Gdańsk in 24 hours (Alternatively through Poland)
It's not difficult to fall in love with Gdańsk. It can delight at first sight, both local tourists and those from abroad, and even the residents. It has a lot to offer as an independent city, but it can also be one of the stops when visiting the entire Tri-City, which includes Gdynia and Sopot. There is something magical in coastal cities, their crisp breeze stimulates action, and the smell brings adventure to mind. Something interesting happens in them in every season of the year, and the choice of the right time depends on one's tastes and interests. Summer months are a time of rest and greater outdoor activity, while in autumn and winter it's worth visiting museums and galleries, because they are definitely not overcrowded.
What to see in Gdańsk?
The city center of Gdańsk is divided into two parts: the Young Town and the Old Town. Both are distinguished by several important points on the route of every tourist visiting Gdańsk. In the Young City there are mainly the buildings related to the Gdańsk Shipyard and Solidarity, so in the first place it is worth going to Solidarity Square with the Monument of the Fallen Shipyard Workers rising 42 meters high, commemorating the 1970 workers' rebellion suppressed by the communist police; and also visit the European Solidarity Center, in which not only the museum and library functions, but also it is a place for civic meetings and a conference and educational space.
ESC opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00, from October to April the box offices are closed on Tuesdays, and on other days open until 16-17.
The ticket price for a permanent exhibition is PLN 20 for a regular ticket and PLN 15 for a reduced price.
A thorough tour of the exhibition takes a minimum of three hours, so book yourself a lot of time to walk around the ESC. You can buy a coffee or something to eat on site while sightseeing.
More about the permanent exhibition and the latest news can be found on the official website of the centre HERE.
If the weather is good, take a short walk to see the Main Train Station, located 15 minutes from Solidarity Square. Built in brick and sandstone in 1900, this station is a showcase of the city.
In the Old Town you can visit, among others, the Old Town Hall, the Great and the Small Mill, which will be a treat for architecture lovers, as well as the Monument to the Defenders of the Polish Post, as an important monument commemorating events that took place during World War II. One cannot forget about the nearby World War II Museum, a modern building which permanent exhibition tells about the causes, course and effects of the war and shows the fate of soldiers and ordinary citizens during these tragic events.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday until 18:00 (latest entry at 17:00). The tour takes a really long time, so you need to reserve a minimum of 4 hours. A normal ticket costs PLN 23, while a reduced ticket is PLN 16. You can read more about this place on the official website HERE.
The most visited part in Gdańsk by tourists is the so-called Main City. It is worth taking a walk along the Royal Road, which combines the most representative streets of the city: Długa Street and Długi Targ Street, decorated on both sides with stunning tenements. Interiors of one of the burgher houses, the so-called The Uphagen House has been made available to visitors, which is a rare exception on a European scale. The ticket costs 10 PLN normal and 5 PLN reduced, guided tours 30 PLN.
During the walk you can see places such as the Main City Hall, where the headquarters of the Historical Museum is now located, the famous Neptune Fountain, the Golden Tenement House, and at the top of the streets: the Green Gate and further the Green Bridge, from which there is a fantastic view of Granary Island, Motława River and buildings adorning both banks, such as the Crane or the Polish Baltic Philharmonic.
These are just some of the important and interesting buildings in Gdansk. It takes several days, maybe even a week, to visit all of them, so if you have the opportunity, visit Gdańsk as often as possible!
Where to eat in GDAŃSK?
Gdańsk has extensive gastronomy facilities that appeal to different, also demanding tastes. Vegans and vegetarians will easily find something for themselves, not to mention omnivores. A great option for a nutritionally mixed company is the Nie / Mięsny restaurant with the same extensive menu for carni- and herbivores. It is located on the other side of the Granary Island going straight from the Green Gate. A walk there takes 10-15 minutes. Unfortunately, I didn't have the opportunity to eat there, so I do not know if it is tasty, but the reviews are encouraging. Restaurant menu No / Meat can be found HERE.
A real mecca for people on a plant diet is Gdańsk's Wrzeszcz, in which district there are the most vegan and vegetarian diners. We went to Avocado Vegan Bistro, a small, cozy eatery serving 100% vegan dishes, from classic variations of Polish cuisine to Asian dishes and American burgers. We were tempted by the traditional soy pork chop with mashed potatoes and salad, potato croquette stuffed with sauerkraut (yummy!) and pumpkin pancakes with tofu cheese. We paid 80 PLN for everything including drinks, which is not much, and we ended dramatically full :) I will only add that the food was very fresh and really tasty. I recommend it not only to vegans! ;) You will find them on Facebook HERE.
The afternoon coffee we decided to have around the center, near the Motława River, in From Another Parish, a cafe stylized as late PRL, where each piece of furniture comes from a different set, although it composes a well-chosen and tasteful interior together with the others furniture pieces. The offer includes a rich breakfast and a wide range of cakes and desserts, as well as vegetarian or vegan options. Noteworthy, first of all, is delicious coffee, served with plant milk of choice: soy or peas! You can find them on Facebook HERE.
Where to sleep in GDAŃSK?
Gdański Gród Apartments is a fantastic option for those who want to live in the city center. Leaving the tenement, just turn behind the building and you are already by the Motława River. Not only the location deserves praise, but also a modern and comfortable finish, well-equipped kitchen, overall cleanliness and the reasonable price. All apartments of Gdański Gród are located in a meticulously renovated tenement house right on the street, so the only downside may be possible noise. The smallest apartment we slept in was on the ground floor and you could actually hear if someone passed by the window. We didn't hear the neighbors though. In addition, everything else was a plus, we could even stay longer in the room on the day of departure.
What did I do in Gdańsk?
I was in Gdańsk for the first time in the spring this year, literally for one day, when we drove to see this city by public train from Sopot. Those few hours were enough for me to fall in love with this place, so when I found out a few months later that the first edition of the Women of the Internet Festival would be organized in Gdańsk, I knew that I could not miss it. I managed to get a ticket and come to Gdańsk for the weekend. On Saturday and Sunday I spent whole days at the European Solidarity Center, where I participated in lectures and workshops on networking. As usual, lectures related to running Instagram were very popular. For me they were also helpful, but what I like the most at such festivals is the opportunity to meet interesting people, exchange experiences and dispel some doubts. I recommend them to all online creators!
And since I was educating myself most of the day, I didn't have much time to explore the city. Counting all active hours, there were about 24 of them (hence the title of this article). I hope to be back soon to see more! And you, when do you plan a trip to Gdansk?