12 Things to do in Gdansk, Poland
Gdansk is a cute little city in Poland that is a bit off the beaten path when traveling through Europe. However, it’s truly one of Europe’s hidden gems, with plenty of things to do in Gdansk and the surrounding area.
Where is Gdansk, Poland?
Gdansk is in the very northern part of the country, and located right near the Baltic sea.
Brief history of Gdansk
Gdansk is one of the oldest cities in Poland, first being mentioned as a Polish city in 997. It was one of the biggest trading ports (especially for grain) during its heyday, but during WWII the city was ordered to be given to Germany. The people refused, and so the city was bombed and almost completely destroyed.
Since then, the city has been trying to rebuild itself in the same architectural style as before. You’ll find many old buildings yes, but many parts of the city have been built in the past five years, which is hard to believe!
10 Things to Do in Gdansk, Poland
1. Take a walking tour of Old Town Gdansk
Walking tours are definitely the best way to get your bearings in a new city! They’re one of my favorite things to do in new city because they’re cheap (usually free and you tip what you can at the end), you learn the geography of the city, and you have someone to give you restaurant and activity recommendations during your stay there. Gdansk is full of quaint streets and hidden history that your walking tour guide can definitely point out for you.
2. Explore the Amber museum
Did you know that Gdansk is the worldwide producer of amber? Every year, hundreds of amber washes up on the Baltic shores, and is then collected to be polished and made into jewelry. Amber has an incredible history and amazing healing properties, which you can learn all about at the Amber museum. The museum houses an amazing amber jewelry collection and depicts the science behind how amber came to be. It costs 20 PLN (about $3 USD) to enter and is definitely worth it!
3. Visit the St. Mary’s church
This huge basilica, built in 1502, is one of the top three largest brick churches in the world. It houses 25,000 people and although the interior may not be as ornately decorated as other churches that you see, it gives more of an old world feel. You can’t miss the massive astronomical clock that shows the moon phases, positions of the sun as related to the zodiac signs, as well as the date and time. The clock itself was built in 1464.
4. Walk along the embankment
Talk a walk on the embankment and explore some side streets, seaside cafes, and amber shops galore. There is one main bridge at the very end that is always there for pedestrians, but the other bridge moves every half hour so that boats can also pass through!
Also on the embankment, you can find the Gdansk crane, built in the 14th century. In the olden days before electricity, the crane was powered by men walking inside the two wooden wheels, as if they were stuck inside a giant hamster ball!
5. Eat piergogis, the Polish dumpling
Pierogis are Polish dumplings that come in an assortment of flavors: from meat to fish to vegetarian. You simply cannot leave Poland without eating some delicious pierogis!
6. Visit the Museum of the Second World War
The invasion of Poland during the second World War actually started in Gdansk on September 1st. As you can probably assume from this, the Museum of the Second World War in Gdansk has some interesting bits of history from the war and from that time period. The exhibits are much more immersive, which provides a unique and sometimes difficult to face perspective.
Tickets to the main exhibition cost 29 PLN ($6.50 USD)
7. Try Pączki , the classic Polish dessert
Pączki are deep fried donuts with a jelly filling inside. In Gdansk, the most traditional filling is with rose, although you can also find raspberry, Bavarian cream, lemon, chocolate, and more! They are DELICIOUS and I highly recommend you try them if you’re in Gdansk!
8. Visit the Mleczny Piotr Art Exhibition
This art gallery located just outside the city centre holds several artist workshops throughout the many floors of the warehouse building. Not many people know about it, but you’ll find several rooms filled with artwork and different exhibits. As you walk around the gallery, you may even see some of the artists in action in their workshops!
9. Go shopping at Gdansk Forum
This massive mall is any shopaholic’s dream, with several floors and spaces of both global brands and Polish specialties. You can spend hours in this fancy mall, and it also includes some interesting restaurants!
Fun fact: the indoor river you see below is actually an original part of the city that they preserved and incorporated into the modern style of the shopping mall.
10. Take a boat through the shipyard
A lot of Gdansk is surrounded by water, so you have an opportunity to go out on the boats and see the city and shipyard from a different point of view! I’m a huge water lover, so this was definitely one of my favorite experiences!
11. Take a day trip to Malbork Castle
About an hour away from Gdansk is the amazing Malbork castle. This castle is the largest brick castle in Europe and is incredibly intact after the Polish government’s commitment to restoration.
The whole time I was there, I felt like I was walking around a movie set! The restoration is incredible and there is so much to see. One of the few castles I’ve been to where you can actually see how people lived.
12. Take another day trip to the seaside town of Sopot
Sopot, Poland is a cute little town that is the Polish seaside getaway. To get away from the city and get a fresh sea breeze, Sopot is perfect and has plenty of things to do. In Sopot you can:
- Go to the beach (if you’re lucky, maybe you’ll find some amber!)
- Visit Sopot Pier
- Stroll along Monte Casino Street
- Explore Sopot museum
