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Gdansk Guide
Poland City Guides: Gdansk
City Guide I Tourist Office I Arrival I Accommodation I Entertainment I Internet Cafes
Gdansk
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| Gdansk |
- Gdansk is a port city located on the Baltic Coast
- Founding city of Lech Walesa's Solidarity
- Formerly Danzig during German rule
- Resort spa town of Sopot close by
- City was a prosperous member of the Hanseatic League in the medieval period
- Old Town reconstructed post World War II
- Population of 950,000
Gdansk is in the far north of Poland, along the coast of the Baltic Sea.
The first written record of the city dates to 997 C.E. following the death of St. Adalbert.
From the 16th century onward, the majority of the city's residents spoke German and referred to the city as Danzig (spelled Dantzig, Dantsic, and Dantzic.)
By 1300, the city had a population of 2,000. Eight years later, the city was invaded by the Teutonic Knights from Brandenburg. Following a massacre, the area was ethnically cleansed of its original inhabitants, and many Germanic peoples moved in.
In the ensuing century several wars were fought between Germanic and Polish people over control of the city.
By the time of the Protestant Reformation the city was basically two cultures - German Lutheran and Polish Catholic - living in one city. In addition, there were small populations of Polish Jews, Scots and Dutch in the city. As a member of the Hanseatic League the cosmopolitan port city's wealth grew due to its strategic location on the Baltic Sea near to the mouth of the River Wisla. Gdansk's main trade was exporting wood (spruce) and wheat. The city's golden age was in the period from the 16th-18th centuries when Dutch and Flemish architect built many of the grand buildings of the Old Town.
World War II for Gdansk was grim. By 1937 half of its Jewish population had fled following a pogrom.
Gdansk suffered air raids from both the Allies and Soviets. On March 30, 1945, the city was finally captured by Soviet troops.
At the Yalta and Potsdam conferences, the city became part of Poland. German residents who survived the war fled to Germany.
Today canal-crossed Gdansk is one of the most popular and beautiful cities in Poland and somewhat reminiscent of Amsterdam. The rebuilt Old Town shows Dutch, Flemish, and French architectural influences - but no German. This is historically inaccurate, but perhaps understandable.
Gdansk is also home to shipping and the large shipyard (the former Lenin Shipyards) where Lech Walesa led the Solidarity trade union movement.
A view of the medieval Gdansk Crane and Hanseatic-era buildings reflected in the River Motlawa
The iconic statue of Neptune in central Gdansk was erected in 1613 and is the oldest secular statue in Poland
Things to Do In Gdansk
The Main Town
Gdansk may not have the wealth of sites of the former Polish capital Krakow in the south of Poland, but it is beautiful nonetheless. Gdansk's main attractions and things to see are located in the three areas of The Main Town (Glowne Miasto), the Old Town (Stare Miasto) and the Old Suburb (Stare Przedmiescie).
The Main Town, enclosed by the Raduna and Motlawa canals to the north and east and the Podwale Prezedmiejskie and Waly Jagiellonskie waterways to the south and west, has the highest concentration of historic sights in Gdansk and it is recommended that visitors begin their sightseeing of Gdansk here.
The 16th century Upland Gate (Brama Wyzynna) is the entrance to the Dluga Targ square area and was once the main gate to the city. The Flemish artist, Willem van den Block later added the coats of arms of Prussia (unicorns), Poland (angels) and Gdansk (lions) in 1586. Upland Gate now holds the Amber Museum. The attached Prison Tower used to house the city's torture chambers - the Torture House.
The Golden Gate (Brama Zlota) was designed by Abraham van den Block (Willem's son) in 1612 and leads onto the lovely street of ul Druga, which has been completely restored since World War II. At number 12 is the historic Uphagens House, the mansion of a leading merchant family, with 18th century period furniture. Close to Golden Gate is the St George's Court building with a statue of St George and the Dragon on its roof.
Gdansk's fine Town Hall (Ratusz Glowegno Miasta) with its fine 80m tower stands at the end of ul Druga complete with a gilded statue of King Sigismund August. The Town Hall houses the Historical Museum where the highlight is the Red Room (Sala Czerwona), the main council chamber, with a ceiling painting by Dutch artist Isaac van den Block. The museum allows access to the tower for wonderful views over Gdansk.
Dlugi Targ (Long Market) is the original city market and Gdansk's most lively street packed with cafes, bars, restaurants and street performers. Highlights here are the historic 15th century Arthur's Court mansion with a giant tiled stove, Green Gate (Brama Zielona), inspired by Antwerp City Hall and the wonderfully ornate Golden House built in 1618. The Neptune Fountain fronts Arthur's Court and was built by the Flemish artist Peter Husen in the early 17th century. Water trickles down from Neptune's trident and the fountain makes for a great photograph with the Town Hall and tower in the background.
St Mary's Church (Bazylika Mariaka) behind the Town Hall is said to be the largest old-style brick church in the world and was built between 1343 and 1502 and the church's vast interior and many art works are definitely worth the visit. Nearby is the Baroque Royal Chapel (Kaplica Krolewska) dating from the late 17th century. The Great Arsenal (Wielka Zbojownia) is another Flemish Renaissance architectural wonder designed by Antoon van Opberghen in the early 17th century.
Gdansk's main festival the Dominican Fair takes place in the Old Town for three weeks from the last Saturday in July.
Gdansk Waterfront
Green Gate opens on to the Motlawa River and the waterfront with Spichlerze Island and its granaries ahead of you. The waterfront in Gdansk is a popular promenade and full of al fresco cafes and places to eat. To your left is the Maritime Museum housed in three former granaries and the remarkable 15th century wooden crane - the biggest of its kind in the medieval world. In this area of Gdansk are also the Archeological Museum, Bread Gate (Brama Chlebnicka) and the English House built in 1569 by English merchants. The MS Soldek is now a museum ship and was the first vessel built in the port after World War II. Due west down ul. Straganiarska are the Covered Market with its local flower and fruit and vegetable stalls and just to the north the Flower market. To the south is the Dominican brick-built St Nicholas' Church.
Gdansk Old Town
Gdansk's Old Town stands north of the Raduna Canal but before you cross the water visit the Post Office Museum on Obroncow Poczty Polskiej, where Polish postal workers resisted the German attack in 1939 as brilliantly described in the novel The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass. The Great Mill (Wielki Młyn), built by the Teutonic Knights in 1350 and once medieval Europe's largest mill has been converted into a modern shopping mall but retains parts of the historic structure. Close by are the churches of St Catherine and St. Bridget, the latter the local church of Solidarity hero Lech Walesa. The Baltic Sea Culture Centre is housed in a converted Renaissance building and includes a statue of the astronomer Jan Hevelius (1611-1687), a Gdansk city councillor and the first Pole to be inducted into the Royal Society in London. Close by are the churches of St Joseph and St Elizabeth and the House of the Abbots of Pelpin, all a short walk from Gdansk's main railway station.
Gdansk Shipyard
One stop north east on the tram from Gdansk Railway Station are the iconic Gdansk Shipyards with their towering cranes. The Lenin Shipyards (as they were then known), along with the Nowa Huta district outside Krakow, provided the major centres of opposition to Communist rule in Poland in the 1980s. The shipyards gave rise to the Solidarity trade union and its leader Lech Walesa, who went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize and later become Polish President in the 1990s. The shipyards remain unprofitable and subsidized but cannot yet be touched as they remain a lasting symbol of Polish freedom.
North of the Gdansk Shipyards on the coast is the Westerplatte District with the Westerplatte Monument and a museum dedicated to the events of World War II. Along the Sopot road to the north west is the huge Oliwa Cathedral, with a history stretching from the 12th century and containing an 18th century decorated, oak organ that was once the largest in Europe. Oliwa also boats the Abbot's Palace with its Contemporary Art Museum, a mosque and the birthplace of the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860).
Old Suburb
South of the Main Town in Gdansk is the Old Suburb where the main attraction is the National Museum of Gdansk, (ul. Toruńska 1, 80-822 Gdańsk, tel. 058 301 68 04) set in a former Franciscan monastery and with displays of Flemish art from the city's heyday as an important port. The main exhibit is the Last Judgement a painting by Hans Memling (1430-1494). Nearby is another fine brick church, the Holy Trinity Church.
Basilica of St. Mary's in Gdansk, Poland, said to be the largest brick church in the world accommodating over 20,000 people
Around Gdansk
Sopot is a spa town adjacent to Gdansk. Sopot has the longest wooden pier in Europe and was known for its casinos in the 1920s and 1930s. Take an SKM train from Gdansk station for the 20 minute ride. North of Sopot on the railway line is the port town of Gdynia with a proud naval and sea trading heritage evident in its maritime museum, acquarium and historic ships maintained as floating museums. Other possible side trips from Gdansk include Slowinski National Park and the medieval town of Elblag, both around 2 and a half hours by public transport or car from central Gdansk.
Nightlife & Entertainment In Gdansk
There is a variety of bars, clubs, pubs and restaurants in Gdansk concentrated on and around ulica Druga.
Gdansk Shopping
Gdansk is especially famous for its amber (Baltic Gold) as well as local crafts. Shopping malls of note include Market Hall and the Great Mill.
View of Gdansk Town Hall by night with illuminated historic buildings
Gdansk trams criss-cross this beautiful Baltic port city
Gdansk Tourist Offices
The tourist office in Gdansk is located at 27 Heweliusza; Tel: 301 4355, 301 6096, or 301 9327 close to the railway station or visit the PTTK office at 45 ul. Dluga.
Getting To Gdansk
Air
The Lech Walesa International Airport is 12 km west of the center of the city. Bus #B runs to Gdansk Glowny Station or take a taxi.
Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport
ul. Słowackiego 200, 80-298 Gdańsk
Tel: +48 58 348 11 63
There are domestic flights from Gdansk to Warsaw, Krakow and Wroclaw as well as international flights with Ryanair, Wizz Air and other carriers to Hamburg, Dublin, Liverpool, Stansted, Luton, Dubrovnik, Bristol, Doncaster Sheffield, Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Eindhoven, Paris Beauvais and a growing number of other European destinations.
Rail
The main railway station is Gdansk Glowny. There are two types of trains: PKP trains (intercity) and SKM commuter trains. For those going to Sopot and Gdynia, take SKM. From Warsaw, the train journey is around 4 and a half hours. From Gdansk to Wroclaw is a slow, seven plus hour rail trek. Trains to Poznan take 4 hours.
Bus/Car
Heading south, the A1 motorway connects Gdansk with Torun, Lodz, and Katowice. The S7 goes to Warsaw and Krakow.
The bus station in Gdansk is just behind the main railway station.
Getting Around Gdansk
Gdansk has a good system of buses and trams with a few night services, though much of the central area of the city can be navigated on foot. The PGE Arena in Gdansk is situated in the waterfront area of Gdansk just south of Gdansk shipyards off Marynarki Polskiej and can be reached by either tram, bus or train.
Accommodation in Gdansk
Hotels in Poland - find and book hotels in Gdansk & the rest of Poland with Booking.com
Hotels in Poland - compare and book hotels in Poland's major cities including Gdansk with Agoda.
Hostels & budget hotels in Poland - low cost accommodation in Poland with BookHostels.com.
Recommended Hotels in Gdansk
The Hilton Gdansk is situated on the Motława River waterfront in Gdansk's Old Town and is an ideal and luxurious base to explore the delights of the city.
Eating
Fried fish is a Gdansk speciality and there is also a range of Polish and international restaurants in town. List your restaurant here. Contact Us
Drinking
There are lots of places to enjoy an excellent Polish beer and local vodka on ulica Druga as well as English and Irish pubs, and a number of decent clubs populated by the city's large student population. Other places for a drink include the waterfront area and ul Mariaka. List your bar, cafe or club here. Contact Us
Internet Cafes
List your internet cafe in Gdansk here for FREE! Contact Us
Weather in Gdansk
Gdansk is in the far north of the country, so the summer weather along the Baltic Coast tends to be cooler than more southerly cities. High temperatures in June and July average about 20 (68 Fahrenheit).
Trams in Poland
Books on Poland & Polish Culture
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