Best Places to Visit in Gdańsk

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6/19/2025

Gdańsk is the pearl of the Baltic and one of the most beautiful cities in Poland. In this travel guide, we’ll take you through the most interesting and unusual spots in the capital of the Pomeranian Voivodeship—from historic landmarks and captivating museums to living legends, cozy cafés, and themed restaurants. Ready? Let’s go!

What to see? Which museum to visit? Where to eat? Where to grab a coffee? What to see nearby?

What to See?

Old Town

Begin your walk in the city’s oldest district, home to the Old Town Hall, built in the late 16th century. For centuries, it was the hub of political, economic, scientific, and social life. Nearby, you'll find the largest medieval mill in Europe. While the scent of freshly baked bread no longer fills the air, the building continues to draw the attention of locals and tourists alike. After careful restoration, it now houses the most “Baltic” of all museums - The Amber Museum.

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Stroll down Rajska Street and you’ll come across the oldest church in Gdańsk - St. Catherine’s Church. The first sacred structure on this site appeared in the 10th century, though the current basilica was erected in 1227. Thanks to the patronage of the city’s elite, the church expanded significantly over the centuries, acquiring an elegant baroque dome-topped tower. Inside, you’ll discover a rare set of harmonized bells called carillons. A special mechanism allows them to play melodies. You can hear a live performance every Friday at 2:45 PM.

Continue toward Main Town, passing by St. Nicholas’ Basilica, whose origins date back to the 12th century. Although little remains of the original structure, this church miraculously survived the destruction of World War II.

Are you going in Gdańsk?

  • Over 30 attractions on an interactive map
  • Audio guide on your phone
  • Recommended restaurants, cafés, and museums
  • Links for bookings and ticket purchases
  • Hidden gems and iconic landmarks
  • Explore at your own pace without a guide
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Main Town

A visit to Gdańsk wouldn’t be complete without seeing St. Mary’s Church, one of the largest brick churches in the world. Built in the Gothic style, construction began in 1343 and took 159 years to complete. The church served as a religious and civic center for centuries, supported by Gdańsk’s most powerful families and artisans. It's believed the scale of the project was meant to reflect the city's importance as a coastal power. Inside, you’ll find an array of Gothic styles, including sculptures and altars with no parallels elsewhere. Be sure to admire the graceful statue of the Madonna and the many delicate epitaphs crafted while the church functioned as a necropolis for the city’s elite. Don’t miss the enormous astronomical clock in the north transept. Its mysterious origin story dates back over 500 years, and some locals say it’s cursed. You can hear the full legend during our Gdańsk audio tour in the VacationPoland app.

Take a walk along Gdańsk’s most picturesque street - Mariacka. Once a gathering spot for elegantly dressed ladies sipping tea and gossiping on decorated terraces, the street was also a favorite of Johanna Schopenhauer, mother of philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, whose family lived nearby. Today, the street is filled with galleries, amber shops, pubs, and artisan studios.

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Then head down to the Long Embankment, a scenic waterfront made from a series of connected piers. Here, richly decorated facades blend with utilitarian port buildings. You’ll also get a view of Europe’s oldest surviving port crane - a marvel of medieval engineering used both as a hoist and watergate. The area also features amber exhibitions, a wide range of cafés and restaurants, and in summer, historic galleons dock here offering river cruises.

Stop at the Green Gate, once intended to host Polish monarchs visiting Gdańsk. Interestingly, none of them ever stayed there, preferring the comfort of private townhouses. Want to know why - and where the real royal residence was? Download the VacationPoland app and listen to our guided tour.

Keep going along Długa Street, once home to the city’s wealthiest citizens. Originally a trade route, it later became the royal parade path and a venue for festivals, tournaments, and public performances. Today, Długa is one of Gdańsk’s most iconic streets.

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At its heart lies another legendary landmark - Neptune’s Fountain. Proposed by the mayor and city council, the statue of the Roman god of the sea was meant to crown an old well and symbolize Gdańsk’s wealth and connection to the Baltic.

Nearby stands the grand tower of Gdańsk Town Hall, the city’s most important civic building since the Middle Ages. It once housed municipal authorities and now hosts the Gdańsk History Museum, where visitors can admire lavish merchant halls. The same rooms that once held courts, collected taxes, and welcomed royalty are now filled with murals, ornate stuccowork, marble fireplaces, ceiling paintings, and a remarkable series of paintings titled Civic Virtues in Dutch Mannerist style. In summer, visitors can also enjoy a rooftop viewing terrace with stunning panoramas of the city.

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Which Museum to Visit?

Maritime Museum

No trip to a port city is complete without visiting a museum that chronicles the history of shipbuilding. The museum spans several venues, including a traditional exhibit inside the historic Żuraw Crane and the original first sea vessel built at the Gdańsk Shipyard after World War II. Exhibits explore maritime culture, technological progress, and feature works by renowned seascape painters.

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Museum of the Second World War

This is Poland’s most impressive museum. Built on a historic battlefield, it offers one of the largest exhibition areas in Europe. The displays cover the origins of the conflict, the 1939 battle on the peninsula, and the experiences of Polish citizens during the war. Using artifacts, cutting-edge technology, vivid installations, and powerful reconstructions, it presents a comprehensive timeline of WWII from both a historical and human perspective.

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Artus Court

A snow-white mansion named after King Arthur that once served as a leisure club for Gdańsk’s elite. Built by the Brotherhood of St. George, it hosted performances by musicians, singers, acrobats, and jugglers. Between shows, guests played games of chance—dice, cards, and wagers. Today, visitors can explore the court’s Gothic interiors, admire its luxurious tapestries, ship models, suits of armor, and heraldic emblems. Many myths and legends are tied to this place, and you can hear them on our Gdańsk tour in the VacationPoland app.

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Where to Eat?

For Breakfast:

Z innej Parafii – A cozy riverside café known for its delicious breakfasts and peaceful atmosphere. A great place to start your day.

Nie/Mięsny – A vegetarian and vegan restaurant with Eastern influences. Try the Turkish breakfast with homemade yogurt.

For Lunch:

OSTRO – A pizzeria perfect for lunch with a view of sailing yachts.

Cała naprzód – Famous for homemade Polish food and a rooftop terrace above the Maritime Museum with beautiful views of Gdańsk.

For Dinner:

Zafishowani – Specializes in gourmet seafood dishes with a modern twist. We recommend their signature seafood platter.

Motlava – Combines traditional Polish cuisine with contemporary culinary trends. Ideal for a relaxing evening meal.

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Where to Grab a Coffee?

Kawana Łąkowa – A hidden gem for true coffee lovers. They serve excellent V60 coffee made from locally roasted beans.

Eklerownia – A paradise for anyone with a sweet tooth. You’ll find a wide variety of eclairs, from classic to avant-garde, on Gdańsk’s most charming street.

W starym Kadrze – A unique blend of café and private cinema. Enjoy specialty coffee while watching European and indie American films. Perfect for a rainy evening in Gdańsk.

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Gdańsk is a city full of fascinating places and legends. To make your trip even smoother and more exciting, use the VacationPoland app — your guide to a perfectly planned journey.

Are you going in Gdańsk?

  • Over 30 attractions on an interactive map
  • Audio guide on your phone
  • Recommended restaurants, cafés, and museums
  • Links for bookings and ticket purchases
  • Hidden gems and iconic landmarks
  • Explore at your own pace without a guide
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app-promo

What to see nearby?

Sopot

Of course, you should spend at least one day in this seaside town — take a walk by the sea past historic villas, and then relax on the beach. For full comfort, we recommend the unique M15 Sopot project — the only saunas in Poland located right on the beach. In the midst of Sopot's sandy expanses, guests are offered the opportunity to heat up their bodies while contemplating the Baltic Sea and then cool off in the refreshing water or relax on a lounge chair with a cup of herbal tea. Guests can also indulge in aromatherapy sessions or rent a sauna for private use.

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Ethnographic Park

If you're traveling with children, we recommend visiting the open-air museum in Wydza. The project began with an exhibition in a small peasant hut from the 18th century, showcasing typical household and farming equipment of that time and a valuable collection of gold embroidered headdresses, paintings on glass, and ceramics. Over the course of 100 years, the museum founders' scientific research and social activities led to the expansion of the park's area to 22 hectares. Guests can spend several hours strolling through the authentically recreated Polish village, complete with cottages, manors, a school, a church, a forge, inns, and craft workshops. Many of the buildings are decorated with authentic equipment and paintings that create a captivating atmosphere.

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Malbork Castle

Visiting the largest preserved medieval castle in Europe will delight history enthusiasts. Originally, a small monastery was located on the site of the great Teutonic fortress, but it was deemed unsuitable for the Order's grand plans. Therefore, in the early 14th century, the construction of the most powerful state on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea began in Malbork. Over the course of forty years, the temple was transformed into a powerful fortified castle, meeting all the needs of the Grand Master and the monks. Surrounded by deep moats and several rings of defensive walls, it contained several representative rooms, a church, living quarters, the Great Refectory, a hospital for elderly and sick brothers, and the Palace of the Grand Masters. Over time, the fortress was rebuilt and modified several times, but it never reached greater heights.

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Today, the magnificent red-brick castle is a hallmark of the region. Museum visitors are invited to explore the interesting and innovative central heating system for its time, various grand halls and chambers, as well as visit exhibitions of antique weapons, amber, and porcelain items.

Recommendation. Visiting the castle is possible with a guided tour or an audio guide. The overall route takes at least three hours, so it is worth planning your time in advance. In addition, entry to the building is limited to certain hours and a limited number of people, so we recommend purchasing museum tickets in advance on the museum's website. After the tour, take a walk around the castle. Themed street restaurants can be found here, where you can enjoy traditional kvass and local dishes.

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