Gdansk
From World travel guide
Gdansk (Polish: Gdańsk, German: Danzig) is a city in Poland on the Baltic Sea. It is the capital of Pomerania. Gdańsk with nearby Sopot and Gdynia are often referred as Triple-city (pl: Trójmiasto).
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Understand
Its position on the Baltic has historically made Gdansk one of the most important port cities in Eastern Europe.
Gdansk is also known as the birthplace of Solidarity, the labor and democracy movement that helped to bring down the Communist government in Poland. Do not be fooled by the Gdansk being famous for its ship yards, Gdansk is a beautiful city. Although many of the old buildings were damaged or destroyed in WW II, they have been sympathetically restored or recreated.
Get in
By plane
Flights from Copenhagen or Munich for example, to Gdansk's own small airport. Avoid the unofficial rip off taxi's who will pounce on you as soon as you have cleared security, and if you are travelling light you can take a bus to the city centre.
By train
Train timetable available here: http://rozklad.pkp.pl/bin/query.exe/en?
By car
By bus
By boat
Ferries eg from Stockholm
Get around
Trams and buses are cheap and frequent. Locals are keen to help with directions but always ask several people and see if they agree.
- Tickets are based on travel time, so you need to know estimate duration of journey or have a few tickets to check when the previous expired.
- There is 24h ticket (9.10 zł) valid on all trams, buses during the day and on night buses.
Use local train (SKM) to quickly go to further destinations.
See
- Old Town, wander around the old streets admiring the architecture
- Long Street and Long Market
- The Hall of the Main City
- Artus Court
- Neptune Fountain
- Crane over the Motława River
- Długie Pobrzerze (Motława River bank)
- Golden Gate
- Green Gate
- Golden House
- St Mary's Street
- St Mary's Church
- St Nicholas Church
- St John’s Church
- St Catherine's Church
- St Bridget’s Church
- Sołdek Ship (Museum)
- Royal Chapel
- Grand Mill
- Highland Gate
- Hall of the Old City
- New City Hall
- Nowy Port Lighthouse
- Memorial to fallen Shipyard Workers in Solidarity Square
- Museums
- “Roads to Freedom” exhibition
- Maritime Museum
- Archaeological Museum
- Tower Clock Museum
- Brzezno peer
- Gdansk Post Office
- Uphagen house
- Maiden in the window
- Oliwa Cathedral, Oliwa Park
- Dominician Fair
- Amber shops
- ZOO
Do
- Take a ferry
- around Gdańsk port
- to Westerplatte
- to Sopot and Gdynia
- to Hel
- Swim in the sea (often cold)
Learn
Work
Buy
Gdansk is sometimes called the Amber Capital of the World. The surrounding area is the richest known source of this semi-precious stone, and the product can be found in many of the city's shops. The ones with insects in are much more expensive!
Eat
Budget
Mid-range
- Fish on one of bars on Motława River bank (25 zł/meal)
Splurge
Drink
Sleep
Budget
- During summer vacation months places in students hostels.
- Gdansk University of Technology. DS nr 1 (students hostel #1). Traugutta 115, +48583471597, 50 zł/single room, 70 zł/double. Take a bus 115 or 19 from Gdańsk Wrzeszcz railway station.
Mid-range
Splurge
Contact
Stay safe
Cope
=Tourist information
- Tourist Information Centre, 27 Heweliusza Street, +48 58 301 43 55
- PTTK Gdańsk, 45 Długa st., +48 58 301 91 51, +48 58 301 37 52, mailto:biuro@pttk-gdansk.pl|pttk-gdansk.pl, http://www.pttk-gdansk.pl/
Get out
- Take a train to Sopot, a pleasant seaside resort with a sandy beach and plenty of Cafes and restaurants.
External links
Dmoz:Europe/Poland/Voivodships/Pomerania-Kashubia/Gdansk WikiPedia:Gdansk
