Gdańsk attractions – what is worth seeing in Gdańsk?

Gdańsk is one of the most interesting cities in Poland in terms of tourism. If you are planning a trip to Tricity and wondering what monuments and attractions to see in Gdańsk, read the article below. How to visit Gdańsk on the weekend? What to see in Gdańsk? Our guide will help you get to the most interesting places in the capital of the Pomeranian Voivodeship.

Start your tour of Gdańsk from the very center, i.e. the Town Hall located at Długi Targ. It is the most valuable and impressive building in the city and the seat of the city authorities. Construction began in the 14th century, but in 1945 the building was completely burned down and then rebuilt in the 1960s. The interior of the building is decorated in the style of Dutch Mannerism. The most impressive room – the Great Council Hall, also known as the Red Room, is considered one of the richest and most visually attractive interiors of modern town halls. The interior design of the room is the work of such masters of art as Simon Herle and Hans Vredeman. The ceiling of the room is decorated with 25 paintings by Isaac van den Blocke with symbolic meaning. Currently, the building houses the Historical Museum of the City of Gdańsk.

If you are wondering how to visit Gdańsk on a weekend and see its most important attractions, be sure to see Długa Street and Długi Targ. Together they form the Royal Route – one of the most beautiful streets in the city, running from the Golden Gate to the Green Gate. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Długi Targ served as a stock exchange. It was also the residence of distinguished personalities, such as mayors, wealthy patricians and wealthy merchants. The oldest tenement houses on this street were built in the Middle Ages. They are characterized by narrow facades ending with attics or gables, which are richly decorated with figures of ancient heroes, allegorical figures and coats of arms.

When it comes to attractions in Gdańsk, you will see many monuments in the very center. There is another object worth seeing at Długi Targ. The Artus Court, as we are talking about it, was once a meeting place for wealthy craftsmen, merchants and patricians. The building was also an important center of commercial and social life in the city for several centuries. Artus Manor was built in the 14th century, but it was destroyed by fire shortly thereafter. The building gained its current shape in 1477. The portal in the Mannerist style is decorated with medallions with portraits of kings. Inside there is a huge, 12-meter-high tiled stove from the mid-16th century, decorated with hand-painted tiles depicting portraits of European rulers of the time, personifications of planets and virtues, and coats of arms.

The famous Crane – one of the symbols of Gdańsk, is the largest port crane in medieval Europe. It is located on the Motława River. It was once used to erect masts on ships, reload goods, and also served as a city gate. It gained its current shape in the 1440s. Inside the facility there is an active, reconstructed drive mechanism with a huge wooden wheel, once moved by the power of human legs.

Near the Crane, on the bank of the Motława River, there is the Goldwasser tenement house, with a beautiful view of the river and the Old Town. In an elegant tenement house there are stylish apartments for rent, decorated in a classic style. On the ground floor there is the Goldwasser restaurant, captivating with its pleasant atmosphere and exquisite cuisine, including unique alcohols prepared according to traditional recipes. Here you can try a unique liqueur with 23-carat gold flakes, unique in the world. So if you are looking for new flavors and aromas, the Goldwasser restaurant is certainly something worth seeing in Gdańsk.

How to visit Gdańsk on a weekend when the city offers so many attractions? In this case, you need to decide on the most important sights. One of them is St. Mary’s Basilica, called the “crown of Gdańsk”. It is the largest Gothic brick temple in Europe. The church was built over 159 years in several stages, starting in the first half of the 14th century. Inside you will see many works of medieval and baroque art, e.g. a copy of the painting The Last Judgment by Hans Memling from the 15th century, a stone Pieta from around 1410, an astronomical clock created in 1464-1470, or the main altar from the beginning of the 16th century. The vault in the basilica reaches as much as 30 meters. The massive, 77.6 m high tower is crowned with an observation gallery, from where there is a beautiful view of the city.

If you are wondering what to see in Gdańsk and at the same time relax after the hardships of sightseeing, go to Oliwa Park. Established in the 18th century on the site of former monastery gardens, the park is full of unusual plant specimens from almost all over the world. You will also see an alpinarium (rock garden), whispering caves, an orangery, the cascade of the Oliwa Stream and other attractions in Gdańsk. The “Road to Eternity”, a 112-meter long avenue of clipped linden trees, is also waiting for you. Also noteworthy is the hornbeam alley, planted in the 17th century. In summer, outdoor concerts are held in the park gazebo and on the terrace of the nearby Abbots’ Palace.

These are not the only attractions in Gdańsk that are worth seeing. Go to the lighthouse in Nowy Port, one of the most beautiful lighthouses on the Baltic Sea. Commissioned in 1894 and measuring 27 meters, the lighthouse is something worth seeing in Gdańsk. Until 1984, the facility showed ships the entrance to the port. It also once served as the base of the time ball. Its rise and fall at noon allowed ship captains to precisely set their ship’s chronometers, thanks to which they could navigate correctly at sea.

Inside you will see well-preserved historical optical devices. An exhibition “Lighthouses of Gdańsk through the centuries” has also been prepared for visitors. From the top of the lighthouse there is a beautiful view of the entire Bay of Gdańsk, Westerplatte and the Port of Gdańsk.

Gdańsk is the city of “Solidarity”. This is where the famous workers’ strike of December 1970 began. Three majestic crosses with anchors – symbols of hope – commemorate the victims who died at that time. The monument is 42 meters high and weighs almost 140 tons. All official delegations visiting the city lay flowers at his feet.

If you are wondering what to see in Gdańsk apart from the attractions mentioned above, see the Great Mill. It is a Teutonic building dating back to the mid-14th century, built on the Radunia Canal. It was the largest initiative of the Teutonic Knights in Gdańsk. It served as a bakery, warehouse and mill. It had as many as 18 water wheels with a diameter of 5 meters, making it a real technical achievement of its time