Gdańsk holidays

How to reach Gdańsk

Flight time: Flights to Gdańsk from London and other major UK airports take around 2 hours 45 minutes.

Transfer time: From Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport, 12km from the city centre, the most convenient option is the SKM commuter train, which takes about 30 minutes to Gdańsk Główny station. Alternatively, the airport shuttle bus takes around 40 minutes.

Price:

• A single train ticket from the airport to the city centre costs roughly PLN 5 (£1).

• The bus ticket is priced at a similar rate.

• Taxis fares range from PLN 60–80 (£12–£16).

Best time to visit Gdańsk

Think about what you want to do during your Gdańsk holidays. While the weather is pleasant during spring and summer, autumn and winter are ideal for visiting cultural attractions.

March to May: Spring brings a sense of renewal to the city. Temperatures climb steadily from 5°C to 15°C, with 3–7 hours of sunshine and modest rainfall of 30–50mm.

June to August: A great time for visiting the Baltic coast, when the water is warm enough for bathing and there are enough visitors around to generate an invigorating holiday vibe. Temperatures average 18°C to 22°C with up to 10 hours of sunshine a day.

September to November: Autumn can be a spectacular time to visit Gdańsk, as the rich colours are complemented by brilliantly crisp sunshine. Temperatures dip from around 15°C in September to 5°C in November, with 4–6 hours of sunshine daily, and a slight increase in rainfall to 50–80mm.

December to February: Winter brings with it snow-dusted rooftops and festive markets. It also brings very cold weather, with temperatures hovering between -2°C and 3°C with occasional sharp dips. You can expect 1–3 hours of sunshine and up to 70mm of precipitation. Pack layers!

Practical information

• Spoken languages: Polish is the official language but English is widely spoken in the city.

• Local habits and customs: Tipping is customary, with 10 percent considered standard in restaurants. Traditionally, visitors to Polish churches are expected to dress modestly – no shorts for men, no bare arms for women. It is considered rude for visitors to look around churches during Mass.

• Currency: The currency is the Polish złoty (PLN). Credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere, but it’s a good idea to carry some cash for smaller shops or market stalls.

• Getting around: The municipal transport network consists of trams, running within all districts of Gdańsk; trolleybuses in Sopot and Gdynia; and buses across all three cities. Tickets can be bought from news kiosks, ticket machines near major stops or from the driver (exact change only), and must be validated upon entry. A full-fare ticket valid for a single journey costs PLN 4.80 and a ticket for 1 hour 15 minutes with changes costs PLN 6. A 24hr ticket costs PLN 22.

• Electricity and plug types: Poland uses standard European 220-volt power with two-pin plugs. UK travellers need a continental adaptor.

• Time zone: Poland is on Central European Time, 1 hour ahead of GMT, and observes Daylight Saving Time.

Best things to do in Gdańsk

A multi-layered port city, Gdańsk is a seductive mixture of waterside warehouses, Gothic churches, canal-spanning bridges and shipyard cranes.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• St. Mary’s Church Tower: Climb the 400 steps of this Gothic masterpiece for an unparalleled view of Gdańsk’s terracotta rooftops and the Motława River. It’s a workout, but the panorama is worth every steep step.

• Nowy Port lighthouse: From the top of this elegant, 19th-century lighthouse, there’s a great view of Westerplatte and the Baltic and back over the shipyards to the city.

The best districts

• Ulica Dluga: A stroll down one of Poland’s most beautiful set-piece streets will take you past a string of opulent townhouses, recalling the mercantile dynasties that once made Gdańsk great.

• Wrzeszcz: Hip district melding a mix of edgy street art, trendy eateries and independent boutiques - this is very much the modern face of the city.

Museums

• European Solidarity Centre: Commemorating the Solidarity protest movement of the 1980s, this museum is an absorbing and inspiring tribute to non-violent revolutions everywhere.

• Museum of the Second World War: Not only one of the most dramatic modern buildings in Europe, never mind Gdańsk, this fine museum is a tour-de-force of history-telling, in which almost every visitor can find something they can relate to – whether in the destroyed cities of mainland Europe or the London Blitz.

• Polish Post Office Museum: Inside the post office itself, this is a stirring collection of photographs and an absorbing insight into the history of the postal service.

Parks and gardens

• Oliwa: Surrounding the cathedral complex is the old palace park, an appealing spot with exotic trees, hanging willows and a stream meandering through the middle.

Historical monuments

• Great Mill: Dominating the waterside, the 14th-century seven-storey mill is the biggest in medieval Europe; its 18 races milled grain for 600 years; even in the 1930s it was still grinding out 200 tons of flour a day.

• Oliwa Cathedral: A remarkable sight, its towering main facade combines twin Gothic brick towers peaked with Renaissance spires and dazzling Rococo stuccowork to striking effect.

• Crane by the Motława River: This medieval port crane remains the greatest symbol of Gdańsk’s maritime heritage. Step inside to explore its fascinating history.

Day trips in the area

• Malbork Castle: For centuries the headquarters of the Teutonic Knights, this monumental 13th-century castle dominates the banks of the Vistula.

• Toruń: The home of Polish gingerbread, this cultured university town is packed with exquisite medieval buildings.

• Sopot: One-time stamping ground for the rich and famous, the beach resort of Sopot remains the country’s only convincing riviera town, boasting a glorious sandy beach, an iconic pier and a fashionable strolling strip.

Activities for families in Gdańsk

Holidays to Gdańsk offer plenty to keep families entertained, blending fun, education and the great outdoors.

• Beaches: Some 10km northeast of the city centre, a luxuriant strip of sand looks out on the Baltic Sea. There are waterslides, cafés, kids’ playing areas, cycle paths and trails leading into shrubby dunes and woodland behind the strand.

• Boat trips: Go on a boat trip with a difference on the Elbląg–Ostróda Canal – boats are hauled uphill on an intricate railway, part of an ingenious system of locks and slipways.

• Interactive museums: An ambitious science-and-education attraction, Hewelianum has tonnes of hands-on exhibits and audiovisual displays, best of all the Imagination Jungle, which invites younger kids to construct environments of their own with an array of large blue building blocks.

Free things to do in Gdańsk

Gdańsk is surprisingly wallet-friendly, with a range of free attractions and experiences to enjoy.

• Beaches: There are some terrific beaches along this stretch of the Baltic coast, not least Gdynia and Hel, the latter a quaint fishing village providing easy access to mile upon mile of pristine white-sand beaches.

• Free events: Gdańsk’s calendar is packed with cultural highlights, including the free Saint Dominic’s Fair in summer, when craft stalls, music and street theatre take over the city centre for three weeks.

• Free museums: Take advantage of free entry days at the National Maritime Museum and other cultural institutions. Keep an eye on their schedules to time your visit.

Nature and outdoor activities in Gdańsk

Despite its heavily industrial background, Gdańsk isn’t short of opportunities for visitors to expend some energy.

• Local walks: Head to Gradowa Hill or the nearby forests for scenic walks that’ll reward you with spectacular views.

• Watersports: The city’s waterside location allows for any number of water-based activities, the most popular of which is sea kayaking between the various Baltic resorts.

Food and drink in Gdańsk

As in much of northern Europe, traditional Gdańsk cooking is strong on calories, although fresh vegetables and salads are an ever-present part of the culinary scene.

Some typical dishes

• Borsht: Arguably Poland’s most famous dish, a reddish beetroot-flavoured broth with a mildly sweet-and-sour taste.

• Pierogi: A small parcel of dough stuffed with a variety of savoury or sweet fillings. Pierogi ruskie come with potato and soft white cheese; while pierogi z kapustą I grzybami are filled with cabbage and mushrooms.

Meat dishes

• Bigos: A filling stew comprising a mixture of meats, cabbage, mushrooms and spices.

• Gołąbki: Cabbage leaves stuffed with rice and meat, this is a popular domestic dish, although served in many restaurants too.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Herring: Served a variety of ways – pickled, in cream or with onions – herring is a staple of Polish cuisine.

• Pstrąg: Grilled or pan-fried freshwater trout from mountain regions like Zakopane is superb.

Sweets and desserts

Both cheesecake (sernik) and apple pie (szarlotka) have the status of national culinary institutions, while pancakes (naleśniki) filled with a variety of sweet fillings also crop up on pretty much every menu.

Local drinks

• Vodka: Very much the national drink, varieties include Żubrówka, made in eastern Poland and flavoured with the local bison grass, and Żołądkowa Gorzka, an amber-coloured herbal vodka that is relatively sweet in taste. Wiśniówka (cherry vodka) is another popular shot.

• Polish beer (piwo): The mass-market breweries (such as Żywiec, Tyskie and Lech) are being increasingly challenged by characterful ales and craft brews made by small, local producers such as Trzech Kumpli and Pinta.