish, or Tricity in English. 

Even though Gdansk is a coastal town, it doesn’t feel like it because the Baltic Sea coast is far away from the city. However, it still brings breeze and cold to Gdansk.

One of the main reasons for visiting Gdansk is that it was the ground zero of World War II. It is here where the first shots were fired. Therefore the city has plenty of exciting and unique sights to explore. 

Throughout its history, Prussia, Germany, and Poland ruled the city of Gdansk. In the middle ages, the area of the current Gdansk was inhabited by mainly German settlers, while in the 17th century, it was home to a large number of Jewish Poles, Poles, Latvians, Dutch, and Flemings. 

In the most recent past, between 1920 and 1939, Gdansk was a semi-autonomous city-state called Free City of Danzig (a German name for Gdansk). The city was formed after World War I, according to the Treaty of Versailles. The Free City of Danzig also incorporated around 200 surrounding towns and villages that Germans primarily inhabited.

According to the Treaty, the Free City of Danzig was supposed to remain detached from the newly independent Polish Republic and the post-war German Republic. League of Nations protected the city. 

ADVICE: always travel with comprehensive travel insurance that also covers COVID. I personally use SafetyWing. 

Unfortunately, the obscure political statues of the Free City of Danzig created some tensions and led to World War II. During this tragic era of humanity, 90% of the city center was in ruins. People completely rebuilt it to its original state after the war. 

Frequent border changes, displacement of its citizens, and new settlements have shaped the modern-day Gdansk in and after 1945. 

In the 1980s, Gdansk became the birthplace of the Polish Solidarity movement, which was the main driving force to end Communism in the country. It also helped speed up the processes of breaking the Eastern Bloc, falling the Berlin Wall, and concluding the Warsaw Pact. 

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Best Time to Visit Gdansk

Gdansk’s climate is gentler than elsewhere in Poland as the city is very close to the Baltic Sea. Summers here are colder than in southern Poland, while temperatures in winter are above zero. Although the wind is relatively common in Gdansk. 

The beginning of spring still feels like winter, with short days, low temperatures, and not much sun. The weather in April is inconsistent, and it can bring sun and snow most of the time. Therefore, late May is the best time to visit Gdansk in spring. At this time, days are warmer, and plants start to turn green. 

Another best time to visit Gdansk is in June to avoid big tourist groups but take advantage of long warm days with almost no rain. Even though the weather is not that warm to swim in the Baltic Sea, it is ideal for seeing the city and making day trips. 

The peak season for Gdansk is July and August, and the hotels get booked far in advance. During these months, many locals also come to Gdansk for their vacation because of its access to the sea. 

September is another best time to visit Gdansk with fewer tourists and still warm days to appreciate long strolls in the city. The real autumn here starts in October, making it ideal to see fall colors in this cute town. However, autumn brings lots of rain too.  

Gdansk in winter brings Christmas markets and festive decorations to the city. The days are shorter, and the temperatures can go below zero, but with fewer crowds and lower prices, consider visiting Gdansk in December. 

How Many Days to Spend in Gdansk

The majority of Gdansk attractions are in the Old Town and within walking distance from each other. Therefore, you can finish the majority of sights in one day. 

The season you plan on visiting Gdansk or what you want to do determines how many days to spend in Gdansk. 

For warmer and longer days in spring, summer, or autumn, 2 full days are enough for city sightseeing. However, for relaxing summer days at Gdansk beaches, add another 2-3 days. 

Visiting Gdansk in winter requires 3 full days because the days are shorter, and the majority of the museums close at 4 pm. We stayed in Gdansk in winter for 2 full days, and even though we managed to see pretty much everything, it still felt a bit rushed. 

How to Get to Gdansk

Visiting Gdansk is easy as it is well-connected to the rest of the country and the European continent. Lech Walesa Airport is the main domestic and international airport in Gdansk. Therefore, you can quickly fly directly from other cities in Poland or Europe. 

→ Get a private transfer from Gdansk airport to your accommodation.  

If you are in Poland already, Gdansk is also well-connected to the country’s main cities like Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, Wroclaw, with public transport. 

The train is the easiest and fastest public transport in Poland. There are also buses, but they might take longer than trains to get to the destination depending on traffic. Therefore, I advise you to travel via train to the central train station in Gdansk (Gdańsk Główny). 

How to Get Around Gdansk GDANSK

All the places to visit in Gdansk are in the city center, making it a walkable city. When visiting Gdansk, you don’t need to use public transport for the main attractions. Use Gdansk public transport only when traveling to Sopot, Gdynia, Westerplatte, or Zaspa neighborhood, to name a few. 

Tickets for trams and buses are the same. Here are quick ticket prices: 

Single journey for regular, fast, and night lines – 3.80 PLN

60 minutes for all lines – 4.40 PLN

24 Houts for all lines – 14 PLN

You can buy tickets from vending machines at the tram/bus stops, from kiosks, or Jakdojade mobile app. Don’t forget to validate the tickets when you get on the bus/tram. Tickets bought via mobile app don’t need to be validated. You’ll get a fine of 154 PLN for traveling without a valid ticket, which you need to pay within 7 days. Otherwise, the price will increase. 

I recommend downloading the Bolt taxi app if you want to use a taxi in Gdansk (use code YRP76 for a discount). It has relatively reasonable prices and is the best choice if you need to get somewhere in a hurry or arrive at Gdansk airport late at night and don’t feel like using public transport. 

Where to Stay in Gdansk

Gdansk has many accommodation options, including hostels, hotels for various budgets, and apartments. 

Our choice: Apartament Kameralny 11 na Starówce – centrally located behind the St. Mary’s Basilica. This apartment is one of the best places to stay in Gdansk and has everything to make your days here comfortable. The flat is bright with modern furniture, a TV and a full kitchenette to prepare your meals. All the Gdansk sightseeing are within walking distance from here. 

Mid-range apartment: Blue Mandarin Old Town – is another centrally located option with views of the river or Gdansk Old Town. These modern apartments come with dining areas and a fully equipped kitchen. 

Mid-range aparthotel: Dwór Uphagena ARCHE Hotel Gdańsk – a great hotel in Gdansk with reasonable prices and close to the main Gdansk attractions like Green Gate and Long Market street. The rooms are elegant with a minimalist approach and a touch of color in their design. 

Hostel: Bi-Pi Hostel – one of the best places to stay in Gdansk if you are on the budget. Located in the city’s center, unlike many hostels, this one doesn’t have big dorm rooms. Instead, it has double, triple, and quadruple rooms with shared bathrooms. And if you want some privacy, they also have a double room with a private bathroom. 

Boutique hotel: Hotel Impresja – is another alternative to stay in Gdansk for those who’d like to be a fit far away from the hustle and bustle of the town but still be close to the main attractions. This hotel has a cute design and an elegant dining room with gorgeous stained glass windows. 

Luxury hotel: Radisson Hotel & Suites, overlooking the Motława River, is across the Green Gate, offering magnificent views of the riverside backdropped by cute houses. All rooms here have a desk, air-conditioning, a kettle, TV, and safety box, while some rooms even have a kitchen. 

Holiday Inn Gdansk is another alternative if you are looking for a luxury hotel in Gdansk. Located on the shore of Motława River on Spichrzów Island, the hotel also offers views of the Old Town like the Radisson Hotel. Its Sky Bar on the 7th floor offers panoramic views of the city. 

→ Find other apartments and hotels in Gdansk here. 

18 Wonderful Things to Do in Gdansk

There is something for everyone in Gdansk, but it is mainly the city for history lovers due to its complicated past and the starting point of the Second World War. It is fascinating to see how Gdansk rebuilt the destroyed city center as it was pre-war. 

From wandering the cobblestone streets, visiting its magnificent museums, and trying Polish food, here are the best things to do in Gdansk. 

Buy Gdansk Tourist Card for free entrance and discounts

Before I get into the sightseeing, one of the things to do in Gdansk, or even before your visit, is to buy Gdansk Tourist Card and its Sightseeing Package if you plan on visiting Gdansk museums. 

With the card, you have free admission to most museums and reasonable discounts on others. The card also offers various discounts for selected restaurants, services, and landmarks. 

It’s straightforward to use and quite convenient. You can buy it online and pick up at various points throughout the city or buy it once you get to Gdansk. 

→ Check out their website for more information

Stroll down the Dlugi Targ (Long Market street)

Długi Targ is the central pedestrian street of Gdansk Old Town. It was a merchant road that led to the oval market area in the past. The street is between the Golden and Green Gates of the city. 

Before the 18th century, the street was also called Royal Route; only Polish monarchs used this path to enter the city. Therefore, the richest, prominent, and elite inhabitants lived in these houses. 

Dlugi Targ street was also a place for executions of criminals that were either city’s citizens or the nobles, heretics, and witches. 

Today, the street is home to some of Gdansk’s most charming, colorful, and ornate houses. Each building is a piece of art in its way, adorned with portraits of its inhabitants, statues, stuccos, mosaics, and painted figurative scenes, to name a few. They all have individual characters, and I am sure each has an intriguing story to tell. They are so stunning that I couldn’t help me from taking dozens of photos of every building. 

The ground part of each house is still preserved along the street. Cemented staircases with ornate gargoyle rain gutters covered in a skinny layer of moss are absolutely mesmerizing to admire. 

Apart from architectural marvels, the street has many shops, cute cafes and coffee shops, souvenir shops, convenience stores, exchange offices, etc. 

Places to visit in Gdansk Old Town: 

Złota Brama (Golden Gate): one of the main gates which lead to Long Market street. Famous Flemish architects created the gate adorning it with allegorical statues. The gate, constructed in the mid-17th century, was destroyed entirely during WWII and was not restored until 1997. 

“Small states grow by concord, great ones fall by disagreement,” reads the inscription on it. Unfortunately, during our stay in Gdansk, scaffolds covered the gate due to the renovation. 

Town Hall: this Gothic-Renaissance-styled Town Hall is the second tallest building in the city, which hosted various Polish Kings visiting Gdansk in the past. Today, it’s home to the Gdansk Museum, giving you a glimpse of its past life. 

Lavish ceiling paintings of the Red Hall will leave you speechless before shifting your gaze towards the impressively-sized fireplace. 

Other rooms of the museum showcase vintage furniture of the 16th-17th centuries, around 600 silver china and other pieces, and temporary exhibits in the Pile Gallery. 

During our visit, the Gallery hosted breathtaking works of Tomasz Setowski, a local artist whose pieces showcase the fairy-tale world blended with reality in the most fascinating way. He is recognized as one of the most gifted and original painters of the young generation who created his own unique style. 

The museum’s top floor shows what life was like in Gdańsk before the war. Small displays reveal the everyday lives of Gdansk citizens, home layout, and what items they’ve used. Apart from this, there are displays of businesses, a bank, and a pharmacy, to name a few.  

You can go to the viewing platform to enjoy sweeping views of the Gdansk Old Town from this floor. Unfortunately, it was closed for renovation during our visit. 

Opening Hours: closed on Tuesdays. The rest of the days are from 10 am – 4 pm. Thursday from 10 am – 6 pm. 

Entrance Fee: Adults – 16 PLN for the museum and 12 PLN for the viewing platform. Free on Mondays or anytime with Gdansk Tourist Card. 

Website: Museum Gdansk

Neptune Fountain: a famous Flemish architect created a bronze statue of Neptune, Roman God of Sea, in 1617. He also designed nearby Artus Court, the Golden House (41 Długi Targ street), and The Royal Granary next to the Central Maritime Museum. The statue was transformed into a fountain in the 1630s. 

Neptune’s statue is the symbol of Gdansk, which was dismantled and hidden during the Second World War. The authorities put back the statue to its rightful spot only in 1954.

Artus Court: this remarkable manor was a meeting site for merchants and a centre of social life. It is named after King Arthur and its famous round table concept. 

In the mid-19th century, it was renovated into a Dutch Mannerism style after a devastating fire, featuring striking sculptures and illustrations of man’s values and sins. 

Inside is the museum now, featuring magnificent paintings of unknown artists, ornamented furniture, ship models, coat of arms, armours, and tapestries, to name a few. 

The central piece of the museum is the 11-meter high heating stove covered in gorgeous 520 individual tiles showcasing the most outstanding leaders of Europe. The heater is said to be the tallest one in Europe. 

Opening Hours: closed on Tuesdays. The rest of the days are from 10 am – 4 pm. Thursday from 10 am – 6 pm. 

Entrance Fee: Adults – 16 PLN; Free on Mondays or anytime with Gdansk Tourist Card. 

Website: Museum Gdansk

Brama Zielona (Green Gate): four-arched gatehouse on the riverfront used to be a palace for Polish monarchs. Even though none of the Polish Kings lived here, Lech Wałęsa (the driving force of the Solidarity Movement) had an office before the European Solidarity Center. 

The building is now home to the Gdansk Photo Gallery and Modern Art Gallery, hosting various exhibitions. 

From here, you can continue to cross the Green Bridge to Granary Island. 

Opening Hours: closed on Mondays. Tue-Sun from 11 am – 6 pm. 

Entrance Fee: Adults – 15 PLN; Free on Fridays. 

Website: Nomus

Peek inside Katownia 

Katownia refers to the medieval prison & torture chamber right in front of the Golden Gate. It was originally built as part of Gdansk’s fortification in the 14th century. However, a Flemish fortifications engineer later rebuilt it in the late 16th early 17th centuries. Two small buildings were the torture chambers, while the tall tower was a prison. 

Even today, when you peek inside the yard, you can see heavy metal handcuffs hanging near the cell doors. The government still performed the executions until the mid-19th century. Like many other buildings, it was also destroyed during the war and rebuilt later. 

Travel back in time by visiting the gorgeous house of a merchant 

Johann Uphagen, a historian, art collector, and merchant, purchased this building in 1775 and renovated it to suit the needs of the that-time wealthy merchant. It is one of the few 18th-century merchant city homes in Europe open to the public. 

From 1911 till 1944, Uphagen House was a museum. The war shattered the house to the ground and was rebuilt soon after. However, it didn’t open to the public until 1998. 

Today, you can wander through the lavishly decorated rooms of the house and see how the Uphagen family lived back in the day. The floor made from stone panels and stucco decorations on the ceilings is absolutely stunning. 

When you visit the house, only then do you realize how spacious and vast these narrow houses are.  

Opening Hours: closed on Tuesdays. The rest of the days are from 10 am – 4 pm. Thursday from 10 am – 6 pm. 

Entrance Fee: Adults – 16 PLN; Free on Mondays or anytime with Gdansk Tourist Card. 

Website: Museum Gdansk

Admire one of the oldest astronomical clocks

Considered the largest brick church globally, St. Mary’s Basilica is one of the first places to visit in Gdansk. You can admire 37 glass windows, 31 chapels and see more than 300 tombstones inside the church. 

Like other city sights, the Basilica was also destroyed during the war, and the original frescoes were whitewashed. 

One of the main reasons to visit the Basilica is the gigantic astronomical clock from 1464. Its comprehensive dials indicate the time and date, moon phases, the position of the sun and moon with the zodiac signs, and the calendar of martyrs. 

With sweeping views of the Old Town, climb up 405 steps of the 78-meter-hight tower. 

Opening Hours: varies at the moment, so check the website 

Entrance Fee: visiting the church is free. Tower viewing platform – 14 PLN for adults. 

Cross the Green Bridge 

Once you walk down Long Market street, the following places to visit in Gdansk are the Green Bridge leading to Granary Island and Gdansk Marina. 

The island was the epicentre of the Danzig trade for many centuries and the primary source of its wealth. The first building on the island was a slaughterhouse in the 14th century. But as the city developed, new buildings were slowly added, including several manors, carpentry workshops, quality control points, and timber yards, to name a few.  

By the mid-17th century, the island could store more than 250 thousand tons of grain and service more than 200 ships, making Gdansk the biggest harbour on the Baltic Sea and one of the wealthiest cities in Europe. 

Today, the island is home to some international hotel chains, museums, coffee shops, bakeries, and a couple of restaurants offering a fantastic view of the waterfront and the old town. 

Admire the once most giant Crane in the world

Another iconic symbol of Gdansk, this Crane, represents what little has been left from the glorious trading age of the city. For the best views of the Crane against the waterfront, admire it from Granary Island.  

The Crane is one of the defining symbols of Gdańsk and represents what little is left of the city’s lavish trading age. 

visiting gdansk, best things to do in Gdansk

Apart from putting up masts on ships and transferring cargoes, it also had a defensive purpose for the city’s one of the gates. Using two giant, 6 meters in diameter wooden wheels, the Crane could lift 4 tonnes of goods to a height of 11 meters. Men walking inside these wheels powered the Crane to shift the lifting mechanism. The Crane worked till the mid-19th century, and in 1945 80% of the building was obliterated. 

The government rebuilt it after the war and donated it to the Polish Maritime Museum. 

Currently, the Crane is under construction and closed to the public. 

Understand how Gdansk became the ‘city of Amber’

Gdańsk has harvested Amber gemstones for centuries and has been the leading city in the production of Baltic Amber stones. 

The exhibition in the museum dives deep into the history of Baltic Amber, how it got the title of ‘city of Amber’, the differences between gemstones, and gets you up close and personal with various items made solemnly from them. 

The display of insects, bugs, and plants caught inside the stones is fascinating to look at, so is the hall of gorgeous jewellery items made from these stones. 

Opening Hours: closed on Tuesdays. The rest of the days are from 10 am – 4 pm. Thursday from 10 am – 6 pm. 

Entrance Fee: Adults – 20 PLN. Free on Mondays or anytime with Gdansk Tourist Card. 

Website: Museum Gdansk

Shop for Amber at Mariacka street

Gdansk is also referred to as the ‘capital of Amber’ due to its centuries-old tradition of cultivating Amber stones. Therefore, one of the places to visit in Gdansk is Mariacka street to shop for this ‘Baltic Gold’. 

Although the city has plenty of shops to buy the gem, Mariacka has the most prestigious and authorized Amber sellers in Gdansk. Making fake Amber is pretty easy, and many street stall dealers might sell fake ones. However, this doesn’t mean that shops sell only authentic and natural stones. Be careful, do your research beforehand, and always ask for the certification of authenticity. 

Trusted Amber shops on Mariacka street are Galeria Wydra, Amberstyl, and Salonik Pod Skrzydlatym Aniołem.   

→ Become an amber craftsman in the workshop

Learn more about WWII and how it started

Gdansk is a small heaven for museum and history lovers. Even if you are not a big fan of museums, you should consider them as part of your itinerary when visiting Gdansk better to understand the most recent history of humanity. 

Museum of the Polish Post Office is one of the spots where the Second World War broke out. After the decisions of the Treaty of Versailles came into force in 1920, the Polish post began its service in Gdansk. Nestled in a several-story brick building, the museum tells the story of Gdansk Polish Post Office workers and community in 1920-39. The employees’ heroic defence of the building on September 1, 1939, against Germans went down in history. 

The museum showcases unique manuscripts, prints, and items connected to the battle. You can see the plan of attack on the Post Office made by Germans on July 3, the same year. 

Opening Hours: closed on Tuesdays. The rest of the days are from 10 am – 4 pm. Thursday from 10 am – 6 pm. 

Entrance Fee: Adults – 16 PLN. Free on Mondays or anytime with Gdansk Tourist Card. 

Website: Museum Gdansk

Museum of the Second World War is one of the best museums in Gdansk, telling the story from the beginning with the uprise of Nazi and Communism movements in Germany, France, Italy, and Russia. Within its intertwined 8 rooms, the museum follows the significant events chronologically with magnificent visual and digital displays. 

It even has war-era military equipment inside, including a tank and naval artillery, personal items of soldiers, items from concentration camps, and many more. 

The Museum of the Second World War is undoubtedly is one of the best museums I have ever visited. Oto and I were both amazed at how well-laid-out it was. The information on the plates was easy to digest and understand, while visual and multimedia equipment made us feel we were part of the history. 

If you want to hear more interesting stories, legends, and consequences of WWII,  join organized tours: 

• Gdansk private WWII tour with Museum of the Second World War ticket
• Private WWII tour with Museum of Second World War and Post Office Museum tickets

Opening Hours: varies according to season. Check the website. Closed on Mondays. 

Entrance Fee: Adults – 25 PLN. 16 PLN with Gdansk Tourist Card. 

Find out what role plaid Poland to end Communism in Poland (and maybe elsewhere)

European Solidarity Centre aims to promote awareness of anti-communist opposition in Poland and Europe and the Solidarity movement that played a significant role in ending Communism in the world. 

The five-floor building is not only a museum. It also has a lovely atrium with greenery, library archives, a few conference halls, reading rooms, dining venues, a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the shipyards, and a massive children’s playground, to name a few. 

While the building is free to enter, you still need to pay for the permanent exhibition spread out in seven halls. The museum offers unique documents, artefacts, film footage, and photographs with a mixture of traditional exhibition methods and pretty impressive interactive displays.

Museum tells a long story, starting with Anna Walentynowicz, an activist and co-founder of Solidarity, the first non-communist trade association in the Eastern Bloc, followed by the years of tension and the birth of the Solidarity movement. 

It also covers how Lech Walesa became the leader of the movement and how the activists managed to uprise against the Soviet Union together with other countries of the Communist Bloc to fight for freedom. 

The last two sections present the victory of democratic elections in Poland, which led to the foundation of many independent states in Europe as they broke away from Soviet rule. 

Opening Hours: varies by season. Check the website. 

Entrance Fee: Adult – 30 PLN, including a free audio guide. 20% discount with Gdansk Tourist Card. 

Drink hot chocolate

One of the things to do in Gdansk is to drink a delicious hot chocolate from the E. Wedel Company. 

It’s a local confectionery manufacturer producing cakes, chocolates, and snacks since 1851. It basically is the Polish national chocolate company with several cafes in pretty much every city of Poland. 

While you can buy E. Wedel chocolate bars and other candies in the grocery stores, trying their products in one of their cafes is absolutely a must-do when visiting Gdansk. 

They have bitter, milk, and white-hot chocolates to choose from. A small cup costs 16 PLN, a bit expensive for Polish standards and cost of living, but it’s worth every Zloty! 

Try Polish doughnuts

Pączki are local, deep-fried doughnuts filled with various cream or fruit fillings. These doughnuts are covered with icing, glaze, powdered sugar, or orange zest.  

Stewed plum jam and wild rose fillings are traditional, but bakeries also sell Pączki with strawberry, salty caramel, blueberry, raspberry, and custard, to name a few. 

While all bakeries sell Pączki, Dobra Pączkarnia is famous for its tastiest doughnuts in the country.

Visit Gdańsk Christmas market 

You can’t miss the Christmas market when visiting Gdansk in winter. Set nearby the Golden Gate and adjoining streets of Dlugi Targ, wandering through the stalls is one of the best things to do in Gdansk at night. Even though the market opens late morning or afternoon, save the visit after dark to see the charming Christmas decorations at their best. 

Touring around the Christmas market is an excellent way to get into the festive mood and try some local meals explicitly prepared during this time of the year. 

Eat like a local at a Milk Bar

Milk Bar or Bar Mleczny is a local cafeteria that emerged in Communist times. The venue supplied locals with government-funded traditional Polish meals at the lowest cost. Traditionally, the restaurant served food based on dairy products, hence comes the name. But over time, they started providing non-diary local meals as well. 

Even today, they are still the cheapest options providing comfort food to locals and foreigners. 

While some Milk Bars look vintage, as if the time has frozen inside, others have relatively modern yet simple interiors. 

Neptun on Dlugi Targ is one of the best Milk Bars in Gdansk for a cheap local dinner or lunch. 

→ Join 4-hour traditional Polish food tour.

Visit the biggest street art neighborhood

If you like street art even for the slightest, touring the grounds of the Zaspa neighbourhood is one of the must-do when visiting Gdansk. And if you’ve been following my travels, you know that I LOVE street art, and when I found out that there is a whole neighbourhood featuring about 60 gigantic murals on the walls of the Soviet residential complex, I had to see it. 

This open-air gallery is a Monumental Painting Collection in Gdansk that started back in 1997 to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the city. 

Zaspa area itself has a rich history. This place is even more special because the residents of this complex do tours in Polish and English, telling stories about the art and anecdotes of artists who worked on those mesmerizing murals. 

We had a fantastic time with Jarek Orlowski, a local guide, who showed us the best mural pieces and told us great stories about how artists worked on them, what challenges they faced while painting, or what inspired them to create those pieces. 

However, if you feel adventurous, you can walk around yourself without the guide and follow the PDF guide and a map created by the organization that curates the area. 

Tours in Polish are free and happen three times a week in summer. 

English tours are done on individual requests from May to October. Get in touch with them here.

Price for English tours: 185 PLN paid to the guide, no matter if you are alone or a group of people. But double-check with the organization. 

Go on a day trip to Sopot

Sopot is the seaside town between Gdansk and Gdynia. Its location at the Baltic Sea makes Sopot a popular destination among locals for summer holidays. 

There is not much to do in Sopot. Relax on the beach on warm days, walk the longest wooden pier in Europe, admire the Krzywy Domek – an unusually shaped building, and walk the main street of the city called Ulica Bohaterów Monte Cassino. 

Wandering the streets of Sopot is a fun way to spend a day or half-day away from Gdansk. We didn’t have much of the plan for Sopot, so we walked aimlessly until we stumbled upon a street full of the most charming houses we’ve seen in the city. 

The long street Jana Jerzego Haffnera is full of charming and adorable private residential houses and apartment blocks. 

MORE PLACES TO VISIT IN GDANSK AND BEYOND

There are plenty of interesting small towns around the city; therefore, you can easily make day trips from Gdansk to visit some cultural and historical sights from here. Weserplatte is a peninsula where the first gunshots were fired that triggered WWII. 

The fairytale-looking Malbork Castle, the world’s largest fortification by land and a UNESCO Site, is only a 50-minute train ride away.