Gdańsk - visit and attractions

a woman with two children is standing by the fountain of neptune, there are a lot of tourists around them, tenement houses with rich decorations behind them — On the right side, one of the symbols of Gdańsk - the Neptune Fountain. Photo by A. Rybczyński

Gdańsk attracts tourists with its more than a thousand years of history, culture and location on the Baltic Sea. It was a royal and Hanseatic city. Gdańsk is considered as a symbolic place of the outbreak of World War II and the beginning of the fall of communism in Central Europe. Currently, Gdańsk is inhabited by nearly half a million people, which makes the city one of the largest in Poland. The world's largest international fair of amber and amber products is held here. Is it worth coming to Gdańsk - for sure! This beautiful, historic city has a lot to offer. I was especially charmed by "Długi Targ" which is the heart and soul of the city. The view of the magnificent tenement houses, Neptune's fountain and Długie Pobrzeże (which is a waterfront promenade) with cafes, pubs and small shops with amber products was fascinating. Visit Gdańsk with me.

More information about Gdańsk you can find on Wikipedia

What to see in Gdańsk?

I recommend visiting in Gdańsk particularly St. Mary's Basilica, which is the largest in the world! brick church that can accommodate 25,000 worshipers and an excellent example of Gothic art, Town Hall with a Museum, the Uphagen's House - Museum of Bourgeois Interiors, The Neptune Fountain, which is the symbol of the city, as well as the Crane Gate, which is the largest and oldest of the preserved port cranes of medieval Europe, which was built in the years 1442-1444, Długa Street and Długi Targ, where the heart of the city is located and the charming Mariacka Street, "Artus Court" which is the most beautiful tenement house in Gdańsk with a unique stove and ship models inside, European Solidarity Centre and much more.

a model of a dark green ship close up — These ships are rally big. Artus Court in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

How far is it from Warsaw to Gdańsk?

The distance from Warsaw to Gdańsk is 340 km.

Is there an airport in Gdańsk?

Yes, there is Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport. It is an international airport located 10 km from the center of Gdańsk and Sopot and 23 km from the center of Gdynia. The port is located near the Tri-City ring road. The number of checked-in passengers classifies the Airport in Gdańsk as the main regional airport and it is currently the 3rd Polish airport behind the Chopin Airport in Warsaw and Balice in Kraków.

What to visit in Gdańsk in one day?

There are many attractions around the historic center like St. Mary's Basilica, Town Hall with a Museum inside, The Neptune Fountain, many wonderful tenement houses, the Crane Gate, “Długi Targ”, waterfront promenade “Długie Pobrzeże”. In my opinion, it is still worth going to Westerplatte even for a moment, for example in the evening (after seeing the attractions in the very center).

Is one day enough to see Gdańsk?

If you want to visit more than just “Długi Targ” and its attractions, I recommend spending a few more days in Gdańsk.

How far is it from Gdańsk to Westerplatte?

The distance from Gdańsk to Westerplatte is only 12 km.

Is it worth seeing Westerplatte?

Definitely, Westerplatte is considered to be the place where World War II began.

So let's start our adventure in Gdańsk :)

The Main Town Hall with its great tower. The Main Town Hall is a Gothic-Renaissance building, located on Długa Street at Długi Targ. The Town Hall dominates the panorama of the Royal Route, the most representative route of the historic part of the city. The origins of the building date back to the early Middle Ages. It was the seat of the authorities of the most important area of Gdańsk, called from the 14th century - the Main City.

a man with two boys is standing in the street of the market square. In the background there is a historic Town Hall with beautiful, high tower, around them there are tenement houses and lots of tourists — Wonderful Town Hall Tower in Gdańsk, we were up there. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The tenement houses in Gdańsk are really beautiful. Look at those figures on top of buildings. Amazing ;)

a man and two children are in the Old Market square, behind them are three trees and colourful tenement houses — Another city for the "sightseeing" collection. Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

We are in Uphagen's house. This is the only one in Poland and one of the few in Europe of 18th-century bourgeois tenement houses open to the public. Today, you can see living and utility rooms in the tenement house. On the second floor, the former bedrooms and the lounge are now rooms for temporary exhibitions.

a woman standing on the stairs inside the tenement house — This is my first time in bourgeois tenement house. Uphagen's house in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyński

a woman in a room in a tenement house, next to her is a boy, behind her is an old standing clock and a wooden table — We are carefully watching the interiors of the Uphagen's house in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyński

a young boy is standing in front of a large, old wardrobe — An old wardrobe in Uphagen's house in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a boy is standing in a room in a historic tenement house — 18th century style. Uphagen's house. Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a woman and two boys standing near tiled stove, on the wall there is a patterned red wallpaper — I really liked this tile stove. Uphagen's house. Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyński

On the first floor there is a living room, the most representative interior of the house. The room is decorated with white paneling with panels presenting ancient buildings. The walls above the paneling are covered with fabrics. The ceiling is decorated with stucco decoration.

a boy is standing in a room, there is maroon fabric or wallpaper on the walls, a crystal chandelier hangs, there is also a table covered with a red tablecloth and chairs with upholstery in the same color — A very representative room in the Uphagen's house in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

On the ground floor of the outbuildings there are utility rooms: a hall, a kitchen with kitchen appliances and a pantry.

a man with two boys is standing by the exhibition, there is a figure of a cook who is cooking, pots and saucepans on the counter. All items are an exhibition — This woman is obviously an artificial model. Uphagen's house. Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The Artus Court is one of the most representative monuments located at the so-called Royal Route in Gdańsk. The Artus Court was built in Gdańsk in the years 1348-1350. Various entertainments took place in the Manor, such as masquerades, arcade games, concerts, and circus art. Over time, the manor served various functions, it was a merchant's house, a court, a stock exchange and even a place for international meetings.

a view on the very decorative tenement houses, tenement house have facade in different colour like red, grey or green — The entrance to the Artus Court in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybzcyński

The Great Furnace from the Artus Court in Gdańsk is a 16th-century monument - a decoration of the Great Hall, which is the main meeting place for the city's elite and the elites of modern Europe. Weighing 13 tons, 10.63 meters high, the furnace, which was the largest device of this type in the world, was decorated with 525 tiles presenting, among others, the crowned heads, both Catholics and Protestants. In the intention of the former authorities of Gdańsk, such a message was to call for tolerance and unity.

The furnace was partially secured during World War II. Some of the tiles were hidden in the countryside for fear of Allied bombing, and some were destroyed or dispersed. About 460 tiles have been preserved. Currently, the stove is after reconstruction, of which 90% are original elements.

a woman and two boys are in a very decorative hall, there is a tiled stove behind them — The great interior of the Artus Court in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyński

a hude tiled stove close up, on each stove tile there is an image of a character, near the stove are a woman and two children — The stove is decorated with tiles with images of the rulers of Europe at that time. On the upper storeys of the stove there are images of ancient and biblical heroes. Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyński

a two boys are in a hall, a model of a green ship hangs from the ceiling, walls are painted — In the Artus Court in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a two boys are in a hall, a model of a bright ship hangs from the ceiling, walls are painted — Magnificent ships hang from the ceiling in the Artus Court in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a large, decorative hall, an antique clock hanging on the wall, a huge tiled stove, many tourists — Many tourists visit this place. Artus Court in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

At the Artus Court, we can admire beautiful ships: Feluka (1579), Mars (1679), st. Jacob/St. James (17th century), Den Heldenmodige (the brave) (18th century), Nord Star (18th century), Model of an English frigate (2nd half of the 19th century), Covenant Ship (2007), Gdansk merchant ship (1775), Friedrich Wilhelm zu Pferde / Frederick William on horseback (mid 20th century), Piotr of Gdańsk (2nd half of the 20th century).

a model of a dark brown wooden ship with three white sails close up — Look at this beauty. Artus Court in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a woman stands in a large, richly decorated room, between rows of chairs, a model of a ship with a white hull hangs above her, — Models of sailing ships from the Artus Court from the period from the 16th to the mid-19th century make up the most valuable collection of this type in Poland. Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyński

a model of a brown, wooden ship without sails close up — Another wonderful model. Artus Court in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

We are in the Town Hall. There is also museum which is worth seeing.

a woman and a boy standing in a decorative room, in from of a historic stove with gold ornaments — A unique furnace in the Town Hall in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyński

In the Hall of the Great Council (the so-called Red Hall) there is a painting "The Apotheosis of Gdańsk", also called "Allegory of Gdańsk Trade". The author of the painting was Isaac van den Blocke. The painting dates from 1608.

this is a fragment of a very decorative ceiling with a triumphal arch painted in a circle — Outstanding ceiling in the Town Hall in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

In the Gdańsk Museum located in the Town Hall.

an old polish car called Warsaw is on an exhibition, two children in front of the car — “Warszawa” was one of the few brands of cars produced in Poland. Now we can see it in the Gdańsk Museum. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

For many years Gdańsk belonged to Germany, the city was called "Danzig" that's why in the museum you see the street signs with names in German like Danzigerstrasse.

a woman and two boys on an exhibition about World War II — The exhibition looks very realistic. The Gdańsk Museum. Photo by A. Rybczyński

a woman and a boy on an exhibition about World War II, on the walls are paintings of old tenement houses, there is also an old bike — We felt like on a German street. The Gdańsk Museum. Photo by A. Rybczyński

the exhibition shows an old pharmacy with many cabinets, glass containers and various utensils — At the exhibition in the Gdańsk Museum. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

During the summer tourist season, you can enter the viewing gallery in the Town Hall tower, from where you can admire a wonderful panorama of Gdańsk from a height of about 50 m.

view from the town hall tower on a city, tenement houses — I liked this view. Panorama of Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyński

view from the town hall tower on the huge brick church — I'm showing my son St. Mary's Basilica in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyński

view from the town hall tower on the huge brick church with tower and spires — The spectacular St. Mary's Basilica. Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyński

view from the town hall tower on the Old Market square — “Długi Targ” in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

the interior of the basilica with a large colored stained glass window, a black chandelier, a golden triptych, the walls of the basilica are white, a cross with the crucified Christ hangs from the ceiling — The interior of St. Mary's Basilica in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The historic city gate of the Main Town. It is the beginning of Długa Street and is part of the Royal Route. The Golden Gate was completed in 1612 according to the design of the architect Abraham van den Blocke. The building is maintained in a mannerist style with references to classical architecture.

a woman and a boy walking along the street in a very historic center — The Golden Gate in the background. We admire Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyński

a woman and a boy are in a historic center, tenement houses around them — If you come to Gdańsk, I hope you will be as happy as I was during our trip. Photo by A. Rybczyński

two boys are standing in front of a bright gate, there are 4 antique figures on the gate, the gate has antique columns finished with Ionic capitals — The Golden Gate close up. Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a woman with two children are standing by a red brick building, this building is next to a light colored gate with greek style columns, many tourists are around them — As you can see, Gdańsk is visited by many tourists (in the weekends there are much more). Photo by A. Rybczyński

a woman and a boy are in front of a big gate made of grey bricks — A renaissance city gate called the High Gate in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyński

a woman and two children are standing by the wharf, an old crane can be seen in the background, a historic ship is standing on the river — "Długie Pobrzeże" ("Long Pobrzeże"), behind us emerges the historic port crane "Żuraw". Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyński

two boys standing in front of a miniature model of an old crane — The model of a historic port crane, which is also one of the water gates in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a woman with two boys is standing at a stand with amber products, tenement houses are behind them — Magnificent carved walls and stalls with amber products are also a characteristic feature of Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyński

Sometime, there's no need to go inside, there's no need to visit a musem to see something special, unique, historic. I love such places like this in my photo. It's not a big deal, but what an impression old doors decorations and carved walls can make.

a woman is sitting on the stairs in front of an old house whose doors are wooden and carved — Somewhere on a charming, small street in Gdańsk. Photo by A. Rybczyński

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