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Gdansk Attractions
Central Gdansk is one of the most pleasantly walkable cities in central Europe. Equip yourself with a copy of Gdansk, The Royal Route, a complimentary pamphlet from the tourist information office, for details about the notable Renaissance houses along the route. Gdansk also has stunning bird's-eye views. Aside from the towers in St. Mary's Church and the Town Hall, the Archaeological Museum (Mariacka 25/26; tel. 58/322-21-00) also has a viewing tower.
11 Results
- Historic Site
Artus Court
One of the most impressive houses in the city was reopened to the public after extensive renovation. The Court, so named after King Arthur (though he had nothing to do with this place), was founded as a meeting place for the town's wealthiest traders and leading dignitaries. The…Around Town
- Neighborhood
Long Waterfront
As you turn off Dugi Targ Street, you come to the Motawa Canal waterfront, a touristy but nevertheless delightful promenade of restaurants, cafes, amber boutiques, and souvenir shops. Street buskers add to the outdoor merriment. Just beyond the Gate of the Holy Spirit (Brama Sw.… - Landmark
Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers
This gigantic steel monument, some 40m (131 ft.) high, was built in 1980 to commemorate the 44 people who died during the bloody anti-Communist riots of 1970. Its construction was one of the demands put forward by the striking workers in August 1980. The design is replete with… Monumental Paintings in Zaspa
This is believed to be the only "gallery" in the world of outdoor murals painted on the walls of a residential estate. Zaspa is a sprawling 1970s housing project constructed on a disused airfield, and it was the former home of Lech Waesa. The grey, Communist-era tower blocks got a…- Religious Site
Oliwa Cathedral
The cathedral's centerpiece is its organ, which has an impressive 7,896 pipes and 110 registers, allowing it the dynamic range to produce rousing renditions of Beethoven's masterpieces, the chirping of birds, the humming of human voices, or the rippling of water. Johann Wuff… - Religious Site
St. Mary's Church
This enormous red-brick church is the largest of its kind in the world. Its nave and 31 chapels can hold more than 20,000 people. The church endeared itself to the people of Gdansk in the years after the imposition of martial law in 1981, when members of the Solidarity trade union… - Neighborhood
St. Mary's Street
You can easily while away an afternoon on this cobblestone lane, drifting from one amber jewelry boutique to the next, stopping at arts and crafts stands, and in between, resting your feet in any of the enticing cafes while you take in the masonry details of the 17th-century burgher… - Historic Site
Stutthof Death Camp
Often labeled as the "forgotten camp," Stutthof was the first concentration camp built outside of Germany by the Nazis. Constructed in September 1939, it was also the last camp to be liberated by the Allies in May 1945. Out of the 110,000 Jews and others held here, an estimated 70%… - Neighborhood
The Royal Route: The Long Street and Long Market
You couldn't ask for a more strikingly beautiful and colorful main street than Duga and Dugi Targ, the thoroughfare of the Main Town (Gówne Miasto). As you walk its length, from the Golden Gate at the western end to the magnificent Green Gate at the eastern end, bear in mind that… - Landmark
Town Hall
This is easily one of the country's finest town halls. The original building dates from the 14th century, but it was badly damaged during World War II, and what you see today is a meticulous reconstruction. Check out the Red Room (Sala Czerwona), which lives up to its name with a… - Historic Site
Westerplatte
World War II began here. On September 1, 1939, the German gunboat Schleswig-Holstein first fired on a small garrison of about 180 Polish troops on the wind-swept Westerplatte Peninsula. The Poles lead by Major Henryk Sucharski, though severely outnumbered, held out valiantly,…
Gdansk Shopping
For centuries, the center of the Baltic amber trade was Gdansk, and it's still the place to get amber accessories and other amber crafts. You'll find no shortage of amber dealers in town. The biggest concentration is on the main street of Duga and along the prettier but just as crowded Mariacka. While the majority of the dealers are reputable, amber fakes abound, so it's caveat emptor. The Amber Museum is a good place to learn how to detect the real McCoy. If you haven't time for the museum, Bernstein (Dugi Targ 22/23; tel. 58/305-15-97; www.bernstein-ninard.com), a third-generation jeweler, can give you a quick demo on recognizing the genuine article. (Note: Real amber floats in salt water, while the fakes simply sink.) Galeria S&A (Mariacka 36; tel. 58/305-22-80; www.s-a.pl) is one of three shops on Mariacka Street with a certification from Societas Svccinorvm in Polonia (the International Amber Association). It also has an outlet on the ground floor of the Amber Museum.
Another 100% Gdansk take-away is Goldwasser vodka. While the sweetish taste is not everyone's glass of tipple, who could pass up flakes of gold in their cocktail? You can buy a gift box at the Goldwasser restaurant. Kashubian folk art (Kashubian is an ethnic minority group) in the form of embroidered linen is also a unique regional gift. You'll find them on Mariacka Street or at Galeria Sztuki Kaszubskiej (Sw. Ducha 48; tel. 503/005-978; www.gskart.pl). Benedicte (Garbary 5; tel. 58/305-69-03; www.benedicite.pl) is good for tea, honey, and fruit preserves made by Benedictine monks in Poland and other Central European countries. Hala Targowa (Plac Dominkanski 1; tel. 58/346-31-33; www.halatargowa.pl) is a traditional fresh produce and household goods market frequented by locals. From Monday to Saturday starting at 9am, you can pick up seasonal fruits, cheese, sausages, and pierogi for picnics.
Get "Stoned"
After a tour of the Amber Museum, you'll know amber is not just for dressing up, but did you know that you could drink it, too? Steeping fruits, nuts, and spices in vodka to make nalewka is a very homey Polish pastime. But even for nalewka-savvy Poles, immersing amber granules in vodka comes as a novelty. Don't go dunking your funky pendants into alcohol; you need the unpolished pebbles, which you can find in stalls along the Motawa Canal or Mariacka Street. Brama Mariacka (Mariacka 25/26; tel. 668/163-303) sells them in packets or bottles at 7 z. Add 50g (1 3/4 oz.) of amber into 0.5L (17 oz.) of pure vodka and leave in a dark place for 10 days for the resin to dissolve. It's reportedly good as a rub on temples to alleviate headaches. Or add to tea as a warmer on chilly days.
Gdansk Nightlife
The Performing Arts
Most of the serious culture here revolves around two venues: the Fryderyk Chopin Baltic Philharmonic (Oowianka 1; tel. 58/320-62-62; www.filharmonia.gda.pl) and the State Baltic Opera (al. Zwyciestwa 15; tel. 58/763-49-12; www.operabaltycka.pl). The Philharmonic's main home base is the stunningly restored site right across the Motawa canal in the center of the Old City. You can buy tickets at the Motawa box office (tel. 58/763-49-06) or at the performance venue up to 4 hours before the show. The Opera maintains a lively program in season, with visiting and local companies. You can buy tickets online or at the box office during office hours, Tuesday to Friday from noon to 7pm and Saturday from 2 to 7pm.
From May to October, there's a constant stream of music and performing arts festivals in the Tri-City. Get the current schedule from http://rozrywka.trojmiasto.pl or www.gdansk4u.pl.
Cafes, Pubs & Clubs
Most night owls make a beeline for Sopot after sunset, but the nightlife in Gdansk isn't lackluster, especially in the recent years. It's worked (and partied) hard in shedding its image as a venue suitable only for teens and students.
