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The old town of Gdańsk, Poland
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GdańskTravel Guide

Poland5 stories

A Hanseatic port on the Baltic where amber shops line gabled lanes, shipyard cranes recall the Solidarity movement, and sandy beaches are a tram ride away.

Is Gdańsk right for you?

When to come

Late spring through early autumn

Around 23°C by day in August, 2°C in January — recorded at the local weather station.

What it costs

Mid-range. Comfortable without planning around money, expensive if you stop counting.

What we've planned, and who for

We have a full day here planned hour by hour. Longer stays are covered by subject rather than by route.

Gdańsk is inA proper winterDeepest in Europe
When to go
January: around 2 degrees by day, -3 at night, 29 millimetres of rain, cold, some precipitation.
February: around 3 degrees by day, -3 at night, 24 millimetres of rain, cold, some precipitation.
March: around 7 degrees by day, 0 at night, 28 millimetres of rain, dry.
April: around 12 degrees by day, 4 at night, 32 millimetres of rain, some rain.
May: around 17 degrees by day, 8 at night, 53 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
June: around 20 degrees by day, 12 at night, 59 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
July: around 23 degrees by day, 14 at night, 79 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
August: around 23 degrees by day, 14 at night, 70 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
September: around 19 degrees by day, 10 at night, 65 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
October: around 13 degrees by day, 6 at night, 55 millimetres of rain, some rain.
November: around 7 degrees by day, 2 at night, 43 millimetres of rain, some rain.
December: around 3 degrees by day, -2 at night, 36 millimetres of rain, some rain.
Cold to hot, by dayDry to wetWhen we would go

Late spring through early autumn

Average daily highs, recorded at Gdansk (1991-2020).

Where this comes from

Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) (via Wikipedia 'Gdansk')

Budget level

Mid-range

Typical cost profile for visitors

Combine it with
Plan itWhere to stay in Gdańskad · Booking.comTours and tickets
On the map

Finding Gdańsk

Open in Google Maps Larger map
The stories

Reading Gdańsk

Aerial view over the red-tiled rooftops and brick gables of Gdansk's Main Town in golden morning light, with the Motlawa river beyond
01
The List

The Best Day Trips from Gdansk, Ranked

The largest brick castle on earth, a seaside resort with Europe's longest wooden pier, and the beach where the Second World War began — all within an easy ride of Gdansk's old town.

Poland · 2 min
The medieval wooden Crane and the gabled Motlawa waterfront of Gdansk lit up at night and mirrored in the still river
02
Itineraries

Gdansk in 24 Hours: A Plan for the Time-Poor

Gdansk is small, flat and almost entirely walkable, which makes twenty-four hours here unusually productive — provided you pick one great museum and let the other go.

Poland · 10 min
The ornate gabled townhouse facades of Gdansk's Main Town in terracotta, blue-grey and cream, their stucco reliefs, statues and finials rising against a bright blue sky
03
Food

Gdansk Gets Better to Eat Two Stops Up the Line

The Motlawa waterfront feeds the crowds, but Gdansk's cooks have moved to a restored brewery in Wrzeszcz, a park district in Oliwa and a plain bistro in Dolne Miasto, and this is what to order in each.

Poland · 11 min
A yacht motoring down the Motlawa in Gdansk past a half-timbered waterfront building with its terrace tables full, the white AmberSky ferris wheel turning behind it in late golden light.
04
Stays

Sleeping Well in Gdansk, Whatever You Are Spending

In Gdansk you are not only choosing a hotel, you are choosing which of three linked coastal towns you wake up in - and a commuter train every ten minutes makes all of them workable.

Poland · 12 min
The Neptune Fountain against the ornate gabled facades of Long Market in Gdansk's old town
05
The List

Gdańsk, Ranked: The Experiences You Cannot Skip

From the Neptune Fountain to the shipyards that changed European history, here are Gdańsk's essential experiences, ranked — with amber, brick Gothic and Baltic beaches along the way.

Poland · 2 min
In pictures

Gdańsk, framed

Malbork Castle in full: tier on tier of red-tiled roofs and red brick rising behind the crenellated curtain wall and its corner tower, the Teutonic Knights' great fortress standing over a green sward under a deep blue summer sky.
Photo: MARCIN CZERNIAWSKI / Unsplash
Gdansk's Long Market lined with tall painted burgher houses, cafe umbrellas set out along the cobbles
Photo: Olha / Unsplash
The old town of Gdańsk, Poland
Photo: Małgorzata Romaniuk / Unsplash
The old town of Gdańsk, Poland
Photo: Małgorzata Romaniuk / Unsplash
Our picks

What we'd do in Gdańsk

See and do

Eat and drink

Where to stay

Before you go

Practical essentials for Poland

Money

Polish zloty (PLN) — Poland has not adopted the euro and has set no target date

Language

Polish; English is widely spoken by younger people and throughout Krakow, Warsaw and Gdansk.

Power

Type C/E, 230V 50Hz

Getting around

Trams, buses and metro are cheap and frequent in every city; buy tickets from machines at stops or on board, which take cards, or through apps like jakdojade. Warsaw is the only city with a metro.

Tipping

About 10% is the usual restaurant tip; say the amount before the card is processed or leave it in cash, as Polish terminals often have no tip prompt.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink and meets EU standards.

Driving

Right-hand side; EU and EEA licences are valid as they are, and most other visitors should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their home licence.

Emergency

112 (police 997, ambulance 999, fire 998)

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

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