A Guide to the 10+ Best Things to do in Gdansk

Last Updated on 16th April 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

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Gdansk is a picturesque city in Northern Poland with plenty to visit, and even more to see. Head here if you’re looking for an off the beaten path European destination with plenty of history and all of the architecture. Here’s a complete guide to the best things to do in Gdansk.

Last year, my best friend and I found ourselves searching for cheap flights, filter set to: anywhere. The result? A chance encounter with the beautiful and slightly off-the-beaten-tourist-path destination of Gdańsk, a stunning port city in the north of Poland.

How long do you need in Gdansk?

First things first: Gdansk’s close proximity to plenty of other European cities means that it’s perfect for a short break or weekend getaway.

You’ll need at least two or three days in order to enjoy all of the city’s major attractions. Best visited in the late spring/ summer/ early autumn, so as to make the most of the warmer weather, you can’t go wrong by dedicating several days to exploring this pretty city.

Is Gdansk worth visiting?

Visiting Gdansk provided a lot of value for money, and you could easily visit the city on a much tighter budget than we did.

As things were, we managed to eat a lot of nice food, see all the museums, climb plenty of church towers, take a day trip, and still manage to spend much less than we would have done in many other European cities.

As well as being relatively affordable once in Gdansk, there are plenty of great value for money flight connections to actually get to the city. There is so much history and charm that your time in Gdansk will simply fly by!

Best things to do in Gdansk

Wander around the city

Truth be told, one of the best ways to get to know Gdansk is to stroll around and allow the city to reveal itself to you. The old port of Gdansk is characterised by its medieval crane, countless clock towers, and even an astronomical wooden clock which is easily one of the most beautiful centuries-old clocks in Europe.

Although substantial parts of the city were reconstructed following mass devastation in WWII, a wander through Gdansk old town still feels akin to stepping back into the middle ages (complete with the opportunity to find many bird’s eye perspectives by paying a few zloty to go up the church towers). For an even great perspective of the city, consider booking a walking tour like this one.

See the largest medieval crane in Europe

One particular highlight of a stroll around the city is the chance to see the largest medieval crane in Europe. Located in the old port area of the city, the first crane on site was established in the Middle Ages and the reconstructed wooden treadmills show how, once upon a time, the crane would have been operated by humans walking!

See the anatomical wooden clock

In the heart of a church in old town Gdansk, there’s one particular timepiece which really brings new meaning to standing the test of time, the astronomical clock. After all, there aren’t that many 15th-century wooden clocks left in the world! 

Discover Modern History

During the past Century or so, Gdansk has been the site of plenty of European-shaping events. Following WWI, a City State by the name of the Free City of Danzig was created in the region. And in fact, the first event of WWII was the German attack on the Polish military depot at Westerplatte in Gdansk.

For further information on Gdansk in more modern times, then you simply must head to the newly opened Museum 1939, a cultural space which documents the history of Gdansk, Poland, and the rest of Europe during WWII.

Visit the WWII Museum

For those who want to learn even more about the history of Gdansk during WWII, the WWII museum is a must-see. Established in 2008 in Gdańsk, the museum wasn’t actually opened to the public until 2017. If you want to learn even more, then consider booking this Gdansk Private WWII Tour with Museum of the Second World War visit.

Learn about Solidarnośc

Gdansk is the birthplace of the Solidarity Museum. In more recent times, in a shipyard where European’s Solidarity Centre now stands (a must-see and an incredibly moving trip for any visitor to the city) the Solidarnośc movement emerged during the 1980s.

The Trade Union led movement (whose membership quickly swelled to ten million) played an important part in ending communist rule. Elsewhere in the city, daily walking tours walk you through Gdansk’s past, with specific tours dedicated to the city’s communist history.

For even more information, you can book a Private Communism Tour with Solidarity Center Museum. Check prices and availability here.

Snap photos of the architecture

Of all the reasons to visit Gdansk, its architecture may not be the first that springs to mind. However, the city is filled with quirky, offbeat, and simply stunning architecture. You can’t go wrong by dedicating a few hours to wandering around the city and letting the architecture reveal itself to you.

After all, the old port part of town is populated by medieval buildings, including the wooden crane which is thought to be the largest medieval crane in the world.

Take a boat city cruise

One of the best ways to get to know any city in Europe is to take a boat cruise along the river and Gdansk is no exception. This city cruise takes place on a traditional Polish boat, which is a kind of water vessel that has been used for over 400 years. Check prices and availability here.

St Mary’s Basilica

Elsewhere in the city, one of the three largest churches in the world, the St Mary’s Basilica is the largest church to have been constructed from brick. Head to the top of St Mary’s for a nominal fee of a few zloty and you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views over the candy coloured houses and cobbled lanes below.

Sample local food and drink

If you love great food and even better beer, then you’ll find all this and more when you head to Gdansk. After all, there’s an entire street called ‘Ulica Piwna,’ literally translated as ‘beer street’. Head there for over thirty bars, drinking establishments, and taverns. You can also consider this Polish beer tasting tour.

If you’re in the mood for great food, then there’s plenty of sea-inspired cuisine on the menu, and of course, you can’t visit Poland and leave without trying some pierogis, a small- and very tasty- dumpling. For more insight into the foodie scene of Gdansk, book this Traditional Polish Food Private Tour.

No trip to Gdansk would be complete without sampling one of these local specialties. As a vegetarian, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to find any. However, one restaurant we visited, Mandu (which is part of a chain covering the Tri-City area), had a few different vegan and vegetarian options!

Take a day trip to the largest castle in the world

If you are fascinated by the middle ages and give yourself just one reason to visit Gdansk, then make it this: the largest castle in the entire world is situated just a short train ride away from Gdansk, in the nearby city of Malbork.

Malbork Castle was first constructed by the Teutonic Knights during the middle ages and has since become a fixture of the Polish Countryside, dominating the nearby River Nogat. The castle takes at least a few hours to explore due to its sheer size so set aside at least half a day of your trip to Gdansk to fully enjoy Malbork.

Things to know before visiting Gdansk (travel tips)

Plan ahead if you’re vegetarian

Being a vegetarian, I knew that there would be certain places I wouldn’t be able to eat more than fries or a salad. And I did eat quite a few portions of chips during my time in Gdansk. However, I’m sure that if we’d done more research, then we would have been able to find restaurants with more vegetarian options.

One restaurant I particularly recommend (they even have vegan and vegetarian pierogis), is Pierogarnia Mandu (Kaprów 19d, 80-316 Gdańsk, Poland). In fact, we loved the food and beers at this eatery so much that we actually ventured to the restaurant twice during our Gdansk visit!

Where to stay in Gdansk

Thanks to its relatively large size, Gdansk has a wide array of amazing accommodation to choose from to suit almost any taste and budget. Here are some of the best places to stay in Gdansk based on web-reviews and location:

Budget: This cosy hostel is located within walking distance of the old town. Highlights include a shared kitchen, a shared living room, and free Wi-Fi. Check prices and availability here.

Mid-range: Well placed close to the marina in a a restored 18th-century granary, highlights of this boutique hotel include a spa, air conditioned rooms, and upgraded rooms with lounge areas. Check prices and availability here.

Luxury: For the ultimate luxurious experience, consider booking this five-star hotel. Amenities include a pool, spa, air conditioned rooms, and a restaurant onsite. Check prices and availability here.

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