Table of Contents
Gdansk by motorhome: an unforgettable experience! This city is, for many, one of the most precious jewels in Poland. As you enter this port city, you are captivated by its historical importance and its vibrant present linked to tourism.
For us, it has been the most beautiful city we have visited in Poland, the one we liked the most, with that I tell you everything.
Did you know that it was here that World War II started? Did you know that it is the capital of amber, freedom and solidarity?
Everything has passed through Gdansk. He knew the splendor and lived the misery of war in his own flesh. Gdansk is one of those cities that welcomes you with open arms and what its people describe as the city of freedom.
You have to come!
Gdansk on our route through Poland by motorhome
What to consider before going?
On your trip to Poland by camper, motorhome or on your own, you should get to know Gdansk, the "pearl" of Poland for many and also for us. Gdanks breathes sea air, freedom and solidarity, You can see that in its streets and in its people, it is surely the place in Poland with the most open and progressive people in the state.
Gdanks is the capital of the Baltic Sea in Poland, but it is also the capital of amber, a very famous resin fossil in the city, from which you will surely take a souvenir like us.
Gdanks was also formerly called the barn of Europe And it is that in the old town you will still see many old barns now converted into houses, offices and hotels. They say that most of the wheat in Europe was stored and sold.
We discovered all this and much more, which we will now tell you, thanks to the fact that we toured Gdanks with one of the official Spanish-language guides in the city. Ela, an open and charming place that opened the doors of Gdanks to us and led us to fall in love with its corners and secrets.
Our top 1 recommendation before going: hire an official Spanish-speaking guide
Therefore, if there is something we want to recommend before visiting Gdanks, it is that you hire, if you can, an official Spanish-speaking tourist guide who can accompany you one morning around the city. It is easy, in the same tourist offices writing by mail or in situ they provide you with contacts. But I also leave you here the mobile of Ela, who was our wonderful guide in Gdanks, and that you can contact her by whatsapp: 00+ 48 501 893 260.
For us it was vital in our trip. Ela, not only taught us the essentials and secrets of Gdanks, without having to plan or have headaches, but she also made us meet someone local who helped us solve cultural doubts, learn Polish words, remove prejudices and make friends. that we will remember as a wonderful experience forever. So don't hesitate to hire her or another guide, a great way to get to know a city like Gdansk.
Sincerely, we prefer an individual guide than the impersonal crowded tours that there are, which also do not have flexibility in schedules and do not adapt to the rhythm of our family.
Another recommendation: the Santo Domingo Fair
If you go on vacation to Poland in July or August, we recommend that you make your visit to Gdansk coincide with the city's Santo Domingo Fair.
La Gdansk Santo Domingo Fair takes place the last week of July and the first two of August annually.
It really is a precious time to see it. As you will see from the photos below, we coincided with the fair and it was a success.
The entire historical center of Gdansk is full of handicraft stops and cultural and gastronomic attractions, a pleasure to walk through its streets in those moments that we want to recommend you.
Historical notes: understanding Gdansk
Origins
It is said that the first documents found about the city date back to the XNUMXth century. Gdansks was a fortress city that facilitated trade in Europe, a free city.
First belonging to the Duchy of Pomerania, then the Teutonic Knights occupied it and gave it the name of Dancing.
Danzing always had a lot of autonomy as a city due to its commerce. When in 1440 he joined the kingdom of Poland, he maintained that autonomy.
Occupations
Later there were many who occupied Gdansk later. It belonged to the Republic of the two nations (Poland and Lithuania), the Kingdom of Prussia and the German Empire in World War I.
World War II
Gdanks has indelible traces of World War II and that is why before explaining anything else I will expose you some things you should know before visiting the capital of the Polish Baltic Sea.
During the Second World War it was devastated by the Russians, the city was totally destroyed and what we can see today is the same city as before the war but rebuilt, although on the horizon you will still see a building as it was after the war.
Although many historians now believe that World War II began with a bomb attack on Wieluń, the symbols of the event are: the bombing of the Polish military depot at Westerplatte by the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein and the attack on the Polish post office building in Gdansk. That is why it was also one of the reasons why the World War II Museum was established in this city.
The Fall of Eastern European Communism
Another important historical note is that in Gdansk the Solidarity trade union movement was born, which was the one that led the anti-communist democratic opposition in Eastern Europe that brought down the Berlin Wall.
20 things to see and do in Gdansk
If you travel to Gdansk, be sure to plan a walk through the old town and stay for a minimum of two days. There are not many cities in Poland that are as beautiful, full of life and rich in magnificent monuments as this one and be sure to check out some of the following places in the city that we liked the most.
1 The Market and Long Street ((Długa and Długi Targ in Polish)
In Gdansk everything revolves around the Long Market and Long Street. It is the busiest place for people in Gdansk. A bustle of people, restaurants, shops and historic manor houses full of sculptures and decorative details that you would not see for a whole day.
In the long street you will find the house called Uphagen House of an old merchant that you can visit inside.
There is no corner of this square and street that is not worth stopping to contemplate.
2 The Town Hall
At the junction point between the Mercado Largo and Calle Larga you will find the old Town Hall, currently open to visitors. At the top of its tower you can see a life-size sculpture of the King of Poland Sigismund II, although seen from a distance it seems very small.
Currently the town hall can be visited, it was rebuilt after the war and its great interior is in the red room, decorated with an impressive Venetian painting that explains the symbolism of Gdansk very well. The general admission costs 12 PLN, the reduced 6 PLN and the familiar 20 PLN. On Tuesdays, the entrance is free for all the public.
3 The Fountain of Neptune, the symbol of Gdánsk
In front of the old town hall and at one end of the Long Market, we find one of the most important symbols of Gdansk, the god Neptune on a fountain.
4 The golden door
To enter the Long Street and Long Market you must go through this gate, one of the most important in Gdansk and where the royal route began.
5 The prison tower and torture chamber
Before going through the royal main gate to the long street, we found a large brick tower. The tower of the old prison and torture chamber. Before here was the amber museum.
6 The green door
This gate, although not very green, is the oldest in Gdansk and is the one at the end of the Long Market and that leads to the city's river walk and quay. Today the headquarters of the Gdansk National Museum is located here.
7 The medieval crane gate of Gdánsk, an icon of the city
We follow the route and turning left from the green door we follow the river walk until we reach the big crane and its door.
Gdánsks is also the city of gates, and it is that to enter its historical case it surrounded itself with walls and dozens of gates. A door for everything, one for cows, another for people, etc ... Well, one of the doors that you should not miss, apart from the door where the tourist office is (near the train station) and The others that I tell you, is the gate called the water, the one of the historic medieval crane of Gdánsk from the XNUMXth century, an icon of the city.
8 Gdansk St.Mary's Cathedral with an amazing astronomical clock
St. Mary's Cathedral is the largest brick cathedral in the world and also houses the tallest tower in Gdansk. You can climb its bell tower and contemplate one of the best panoramic views of Gdansk from 82 meters high.
This Gothic-style basilica, today Catholic but formerly Protestant and originally Catholic made by the Teutonics, was devastated in World War II and when they rebuilt it, not having enough money, they painted it all white and did not recover the colorful and beautiful frescoes it housed. Today luckily they are recovering the interior paintings, so we already want to go back to Gdansk and see the complete restoration of the cathedral finished.
The Cathedral of Santa María is beautiful, very large and houses surprising secrets. The first that surprised us was its astronomical clock, very similar to the one in Prague but located inside the basilica.
Entry to the basilica costs PLN 4 and the tower PLN 5.
9 The most beautiful street in Gdansk: Mariacka street
They say that it is the most beautiful street in Gdansk and the truth is that we are not disappointed, it is beautiful. A little street where all its houses have beautiful terraces and in them today there are shops full of amber. A lovely walk.
10 The Bridge of Bread, in Polish Brotbruke: Gdansk's Bridge of Lovers
The so-called Lovers' Bridge is located on the Radun Canal and connects Kovalsk Street with Kozhenn Street. A beautiful corner of the city of Gdansk, where nearby you have a small park to walk around and where you will see an old mill. Here the lovers of the city seal their love with a padlock on the bridge.
11 The Hevelius Monument Park: rest, soak and learn the history of Hevelius
Next to the bridge of lovers or Pan we find this beautiful park. At the end of the park we find the sculpture of Hevelius, one of the most famous people in Gdansk, a great astronomer and inventor called the father of lunar topography and a great inventor of astronomical telescopes.
In the park, apart from the Hevelius sculpture, you have corners of interactive water fountains for the little ones and also in the central building in front of the sculpture you will see a large mural astronomical map.
At the end of the park you will see a very nice old building, it is an old town hall of Gdansk.
12 Visit the amber museum and buy some amber souvenir
Right next to Hevelius Park, next to the canal we find the Gdansk Amber Museum. There you will find thousands of pieces and sculptures made in amber and discover the origins and work of Gdansk amber.
I advance you that you will surely end up buying some amber in Gdansk, so a tip, better than in the street stalls, buy it in a store that you trust. Our guide advised us very well and explained that depending on where they sell you plastic and not amber if it is in a street stall.
Amber is a fossil resin and has a special smell, it is used above all in jewelry. Now, they also explained another utility to us. It is used as a kind of alcohol with rosemary, pieces of amber in alcohol use it as a product for bumps and muscle and joint pain, hence, you will see that they sell empty bottles with small pieces of amber.
13 Stroll around the Motlawa River and cross to Olowianka Island
Just when we cross the green door at the end of the Long Market we can start our river walk around the Motlawa river that forks and creates an intermediate island in the middle of Gdansks where the old granaries of the city are located and where we can see the famous Gdansk waterwheel. .
This river walk is called Dlugie Pobrzeze in Polish.
The walk is not wasted, it is beautiful to see those pointed houses that look like dolls' houses and that were actually barns of the city in the past. Seeing the boats and sailboats on the river is also spectacular.
There are several sailboats and boats that make a cruise for tourists, for a long time we could not do it but it must be very nice to see the city from the perspective of the river.
Finally, a note, to cross to the island of Olowianka where the Gdansk Philharmonic is also, you will have to cross a bridge that can be lifted every 30 minutes, so you may have to wait.
14 Gdansk Maritime Museum
You can visit the Gdansk maritime museum with 3 different locations. One next to the medieval crane bridge and two on the other side, on the island of Olowianka. On the island are the headquarters of the SS Soldek Museum Ship and an old barn. Next to the medieval crane there is the headquarters with 3 not very large floors of temporary exhibitions and an exclusive playroom for children.
15 Museum of the Second World War
A museum that this time we did not visit, as it is not recommended to see it with children, but nevertheless if you go with teenagers or only adults we advise you to see it.
It is located in a modern glazed building that only impresses in it.
Advice on Tuesdays the entrance is free and the cost of hearing aids is € 1, although this is only available in English and not in Spanish.
16 Gdansk European Solidarity Center
You can see in this center a museum, a library and a research center of the Polish city of Gdańsk, dedicated to preserving and exposing the trade union struggle and the message of the Solidarity organization. A place where the memory of what was the anti-communist democratic opposition of the Eastern European Solidarity trade union party is preserved
17 Gdansk Beach
Everything and that Gdansk beach is further from the historic center than Sopot beach, you can go and enjoy the sand and Baltic Sea. It is located 16 km from the center, that of Sopot at 10.
18 Visit and dine in the old industrial neighborhood turned into trendy places
Quite far from the center and old town of Gdansk is a totally different neighborhood. An area that housed old factories now converted into cultural and art centers of the city. A neighborhood that now houses a good number of the best modern restaurants in Gdansk. Although it is far away, it has one good thing and that is that it has many large parking lots.
That is why we decided to visit this neighborhood, we go with the idea of eating in the best restaurant in Gdansk according to Tripadvisor, called Eliksir. We had not yet celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary and it was a good excuse to do so. Gdansks is an elegant city so with the children we wanted to enjoy a good restaurant with creative and innovative food.
It was the first creative food restaurant for the little ones and to our surprise it was better than expected.
19 Oliwa Park and its interior cathedral
If you are looking to walk among nature and find peace among the crowd, this is your place. Here you will also find the Oliwa Cathedral, a beautiful place.
20 Cycling through the parks and cycle paths of Gdansk
Cycling through Gdansk is very easy due to its many cycle lanes between parks and gardens and through access routes to the main attractions of the city.
It was our favorite mode of transportation.
What to see in Gdansk if you go with children?
If you are traveling with your children, you should not miss a walk through Dluga Street, Long Street, as well as a tour of the Motlawa river promenade, where you will find a historic merry-go-round, rising bridges, pirate sailboats and the Gdansk waterwheel. You can also give them a tour of the Oliwa Parke, which is a beautiful park that is full of natural attractions or the Havelius Park with its most central interactive fountain that I am talking about above. Also behind the Cathedral of Santa María you will find another of these interactive floor fountains that will have a great time.
Regarding museums, surely the maritime museum with its headquarters to see the great ship can be interesting for children, although I must say that it was not as spectacular as we expected. What we do not recommend at all with children is to see the World War II museum.
In addition, to enjoy a relaxing experience you can go to Sopot and its beaches, which are only 15 kilometers from Gdansk. Fun is always guaranteed on the beach. I leave you here the link to post about Sopot.
Where to park and spend the night in Gdansk by motorhome
Gdansk by motorhome is easy, like all of Poland. The University of Gdansk has a large Camper Park next to the University Sports Area which is 10 minutes by bike from the Old Town.
The cost with Wi-Fi, all services for motorhomes, toilets, dishes for washing dishes and with good shadows is about 15 euros 24 hours a day.
To access you must go to the reception of the sports center, in front of the soccer field, next to the Camper Park, there you must pay for the days you will be and they give you a key to enter and exit. At the exit you must return the key.
Plan and organize your trip to Poland by motorhome in 6 clicks
- 5% Discount on your travel insurance here. The only travel insurance designed for motorhomes and campers that also covers theft of interiors, pets and covid-19
- Plan your route well so as not to find surprises, we help you with a route map with everything in just one click!
- Find and book activities at destination
- Book a motorhome if you still don't have yours at a good price between individuals
- Buy what is necessary and useful for this trip by motorhome or camper: list of 50 useful things that we carry in our motorhome
To finish ... Useful travel guide to Poland by motorhome
Know a minimum about Poland. Poland guide by motorhome
We make it easy for you, here is a small guide to Poland to do it in a motorhome or camper van with everything you need to know.
Your page is really great, thank you! We are now traveling through Poland in our motorhome & have just spent two days in Gdańsk- a truly beautiful city!
Thanks so much Clare! 🙂 I hope you are enjoying Poland as much as we do. It's really beautiful, we fell in love.