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💡 Gdynia (Gdansk): Good to Know

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🛂 Visa: Canada, Australia, the US, Korea, and Japan are visa-exempt for a stay of up to 90 days

 

✈️ Closest Airport: Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport (GDN)

 

💬 Language: Polish, but English is widely spoken

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🏷️ Price Level: The price level in Poland is significantly lower than in the US

 

🍔 Big Mac Index: US: US$5.69 / Poland US$ $5.21

 

💰 Currency: Polish złoty  (PLN)| 1 USD = ca. 3.67 PLN)

 

☀️ Best Times to Visit: The best times to visit Gdynia, Poland, are late May, June, and September

 

🚘 Transportation: Local trains, trolleybuses, city buses, and taxis 

 

🔌 Adapter: Poland uses type E plugs. No adapter is needed if you are from Europe, but it is needed when coming from the US

 

🛜 WiFi: widely available; Gdansk offers free Wi-Fi under GD@NSKwifi.  

 

🏧💰ATM and “Cash or Card”: Both cash and credit cards are widely accepted. While most larger establishments accept cards, it’s a good idea to carry some cash for small purchases, tips, or use at local markets and smaller shops where cash may be preferred. ATMs are available throughout the city

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💸 Tipping: Tipping 10% in restaurants is common if the service is good. Hand the tip directly or say you want to round up when paying by card.

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🚢 Cruise Terminal Address: Port of Gdynia, 81-345 Gdynia, Poland (docked)

 

 

✈️ 🚇🚕 Getting There and Around

 

🏙️ Gdynia Cruise Port is about 15 miles (24 km) from Gdańsk city center.

 

🎟️ In Gdynia, you can pay for public transport in several ways: with cash (exact change is preferred when paying the driver), contactless bank cards at ticket machines, or via the FALA system. For buses and trolleybuses, tickets can be bought directly from the driver (cash only) or through the FALA app. On trains, tickets are available at machines and ticket offices.

In Gdańsk, public transport tickets can be purchased in several ways: at ticket machines located at stops (accepting cash or card), via mobile apps such as SkyCash or Jakdojade, or from kiosks and ticket offices. Tickets are also available directly from tram and bus drivers, but be sure to have exact change. Don’t forget to validate your ticket when boarding trams and buses or before boarding the SKM train, unless you’re using an electronic ticket.

 

✈️ Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport (GDN) is located around 10 miles (16km) from the city center of Gdańsk and 15 miles (25km) from the center of Gdynia. The easiest way to reach the Gdynia Cruise Port from Gdańsk Airport is by train. The station is located just outside Terminal 2, and the PKM PolRegio “R” train takes approximately 25–30 minutes to arrive at Gdynia Główna, the city's main railway station. Tickets cost around 8PLN. Once you arrive at Gdynia Główna, take a local bus (lines 133 or 119) or a short taxi ride (10 minutes) to reach the Gdynia Cruise Port. 

 

🚇 From the cruise terminal, take bus 133 or 119 (board at the Publiczny Terminal Promowy stop), which runs every 10–15 minutes and reaches Gdynia Główna in under 15 minutes. From there, hop on a frequent SKM train to either Gdańsk Główny or Gdańsk Śródmieście—the ride takes about 30–40 minutes. A combined metropolitan ticket valid on both bus and SKM costs around 34 PLN for 24 hours, and can be purchased via apps such as SkyCash, Jakdojade, or at station machines.

 

🚌  In Gdansk, one hop-on-hop-off bus circles the main sights, and more info can be found here.

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⭐️ Top Sights in Gdynia & Gdansk 

​"Gdansk is home to Europe's largest brick church, St. Mary's Basilica."

 

📸 Emigration Museum: The Gdynia Emigration Museum is a modern museum dedicated to the history of Polish emigration, located in the historic Marine Station. Opened in 2015, it features exhibits covering Polish emigration from the 19th century to today, including a scale model of the ocean liner Batory and personal emigrant stories. The museum offers educational programs, a cinema, and a café, making it a key cultural site in Gdynia.

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📸 Kościuszko Square: Kościuszko Square is the vibrant heart of Gdynia, located on a peninsula by the Baltic Sea. It features important maritime monuments, striking modernist architecture, and is close to popular attractions like museum ships and the Gdynia Aquarium. The square serves as a central gathering place for cultural events and celebrations, making it a lively hub of the city’s social and cultural life.

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📸 ORP Błyskawica: ORP Błyskawica is a historic Polish Navy destroyer and one of the oldest preserved ships of its kind in the world. Launched in 1936 and active during World War II, it served with distinction alongside Allied forces. Today, it is permanently moored at Gdynia’s waterfront near Kościuszko Square and operates as a museum ship. Visitors can explore its decks and exhibits to learn about Poland’s naval history and the ship’s wartime service.

 

 

Gdańsk is a historic port city on Poland’s Baltic coast and one of the country’s oldest and most culturally rich cities. Founded over 1,000 years ago, Gdańsk has long been a major center of trade, especially during the Hanseatic League era. Its strategic location made it a point of conflict between various powers, including Poland, Prussia, and Germany. In the 20th century, Gdańsk gained global attention as the place where World War II began—with the German attack on the Polish garrison at Westerplatte in 1939. Decades later, it became the birthplace of the Solidarity movement, led by Lech Wałęsa, which played a key role in ending communist rule in Central and Eastern Europe.

 

📸 Royal Route – Ulica Długa & Długi Targ: The Royal Route in Gdańsk, made up of Ulica Długa (Long Street) and Długi Targ (Long Market), is the city’s most iconic and historic promenade. Once the ceremonial path for visiting kings, it’s now a vibrant pedestrian area lined with colorful facades, cafes, and landmarks like the Neptune Fountain, Artus Court, and Main Town Hall. This elegant street reflects Gdańsk’s Hanseatic past and is the perfect place to soak in the city’s architectural beauty and atmosphere.

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📸 Neptune’s Fountain: The Neptune’s Fountain is a famous 17th-century landmark located in Gdańsk’s Long Market (Długi Targ). Featuring a bronze statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, it symbolizes the city’s strong maritime heritage. The fountain is a popular meeting point and a beloved symbol of Gdańsk’s historic connection to the Baltic Sea.

 

📸 Main Town Hall: The Main Town Hall in Gdańsk is a stunning Gothic-Renaissance building located on the Royal Route. It features a tall, ornate tower offering panoramic views of the city. Inside, the Town Hall houses a museum showcasing Gdańsk’s rich history, art, and architecture, making it a key cultural and historical landmark.

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📸 St. Mary’s Basilica (Bazylika Mariacka): St. Mary’s Basilica (Bazylika Mariacka) in Gdańsk is one of the largest brick churches in the world and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Completed in the early 16th century, it features a vast interior with stunning stained glass, an impressive astronomical clock, and a tower you can climb for panoramic city views. It’s a central landmark reflecting Gdańsk’s rich religious and cultural history.

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📸 The Crane (Żuraw): The Gdańsk Crane (Żuraw), built in the mid-1400s, is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks and served as both a harbor crane and city gate. Powered by workers in treadwheels, it lifted heavy cargo and ship masts, while also acting as a defensive structure. Severely damaged during World War II, it was restored and now functions as part of the National Maritime Museum, showcasing Gdańsk’s rich maritime history.

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📸 Motława River Embankment: The Motława River Embankment is a picturesque waterfront area lined with historic granaries, charming cafes, and amber shops. It’s a popular spot for leisurely strolls and boat tours, offering beautiful views of the river and the city’s medieval architecture.

 

 

🍽️😋 Regional Specialties

 

Gdańsk cuisine reflects its rich maritime heritage and diverse cultural influences, combining traditional Polish dishes with flavors from the Baltic Sea. Popular local specialties include fresh seafood like smoked fish and herring, hearty soups such as żurek (sour rye soup), and pierogi (dumplings). The city is also famous for its amber-inspired desserts and hearty meat dishes, making its food scene a delicious blend of history and coastal flavors.

 

🍽️ Pierogi: Pierogi are one of the most popular and beloved traditional dishes in Gdańsk and all of Poland. These handmade dumplings are typically filled with savory options like potato and cheese (pierogi ruskie), meat, mushrooms, or cabbage, but sweet versions with fruit or sweet cheese are also common. In Gdańsk, you’ll find pierogi served boiled or pan-fried in many restaurants, often with toppings like fried onions, bacon, or sour cream.

 

🍽️ Fish soup (zupa rybna): Fish soup (zupa rybna) is a traditional and popular dish in Gdańsk, reflecting the city’s coastal heritage. Made with a rich broth from Baltic fish, vegetables, and herbs, it’s often hearty and slightly spicy. Each restaurant may offer its own version, but it’s a must-try local specialty, especially near the waterfront.

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🍽️ Bigos: Bigos, often called "hunter’s stew," is a traditional Polish dish commonly served in Gdańsk. It’s made with sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, various meats, and sausages, slow-cooked with spices for rich flavor. This hearty, warming dish reflects Poland’s rustic culinary roots and is a staple in local restaurants.

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🍽️ Żurek: Żurek is a traditional Polish sour rye soup popular in Gdańsk. Made from fermented rye flour, it’s typically served with white sausage, potatoes, and a hard-boiled egg. Known for its tangy, hearty flavor, Żurek is often served in a bread bowl and is a comforting favorite, especially in cooler months.

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🍽️ Amber cake: Amber cake is a local dessert specialty in Gdańsk, inspired by the city’s famous Baltic amber. While recipes vary, it often features honey, nuts, dried fruit, or caramel tones to reflect the warm colors of amber. It’s a sweet symbol of Gdańsk’s cultural and natural heritage, often found in cafes and bakeries.

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🍽️ Gdańsk-style gingerbread: Gdańsk-style gingerbread is a spiced cookie or cake traditionally made with honey, cinnamon, cloves, and other warm spices. Inspired by centuries-old Hanseatic baking traditions, it often features intricate shapes or decorations and is especially popular during holidays. It’s a sweet treat that reflects Gdańsk’s historic trade and culinary heritage.

 

🥤 Goldwasser: Goldwasser is a traditional herbal liqueur originally from Gdańsk, famous for containing tiny flakes of real 22-karat gold suspended in the clear spirit. It’s flavored with a blend of herbs and spices, giving it a unique, aromatic taste. Goldwasser has been produced since the 16th century and is considered a symbol of Gdańsk’s rich history and craftsmanship.

 

 

📍🗺️  Maps, Apps & Links

 

🌐 Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Tour Gdansk

🌐 Free Walking Tour Gdansk

🌐 Bike Sharing Gdansk 

 

🚕 Uber 

🚕 Bolt