The Most Beautiful Places In Gdansk Poland

With its long history of industry and trade, Gdansk might not be the first place you’d think of when looking for a destination in Europe. However, don’t write it off! It is imbued with gorgeous historical relics and redbrick Gothic churches aplenty. Don’t forget the powdery beachfronts and wild coast of the Baltic Sea.

1. Oliwa Cathedral

Cathedral, Archaeological site, Church

With a lifespan going back almost 1,000 years, the Oliwa Cathedral certainly doesn’t lack for history. While visitors unravel tales of the Cistercian order and Prussian crusaders here, it’s hard not to fall in love with the unique blend of Romanesque and Rococo styles that make the construction so beautiful. The pièce de résistance surely has to be that duo of spiky turrets out front, while the whopping dimensions of the whole basilica – more than 100 metres in length – make it the longest of its kind in the world.

2. Old Town

Gdansk’s Old Town is surely up there with the other famous historic centres of Poland: Krakow, rebuilt Warsaw, and Wroclaw in the south. With a long past, and all the winding cobbled lanes and hidden squares you’d expect of a place first settled by the old dukes of Pomerania in the 12th century, it’s certainly one to have your camera ready for. Particular highlights of this bustling and beautiful part of the city include the handsome Ratusz (town hall) with its Renaissance and Rococo tower, long Długa Street with its al fresco bars, and the wealth of Dutch Mannerist architecture that covers the medieval merchant’s guilds.

Gdansk Old Town, Gdansk, Poland

Architecture of Mariacka street in Gdansk is one of the most notable tourist attractions in Gdansk | © In Green/Shutterstock

3. Sobieszewo Island

Sobieszewo Island sits just a short drive east of Gdansk city centre, situated at the top of the winding Vistula River. Unlike the sands of popular Sopot to the west, the beaches here are typically deserted. They are wild and untouched too, as they slope down softly to meet the frothy swells of the sea. Behind those are great swathes of protected wildlife reserve, slowly transitioning from undulating dunes with swaying grasses to thick forests complete with winding nature trails.

Sobieszewo Island, Gdansk, Poland

Beautiful beach at Baltic Sea in Poland | © Patryk Kosmider/Shutterstock

5. St Mary's Church

Building, Cathedral, Church

The massive outline of St Mary’s Church is what dominates the skyline of the Gdansk Old Town. Constructed on the site of an old timber chapel in the middle of the 13th century, the landmark seen today has been continually expanded to add Gothic elements and Flemish rooftop styles, which all adds up to create a truly wonderful piece of architecture. The beauty of the building continues inside, too. Elaborate organ pipes burst from the nooks and crannies; vaulted Gothic ceilings rise to the heavens; astronomical clocks tick over in the corner. It’s a wonderful place to explore.

6. Sopot Beach

Although Sopot Beach is officially a part of the neighbouring town of Sopot itself, its location in the boundaries of the Polish Tricity makes it an easy place to get to from the heart of Gdansk. Ride the SKM trains out to the area and wander down the wide boulevards of Sopot’s town to the shore. You’ll pass elegant 19th-century spa resorts and grand hotels as you make for the sea, where a long boardwalk juts into the swells of the Baltic. The beach itself runs for miles, offering oodles of room to sunbathe and swim during the summer.

Sopot, Poland

Sunrise at Baltic sea in Sopot, Poland | © Patryk Kosmider/Shutterstock

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.