Choose one of our cheap Gdansk city breaks and you'll arrive in this Polish city which sits on the Baltic coast of Poland, a port town with an unusually extravagant wealth of fabulous architecture.
During your Gdansk city break, you'll see the old town of Gdansk has been thoroughly restored after the destruction caused by World War II, leaving it once more with a beautiful city centre to wander around.
Here you can take a trip on the waters that made the town what it is today, jumping on a pleasure boat cruise with plenty of stop-offs and waterside beer gardens along the way.
Gdansk is an import port situated at the mouth of the Vistula River on the Baltic Sea, existing throughout history as a major trading centre. It's the best known of the Tri-City complex that it forms with the modern seaport of Gdynia and the fashionable beach resort town of Sopot.
Its turbulent history includes the rule of the Teutonic Knights in the 14th century, who then lost it to Prussia, and after the first shots of World War II were fired on the nearby peninsula of Westerplatte, it was occupied by Nazi Germany in 1939.
Like many Polish towns, Gdansk lay in ruins after the war, but it was meticulously rebuilt over a 20-year period, returning it to its former glory. The interesting architecture and beautiful painted buildings are part of the town's historic charm, and for those interested in World War II it is a fascinating destination.
The richest architecture is visible in the historic quarter of the Main Town. Its primary thoroughfare, known as the Royal Way, is spectacular. Lined with magnificent buildings featuring beautifully painted facades and entered through grand stone gateways at either end, this was the route along which the Polish Kings paraded during their visits.
The most splendid façade in town belongs to the Golden House, one of Gdansk's most impressive buildings, along with the Town Hall and Artus Court. In front of the Court, the gathering place of the old merchants, stands the Renaissance-style Neptune's Fountain.
Along the waterfront, with its fashionable restaurants and cafes, the huge Gdansk Crane dominates the promenade, the largest crane in medieval Europe which today houses the Maritime Museum.
Parallel to the Royal Way is Gdansk's most picturesque street, Mariacka Lane, lined with quaint 17th-century houses with decorative steps and iron railings. The gigantic St Mary's Church towers over the city and offers splendid panoramic views.
The city centre is small and compact and easy to navigate on foot, but buses and trams operate a frequent and regular service throughout the day. Tickets should be bought at kiosks before boarding.
Taxis are reasonably inexpensive and booking by phone is cheaper than hailing one on the street. As tourists can be overcharged it is best to ask at your hotel what a fair price would be for your journey and agree on a fare with the driver before setting off. Ride-share apps also operate in the city.
The fast train system (SKM) is the most efficient way to get between the three towns comprising the Tri-City area. Trains run pretty much every 10 to 15 minutes between 5am and 7pm through the Tri-City, and less frequently outside of these hours with only occasional trains between 12am and 4am. Tickets for the SKM can be bought at ticket machines which can be found on most platforms and have instructions in English and a few other languages. Children under four travel for free on the fast train system.
The Gdansk-Sopot-Gdynia Plus Tourist Card, which can be bought at tourist information points throughout the city, will allow visitors to use the Tri-City transport network free of charge, as well as providing discounts for many attractions, and is well worth buying for tourists who will be spending some time in the area.
Gdansk is Poland's major historic trading port and a good place to visit if you want a holiday filled with visual delights. The best thing about a holiday in Gdansk is strolling the streets of the Old Town to admire the beautiful historic buildings, which were restored after being laid to waste by bombing raids during World War II.
Gdansk also has a lively waterfront area where tourists congregate in pavement cafes and excellent restaurants, and a number of other worthy attractions including Oliwa Cathedral, St Mary's Church, Oliwa Park and the quaint and colourful Mariacka Lane, which is lined with 17th-century houses.
Gdansk forms the Tri-City complex with the modern port of Gdynia and the popular coastal resort town of Sopot, Poland's best spot for a beach holiday. The starting point for the German invasion of Poland was the Westerplatte Peninsula, where some of the barracks and guardhouses of the courageous Polish defensive force still stand and a huge memorial has been built in their honour. Westerplatte, which can be reached by boat, car, or bicycle, is now one of the region's most popular tourist attractions.
Summer is the best time to travel to Gdansk, when the weather is warm, although it is still a good idea to take a jumper for the cool evenings. Winters are best avoided as they can be frigid and wet and the sun is seldom seen.
