Stand on Długi Targ in the late morning and the Long Market opens up in front of you: a wide paved square of tall, narrow merchant houses, the Neptune Fountain at the centre, and the Green Gate closing the view toward the Motława. This is the historic Main City, and it is where most of a short visit to Gdańsk will happen.
The city suits travellers who want a compact historic centre they can cross on foot, with museums that deal seriously with the twentieth century and a waterfront that is busy without being overwhelming. It also works well as a base for the wider Tricity, since Gdynia and Sopot are close by.
This guide covers the sights of the Main City and the museums and monuments beyond it, followed by a one-day plan and answers to the questions visitors ask most often.
Top things to do in Gdańsk
1. Long Street and Long Market
The Long Street (ulica Długa) and the Long Market (Długi Targ) are two of the most beautiful streets in the city, and together they form the spine of the Main City. The stretch runs from the Upland Gate through the Golden Gate in the west to the Green Gate in the east, close to the riverside, and is also known as the Royal Way.
Walk it in both directions rather than once, because the facades read differently depending on the light. Most of the sights listed below sit directly along these two streets, so you can treat the walk itself as the way you move between them.
2. Main Town Hall
The old city hall on ul. Długa, built between 1378 and 1492, holds a museum inside. You can see the decorated room where the town council once met, historic exhibits about the history of Gdańsk, and photographs of the destruction after World War II.
Tickets are also sold for the tower, which gives a great view of the surroundings and of St. Mary's Church. If you plan to climb only one tower in the city, this is the one to choose.
3. St. Mary's Church
One of the largest Gothic churches in Europe, St. Mary's Church on ul. Podkramarska contains a large astronomical clock from 1464 with automata that display every day at 11:57. Entry to the church is free, with donations appreciated.
You can also take the stairs up the tower, though the view is not as inspiring as the one from Main Town Hall. Time your visit around the clock display if you want to see the automata move.
4. Artus Court
On Długi Targ, Artus Court is an impressive merchants' hall and a symbol of the city's power in the 16th and 17th centuries. It served as an exchange and as the seat of St. George and the brotherhoods of rich patricians, and it is now part of the Gdańsk History Museum.
Because it sits on the same square as the Neptune Fountain and the Golden House, it fits naturally into a single pass along the Long Market.
5. Neptune Fountain
The statue of Neptune, patron of the city, was installed in 1549 on Długi Targ. During World War II it was hidden, and in 1954 it was put back in its original location on the Long Market.
It is the natural meeting point on the square, so use it as the place to pause and orient yourself before continuing east toward the Green Gate or west along the Long Street.
6. Crane over the Motława River
The former port crane on ul. Szeroka is one of the most well-known buildings in Gdańsk. It is first mentioned in 1367 and was rebuilt several times since, and it was partially destroyed again during World War II. After final reconstructions in 1962 it was turned over to the National Maritime Museum, and it now houses an exhibition about the former port of the city, with the lifting mechanism still visible.
Note that tickets are sold in the museum next door and last tickets are sold 30 minutes before closing, so buy before you walk over.
7. Motława River bank
Along the Długie Pobrzeże, impressive houses stand directly on the river bank. They can be observed particularly well from the other bank of the Motława.
Pair this with the Crane: see the waterfront from the Długie Pobrzeże side, then cross for the view back.
8. Uphagen House
Named after the merchant Johann Uphagen, who bought the house at ul. Długa 12 in 1775, this building was destroyed during the war in 1945 and completely rebuilt within ten years. It opened to the public in the 1990s, and there are temporary exhibitions on the second floor. It is part of the Gdańsk History Museum.
It is closed on Mondays, so place it on another day of your trip.
9. Prison Tower and Torture Chamber
Sitting between the Highland Gate and the Golden Gate on Targ Węglowy, this building houses the Amber Museum, and the viewing platform of the tower is open in summer months.
Combine it with the Highland Gate and the Golden Gate, which stand on either side of it, so you cover all three in one short walk.
10. Highland Gate, Golden Gate and Green Gate
The Highland Gate, also called Upplands Gate, was built in 1576 as part of the city's fortifications and was once the main entrance to the city where Polish kings were officially welcomed. The Golden Gate and the Green Gate complete the sequence, with the Green Gate standing at the eastern end of the Royal Way close to the riverside.
Treat the three gates as markers along the Long Street and Long Market rather than separate stops, and you will have walked the Royal Way without noticing the distance.
11. European Solidarity Centre
On plac Solidarności, this centre is dedicated to the history of Solidarity, the trade union that became the opposition to the communist government. The building contains a museum and a viewpoint on the roof terrace, which is freely accessible by elevator.
It is closed on Tuesdays, and last entry is one hour before closing, so arrive with enough time for the museum rather than only the terrace.
12. Memorial to fallen Shipyard Workers
On Solidarity Square stands the monument to the fallen shipyard workers shot during the communist regime in 1970.
It is close to the European Solidarity Centre, so see the two together and let the monument come first.
13. Museum of the Second World War
On pl. W. Bartoszewskiego, this museum holds recreations of World War II realities, including a Polish street of 1930 and a shell-damaged scene with a T-34 tank, inside an unusual skewed building.
It is closed on Mondays. Given the scale of the subject matter, give it a proper block of time rather than squeezing it between other stops.
14. Westerplatte
Westerplatte is a park with many information panels about the first battle of World War II, which took place here in September 1939. You can see disused bunkers, a crumbled command post and a large monument to those who fought in the battle, and from the monument there is a view of the Nowy Port area and the lighthouse.
Take bus 106 from the Akademia Muzyczna stop or bus 606 from the train station; the ride takes about 20 minutes and leaves hourly, so check the schedule on jakdojade.pl before you set out. The bus ride also passes the enormous, now defunct shipyards. Entry to the site is free.
15. Oliwa Cathedral
At the western side of Oliwa Park, the cathedral contains an organ built in the mid-18th century, at that time the largest organ in Europe, with slightly fewer than 8,000 pipes. There are daily organ recitals, which are generally free with some exceptions.
Check the recital time when you arrive so you can hear the instrument rather than only see it.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Highland Gate and walk through the Golden Gate onto the Long Street and Long Market, taking in the Golden House, the Neptune Fountain and Artus Court along the way. Climb the tower of Main Town Hall for the view over the city and St. Mary's Church, then visit St. Mary's Church itself in time for the astronomical clock's display at 11:57.
Afternoon: Continue east to the Green Gate and out onto the Motława River bank, then visit the Crane over the Motława River, buying your ticket at the museum next door. Cross to the other bank for the view back at the riverside houses. If time allows, walk up to the Prison Tower and Torture Chamber and its Amber Museum.
Evening: Head to plac Solidarności for the Memorial to fallen Shipyard Workers and the European Solidarity Centre, finishing on the roof terrace, which is freely accessible by elevator. Note that the centre is closed on Tuesdays and that last entry is one hour before closing.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the astronomical clock in St. Mary's Church?
The automata of the clock, which dates from 1464, display every day at 11:57.
Which tower should I climb for the best view?
Main Town Hall, where the tower offers a great view of the surroundings and of St. Mary's Church. The view from St. Mary's Church tower is not as inspiring by comparison.
How do I get to Westerplatte?
Take bus 106 from the Akademia Muzyczna stop or bus 606 from the train station. The ride takes about 20 minutes and the bus leaves hourly, so check the schedule on jakdojade.pl. Entry to the site is free.
Which museums are closed on Mondays?
Uphagen House is closed on Mondays, and the Museum of the Second World War is also closed on Mondays. The European Solidarity Centre is closed on Tuesdays instead.
Pick your dates, decide whether Westerplatte or the museums get the extra day, and the rest of Gdańsk is walkable from the Long Market.