City promenade ()
This city is a character-filled gem of the Baltic Sea. The welcoming streets of Gdańsk have seen many curious faces, ready to delight in the offerings of sought-after amber jewelry and goods. Try freshly made pierogies or seafood under Dutch-style architecture and take in the culture shaped by its past as a massive trading hub of central Europe. During the Renaissance, this was the most prosperous port city on the Baltic coast. Now, the nightlife buzzes with gathering spaces, full of craft beer, food and conversation along the riverfront. The many beautiful sites and the gravity of its return from the damage sustained during WWII strikes many visitors. The painstaking work to restore the history here ensures that it is a worthwhile destination in the Pomeranian region of Poland.
Must-See Landmarks
A great place to start is the “Muzeum Bursztynu,” or Amber Museum. This large brick building may look imposing because it was a torturous prison tower, but today it glows with magnificent artifacts telling the story of amber’s uses throughout the centuries. The Baltic region is well known for its deposits of amber, and as the Amber Museum displays, it comes in a surprising variety of colors. In the shops of Gdańsk, you are sure to find your own amber as a keepsake or gift. Be sure to walk west of the Amber Museum, because next door you will find an idyllic former flour mill and the “Most Miłości,” or Love Bridge, covered with locks.
Want to experience the city like a local? A little casual shopping at “Hala Targowa,” or Market Hall, may be in order. Here, you can browse produce and shopping stalls immersed in the everyday bustle. From here, head east through the Straganiarska Gate to the river. You can walk out to the AmberSky Ferris wheel, which allows visitors to have a vast view of the city, in an enclosed, air-conditioned cabin.
A 7-minute walk from AmberSky, the Museum of the Second World War has become a popular destination since its opening in 2017. The interactive storytelling pays tribute to the tragedies of WWII and its effects on the Polish people.
The great view from up above may have allowed for a view of the unique “Brama Żuraw” or Crane Gate. This served as a multipurpose port building to move cargo and pull masts up on ships since the 15th century. The crane is a part of the National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk, which has its own impressive history to examine. If someone in your traveling party is more comfortable on a boat than on land, this is an exploit you’ll have to take them to.
Feeling hungry yet? If you are looking for regional fare, the casual eatery Gdański Bowke has what you need to fuel more exploration. It lies south of the Crane Gate, just past St. Mary’s Gate. Drifting by your tableside, you may notice a pirate-like ship, the “Czarna Perła”, or the Black Pearl, should you want to hop aboard day or night. This galleon-style ship will take you up to the Westerplatte, where you can explore the location of WWII’s first battle in September 1939. Visitors can visit the memorial to the defenders and the barracks ruin at the site.
One of the popular main stretches of the city, “Długi Targ” or the “Long Market” is also waiting to be explored. It is best to start your walk at one of the gates marking each end, one called the Golden Gate and the other nearest the river, the Green Gate. Much of this city was scarred by WWII, including the original 17th-century Golden Gate, but it was restored as a fitting marker for one of the ultimate shopping and dining stops in the city. Down the Długi Targ, you will find the Museum of Gdańsk beside the extravagant Neptune's Fountain. In this square behind Neptune, you will also find the ornate Artus Court, filled with works of art and curiosities depicting Arthurian legend. Merchants and nobles alike were very fond of this theme in the 14th century, and it shows. The wealthy seafarers of the city also left the mark of their trade, in the form of floating ship displays and other maritime influences.
If you have more time in the Baltic region and the weather is on your side, an adventure by train to the nearby spa town of Sopot can be a delightful offshoot. Just hop on a 20-minute train ride at the “Gdańsk Główny” train station. Seashells and amber are known to wash up on the white sand beach occasionally, and visitors can check out the pier market, held even in colder weather.
Fun Fact: For “The Witcher” fans, the game “Witcher III: The Wild Hunt,” takes inspiration from several architectural and symbolic elements of Gdańsk in their fictional city of Novigrad. They even have their own crane gate in the game!
