Gdansk Holidays

Gdańsk is one of Europe's best-kept secrets — a stunning Baltic port city where colourful merchant houses line the waterfront, amber jewellery sparkles in every shop window, and history runs deeper than the Motława River. It's gorgeous, it's affordable, and it's got that "I can't believe more people don't know about this place" energy.

✨ Destination highlights

• 🏛️ Jaw-dropping Old Town — Meticulously rebuilt after WWII, it's like stepping into a fairytale

• 💎 Amber capital of the world — Seriously, the stuff is everywhere (in a good way)

• 💰 Incredible value — Five-star experiences at three-star prices

• 🏖️ Baltic beaches nearby — Sandy stretches just a tram ride away

• 🍺 Brilliant beer and pierogi — Your taste buds (and wallet) will thank you

• ✊ Solidarity history — Where Polish democracy was born

🏛️ TOP SIGHTS

Gdańsk's Old Town is basically an open-air museum. Here's what you absolutely can't miss:

• Neptune Fountain — The city's iconic symbol, slap bang in the middle of Long Market. Perfect photo op, and there's usually a street performer or two nearby.

• St. Mary's Church — The largest brick church in the world. Climb the 400+ steps to the tower for views that'll make your calves weep and your camera very happy.

• The Crane (Żuraw) — A medieval port crane that's now part of the Maritime Museum. It's weird, it's wonderful, and it's very Gdańsk.

• European Solidarity Centre — The museum dedicated to the Solidarity movement. Powerful, moving, and essential if you want to understand modern Poland.

• Mariacka Street — The prettiest street in the city, cobbled and lined with amber shops, with stone terraces perfect for people-watching.

• Motława River waterfront — Stroll along the harbour, grab a drink at a riverside bar, and watch the world go by.

🛏️ WHERE TO STAY

Gdańsk's hotels punch well above their weight — you'll get serious bang for your buck here. Most of the best spots are in or near the Old Town, putting you within stumbling distance of the sights (and the bars).

Hampton by Hilton Gdańsk Old Town | Old Town Modern comfort meets historic charm, right on Old Town Square. You're a two-minute wander from Neptune Fountain and St. Mary's Basilica, with a cracking breakfast to set you up for exploring.

Hotel Admiral | Old Town A cosy boutique number right on the Motława River, with the Medieval Crane practically outside your window. There's a wellness area with sauna, and the breakfast buffet is properly solid.

Hotel Number One by Grano | Old Town Stylish interiors, indoor pool, spa, and a gym — this place feels fancier than its price tag. Just 500 metres from the Green Gate and surrounded by restaurants.

Holland House Residence Old Town | Old Town Boutique vibes right on Długi Targ, the main square. Arthur's Court and Neptune Fountain are literally 100 metres away. The on-site restaurant is excellent, and there's bike hire for exploring further afield.

Q Hotel Grand Cru Gdańsk | Old Town A converted brick granary with bags of character. Modern rooms, great restaurant, and a sauna for post-sightseeing unwinding. The Amber Museum is a 10-minute stroll.

More Gdańsk hotels

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 THINGS TO DO FOR FAMILIES

Gdańsk is brilliant for kids — interactive museums, beaches, and enough ice cream to keep everyone happy.

• 🦁 Gdańsk Zoo (Zoo Gdańsk Oliwa) — A mahoosive animal park in the Oliwa district with creatures from all over the world

• 🏖️ Hit the beach — Brzeźno and Jelitkowo beaches have soft sand, shallow water, and plenty of space for sandcastle engineering

• 🔬 Hevelianum Science Centre — Hands-on experiments and interactive exhibits in a converted hilltop fort

• 🚢 Maritime Museum boat trip — Take a ferry across the Motława and explore historic ships

• 🎢 Day trip to Sopot — The pier, the beach, and Aquapark Sopot for waterslide action

• 🍦 Długie Pobrzeże stroll — The riverside promenade with boats to spot and ice cream to devour

💑 THINGS TO DO FOR COUPLES

Gdańsk is ridiculously romantic — cobbled streets, candlelit restaurants, and sunsets over the harbour. Perfect for a long weekend away.

• 🌅 Sunset drinks on Mariacka Street — Find a terrace spot on the prettiest street in town and watch the light change

• 🚤 Motława River cruise — See the city from the water as the sun goes down

• 💎 Amber shopping together — Pick out matching pieces (or something sparkly just for one of you)

• 🍷 Candlelit dinner in the Old Town — Restaurants like Kubicki and Goldwasser ooze old-world romance

• 🏰 Day trip to Malbork Castle — Europe's largest Gothic castle, properly impressive for a shared adventure

• 💆 Spa afternoon — Several hotels offer couples' treatments if you need to recharge

👯 THINGS TO DO FOR GROUPS

Whether it's a mates' trip, a hen do, or a birthday blowout, Gdańsk delivers — great nightlife, cheap drinks, and loads of activities.

• 🍻 Craft beer crawl — Gdańsk's craft beer scene is thriving. PiwPaw and Browar Piwna are top starting points

• 🛶 Kayaking on the Motława — Paddle past the Old Town landmarks and feel cultured while exercising

• ⚽ Stadion Energa Gdańsk — Catch a match at this impressive stadium with a proper buzzing atmosphere

• 🔐 Escape rooms — Room of Plenty and others around town for competitive team bonding

• 🕺 Club night in Sopot — The neighbouring beach town goes OFF in summer — think beach bars and clubs til dawn

• 🚗 Trabant tours — Yes, they do them here too. Drive a communist-era car around the sights

🏛️ THINGS TO DO FOR HISTORY BUFFS

This is where Gdańsk really shines. The city's been at the centre of European history for centuries — and it shows.

• ✊ European Solidarity Centre — The story of the Solidarity movement that helped end communism in Europe. Genuinely one of the best museums on the continent

• ⚔️ Museum of the Second World War — WWII started here when Germany attacked the nearby Westerplatte peninsula. This museum is vast, powerful, and unmissable

• 🏰 Malbork Castle day trip — The largest castle in the world by land area, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Teutonic Knights, medieval banquets, the works

• 📬 Polish Post Office — Where postal workers made a heroic stand against Nazi forces in 1939. Small but moving

• 🚢 Westerplatte — The peninsula where WWII's first shots were fired. Take a boat from the Old Town for the full experience

• ⚓ Gdańsk Shipyard — Where Solidarity was born. The gates, the monument, the history — it's all still there

🍴 THINGS TO DO FOR FOODIES

Polish food has come a long way from "just pierogi" (though the pierogi here are excellent). Gdańsk's food scene is proper good.

• 🥟 Pierogi hunting — Try them at Pierogarnia Mandu or Pierogarnia u Dzika for the real deal

• 🐟 Fresh Baltic fish — Śledź (pickled herring) is the local specialty. Don't knock it til you've tried it

• 🏪 Hala Targowa Market — Fresh produce, street food, and local delicacies all under one roof

• 🍰 Sernik (Polish cheesecake) — Denser and less sweet than the American version. Absolutely addictive

• 🍺 Craft beer scene — Local breweries like Brovarnia have their own restaurants. Beer and food pairings sorted

• 🍽️ Piwna 47 — Modern Polish cuisine with international flair. Proper special-occasion vibes

• ☕ Café culture — Gdańsk's coffee shops are excellent. Drukarnia and Śniadaniownia are local favourites

💎 AMBER SHOPPING

Gdańsk is literally the amber capital of the world. The stuff washes up on Baltic beaches, and the city's been trading it since medieval times. You'll find amber shops on practically every corner of the Old Town — but here's how to do it properly:

Where to shop:

• Mariacka Street — The amber mile. Wall-to-wall shops, from budget trinkets to museum-quality pieces

• Amber Museum — See the good stuff first, so you know what to look for

• Hala Targowa — For less touristy prices and more local traders

What to look for:

• 🔍 Inclusions — Pieces with insects or plants trapped inside are the holy grail

• 🌈 Colour range — Baltic amber comes in over 300 shades, not just orange

• 📜 Certificates — Reputable shops will give you authenticity certificates

Top tip: If the price seems too good to be true, it might be plastic. Do the saltwater test (real amber floats) or rub it — genuine amber gets slightly tacky and smells faintly of pine.

🚂 DAY TRIPS FROM GDAŃSK

Gdańsk is perfectly placed for exploring the Baltic coast. These are all easy half-day or full-day trips.

🏖️ Sopot | 20 mins by train

The glamorous beach resort next door. Sopot has the longest wooden pier in Europe (511 metres!), a gorgeous sandy beach, and a buzzing promenade packed with restaurants and bars. In summer, this place goes off — think Polish Riviera vibes. Don't miss Monte Cassino street for shopping and people-watching.

🏰 Malbork Castle | 45 mins by train

The jaw-dropping Malbork Castle is the largest castle in the world by land area — and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built by the Teutonic Knights, it's absolutely massive and brilliantly preserved. Allow at least half a day. There's even a medieval restaurant if you fancy eating like a knight.

🌊 Hel Peninsula | 1.5 hours by train (or boat in summer)

A quirky 35km sand spit sticking out into the Baltic. The town of Hel at the end has beaches, a seal sanctuary, and some of the best fish restaurants in the region. In summer, you can take a boat from Gdańsk for a scenic trip. Yes, you can tell everyone you went to Hel and back.

⛪ Gdańsk Oliwa | 20 mins by tram

Technically still Gdańsk, but worth a dedicated trip. The Oliwa Cathedral has one of the finest baroque organs in Europe — catch a free organ recital if you can. The surrounding park is gorgeous for a wander.

🎧 NIGHTLIFE

Gdańsk's nightlife might not be Berlin-famous, but it's got serious game — especially when you factor in the prices.

• 🍺 Craft beer bars — PiwPaw, Lawendowa 8, and Browar Piwna are excellent starting points

• 🍸 Cocktail spots — Flisak 76 does proper good drinks in a cosy setting

• 🎶 Live music — Protokultura for gigs, Jazz Club Żak for something smoother

• 🕺 Clubs — Bunkier and Parlament in Gdańsk, or head to Sopot for beach club vibes

• 🍷 Wine bars — Winne Grono and Enoteka have impressive Polish wine selections

Pro tip: The real party scene is in Sopot during summer. Beach bars, clubs open til sunrise, and that holiday energy.

🚶 GETTING AROUND

Gdańsk is super easy to navigate — the Old Town is compact and walkable, and public transport sorts the rest.

• 🚶 On foot — The Old Town is small enough to walk everywhere. Cobbles are charming but wear comfy shoes

• 🚋 Trams and buses — Cheap, reliable, and cover the whole Tri-City area (Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia)

• 🚆 SKM trains — The local rail line connecting the three cities. Perfect for beach days in Sopot

• 🚕 Taxis and Uber — Both available and reasonably priced

• 🚲 Bike hire — Lots of hotels offer bikes, and there are rental stations dotted around