Here are my picks for the 17 best things to see and do in Gdansk, with prices, opening hours and tips on getting around. Prices are given in Polish zloty, and 1 zloty is worth around 19p. Many of the city’s museums are closed on Mondays or Tuesdays, and several have a free day each week, so read the sections before you make your plans. The last two sections cover day trips to Malbork Castle and the Stutthof memorial site.

1. Long Street and the Long Market

The Royal Way was the route the Polish kings followed when they visited Gdansk, and it’s still the city’s main street. You enter through the Upland Gate, Brama Wyżynna, and the Golden Gate, Złota Brama, continue along Long Street, Długa, and finish on the square known as the Long Market, Długi Targ. At the far end, the Green Gate, Zielona Brama, closes it off towards the River Motława. All the way along, the street is lined with tall, narrow merchants’ houses with gables in every colour.

Most of what you see was rebuilt after the Second World War, when the Old Town was badly hit during the fighting in 1945. Along the way you can step inside Uphagen’s House at Długa 12, an 18th-century townhouse with furnished rooms. It belongs to Museum Gdańsk and costs 26 zloty (around £5), but entry is free on Mondays, and it’s closed on Tuesdays.

The street itself is free, and it’s at its most beautiful early in the morning, before the groups from the cruise ships arrive. My tip is to walk the route twice, once in the morning and once in the evening when the houses are lit up. This is where most visitors stay, and the Old Town is the first area in my guide to where to stay in Gdansk. You can also see hotels in the Old Town here.

Book a guided walking tour along the Royal Way in Gdansk.

2. Neptune’s Fountain and Artus Court

In the middle of the Long Market stands Neptune’s Fountain, the symbol of Gdansk. The bronze figure of the sea god with his trident was cast in the 17th century and represents the city’s close ties to the sea and trade. It’s the most photographed spot in the city, so there are always people around the fountain.

Right behind the fountain is Artus Court, Dwór Artusa, where the city’s wealthy merchants met for banquets and negotiations. Museum Gdańsk calls it the city’s historic living room. In the great hall, paintings and model ships hang beneath the high vaulted ceilings, and in the corner stands what the museum says is Europe’s largest tiled stove. It’s 10.64 metres tall and covered in 530 decorated tiles.

Admission costs 26 zloty (around £5) or 19 zloty (around £3.60) reduced, and an audio guide costs 10 zloty (around £2) extra. Like the other branches of Museum Gdańsk, Artus Court is free on Mondays and closed on Tuesdays. Opening hours change with the season, but it stays open longest on Thursdays. The museum also sells a pass for all its branches, valid for 90 days, which costs 160 zloty (around £30). It only pays off if you want to see lots of them, so my tip is to group your visits on a Monday.

3. The Town Hall

The Main Town Hall on Long Street, Ratusz Głównego Miasta, is easy to spot thanks to its tall, slender tower topped with a gilded figure of King Sigismund Augustus. The building dates back to the Middle Ages, and from the mid-15th century right up to 1921 the city was governed from here. Today the Town Hall is a branch of Museum Gdańsk.

The highlight inside is the Red Room, Sala Czerwona, where the city council held its meetings. The room is decorated with painted ceilings, carved panelling and large paintings, and the museum calls it one of the most beautiful Renaissance rooms in Northern Europe. On the other floors you can see more of the city’s history and collections.

The Town Hall costs 26 zloty (around £5) or 19 zloty (around £3.60) reduced. It follows the same rules as Artus Court, so entry is free on Mondays, it’s closed on Tuesdays and open longest on Thursdays. In summer you can usually climb the tower and look out over the rooftops, but the tower has been closed for renovation, so check the museum’s website before counting on the view.

The Town Hall and Artus Court are only a couple of minutes’ walk apart, so my tip is to do them on the same morning. Start in the Red Room while it’s quiet, then cross the square to Artus Court.

4. St Mary’s Church and the tower

St Mary’s Church, Bazylika Mariacka, is one of the largest brick churches in the world. It was built between 1343 and 1502, and its massive, flat-topped tower rises above every house in the Old Town. Inside, the church is bright and white with soaring vaults, and it’s so big that it never feels crowded, even when there are lots of visitors.

Look out for the 15th-century astronomical clock, which shows the day, the phases of the moon and the signs of the zodiac. Every day at 11.57 the clock’s figures come to life in a little theatre, and it only happens once a day, so arrive in good time.

The church itself is free and is open on weekdays from 8.30 to 17.30 and on Sundays from 11 to 12 and from 13 to 17.30, until 18.30 in July and August. You can’t walk around during Mass. To reach the top of the tower you climb just over 400 steps, and a ticket costs 20 zloty (around £4) or 10 zloty (around £2) reduced. The tower closes in bad weather, especially during thunderstorms.

My tip is to climb the tower early in the day, as the staircase is narrow and queues can build up quickly. The view over the red rooftops, the river and the cranes at the shipyard is, in my opinion, the best in the Old Town.

5. Mariacka Street

Mariacka Street, ulica Mariacka, runs from the east side of St Mary’s Church down towards the river and ends at the gate Brama Mariacka. I think it’s the most beautiful street in all of Gdansk. The houses have small front terraces, known as przedproża, with stone steps and carved railings, and stone heads and gargoyles jut out from the gutters to carry rainwater away from the facades.

The street is known for its amber shops and workshops, as Gdansk has traded in Baltic amber for centuries. The windows are full of jewellery, figurines and lumps of raw amber in every shade from pale yellow to almost black. Prices vary a lot, and there are cheap fakes too, so buy from a shop that can give you a certificate proving it’s genuine Baltic amber.

It costs nothing to walk down the street, and it only takes about a quarter of an hour, but do sit down on one of the terraces where there are cafés. Come early in the morning or at dusk if you want photos without people. The gate at the end leads you straight out onto the quay by the Motława, so it’s natural to carry on to the Crane from here.

6. The Crane and the Motława waterfront

The Długie Pobrzeże quay runs along the Motława river, and this is where you’ll find the Crane, Żuraw, which according to the National Maritime Museum is the largest and oldest structure of its kind in Europe. It was built in the mid-15th century and served as both a city gate and a harbour crane. Inside the thick brick towers, men walked round in huge wooden treadwheels that powered the crane whenever cargo and masts had to be lifted.

Today the Crane is part of the maritime museum, and after a long renovation it now houses a three-floor exhibition on the 17th-century golden age of Polish seafaring and trade. Tickets cost 23 zloty (around £4.40), or 17 zloty (around £3.25) concessions. Entry is free on Wednesdays, but the Crane doesn’t open until 1pm that day, and last entry is one hour before closing.

The waterfront is lined with restaurants and cafés, and most of the city’s sightseeing boats leave from here, including those to Westerplatte. The restaurants right on the water are expensive, so you’re better off eating a few streets back in the Old Town. My tip is to take a short boat trip on the river, because from the water you see the quay, the Crane and the shipyard from a completely different angle.

Book a cruise on the Motława in a replica of an old Polish boat.

7. Granary Island and the Sołdek ship

On the other side of the Motława lies Granary Island, Wyspa Spichrzów, once home to several hundred granaries. Almost all of them were destroyed in 1945, and for decades the island lay in ruins in the middle of the city. Today it has been rebuilt with hotels, flats and restaurants in buildings that imitate the old granaries, and promenades run along the water with views of the quay and the Crane.

North of Granary Island is the small island of Ołowianka, where the maritime museum has its cultural centre and where the Sołdek is moored. The Sołdek was the first large ship built in Poland after the war, and according to the museum it is the world’s only surviving steam-powered coal and ore freighter. You can go on board to see the engine room and an exhibition on Polish shipbuilding.

Tickets for the Sołdek cost 23 zloty (around £4.40), or 17 zloty (around £3.25) concessions, and the ship may close for periods in winter due to the weather. You can reach the islands via the bridges from the Old Town in just a few minutes. Granary Island is a good place to stay if you want a newer hotel right opposite the Old Town, and you can see hotels on Granary Island here.

8. The Amber Museum and St Catherine’s Church

The Amber Museum, Muzeum Bursztynu, is housed in the Great Mill, Wielki Młyn, a large brick building from the days of the Teutonic Knights in the northern part of the Old Town. The museum displays raw lumps of amber with trapped insects and plants, along with jewellery, cutlery and caskets made of amber. Along the way you learn how amber is formed, found and worked.

Tickets cost 37 zloty (around £7), or 26 zloty (around £5) concessions, and a family ticket for two adults and up to six children costs 99 zloty (around £19). Entry is free on Mondays, and the museum is closed on Tuesdays. My tip is to visit the museum before you buy amber on Mariacka, so you have a better idea of what to look for.

Right next to the mill stands St Catherine’s Church, one of the oldest churches in Gdansk. The astronomer Johannes Hevelius, who mapped the Moon from his observatory on the city’s rooftops, is buried here. In the evenings the church hosts candlelit piano concerts with music by Chopin and other composers, and they last under an hour, so they fit nicely after dinner.

Book a candlelit Chopin concert in St Catherine’s Church.

9. The Museum of the Second World War

The Second World War began in Gdansk, which is why one of the most comprehensive museums about the war is located here. Museum II Wojny Światowej is housed in a slanting, reddish-brown building by the river north of the Old Town, and the main exhibition is underground. It tells the story of the war with a focus on Poland and on the everyday lives of civilians under occupation, with reconstructed streets, personal belongings, films and testimonies.

Tickets for the main exhibition cost 33 zloty (around £6.30), or 23 zloty (around £4.40) concessions, and a family ticket for up to five people costs 72 zloty (around £14). An audio guide costs 12 zloty (around £2.30), and entry is free on Tuesdays. The museum is open on Tuesdays from 10am to 4pm and Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm, and it is closed on Mondays. The ticket office closes earlier than the museum.

Allow at least three hours, as the exhibition is large and emotionally heavy, and many visitors don’t manage to see it all. My tip is to come on a Wednesday or Thursday morning, because opening hours are shorter on Tuesdays and the free day draws more visitors. The museum is a 10 to 15-minute walk from the Crane along the river.

10. The European Solidarity Centre and the shipyard

Solidarność, the first independent trade union in the Eastern Bloc, was born during the strikes at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk in August 1980, led by the electrician Lech Wałęsa. The European Solidarity Centre, Europejskie Centrum Solidarności, stands by the shipyard’s old Gate No. 2, and its façade of rusty steel plates is designed to evoke ships’ hulls.

The permanent exhibition covers almost 3,000 square metres over two floors, with seven halls and nearly 1,800 objects. Among other things, you see the boards bearing the strikers’ 21 demands and learn how the movement helped bring about the fall of communism across Eastern Europe. Allow around two hours.

Tickets cost 40 zloty (around £7.60), or 35 zloty (around £6.70) concessions, and the price includes an audio guide. From May to September the exhibition is open daily from 10am to 7pm, and until 8pm at weekends, while from October to April it closes earlier and is closed on Tuesdays.

In front of the centre stands the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers, three tall steel crosses commemorating the workers killed during the strikes in 1970. My tip is to take a walk around the old shipyard area afterwards, where the huge cranes still stand. The centre is around a 15-minute walk from the Old Town.

11. Westerplatte

At 4.48 in the morning on 1 September 1939, the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein opened fire on the Polish military post on the Westerplatte peninsula at the entrance to the harbour. It is considered the first battle of the Second World War, and the small Polish garrison held out for seven days.

Today Westerplatte is a memorial site with the ruins of the barracks, Guardhouse No. 1 and the large Monument to the Coast Defenders on a hill. The area is run by the Museum of the Second World War, which has a visitor centre and an exhibition on the site’s archaeology, open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Guardhouse No. 1 is run by Museum Gdańsk, closes in winter and costs 8 zloty (around £1.50). Construction work is under way on the site, so some paths and car parks may be closed.

Westerplatte is about 10 kilometres from the centre. Bus 138 runs from the main station, and bus 106 runs from the Museum of the Second World War, as explained on the museum’s transport page. In summer it is far more atmospheric to go by boat from the quay on the Motława. My tip is to sail out and take the bus back, so you get to see the harbour and still have plenty of time at the site.

Book a guided boat trip to Westerplatte and back.

12. Gradowa Hill

Gradowa Hill, Góra Gradowa, sits just behind the main station and offers one of the best free views over Gdansk. From the top you look out over the Old Town with St Mary’s Church, the Town Hall tower and the cranes of the shipyard. At the summit stands the Millennium Cross, which was erected at the turn of the millennium.

For several hundred years the hill was part of the city’s fortifications, and the old bastions and barracks have now been turned into the Hevelianum science centre, named after the astronomer Johannes Hevelius. It has exhibitions on science and history, and the site has 20 hectares of green space where you can wander between the ramparts. Some exhibitions are free, while others charge admission, for example 20 zloty (around £4) for the Around the World exhibition.

You walk up via paths and steps from the area by the main station, and it takes about a quarter of an hour. My tip is to head up at sunset, when the light falls on the red rooftops. It is also a good place to end the day if you are staying near the station, and it makes an ideal break from the crowds down in the Old Town.

13. Oliwa Cathedral and Oliwa Park

In the Oliwa district north-west of the centre stands the cathedral, which began life as a monastery church for Cistercian monks. It is a long, narrow brick church with two pointed towers, and the Treaty of Oliwa, which ended the war between Poland and Sweden, was signed in the monastery in 1660.

The big draw is the organ. It was built in the 18th century by the monk Johann Wulff and has almost 7,900 pipes. When it is played, figures of angels move and stars spin above the pipes. Short organ concerts are held in the cathedral, and in summer there is also an international organ festival. Times vary with the season, so check the cathedral’s schedule before you go.

Behind the cathedral lies Oliwa Park, with French gardens, long avenues and a small palm house. It is one of the greenest spots in the city, and the park is free to explore. Take the SKM train to Gdańsk Oliwa and walk for about a quarter of an hour from there. My tip is to combine Oliwa with Sopot, as the train continues there in just a few minutes.

14. Sopot and the pier

Sopot is Poland’s best-known seaside resort and lies between Gdansk and Gdynia. Its landmark is the wooden pier, which stretches just over 500 metres into the Gulf of Gdansk and is considered the longest wooden pier in Europe. From the end of the pier you look back at the long sandy beach and the large white Grand Hotel from the 1920s.

From April to September inclusive there is a charge to walk onto the pier. A ticket costs 10 zloty (around £2), or 5 zloty (around £1) reduced, and in summer, from late June to August, the pier is open around the clock. The rest of the year it is free.

From the pier, the pedestrian street Monte Cassino, known locally as Monciak, runs up through the town with cafés, bars and the crooked house Krzywy Domek, which looks like something out of a cartoon. Take the SKM train from Gdańsk Główny and allow about 20 minutes. The same 8.50 zloty (around £1.60) train ticket is valid throughout the zone covering Gdansk and Sopot. If you would rather stay by the beach, you can see hotels in Sopot here. My tip is to walk out onto the pier at sunset and have dinner in one of the side streets off Monciak, where prices are lower.

Book a boat trip around the bay from Sopot.

15. Gdynia

Gdynia is the youngest of the three cities that make up the Tricity, Trójmiasto. It was a small fishing village until Poland built a new port here in the 1920s, because Gdansk was a free city at the time. As a result, the city is full of white modernist buildings from the interwar years, and it feels completely different from Gdansk.

By the Skwer Kościuszki pier lie two museum ships: the sailing ship Dar Pomorza, which belongs to the National Maritime Museum, and the destroyer ORP Błyskawica. A little further away is the Emigration Museum, Muzeum Emigracji, in the old port terminal where many Polish emigrants boarded their ships. Tickets cost 28 zloty (around £5), or 20 zloty (around £4) reduced, admission is free on Wednesdays, and the museum is closed on Mondays.

Take the SKM train from Gdańsk Główny to Gdynia Główna and allow about 35 to 40 minutes. Remember that Gdynia lies outside the zone covering Gdansk and Sopot, so you will need a Tricity ticket for 12.50 zloty (around £2.40). My tip is to walk up Kamienna Góra hill for the view over the harbour, then take the train back with a stop in Sopot.

16. Day trip to Malbork Castle

Malbork Castle, known in German as Marienburg, was built by the Teutonic Order from the 13th century and greatly expanded after the order’s Grand Master moved here in 1309. According to UNESCO, which added the castle to the World Heritage List in 1997, it is the most complete and elaborate example of a Gothic brick castle in the order’s distinctive style. The whole complex covers around 18 hectares.

The historical route through the High Castle, Middle Castle and Lower Castle costs from 80 złoty (around £15), or 60 złoty (around £11) reduced, and the audio guide is included in the price. The shorter route around the castle grounds costs 35 złoty (around £7) and takes about an hour and a half. Entry is free on Mondays, but then only the short route is open and tickets are only sold at the ticket office. In winter the castle closes as early as 4pm, and last entry to the historical route is at 12.45pm.

The regional train from Gdańsk Główny usually takes 50 to 55 minutes, and from Malbork station it’s about a 15-minute walk to the castle. Set aside a full day and catch an early train so you can start the historical route in the morning. If you’d rather not sort out the transport yourself, you can go on a private tour from Gdansk.

Book a private half-day tour to Malbork Castle from Gdansk.

17. Day trip to the Stutthof memorial

Stutthof, near the village of Sztutowo east of Gdansk, was the first concentration camp the Nazis set up outside Germany’s borders. The first transport of prisoners arrived on 2 September 1939, the day after the war broke out, and the camp was liberated on 9 May 1945. Around 110,000 people were held at Stutthof, and around 65,000 of them died.

Today the site is a museum with barracks, watchtowers, the gas chamber and the crematorium. The museum’s cinema shows a documentary every hour from 10am to 4pm in summer and from 9am to 2pm in winter. The museum is open every day from 8am to 6pm from May and from 8am to 3pm from October, and last entry is half an hour before closing.

Bus 870 runs from Gdansk to the Sztutowo Muzeum stop. It’s a harrowing experience and not a trip I’d recommend for young children, but it’s one of the most important places to visit to understand the region’s history. My tip is to join a guided tour with transport included, so you have a guide who can put the site in context and you don’t have to keep an eye on the bus timetable.

Book a guided tour to the Stutthof memorial from Gdansk.

Practical travel tips for Gdansk

You can easily walk between the Old Town, Granary Island and most of the museums in the centre. For the rest of the city, you’ll use ZTM buses and trams. A single ticket costs 4.80 złoty (around £1), a 75-minute ticket that’s valid when you change costs 6 złoty (around £1.15), and a 24-hour ticket costs 22 złoty (around £4). You can pay by card directly at the readers on buses and trams.

SKM and POLREGIO trains use a different fare system. A city ticket for 8.50 złoty (around £1.60) is valid for one journey in the zone covering Gdansk and Sopot, and a Trójmiasto ticket for 12.50 złoty (around £2.40) also covers Gdynia. From the airport, bus 210 runs directly to the main station in about 40 minutes, and all the options are in my guide to getting from Gdansk Airport to the city centre.

Plan your museum visits around the days of the week. Museum Gdańsk, including Artus Court, the Town Hall, Uphagen House and the Amber Museum, is free on Mondays and closed on Tuesdays. The Museum of the Second World War is closed on Mondays and free on Tuesdays, the European Solidarity Centre is closed on Tuesdays in the winter months, and the Crane and the Emigration Museum in Gdynia are free on Wednesdays. Summer brings the most boat trips and concerts, but also the most cruise passengers, so I think May, June and September are the best months for things to do in Gdansk.

If you want the full range, you can see all hotels in Gdansk on Booking.com. If you’re travelling on around Poland, read my guides to sights in Krakow and to where to stay in Warsaw.

The post 18 Things to Do in Gdansk: Old Town, Westerplatte & the Baltic’s Best Beaches appeared first on Destination Well Known.

The tricky part is choosing, because the airport also serves Sopot and Gdynia, which together with Gdansk are known as Trójmiasto, the Tri-City. The train is best for Wrzeszcz, Sopot and Gdynia, bus 210 runs straight to the Old Town, and a fixed-fare taxi can be worth it if there are several of you or if you land at night. Here are all the options with fares and journey times, where to get off, and how to travel on to Malbork and Hel. For the rough conversions I’ve used about £0.19 and $0.26 per zloty.

At a glance

• Train (PKM): Around 8.50 zloty (about £1.65/$2.20), 21 to 23 minutes to Gdańsk Wrzeszcz, where you change to the SKM train, runs once or twice an hour from early morning until late evening.
• Bus 210: 4.80 zloty (about £0.93/$1.25), around 40 minutes direct to Dworzec Główny by the Old Town, runs about every half hour on weekdays and once an hour at weekends.
• Bus 110: 4.80 zloty (about £0.93/$1.25), just under half an hour to Wrzeszcz PKP, runs every 20 minutes on weekdays.
• Night bus N3: 4.80 zloty (about £0.93/$1.25), around 50 minutes to Dworzec Główny, runs about once an hour between 23:00 and 04:00.
• Taxi: 99 zloty (about £19/$25.50) to the centre during the day and 120 zloty (about £23/$30.50) at night, a fixed fare with the airport’s taxi partner.
• Uber and Bolt: Typically 45 to 65 zloty (about £8.70 to £12.50, or $11.50 to $16.50), and the app shows the price before you book.

Finding your transport at the airport

You’ll arrive in passenger terminal T2. The arrivals area with the baggage reclaim belts is on the ground floor, and at the same end of the hall you’ll find the information desk and the car hire companies. Just outside the entrances, the railway tracks, the bus lane, the taxi rank and the car park sit side by side. You can see the layout on the airport’s terminal map.

Gdańsk Port Lotniczy railway station is right in front of the terminal, and you can also walk over to it along a covered footbridge from inside the terminal. The ticket machines are on the platforms and take both cash and cards.

The city buses stop at the Port Lotniczy stop opposite the terminal, next to the P1 car park, and there’s a ticket machine there that takes cash and cards. The airport’s taxi partner is Neptun Taxi. If you’ve booked a car in advance, the driver will be waiting at the exit from the arrivals hall with a name sign. If you book an Uber or Bolt, the app shows you where to meet your driver. You’ll find all the options on the airport’s transport page.

1. Train to Wrzeszcz, Gdańsk Główny, Sopot and Gdynia

The train runs on the PKM line, Pomorska Kolej Metropolitalna, and the trains are operated by POLREGIO. From Gdańsk Port Lotniczy, it runs to Gdańsk Wrzeszcz in 21 to 23 minutes. Wrzeszcz is the hub, because this is where you change to the SKM, Szybka Kolej Miejska, the city rail line that runs through the whole Tri-City via Gdańsk Główny, Wrzeszcz and Sopot to Gdynia. According to the airport, SKM trains towards the centre leave from platform 3 at Wrzeszcz.

From Wrzeszcz, the SKM train takes around 7 minutes to the main station, Gdańsk Główny, and around 13 minutes in the other direction to Sopot, and during the day the trains run roughly every 10 to 15 minutes. Including the wait at Wrzeszcz, allow 35 to 45 minutes from the airport to Gdańsk Główny and typically 45 to 50 minutes to Sopot. For Gdynia, trains from the airport run in the opposite direction via Gdańsk Osowa. Whether the train runs direct or you have to change at Osowa depends on the timetable, so allow 35 to 60 minutes to Gdynia Główna.

From the airport towards Wrzeszcz, there’s one train an hour all day plus an extra one every other hour, so you’ll have one or two departures an hour. The first leaves at around 04:30 and the last at around 23:30. Check the departure board before you buy a ticket: if the next train is more than half an hour away, the bus may be quicker. The timetables change several times a year, and you’ll find them on POLREGIO’s website.

You can take one piece of luggage at no extra cost. The train suits you best if you’re staying in Wrzeszcz, Sopot or Gdynia. The catch is the ticket: the city’s bus and tram tickets aren’t valid on the train, so you need a train ticket. The routes are listed on the airport’s train page.

Fares and tickets

POLREGIO and SKM use the same fare system, Taryfa Pomorska, so you buy one ticket from the airport to the station you’re heading for, and it’s valid on both companies’ trains. The fare depends on the distance and starts at 7 zloty (about £1.35/$1.80) for the shortest journeys. There’s also a city ticket for 8.50 zloty (about £1.65/$2.20), valid for one journey anywhere in the zone covering Gdansk and Sopot, and a Trójmiasto ticket for 12.50 zloty (about £2.40/$3.20) that also covers Gdynia.

So expect to pay around 8.50 zloty (about £1.65/$2.20) to Wrzeszcz, Gdańsk Główny or Sopot and no more than 12.50 zloty (about £2.40/$3.20) to Gdynia. A return ticket costs twice as much as a single, so you don’t save anything by buying one straight away. The fares are listed by POLREGIO.

Children under 4 travel free, but they need a free ticket, and you must be able to prove the child’s age. Children aged 4 and over who haven’t started preschool yet get a 37 per cent discount, so the city ticket costs 5.35 zloty (about £1.05/$1.35). The discount for schoolchildren requires a Polish school ID card, so expect to pay the full fare for older children.

How to buy your ticket

Buy your ticket before you board. The machines on the platforms at the airport take cash and cards. You can also buy it in the POLREGIO app, in apps such as jakdojade, SkyCash and mPay, or through the Fala system, which has its own machines, called falomats, at stations and on platforms.

If you don’t have time to buy a ticket, get on through the front door of the train and speak to the train staff straight away. You can then buy your ticket on board with cash or a card, but you may have to pay a fee of 4 zloty (about £0.77/$1). If you take a seat without a ticket and wait for the inspector, you risk a penalty fare.

Where to get off

Gdańsk Wrzeszcz: This is where the train from the airport goes, and where you change to the SKM. If you’re staying in the Wrzeszcz district, you’ve arrived. If you’re going further, SKM trains to Gdańsk Główny leave from platform 3, and the trains to Sopot and Gdynia run in the opposite direction.

Gdańsk Główny: The main station is the one for you if you’re staying in the Old Town, the historic centre made up of Główne Miasto (the Main Town) and Stare Miasto. From Wrzeszcz, the SKM train takes around 7 minutes. Tram 3 stops at the station and continues to Brzeźno Dom Zdrojowy by the beach, and trains to Malbork leave from here.

Sopot: Take the SKM train towards Gdynia from Wrzeszcz. The journey takes around 13 minutes, and with the change you’ll typically arrive 45 to 50 minutes after leaving the airport. The city ticket for 8.50 zloty (about £1.65/$2.20) is valid all the way.

Gdynia Główna: This is Gdynia’s main station. The timetable shows whether your departure runs via Gdańsk Osowa or via Wrzeszcz, and where you need to change.

2. Bus 210 to Gdańsk Główny and the Old Town

Bus 210 is the only daytime connection that takes you from the airport to the main station without a change. It runs between Osowa PKP and Dworzec Główny, the bus stop by Gdańsk Główny, and passes the airport on the way. From the Port Lotniczy stop, it goes through the Piecki-Migowo and Suchanino districts to Hucisko and Dworzec Główny, and the journey takes around 40 minutes.

On weekdays, the bus runs about every half hour from 04:50 in the morning until just after 23:00. On Saturdays and Sundays it only runs once an hour for most of the day, so you’ll need to know the departure time before you head out to the stop. The departures are listed in ZTM’s timetable for route 210.

All the buses on the route are low-floor, and hand luggage doesn’t cost extra as long as it doesn’t block the aisle. The bus suits you if you’re staying in the Old Town or near the main station and would rather not change. The catch is weekends and late evenings, when there are long gaps between departures.

Fares and tickets

A single-journey ticket costs 4.80 zloty (about £0.93/$1.25) and is valid on one bus without changes, so it’s enough for the trip on bus 210. If you need to change to a tram or another bus, buy a 75-minute ticket for 6 zloty (about £1.15/$1.55), and a 24-hour ticket for all buses and trams in Gdansk costs 22 zloty (about £4.30/$5.60). The tickets are valid on all routes, including the night buses. The fares are listed by ZTM.

Children under 4 travel free. Children aged 4 to 7 travel at half price if an adult declares their age, and children and young people up to 16 who go to school outside Poland get the same discount with a document showing their photo and date of birth. The reduced ticket costs 2.40 zloty (about £0.46/$0.61) for a single journey and 3 zloty (about £0.58/$0.77) for 75 minutes. Foreign students up to 26 get the discount with an ISIC card, and if you’re 70 or over, you travel free with ID.

Pay by card on the bus

The easiest ticket is your payment card. Hold your card, phone or watch against one of the yellow and black Fala readers by the doors when you board, and you’ve bought a single ticket for 4.80 zloty (about £0.93/$1.25). You don’t need to check out when you get off. If you touch the reader again with the same card, you end the ticket, and a third touch buys a new one, so keep your card away from the reader for the rest of the journey.

One card gives you one ticket. If there are several of you, or you need a 75-minute ticket or a child’s ticket, use the large machine in the middle of the bus, which is called a falomat. It only takes cards and doesn’t print a ticket. If your ticket is checked, show the card you paid with. The amount isn’t taken from your account until the next day or later. Read more on Fala’s website.

If you’d like to pay cash, buy a paper ticket from the machine at the stop, which takes both cash and cards. The paper ticket has a QR code, which you scan on a Fala reader once you’ve boarded. You can also buy the ticket in apps such as jakdojade, SkyCash, mPay and moBILET. ZTM has put it all together in its guide for tourists.

Where to get off the bus

Hucisko: The second-to-last stop is at the junction between the main station and the Old Town. Get off here if you’re staying at the western end of the Old Town, by the Upland Gate (Brama Wyżynna) and the main street, Długa.

Dworzec Główny: The last stop is by Gdańsk Główny main station on Podwale Grodzkie. From here, you can walk into the Old Town or change to the SKM train towards Sopot and Gdynia or to tram 3 towards Brzeźno Dom Zdrojowy.

3. Bus 110 to Wrzeszcz and night bus N3

Bus 110 runs between the airport and Wrzeszcz PKP, the stop by Gdańsk Wrzeszcz station. The journey takes just under half an hour, and the bus runs every 20 minutes on weekdays and typically every half hour at weekends. It’s a good alternative when the next train is a long way off, and the ticket costs the same as on bus 210.

Bus 120 also runs from the airport, but it goes through the districts of southern Gdansk to Łostowice Świętokrzyska and is rarely useful for visitors. No city bus runs from the airport to Sopot or Gdynia, so for those you’ll need the train or a car.

Night bus N3 runs every night between about 23:00 and 04:00, roughly once an hour. It runs in a loop: from Dworzec Główny through the southern districts to the airport and on to Wrzeszcz PKP, and in the other direction from Wrzeszcz via the airport to Dworzec Główny. From the airport, the journey takes around 50 minutes to Dworzec Główny and just under 20 minutes to Wrzeszcz PKP, so check the direction shown on the bus. The ticket costs 4.80 zloty (about £0.93/$1.25), the same as during the day. You’ll find the departures in ZTM’s timetables.

Where to get off bus 110

Galeria Bałtycka: This is the stop before the last one. Tram 5 also stops here and runs to Brzeźno Dom Zdrojowy, so bus 110 is the easiest way to the beach at Brzeźno. Buy a 75-minute ticket for 6 zloty (about £1.15/$1.55), and it’s valid on the tram too.

Wrzeszcz PKP: The last stop is by Gdańsk Wrzeszcz station. Get off here if you’re staying in Wrzeszcz, or if you want to continue on the SKM train to Gdańsk Główny, Sopot or Gdynia.

4. Taxis, Uber and Bolt

The airport’s taxi partner is Neptun Taxi. The company charges a fixed fare between the airport and central Gdansk, which here means the Śródmieście district with the Old Town: 99 zloty (about £19/$25.50) during the day between 06:00 and 22:00, and 120 zloty (about £23/$30.50) at night and all day on Sundays and public holidays. The fare applies to a standard car with up to four passengers and their luggage.

The fare to Sopot is fixed too: 120 zloty (about £23/$30.50) during the day and 150 zloty (about £29/$38.50) at night. To Gdynia and the other districts of Gdansk, the taxi runs on the meter. The company quotes around 70 zloty (about £13.50/$18) to Wrzeszcz during the day and typically 140 to 210 zloty (about £27 to £40.50, or $36 to $54) to Gdynia during the day, depending on the address.

You can pay by card in the car. If you book in advance by phone or online, the driver waits at the exit from the arrivals hall with a name sign, and you get 45 minutes’ free waiting time from landing. If you take a car from the rank, agree the price before you set off. The fares are listed on Neptun Taxi’s website.

Uber and Bolt also operate from the airport. The app shows the price before you book, and it shows where to meet your driver, which isn’t always at the nearest exit. According to Uber’s own figures, an UberX from the airport to Gdansk has cost 52 zloty (about £10/$13.50) on average and an UberXL for larger groups 94 zloty (about £18/$24), so expect to pay typically 45 to 65 zloty (about £8.70 to £12.50, or $11.50 to $16.50) for a standard car. Prices go up when demand is high. See more on Uber’s website.

Private transfer

If you’re landing late with children, or there are several of you with lots of luggage, you can book a private transfer from Gdansk Airport to your hotel here. The driver meets you in the arrivals hall, and the price is agreed in advance. If you’re staying in Sopot, you can book a private transfer to Sopot here.

Onward travel around Poland straight from the airport

If you’re not heading into Gdansk, you can often travel direct. Minibuses run from the airport to a number of towns and cities in northern Poland, including Olsztyn, Elbląg, Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Słupsk and Koszalin. They’re run by private companies, and you book your seat with the company in advance. The airport has an overview of the routes and contact details on its minibus page.

You can reach the castle in Malbork with POLREGIO from Gdańsk Główny in typically 50 to 55 minutes, and trains to the Hel Peninsula run from Gdynia Główna in around an hour and a half. So for Malbork, you first take the train into Gdańsk Główny, and for Hel you travel to Gdynia Główna. There are also connections towards Kartuzy and Kościerzyna in Kashubia from the airport’s own station.

If you’re continuing south, you can read my guide to where to stay in Krakow.

Getting back to the airport

The train to the airport leaves from platform 3 at Gdańsk Wrzeszcz. From Gdańsk Główny, Sopot and Gdynia, you therefore take the SKM train to Wrzeszcz first. Trains to the airport run once or twice an hour and take just over 20 minutes, and the first ones leave as early as around 03:30 and 04:00, so the train works for an early flight too. Buy your ticket all the way to Gdańsk Port Lotniczy before you board.

From Dworzec Główny, bus 210 runs direct to the airport in around 40 minutes. The first one leaves at 04:30 on weekdays, and after that it runs about every half hour. The bus continues to Osowa PKP, so get off at the Port Lotniczy stop opposite the terminal. At night, night bus N3 runs from Dworzec Główny once an hour from 23:00 to 04:00 and takes around 50 minutes.

Neptun Taxi’s fixed fares also apply from the centre to the airport, and Uber’s own figures show an average of 62 zloty (about £12/$16) for an UberX from Gdansk to the airport. If you’d like the car booked before you leave home, you can book a private transfer from your hotel to the airport here.

The airport doesn’t give a fixed time to be there: check-in opens and closes according to your airline’s rules, so follow the times on your ticket, and allow extra time for the change at Wrzeszcz. If someone’s driving you, the first 10 minutes in the Kiss&Fly loop in front of the terminal are free. After that, it costs 25 zloty (about £4.80/$6.40) for every 10 minutes or part of it, so keep your goodbyes short. The charges are in the airport’s parking price list.

Which option should you choose?

Here’s what I’d recommend, depending on where you’re staying:

Old Town: Take bus 210 to Hucisko or Dworzec Główny if one is leaving within a quarter of an hour or so. It runs direct and costs 4.80 zloty (about £0.93/$1.25). If the next bus is a long way off, take the train to Wrzeszcz and the SKM train on to Gdańsk Główny.

Brzeźno: Take bus 110 to Galeria Bałtycka and change to tram 5 towards Brzeźno Dom Zdrojowy. With lots of luggage, I’d take a taxi or an Uber.

Wrzeszcz: Take the train or bus 110, whichever leaves first. Both get you there in under half an hour.

Sopot: Take the train to Wrzeszcz and change to the SKM train towards Gdynia. If there are several of you, the fixed-fare taxi is a good alternative.

Gdynia: Take the train, and let the timetable decide whether you go via Osowa or via Wrzeszcz.

If you land at night: Night bus N3 runs about once an hour to Dworzec Główny and Wrzeszcz PKP. If it doesn’t suit you, a taxi to the centre costs 120 zloty (about £23/$30.50) at night.

If you land at the weekend: Bus 210 only runs once an hour, so check the departure time. Bus 110 or the train to Wrzeszcz is often quicker than waiting.

If there are three or four of you: Four bus tickets cost 19.20 zloty (about £3.70/$4.90), so the bus and the train are always the cheapest option. On the other hand, an Uber at typically 45 to 65 zloty or the taxi at 99 zloty (about £19/$25.50) takes you right to the door.

Practical tips for getting from Gdansk Airport to the city centre

Only touch the card reader once. When you pay by card on the bus, the first touch buys your ticket. The second ends it, so keep your card in your pocket until an inspector asks to see it.

Buy a 75-minute ticket if you need to change. The single ticket for 4.80 zloty (about £0.93/$1.25) is only valid on one bus or tram. If you’re continuing on another route, the ticket for 6 zloty (about £1.15/$1.55) is the one you need.

Keep bus and train tickets separate. ZTM tickets are valid on buses and trams, while the trains need a ticket under the Taryfa Pomorska fare system. If you’ll be travelling a lot between Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia, there are also metropolitan tickets for 24 and 72 hours, which ZTM mentions in its guide for tourists.

Choose your hotel with the connection in mind. If you’re staying in the Old Town, bus 210 runs direct from the airport to Hucisko and the main station, and you can see hotels in the Old Town here. If you’re staying in Wrzeszcz, you’ll get there by train or bus 110 in under half an hour, and you can see hotels in Wrzeszcz here.

If you’re not sure which area suits you, read my guide to where to stay in Gdansk.

The post Gdansk Airport to the City Centre - Transport Guide appeared first on Destination Well Known.

Let me start by saying that Gdansk is incredibly easy to get around, and with its efficient public transport, you can quickly travel from one area to another.

I won’t bore you with a long introduction, so let’s get straight to the point: where to stay in Gdansk?

1. Główne Miasto & The Old Town – Best for First-Time Visitors

Główne Miasto means “Main City,” and this is also where everything happens in Gdansk – it’s simply where you should stay if you come as an ordinary tourist.

The terminology can be confusing: Główne Miasto is the Main City, where Długa Street and the Long Market are, while Stare Miasto is the Old Town farther north. Hotel listings often use ‘Old Town’ loosely, so check the map pin rather than the marketing name.

Here, you’ll find the famous colourful merchant houses, the historic waterfront, and narrow cobblestoned streets steeped in history from the Hanseatic era.

This is the part of Gdansk that really showcases its heyday, offering a unique blend of Polish, German, and Hanseatic heritage.

Główne Miasto stretches primarily along the Royal Route, which runs from the Golden Gate through Długa Street (The Long Street) and Długi Targ (The Long Market) to the Green Gate by the Motława River.

See the best hotels in the Old Town here.

Unlike many other historic city centres in Europe (I’m thinking especially of Prague, Florence, Edinburgh, and Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter), Główne Miasto isn’t just a tourist showpiece.

While this area is the city’s main tourist hub, you’ll still find plenty of locals enjoying coffee at cosy cafés or meeting for drinks at traditional beer halls.

In the evenings and early mornings, when the tourist crowds are thinner, you can really feel the authentic atmosphere.

The streets of the Old Town each tell their own story. Take Mariacka Street, for example, famous for its distinctive stone steps and decorative tin drainpipes.

Or explore the area around St. Mary’s Basilica, Europe’s largest brick church.

The narrow side streets hide charming restaurants and specialty shops selling local crafts and the famous Baltic amber.

What to expect in Główne Miasto:

• A packed tourist experience with shops, restaurants, and bars side by side
• Higher prices than the rest of the city (especially for restaurants and hotels)
• Lively atmosphere from morning to evening with entertainment and street musicians
• Historic buildings everywhere – you’ll feel like you’re living in a postcard
• Busy streets filled with tourists from 10 am to 6 pm
• Plenty of guided tours and excursions available
• A wide selection of restaurants
• Easy access to the riverside with its iconic cranes
• Cosy beer halls in historic cellars
• Walking distance to all major attractions

Places to stay in the Old Town

Let me introduce you to four of my favourite hotels in Gdansk’s Old Town.

Radisson Hotel & Apartments Gdańsk

Radisson Hotel & Apartments Gdańsk is the option I would now compare on Granary Island. It has hotel rooms and apartments near the Motława riverfront, with the Main City’s sights across the water.

The spa has an indoor pool, but access depends on your room category or package. Standard rooms, Cosy rooms and apartments do not automatically include the same spa access as other categories. Confirm the admission arrangements and any time slot before booking for a pool-focused stay.

Check whether your chosen room is in the main hotel or an annex, and select a river-view category if the outlook is important. This is more useful than choosing solely from a hotel’s pool photos.

See current rooms, photos and prices here.

Hotel Grano Gdańsk Old Town

Picture yourself unwinding in a stylish indoor pool after a day of exploring Gdansk’s Old Town – that’s the everyday luxury at Hotel Grano.

With its modern design and attention to detail, the hotel exudes style without losing its cosy vibe. The rooms are spacious, with a touch of luxury that makes you feel pampered.

The location is ideal, just a few minutes’ walk from the river and cobblestoned streets, but far enough from the hustle and bustle.

Guests particularly love the relaxing atmosphere and the many small details that make the stay extra special.

See more photos and book here.

Apart Neptun

Imagine having your own little apartment in the heart of Gdansk’s Old Town, where you can start your day with a peaceful cup of coffee – or dive straight into the city’s buzz.

Apart Neptun sells both rooms and apartments. If cooking facilities matter, select a category that explicitly includes a kitchenette; a kettle and cooler in a standard room are not the same as a self-catering apartment. Compare the layout and maximum occupancy before booking.

The location is spot on, and guests especially praise the helpful service and comfortable rooms. Here, you’ll get maximum flexibility without compromising on comfort.

See more photos and book here.

Liberum Residence Old Town

Stay right in the heart of it all without breaking the bank. Liberum Residence is located on one of Gdansk’s most iconic streets, with windows that open to the Old Town’s vibrant charm.

The rooms are simple yet stylish, and the service exceeds what you’d expect for the price. Guests highlight the cosy atmosphere and clean design.

It’s the perfect base if you want everything within walking distance – and still have money left over for pierogi and souvenirs.

See more photos and book here.

2. Brzeźno – Best for Beaches and Summer Holidays

For a beach-led holiday, look beyond the historic centre. Brzeźno makes sense when you expect to spend more time on the coast than walking between the central sights.

However, if you’re visiting Gdansk in the summer and want something more than just city life, this area might be for you.

Brzeźno is Gdansk’s charming beach district, offering a completely different vibe from the rest of the city.

Brzeźno is connected to central Gdańsk by tram, but the useful journey time depends on your hotel, stop and destination. Check the current route on ZTM’s official website and include the walks at both ends.

This is the perfect spot for those who want to combine a city break with beach days and long walks along the Baltic Sea.

Discover the best hotels in Brzeźno here.

Brzeźno has developed from a historic fishing village into a popular beachside neighbourhood with a delightful mix of old villas and modern apartment complexes.

The long promenade is the heart of the area, especially in summer, when both locals and tourists flock to beach bars, cafés, and the 130-metre-long pier.

Brzeźno is particularly popular among families and those seeking a more relaxed holiday vibe. The pace here is much slower than in the city centre, giving you a more authentic feel for how Poles spend their holidays.

What to expect in Brzeźno:

• Direct access to sandy beaches
• Relaxed seaside atmosphere
• Plenty of outdoor activities
• Local restaurants and cafés
• A long promenade with shops and bars
• Better air quality than in the city centre
• A calmer pace than in the urban areas
• Great opportunities for walking and hiking
• Cycling paths along the coast
• Cheaper dining options compared to the city centre

Places to stay in Brzeźno

If you’re looking for a great hotel by the beach in Gdansk, here are three excellent options:

Rezydencja Merwede Aparthotel

Rezydencja Merwede is worth comparing for an apartment stay by the coast. Check the exact unit: balconies, terraces and views vary, so choose a stated sea-view category if that is the main attraction for you.

These ultra-modern holiday apartments combine stylish interiors with all the practical amenities you could wish for.

Located right by the beach in Brzeźno, it’s perfect for those who love being close to nature while staying in comfort.

Guests especially highlight the tranquil vibe and beautiful surroundings, giving you a holiday feeling from the very first moment.

See more photos and book here.

Dom Zdrojowy

Dom Zdrojowy is for those who want to stay in elegant surroundings near the sea.

This beautiful historic building has been transformed into a modern hotel with sleek rooms and views so stunning, you might never want to leave.

You can step straight onto the beach or enjoy a relaxing walk in the nearby park areas.

Guests praise the luxurious atmosphere, which manages to be sophisticated without being pretentious, and the fantastic location, where the sea is practically your neighbour.

Here, relaxation and style go hand in hand.

See more photos and book here.

Hotel Lival

If you’re looking for an affordable beach hotel that still has plenty to offer, Hotel Lival is an excellent choice.

The rooms are simple but comfortable, and you can’t beat the location right on the beach.

Start your day with a jog along the sand or enjoy a drink with sea views on the hotel’s terrace.

Guests love the laid-back environment and friendly service. It’s the perfect choice for a genuine beach holiday without blowing your entire budget on accommodation.

See more photos and book here.

I hope you found my guide on where to stay in Gdansk helpful.

Gdansk is a city that pleasantly surprises many visitors with its unique mix of history, beaches, and modern urban life. While the city isn’t large, each area offers its own unique take on this historic Hanseatic city.

Remember, you can always use the city’s efficient public transport to explore all areas, no matter where you decide to stay. The most important thing is to choose a location that matches your travel style and priorities. If you’re flying in, my guide to getting from Gdansk Airport to the city centre covers every option.

If you’re combining Gdansk with Krakow, my guide to the best things to do in Krakow covers the Old Town, Wawel and Kazimierz, along with day trips to Wieliczka and Auschwitz-Birkenau. And if Warsaw is on your route around Poland too, my guide to where to stay in Warsaw covers the best areas, from the rebuilt Old Town to Centrum by Warszawa Centralna, the main station for onward trains.

Have a great trip to Gdansk!

Frequently asked questions:

The post Where to Stay in Gdansk? The 2 Best Areas & 7 Great Places to Stay 🇵🇱 appeared first on Destination Well Known.