Gdańsk (German name: Danzig) is a city in northern Poland by the Baltic Sea. There are many colourful buildings and many boats in the harbour.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
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.
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 on board, and also from ticket machines (which are at 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.
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. 1 Main Town Hall (Ratusz Głównego Miasta), ul. Długa 46/47, ☏ +48 58 76 79 100. Tu-Su.
1 Polish Baltic Philharmonic, Ołowianka 1. Major orchestra for symphonic concerts and chamber music. (updated Nov 2024) 2 Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre (Gdański Teatr Szekspirowski), ul. Wojciecha Bogusławskiego 1. Guided tours (in English and Polish) are available. (updated Jan 2016) 3 Wyspa Institute of Art (Instytut Sztuki Wyspa, ISW), ul. Doki 1/145 B, ☏ +48 58 718 44 46. Tu-Su 12:00-20:00, M closed. Art Institute on the shipyard grounds. Exhibitions, concerts, performances. A bookshop, Zła Buka, has a selection of books on art and design. (updated Dec 2015) Football: 4 Lechia Gdańsk, Polsat Plus Arena (Tram 7, 10).
1 Pyra Bar, Garbary 6/7. The food not only has a nice name, but also tastes great. A large selection, solid portions. A quiet place, a garden on the corner of the street, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but still close. (updated May 2022) 2 No To Cyk, Chlebnicka 2. Highly recommended for people who want to feel the atmosphere of 1990s and underground. Food is simple but amazing. Very cool retro vibe. (updated May 2022) 3 Pasta House, Lawendowa 9. Cozy place, delicious Italian pasta, original packaging for dishes, friendly service and very short waiting time for food (updated May 2022) 4 Dominikański, Plac Dominikański 1. Best place with "home" cuisine.
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. Kaffe Perro Negro, 37/39 ul Sw Ducha. 11:00 - 21:00.
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.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Gdansk typically sees ~22°C daytime highs and 16 rainy days.
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