Walking around Gdańsk, Poland

“Where would want to live, if you had to (wanted to) move somewhere else, and why?”

I was recently asked this question in a networking group that was supposed to help the participants get to know one another better.

My answer? “Gdańsk, Poland.”

It’s not where I grew up (that would be Warsaw, Poland), and I’ve only spent two days in Gdańsk proper, once in 2016 and once in 2019, but I know I would love to live close to the Baltic sea and beaches, and also within short distance of this charming, historic town.

Gdańsk is supposed to host Women in Travel Summit in September 2021 (it was supposed to happen in September 2020, but was cancelled because of the pandemic), and I hope my fellow female travelers will decide to visit this beautiful town, because it definitely is worth seeing. Unfortunately I won’t be able to go, since I’m planning to travel elsewhere in August. (I attended just one Women in Travel Summit – in 2015 in Boston. I had a blast and I hope to do it again some time.)

The featured photo above was taken in one of the most touristy areas – Długie Pobrzeże = the Long Strand, and shows one of the ships that are part of the Galeony sightseeing tours.

One of the most photographed buildings on Długie Pobrzeże is Brama Żuraw – a 15th-century brick Waterfront Crane towering above the canal, that nowadays houses the National Maritime Museum. Visit the Crane virtually to see what it looks like inside.

Brama Żuraw - a 15th-century brick waterfront crane towering above the canal, that nowadays houses the National Maritime Museum on Długie Pobrzeże = Long Strand, in Gdańsk, Poland. — Brama Żuraw – a 15th-century brick waterfront crane towering above the canal, that nowadays houses the National Maritime Museum on Długie Pobrzeże = Long Strand, in Gdańsk, Poland.

Here’s another shot of the Crane showing more of the Strand.

view on Długie Pobrzeże (Long Strand) with Brama Żuraw (waterfront crane gate) in Gdańsk, Poland — view on Długie Pobrzeże (Long Strand) with Brama Żuraw (waterfront crane gate)

Not too far from the Crane is Mariacka Street worth visiting for its interesting, ornate water spouts and a multitude of amber stores. If you’re shopping for amber, you’re likely to spend here several hours and hundreds if not thousands of złoty (Polish currency). The jewelry is gorgeous, though.

Mariacka Street in Gdańsk, Poland — Mariacka Street, with its interesting, ornate water spouts

one of the many jewelry displays on Mariacka Street, Gdańsk, Poland — one of the many jewelry displays on Mariacka Street

Building at 6 Mariacka Street in Gdańsk, Poland — one of the buildings along Mariacka Street

Another place usually packed with tourists is Długi Targ (Long Market street) together with its famous Neptune fountain, Town Hall (Ratusz), and beautiful, ornate, and colorful buildings surrounding the area.

Długi Targ = the Long Market place with Neptune Fountain and City Hall on the left in Gdańsk, Poland — Długi Targ (Long Market) street with its famous Neptune Fountain and Town Hall on the left

By the way, right across from the Town Hall (Ratusz) is this pretty building in the photo below, now housing a tourist bureau, that apparently offers guided tours in lots of languages (German, English, Russian, Frech, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Italian, Spanish, Croatian, Serbian, Hungarian, Chinese, and Japanese) but for some unexplained reason their site is only in Polish.

One of ornate buildings along Długa (Long) street, Gdańsk, Poland — One of ornate buildings, across from Gdańsk Town Hall at the end Długa (Long) street and the beginning of Dług Targ (Long Market street), where you can find some sightseeing information.

Here’s a better shot of the Neptune Fountain, dating back to 1615. It was saved from destruction during the WWII because its individual fragments were hidden out of Gdańsk, and it returned to Długi Targ in 1954.

Neptune Fountain in Długi Targ (Long Market) in Gdańsk, Poland — Neptune Fountain in Długi Targ (Long Market)

And here’s a better shot of the Town Hall (Ratusz), built around the first half of the 14th century, now housing a historical museum – Muzeum Gdańska. If you’re up to climbing some two hundred steps, you can visit the 80 meters tall tower and see Gdańsk from up above.

Take a look inside the Town Hall thanks to this virtual tour.

You can get a nice shot of the Town Hall from Złota Brama (Golden Gate) at the end of pedestrian Długa (Long) street, full of stores and beautiful buildings.

view onto Długa (Long) Street and Gdańsk Town Hall in the distance from Złota Brama (Golden Gate).

Złota Brama (Golden Gate) is actually a pretty building from the 17th century. Here’s a view from the western side. Obviously the golden decorations are much more striking on a sunny day.

Złota Brama (Golden Gate) in Gdańsk, Poland as seen from the western side — Złota Brama (Golden Gate) from the western side

As you’re wandering around the old city, don’t miss the corner of Tkacka (Weaver) and Piwna (Beer) streets where you can see the gorgeous 17th-century Wielka Zbrojownia (the Great Armory).

Wielka Zbrojownia (Great Armory) on the corner of Tkacka and Piwna Streets in Gdańsk, Poland — Wielka Zbrojownia (Great Armory) on the corner of Tkacka and Piwna Streets

a closer look at Wielka Zbrojownia (Great Armory) on the corner of Tkacka and Piwna Streets in Gdańsk, Poland — a closer look at Wielka Zbrojownia (Great Armory)

Not all of the buildings in downtown Gdańsk are old, but I like how even the newer buildings in Gdańsk, while not as ornate as the old ones, are nevertheless designed to “fit in” with the character of the city.

Buildings on Grobla I Street with a view toward Kaplica Królewska (Royal Chapel) and Bazylika Mariacka (Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

By the way, that white building on the left might look plain in the distance, compared with its neighbors, but it has this gorgeous, one of a kind door. The whole ground floor of those buildings is a pharmacy, so I’m not sure if the door is actually still used, but it sure is striking.

entrance to a building on Grobla I in Gdańsk, Poland — door on Grobla I number 13

buildings along Wyspa Spichrzów (Granary Island) between Zielony Most (Green Bridge) and Most Krowi (Cow Bridge) in Gdańsk, Poland — buildings along Wyspa Spichrzów (Granary Island) between Zielony Most (Green Bridge) and Most Krowi (Cow Bridge)

view onto boats in Gdańsk Marina and buildings along Szafarnia Street next to Most Kamieniarski (Stone Bridge) taken from the northernmost tip of the Granary Island

You can get a nice view of Gdańsk from the observation wheel, Amber Sky, located on Ołowianka island.

observation wheel, Amber Sky, located on Ołowianka island, Gdańsk, Poland — observation wheel, Amber Sky, located on Ołowianka island

However, if you don’t mind walking, you can also get a nice view from Bastion Żubr (Bison Bastion) – one of 14 bastions in the southern part of the old town from the early 17th century.

location of Bastion Żubr (Bison Bastion)

view of old town Gdańsk from Bastion Żubr (Bison Bastion)

view onto Bastion Żubr (Bison Bastion) from 17th century stone locks, Gdańsk, Poland — view onto Bastion Żubr (Bison Bastion) from 17th century stone locks

By the way, as you’re heading toward the Bison Bastion, you might see some kayakers enjoying Gdańsk views from one the canals

kayakers on a canal south of Granary Island, between Chmielna and Toruńska streets, Gdańsk, Poland — kayakers on a canal south of Granary Island, between Chmielna and Toruńska streets

On the way back to town, take a slightly different route, to see Brama Nizinna (Lower Gate) built in 1626 …

Brama Nizinna (Lower Gate) built in 1626, Gdańsk, Poland — Brama Nizinna (Lower Gate) built in 1626

… and Biała Baszta (White Tower) from 1460s

Biała Baszta (White Tower), Gdańsk, Poland — Biała Baszta (White Tower)

For more photos from this beautiful city hop on the Instagram feed of the official Gdańsk tourism office.

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Hope you can see now why I like Gdańsk so much! Though I probably wouldn’t want to live in the city proper, but rather closer to the beaches about 10 km (7 miles) away.

Plaża Jelitkowo (Jelitkowo Beach), Gdańsk, Poland — Plaża Jelitkowo (Jelitkowo Beach)

Where to stay

Both times when we visited Gdańsk, we stayed closer to the beach, not in the city proper.

The company with which we booked a 3-bedroom apartment in 2016 doesn’t offer the apartment where we stayed anymore. You can book a different, one bedroom, apartment in the same building – Villa Sunrise.

The 3-bedroom we booked in 2019 in Jelitkowo part of Gdańsk isn’t available either.

Once it’s safe to travel, you’ll be able to find plenty of places to stay in Sopot or Jelitkowo on Booking.com.