Tourist information and destination rating
Category: Cities, Local time: 07:57:07, Tel.:
+48 58 727 91 86, Official WWW website:
www.gdansk.pl
Pros
nice people
nice weather
delicious meals
bustling destination
splendid sceneries
distinctive atmosphere
inexpensive
tasty beer
Cons
uncomfortable summer temperature
overcrowded
chilly in winter
rather expensive
pickpockets
poor or deceitful service
Suitable for
shopping
history
nightlife
cruises
active vacation
health tourism
romantic vacation
agrotourism
study
Why to go there?
old&new architecture
Transportation and means of transport
railway
air
sea
international airport
Information and Facts
Last update: 2012-10-15 02:54:58
Gdańsk is a port city in Poland . It is situated in the northern part of the country on the coast of the Baltic Sea. Currently it has a population of about 455,000 people.
Look Into the History
Gdańsk has a long and rich history. It used to be an independent Hanseatic city in the Middle Ages. Polish and German culture blend into one in Gdańsk. The reason is that it used to be almost completely a German city. It is said that about 90% of inhabitants were of a German origin. This was changed after World War II when Gdańsk became a Polish city. In 1980, a unionist movement called Solidarity was founded in the city. It was headed by Lech Wałęsa who later became a Polish president. The movement was highly involved in the deposal of the Communist regime in Poland.
About the City
Gdańsk is considered to be one of the most beautiful Polish cities. This fact was not changed even when its historical centre was severely damaged during World War II. It is also one of the oldest cities in the country. Gdańsk was nicknamed the ‘Capital City of Amber’ because there is a lot of this carbon based material in the city’s surroundings. You will find many shops where you can find amber stones and jewelry made of it. Gdańsk together with the cities of Gdynia and Sopot form a metropolitan area called the Tricity. Gdańsk is the capital of the Pomeranian voivodeship and it is also one of the cities hosting the competition of UEFA Europe in 2012.
Tourist Curiosities
The most interesting tourist attractions in the city include the Royal Road formed by the streets of Dluga and Dlugi Targ. These streets are lined with richly decorated houses and other representative historical sights. Very popular are the city gates, Golden Gate and Green Gate, the Golden House, a Gothic town hall with a historical museum and Artus’ Court which is one of the most beautiful sights of this kind in Central Europe. Gdańsk also has a Gothic basilica of Saint Virgin Mary. It is the largest brick temple in Europe. Over the river of Motlawa, you will see the biggest port crane of the Middle Ages era called Żuraw . Many interesting museums can be visited in Gdańsk, too. Most popular ones include the Archaeological Museum, museum focused on Gdańsk’s history and nautical museum.
Tourist Service
Gdańsk has enough accommodating possibilities in offer and you can view this offer briefly listed HERE . Polish gourmet specialities can be tasted in the Goldwasser restaurant, Swojski Smak, Mexican food is served in El Paso and Filharmonia offers a more luxurious menu. You should also visit a mini beer brewery called Browarnia Gdańska. International organ music festivals are regularly held in Gdańsk as well as many other events. Fairs, parades and street theatres are all part of the life in Gdańsk. All possible information will be given to you in the information centre in Heveliusza Street 27.
Beaches
If you seek some relax you are welcome to visit one of the sandy beaches in Gdańsk. The local coast is a popular destination of sailing and canoeing enthusiasts.
Transportation
Gdańsk is accessible by all means of transport: car, bus, train, ship and plane. The closest international airport of Lech Wałęsa is situated 15 kilometers from the city centre. The bus station and the train station are located next to each other.But it is unfortunately quite difficult to find your way through the train station and signs are mostly written only in Polish. Ships sail to Gdańsk for example from Swedish cities of Nynäshamn or Karlskrona . By car you will most easily get to Gdańsk on the highway A1 and the road S6 (E28) which follows after the highway.