What to see in Gdansk?
Gdańsk is one of the most important and beautiful cities in Poland. It is the centre of the Tri-City agglomeration located on the Baltic Sea, which it forms together with nearby Gdynia and Sopot. Its history dates back more than a thousand years, and today it boasts countless historical monuments, museums and sites of interest. There is no shortage of beautiful beaches, vast green areas and restaurants serving local cuisine. No wonder that tourists from all over the world flock to the city every day. So what should you see when visiting this city?
Although a lot of renovations had to be carried out here after the damage caused by World War II, many beautiful monuments have been preserved. Many of these are located in the Main Town. When touring this area of Gdansk, it is worth visiting the historic Town Hall at the junction of Długa Street and Długi Targ Street. It is a Gothic-Renaissance building with a clock tower that proudly rises over the area. It is also home to Artus Court and the Uphagen House, a perfectly preserved bourgeois tenement houses. Both now house branches of the Gdansk Museum. It is also worth visiting the impressive St. Mary’s Basilica, Neptune’s Fountain, the Great Armoury and the historic city gates – including the characteristic Crane and the St. Mary’s, Wyżynna, Złota or Zielona gates. A walk along St. Mary’s Street, Długa Street and Długi Pobrzeże Street is also a must.
What else to visit during a trip to Gdańsk?
Apart from the Main Town, it is also worth visiting the Old Town, the oldest part of Gdansk. Here you will also find the historic Town Hall, erected at the end of the 16th century. One of the most important buildings in the area is the medieval Great Mill, which now houses the Amber Museum, popular among visitors. Nearby is the 13th-century St Catherine’s Church. Lovers of church architecture will also enjoy the churches of St Bartholomew, St Elizabeth and St Joseph. During a tour of Gdansk, it is also worth going to the House of Preachers, the library of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the building of the Polish Post Office where, on 1 September 1939, one of the first armed clashes of World War II happened and the Post Office was heroically defended against the Nazis. In front of the building there is a monument commemorating this event.
What else to see in Gdańsk? Important places on the tourist map of the city also include Westerplatte, the historic Wisłoujście Fortress and the Oliwa district, where you will find the Abbots’ Palace, the Oliwa archcathedral, the zoo and the beautiful Adam Mickiewicz Park.
Walking around Gdańsk it is worth visiting the Gdansk Shipyard – its workers started a strike that sparked the decade-long process leading to the collapse of communism.
Helpful guides and articles – Gdansk:
- How to get around Gdańsk and vicinity – a few useful tips
- How to get to Gdańsk?
- How to get to Toruń from Gdańsk?
- How to get to Bydgoszcz from Gdańsk?
Free walking tour – Gdańsk with an experienced guide
As there are so many monuments in the city, it is worth opting for a so-called free walking tour of Gdansk to get to know all of them. This is a tour with a professional, passionate guide, who will lead you only to places worth visiting and in a captivating way tell you everything you need to know about them. It is the best option for couples, families and small groups of friends visiting the city. The so-called free tour of Gdańsk is a tour you can sign up for via our website. At the end of the walk, you decide how to reward the guide for his or her commitment and hard work. On our website, you can find several free walking tours in Gdańsk. We also operate in other cities in Poland and Central Europe – including Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Prague, Bratislava or Budapest. If you decide to take our free walking tour you will get to know the most beautiful sights of Gdansk and its fascinating history.
