Gdańsk

Its position on the Baltic has made Gdańsk one of the most important port cities in Northern Europe, and the scene of a disturbing past. Gdańsk used to be the biggest and richest city in the Polish Kingdom. The first claim to fame for Danzig (as it was then known) was its membership in the Hanseatic League as an important Baltic port on the crossroads of North East and Central Europe.
World War II was ignited by a dispute over the control of the city. By the end of the war the city lay almost completely in ruins. The German population was expelled and replaced by Poles as the city came under Polish rule and changed its name to Gdańsk. However, the impact of its former German ties are still evident. Although most of the old buildings were damaged or destroyed in World War II, they have been painstakingly restored or rebuilt.
In modern history, Gdańsk is known as the birthplace of Solidarity (pl: Solidarność), the labour and democracy movement that helped to bring down the Communist government in Poland, which marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War and subsequent collapse of communism in other European countries. The movement was led by the charismatic leader, Lech Wałęsa, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 and in 1990 became Poland's first post-Communist president.
Do not be fooled by the fact that Gdańsk is famous for its shipyards, as it is a beautiful city with a charm of its own.

Tourist information

• Tourist Information Centre

  phone: +48 58 301 43 55
  address: Długi Targ 28/29

• Tourist Information Point

  phone: +48 58 721 32 77
  address: Podwale Grodzkie 8 st.

• Tourist Information Point

  phone: +48 58 348 13 68
  address: Słowackiego 200 st.

• PTTK Tourist Information

  phone: +48 58 301 91 51, +48 58 301 37 52
  address: 45 Długa st

Tourist Card

At every Tourist Information point you can buy the Tourist Card.
Within the "Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia-Plus" Tourist Card nearly 220 offers are available, including: accommodations, performances, concerts, exhibitions, souvenirs, books, amber jewellery purchase, dinners and other meals, water equipment hiring, car rental, paintball, Aquapark, visits in beauty salon, and entertainment.

By plane

Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa AirportWest northwest of Gdańsk and not far from the city centre of the Tricity metropolitan area: Gdańsk , Sopot and Gdynia . The vast majority of flights to and from the airport are served by low-cost airlines Ryanair and WizzAir.

Transport from airport to city

Bus 210 — operates between the airport (bus stop: Port Lotniczy) and Gdańsk, and makes a stop at the train station, 35–50 minutes away. The fare is 3,20 zł if a ticket is bought from a news stand, ticket machine or Bilety shop, and 3.80 zł if the ticket is bought from the driver. Although the ticket has a picture of a tram on it, it is also valid for the bus. Make sure to get on in the right direction at the airport, because the bus goes into two directions from there. On the way to the airport, the bus picks up on the other side of the road, near the front of the Scandic hotel (look for the signs that have the 210 on them). From the tourist office in the tunnel, turn left, walk until you are outside and head right, go up the stairs, turn right, and the bus shelters will be in front of you.
N3 — night bus
Train — There's a train connection to the city center roughly every 15 min during the day (Airport stop: Gdańsk Port Lotniczy). Less frequent services in the morning, evening and at night. The train station is accessible from the west end of Terminal T2 via a covered bridge. Ticket machines are on the platforms. There are a few direct connections to the main train station in Gdańsk. For other connections to the main train station you need to switch trains in Gdańsk Wrzeszcz. Single tickets to the main train station cost 3.50 zł.
Airportbus shuttle — operates a transport service to Gdańsk centre for 9.90 zł (you can buy ticket directly in the bus). This is a direct line between airport and city's centre. Bus stop in Gdańsk is located in front of Mercure Hevelius hotel (it's 5 minutes walk from Main Railway Station). Journey depends on traffic and takes around 25–30 minutes.
Taxi — Avoid the unofficial, rip-off taxis who will pounce on you as soon as you have cleared security, unless you know how to deal with them. A taxi from the airport to the city centre should cost around 50-60 zł however will cost more in the evenings or at weekends. "Neptun" is an officially recognized company. Taxi drivers will be waiting in the arrivals hall offering fixed price transfers, 60-70 zł is not unreasonable for an evening (after 22:00) transfer to the centre of Gdańsk.
Private transfers — MPA Poland provides transport services around Tri-City and Pomerania region. An airport transfer from/to airport costs 100 zł up to 8 people.

By train

The main railway station, Gdańsk Główny, is a beautiful historic building, although a rather confusing experience to non-Polish tourists. Information in languages other than Polish is almost non-existent. Ticket sellers at the Kasa may be able to help you in English and German, and there is a tourist information office at the back of the PKP station. The station operates as 2 separate stations, one for the PKP trains (intercity and long-distance journeys) and another for the SKM commuter trains. Each station has separate ticket offices and platforms; the PKP station can be accessed from inside the station and the SKM station is found to the right of the main station (do not go into the PKP station).
Beware of pickpockets and people who may try to intimidate you for money around the railway station, especially late at night.
PKP operates long-distance trains to other cities in Poland and Europe. Buy a ticket before you enter the train. It is advisable to write the name of your destination on a piece of paper and then show it to the ticket sales person, as other languages than Polish may not be spoken. Foreigners trying to pronounce the name of Polish destinations often cause confusion.
SKM (Szybka Kolej Miejska) operates frequent service between Gdańsk and Sopot and Gdynia, 35 minutes away. These trains are on the right side when entering the station. Tickets may be bought from a vending machine at the platform or from a ticket office in the subway below (access from the street or from the SKM platforms). Never enter these trains without a valid ticket and remember to validate your ticket before getting on the train as ticket controls checking passengers tickets are frequent. As a rule, tickets are valid for travel by one specific type of train only. Don't try to travel on a student ticket unless you have an ISIC student card, even if they sell you the ticket. The ticket inspector also asks for your student card, and if you just have a normal student card, they will likely refuse you.

By car

The motorway connects Gdańsk with Toruń, Łódź, and Katowice to the south. The connects Gdańsk with Warsaw and Kraków.

By bus

The Bus Station (Dworzec PKS) is behind the main railway station. You can recognise it by the big letters 'Dworzec PKS' on top of the building. Buses can be used to travel to regional destinations that lack railway connections, such as the concentration camp in Sztutowo. Polskibus operates coach services from here, with direct connections going to Poznań, Wrocław and Warsaw.

By boat

Polferries operates ferry service between Gdańsk and Nynäshamn, just south of Stockholm, Sweden. The trip takes 18 hours and costs ~€70.
Stena Line operates ferry service between Gdynia and Karlskrona, Sweden. The trip takes 12.5 hours and costs ~€50.

By tram and bus

Zarząd Transportu Miejskiego, the City Transportation Office.
Trams and buses are cheap (3.80 zł/h) and frequent. Tickets can be bought from drivers, but it is easier to buy them from ticket machines (which are on most popular stops) and kiosks. The most popular website and mobile app for journey planning is jakdojade.pl. Google Maps has reliable public transport data, and is an excellent tool for planning your journeys.
Single journey tickets are valid until leaving the bus or tram. They cost 3,20 zł on standard services and 4,20 zł on night, fast, and night connections (line numbers marked with N).
Time tickets are based on travel time, so you must estimate the duration of the journey or have a few tickets extra to validate when your previous ticket expires. Time tickets are either valid for up to 60 min or up to 24 hr and allow any amount of journeys and changes within that time. The 60-min time ticket costs 3.80 zł on standard services and 4.80 zł on night, fast, and special services (line numbers marked with A or N). The 24-hr ticket costs 13 zł and is valid on all trams, buses during the day and on night buses.
All tickets need to be validated at the start of the journey.

By train

Use the commuter train (SKM) to quickly go to Sopot and Gdynia, ticket to Gdynia will cost 5 zł and Sopot will cost 3.40 zł.

By car

• Halorent Car Rental

  phone: +48 695-78-78-95

• MPA Poland

  phone: +48 515 181161
  Personalised private car hire with driver, or rental cars to self-drive.

• As-Car Car Rental 24h/7

  phone: +48 790 017 270
  address: Stężycka 107

Main city

The main city (Główne Miasto) is the historic part of Gdańsk and contains most of the sights. The Long Street (ulica Długa) and Long Market (Długi Targ) are two of the most beautiful streets in the city. They are enclosed first by the Upland Gate, then by the Golden Gate to the west and the Green Gate to the east close to the riverside. This entire stretch is also referred to as the Royal Way. Along those two streets there are many interesting sights.

• Main Town Hall

  phone: +48 58 76 79 100
  address: ul. Długa 46/47
  The old city hall (built 1378-1492) has a museum inside showing off a nicely decorated room where the town council once met and some historic exhibits about the history of Gdańsk. There are also impressive photos of the destruction after World War II. It is possible to purchase tickets to the tower, which offers a great view of the surroundings and St. Mary's Church.

• Artus Court

  phone: +48 58 76 79 180
  address: Długi Targ 43-44
  Impressive mansion, a symbol of the city's power in the 16th and 17th centuries, served as an exchange and as the seat of St. George and the brotherhoods of rich patricians. Now part of the Gdańsk History Museum.

• Neptune Fountain

  address: Długi Targ
  Statue of Neptune, patron of the city, installed in 1549. During World War II, the statue was hidden. In 1954 it was put back to its original location on the Long Market.

• Golden House

  address: ul. Długi Targ 41/42

• Uphagen House

  phone: +48 58 301 23 71
  address: ul. Długa 12
  Named after the merchant, Johann Uphagen, who bought this house in 1775. It was destroyed during the war in 1945, but completely rebuilt within ten years. In the 1990s, it was opened to the public. There are temporary exhibitions on the second floor. It is part of the Gdańsk History Museum.

• Highland GateAlso called Upplands Gate. It was built in 1576 as part of the city's fortifications. Once the main entrance to the city where the Polish Kings were officially welcomed.

• Prison Tower and Torture Chamber

  address: Targ Węglowy 26
  The viewing platform of the tower is open in summer months. This building also houses the Amber Museum .

• Golden Gate

• Green Gate

• Motława River bank

  address: Długie Pobrzeże
  Impressive houses stand along the river bank. They can be nicely observed from the other bank of Motława.

• Crane over the Motława River

  phone: +48 58 301 69 38, +48 58 329 87 60
  address: ul. Szeroka 67/68
  The former port crane is one of the most well-known buildings in Gdańsk. It is first mentioned in 1367, but was rebuilt several times since then. During World War II it was partially destroyed again. In 1962 after final reconstructions it was turned over to the National Maritime Museum. It now houses an exhibition about the former port of the city. The mechanism for lifting the crane can be observed as well.

• St. Mary's Street

• Maiden in the window

Religious buildings

• St. Mary's Church

  address: ul. Podkramarska 5
  One of the largest Gothic churches in Europe and one of the three (almost equal sizes) second largest brick churches in the world. There is space for more than 20,000 people in the church. It is possible to take the stairs to the tower (78 m), but the view is not as inspiring as the one from Main Town Hall. The church also contains a large astronomical clock from 1464. There are tickets to visit the church and tickets to the tower, sold in different places.

• St. Nicholas Church

• St. John’s Church

• St. Catherine's Church

• St. Bridget’s Church

• Royal Chapel

  address: ul. Świętego Ducha 58
  Differs from typical Gdańsk architecture.

• Oliwa Cathedral

  address: ul. Biskupa Edmunda Nowickiego 5
  Contains an organ built in the mid-18th century as the largest organ in Europe at that time with slightly fewer than 8,000 pipes. There are daily organ recitals which are generally free (with some exceptions).

Other

• Hall of the Old City

  address: ul. Korzenna 33/35
  Built in the 16th century. Its most famous resident was the councillor and mayor of Danzig, Johannes Hevelius, who was also an astronomer in his later life and a brewer in his earlier life. The building is now home to the Baltic Sea Culture Centre.

• New City HallThe current seat of the Gdańsk City Council.

• Memorial to fallen Shipyard Workers

  address: Solidarity Square
  Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers shot during communist regime in 1970

• Grand Mill

  address: ul. Wielkie Młyny 16
  Old mill (built 1350), with 18 water wheels up to 1939 produced 200 ton of flour daily, but now used as shopping centre.

• Günter Grass Monument

  address: Plac Wybickiego
  A statue of the author Günter Grass, who was born in Danzig, facing his famous character Oskar Matzerath from The Tin Drum. Installed in October 2015, six months after his death, and on his 88th anniversary.

• Great Armoury

  address: ul. Targ Węglowy
  Old city arsenal from 1605. Great example of Dutch design with astonishing stonework. These days the Great Armoury belongs to the Gdansk Academy of Fine Arts and visiting inside is only possible during art exhibitions which are organised from time to time by the Academy.

Museums

• Archaeological Museum

  address: ul. Mariacka 25/26

• Tower Clock Museum

  phone: +48 58 305 64 92
  address: ul. Wielkie Młyny 10
  Part of the Gdańsk History Museum.

• European Solidarity Centre

  phone: +48 506 195 673
  address: plac Solidarności 1
  It's quite new (opened in 2014) center dedicated to the history of Solidarity (trade union which "fought" with communist government). Among other things, the building contains a museum and viewpoint at the roof terrace (freely accessible via elevator). There is free Wi-Fi in the building.

• Gdańsk Post Office and Museum

  address: ul. Obrońców Poczty Polskiej 1-2
  There is a small museum which documents the events that happened on September 1, 1939 at the beginning of World War II. It also contains a small active post office. Even if the museum is closed, the square in front has a great (and free) series of billboards summarizing the start of the war.

• National Maritime Museum

  phone: +48 58 3018611

• Sołdek Ship (Museum)

  phone: +48 58 301 86 11
  address: ul. Ołowianka 9-13
  The ship was launched in 1948 as the first Polish ocean-going vessel and used as a coal and ore carrier. It was named after the "shock worker" Stanisław Sołdek. It is part of the National Maritime Museum.

• Museum of the Second World War

  address: pl. W. Bartoszewskiego 1

Further afield

• WesterplattePark with many information panels about the first battle of World War II that took place here in September 1939. You can also see disused bunkers and a crumbled command-post, as well as a large monument to those who fought in the battle. From the monument you have a view of the Nowy Port area and the lighthouse. The bus ride also takes you past the enormous (now defunct) shipyards.

• Nowy Port Lighthouse

  phone: +48587601642
  address: ul. Przemysłowa 6a
  A 28m high lighthouse built in 1893. It features a time ball which was used to synchronize clocks on ships.

• Brzezno pierA nice white-painted wooden pier. There is a small restaurant and an ice cream parlour.

• Gdańsk Zoo

  phone: +48 58 5520042
  address: ul. Karwieńska 3

• Tricity Landscape Park

• Wisłoujście Fortress

  phone: +48 58 351 22 44
  address: Stara Twierdza 1

• Polish Baltic PhilharmonicMajor orchestra for symphonic concerts and chamber music.

• Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre

  address: ul. Wojciecha Bogusławskiego 1
  Guided tours (in English and Polish) are available.

• Wyspa Institue of Art

  phone: +48 58 718 44 46
  address: ul. Doki 1/145 B
  Art Institute on the shipyard grounds. Exhibitions, concerts, performances. A bookshop, Zła Buka, has a selection of books on art and design.

• Swim in the seaThe water is usually cold. Almost all of Gdańsk's coast consists of sandy beaches accessible for recreation. There are multiple areas with lifeguards, food stands and bars; the most popular ones are in Brzeźno and Jelitkowo. A less crowded one is in Stogi. The beach that's the furthest from the city center (and thus not well accessible using public transport) is on Sobieszewo Island.

• Canoe-tour through the canals

  address: ul. Żabi Kruk 15

• Play laser tag

  phone: +48 509 70 75 72
  address: Garncarska 18/20
  Great laser tag arena with four levels and a labyrinth.

• Walk the Mariacka street

  address: Mariacka
  Take an evening walk down one of the most picturesque Europe's streets.

• St. Dominic's FairLarge fair held since 1260 during mid-July and mid-August every year.

• Water tram rideZTM offers a seasonal water tram service: route F5 Żabi Kruk - Westerplatte and F6 Targ Rybny - National Sailing Centre. A single ticket costs 10 zł.

• Watch football ie soccer at Lechia Gdańsk, who play in Ekstraklasa, the top tier of Polish football. Their home ground is Stadion Energa Gdańsk, capacity 43,000, three km north of town centre.

Events

• "Cult" Film FestivalFestival of esteemed films tqking place in June. There are many indoor and outdoor movie shows and concerts. Until 2017 the festival was organised in Katowice.

Teaching English is a possibility.

Gdańsk is sometimes called the Amber Capital of the World. The surrounding area is the richest known source of this semi-precious stone, and the product can be found in many of the city's shops. The ones with insects in are much more expensive.

• Galeria Sztuki Kaszubskiej

  phone: +48 503 0059783
  address: ul. Św. Ducha 48
  Hand-embroidered items in traditional and contemporary designs and colours including clothing, tablecloths, napkins, curtains, and other regional folk art souvenirs.

• Market Hall

  address: Plac Dominkański 1
  Fresh produce in the basement level.

Budget

• Bar NeptunA milk bar serving hearty Polish meals at affordable prices.

• Kafe Delfin

  phone: +48 58 552 03 44, +48 698 46 88 33
  address: ul. Opata Jacka Rybińskiego 17, Oliwa
  A charming, cozy cafe serving delicious apple pie and coffee. Try also cheap and tasty bread toasts.

• Kafëbë Coffee&Bistro

  address: ul. Piwna 64/65, Main Town
  A cozy, regional cafe bistro with a view of the most important monuments of Gdańsk - the Great Armory and St. Mary's Basilica. Located in an original tenement house with a typical Gdańsk dome, one of the few remaining after WWII. Local products, drinks and dishes in traditional or modernized versions. Taste the riches of Pomeranian and Kashubian cuisine: Kashubian coffee, traditional cakes and desserts, delicacies (classic Kashubian Sunday dish), fish soup, baked fish, vegetable pies, dumplings and seasonal menu. The owners prepare their own preserves: juices, silages, honey and Polish wines. You can try them in prepared dishes and desserts, you can also buy a take-out jar.

Mid-range

You can buy fish on one of bars on Motława River bank (25 zł/meal)

• La Cantina

  phone: +48 58 3016071
  address: ul. Długa 37/39
  Typical Polish restaurant. Try stuffed cabbage (19 zł) or the Polish sausage with sauerkraut (20 zł). They have heat lamps in the evening so you can sit comfortably outside.

• GoldwasserHearty Polish fare. End the meal with a Goldwasser.

• El Paso

  phone: +48 58 5520641
  address: Stary Rynek Oliwski 7
  Mexican restaurant.

• Pierogarnia U Dzika

  phone: +48 58 3052676
  address: ul. Piwna 59/60
  Apparently known as the best Pierogarnia (Polish dumplings) in Gdańsk. This place is a large restaurant with an outside seating on the street behind the main drag (ul. Długa). Dzik is Polish for boar and this place is done out with all sorts of boar skins and stuffed animals. Try the specialty Pierogarnia Dzika (Wild Boar and Game Dumplings) - 22 zł, other fillings also available. Beer 9 zł.

• Swojski Smak

  address: ul. Heweliusza 25/27
  Good value, nice food, in a nicely decorated venue.

Splurge

• Restauracja Filharmonia

  phone: +48 58 3238358
  address: ul. Olowianka
  "Molecular" cuisine in lovely building with great view on the river. Excellent service, but no vegetarian dishes.

• Fellini

  address: Moltawa area, near Hilton
  High-quality Italian cuisine and top-notch service.

• Gdańska

  phone: +48 58 3057671
  address: ul. Św. Ducha 16
  An entertaining place to visit. The rooms are filled with antiques according to the principle less is not more, and the waiters are dressed like in the good old days.

• Tawerna Mestwin

  address: ul. Straganiarska 20/23
  A regional restaurant serving traditional Kashubian dishes. Pretty expensive, but worth it.

Danziger Goldwasser, root and herbal liqueur which has been produced since 16th century is considered the city's drink (it is now made in Germany though). It's vodka-based, creamy and has small flakes of 22- or 23-karat gold in it. Cheaper alternatives include Gdańska Złotówka or Złota Woda.
"Gdańsk national drink" before World War II was Stobbes Machandel juniper vodka. After the war it was rejected and slightly forgotten due to association with German soldiers occupying the city, but today is gaining popularity again. There is a special ritual to be followed while drinking a shot of Machandel with a dried plum for a snack.

Bars

• Brovarnia Gdańska

  address: Szafarnia 9
  A mini brewery making their own really good beers in the basement of a hotel in restored 18 century granary. Food also served.

• Buffet

  address: Doki 1
  A club on the premises of the famous shipyard. The interesting interiors are reminiscent of communist times.

• Bar Shpinx

  address: Długi Targ
  Another bar on the main street.

• Cafe Absinthe

  phone: +48 58 320 3784
  address: ul. Św. Ducha 2
  A crazy little Bohemian bar, open almost 24 hours a day, frequented by artists, actors, freaks, among others, gets very, very crowded and people dance on the tables or on the bar. One of the best bets for an off night too - if there are no people there, there are no people anywhere.

• Loft

  address: ul. Młyńska 15
  Nice late bar/club, no entry charges, free food late on weekends, good music and good young crowd.

As the TriCity is in effect conjoined and there are good, fast transit links, you can just as well consider accommodation in Gdynia or Sopot.

Budget

• Dom Harcerza

  address: ul. Za Murami
  Simple but very clean and tidy rooms.

• Baltic Hostel

  phone: +48 58 721 96 57
  address: ul Walowa 52
  Simple rooms in a one-story building near the old shipyard area.

• Gdańsk University of Technology

  phone: +48583471597
  address: ul. Traugutta 115
  During summer University offers places in student dormitories.

• Old Town Hostel

  phone: +48 58 3513131
  address: ul. Długa Grobla 7

• Wolna Chata Hostel

  phone: +48 500 121 809
  address: ul. Krzywoustego 8, Oliwa
  Free internet and breakfast.

• Grand Hostel

  phone: +48 666 061 350
  address: ul. Kołodziejska 2, Centrum
  Wi-Fi, warm drinks, breakfast, bike rental

• 5Point Hostel

  phone: +48 882 70 30 70
  address: ul.Podmurze 2, 80-835 Gdańsk, Śródmieście
  Local breakfast, comfortable beds and rooms with a good view

Mid-range

• Hotel Willa Litarion

  phone: +48 58 3202553
  address: ul. Spichrzowa 18
  This small modern hotel is in the centre, just 150 m from the Długi Targ market. Comfortable, carefully arranged rooms with bathrooms have: TV, telephone, free wireless internet.

• Hotel Parnas

  phone: +48 58 3201275
  address: ul. Spichrzowa 27
  A quiet, small and elegant hotel located in the heart of the city. Rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated.

• Villa Palladium

  phone: +48 58 5543224
  address: ul. Czyżewskiego 20
  Hotel made from stones from all over the world with comfortable rooms and the bathrooms.

Splurge

• Qubus Hotel Gdańsk

  phone: +48 58 7522100
  address: ul. Chmielna 47/52
  Opened in 2009 Qubus Hotel Gdańsk offers richly equipped rooms with a breakfast, free internet access and view of the Motława River and the Old Town.

• Hotel Wolne Miasto

  phone: +48 58 3222442
  address: Św. Ducha 2
  Helpful staff and central location.

Internet

Gdańsk provides an extensive network of public, free of charge wi-fi hotspots in public places, such as bus stops, parks, etc. clearly marked with 'GD@NSKwifi" logo. The map with all the hotspots is available on the project website. Free wi-fi is also available on all three major train stations, and in the majority of restaurants and bars.

If you take the usual precautions against pickpockets, you will feel perfectly safe wandering around Gdańsk. Gdańsk seems very well organized from a tourist's point of view. There are frequent police patrols and visitors usually get the feeling of Gdańsk being a secure and tourist-friendly city. Despite it's industrial heritage, Gdansk is a really safe place, and violent acts are rather uncommon.
In an emergency, telephone "112". This number connects to Police, Ambulance and Fire/Rescue services. You will be asked which of these three services you require before being connected to the relevant operator.
On the whole, Gdańsk is a safe place to visit and explore. Normal precautions for the safe keeping of your personal possessions, as you would in any other city, are suggested.

Gdańsk Bay:

• sea resort Sopot with the longest European pier
• sea resort and port Gdynia with the biggest Baltic port
• sea resort Puck

Many of the boats, to Sopot in particular, end up fully-booked and that you can't buy your ticket at the boat itself. This is a harsh lesson to learn when you have already waited in a huge queue. Tickets for the Sopot ferry must be purchased from an office directly across from the terminal. Also be aware that in Sopot you will need to buy an access ticket for the pier (around 5 zł, even if you already have a return ticket to Gdańsk) in order to board your boat back.
Vistula Bay:

• medieval town of Elbląg
• sea resort and medieval town of Frombork with the grave of Nicolaus Copernicus.
• sea resort Kadyny with one of the best European studs.

Kashubia Coast:

• Slowinski National Park with the biggest dunes in Europe
• sea resort Rowy
• sea resort Łeba
• sea resort Jastrzębia Góra
• sea resort Rozewie
• sea resort Władysławowo

On the Vistula Peninsula:

• the concentration camp in Sztutowo
• sea resort Krynica Morska

On the Hel Peninsula:

• sea resort Chałupy
• sea resort Jastarnia
• sea resort Jurata

Take the train to Hel. It's at the end of the peninsula opposite Gdańsk. SKM trains are the cheaper option. Train from Gdańsk Główny to Gdynia every 15 minutes and then SKM diesel to Hel. If you get the 09:45 from Gdańsk you have 7 minutes to change about 4 platforms across the underpass. The journey is wonderful - straight through pine forests and sometimes with the sea on either side. Single ticket costs 21.50 zł (get a 5.40 zł single from Gdańsk to Gdynia - and then the 16.10 zł single from Gdynia to Hel, just in case you miss the connection.) When you get to Hel have a walk into town - it's just a Polish beach resort full of holiday makers. You should have time for lunch and then get the hydrofoil from the end of the pier at 15:30. But make sure you buy the ticket from the office halfway down the pier or you could be walking back! The trip is 24 zł back to Gdańsk but it will be the best value trip you can get. It takes 1hr 50 min but the first hour is getting across to Gdańsk, then the next 50 minutes is navigating the canals back to the town centre. You could pay a tourist company for this trip - but the cost is in your ticket, you see Westphalia lighthouse where the first shots of World War II were fired, the huge ships and the massive remains of the former Lenin Shipyards.