Gdansk

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Hanseatic city of Gdansk lies on the coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland and astonish with its historic beauty and maritime atmosphere in so many ways. Together with its neighbours Gdynia and Sopot it forms the metropol area housing over million residents, Trojmiasto.

Established in 10th century, the city has been known for might of the Teutonic knights ruling the city and its status as the member of the Hanseatic League. Before 1945 and Polish control the city were known as Danzig.

Gdansk has appr. 460,000 residents and is the heart of the historic Pomeranian area.

Amazing churches, vivid combination of old architectural styles and beach life – that is Gdansk.

Shopping

• Fashion House (ul. Przywidzka 8) offers big name brands like Nike, Adidas and Reebok in astonishingly cheap prices.
• Galeria Sztuki Kaszubskiej (ul. Św. Ducha 48, near St. Mary’s church) offers high-quality Kashubian traditional hand-embroideded products, such as curtains, clothing and napkins.
• Galeria Przymorze (ul. Obrońców Wybrzeża 1) has many big brand shops and a cinema.
• Gdansk is known for its amber jewellery and many shops provide it forsale.

Beaches

Together with Gdynia and Sopot, Gdansk forms the seaside area called the Northern Riviera.

Here is few good-quality beaches for sunbathing and relaxing with the beer or two.

Among the popular beaches in Gdansk there is Jelitkowo and Brzezno. Also Stogi is splendid.

In Sopot a visitor have a chance to walk on the biggest wooden pier of Europe.

To see

Old Town

Stare Miasto AKA Old Town is the real pride of Gdansk.

Partially reconstructed after the demolition of WW II, the area has strong scent of Hanseatic harbour town and here is visible Gothic, Baroque and Hanseatic styles side by side in harmonic jumble.

Most full architectonic experience gives the tendon of the Stare Miasto, pedestrian street Dlugi Targ between the the Green Gate and Targ Weglowy. Along this route stands same kind of buildings as in South German and Dutch towns.

The Green Gate is former royal residence, which today houses the National Museum.

Here is also cozy cellar restaurants and canals to approach.

Golden Gate

At the end of the popular street Long Lane (Ulica Dluga), lies this majestetic gate. It was constructed in 1612–14 in place of a 13th-century Gothic gate. Both sides of the gate have figurated attiques. It represents Dutch Mannerism architecture in its finest forms.

Church of Saint Mary

Currently this brick Gothic church is one of the largest churches in the world and most important religious sites in Poland. Its construction began in 1379 and it was completed in 1502. Damaged in WW II, its reconstruction began as early as 1946 and it still going.

How to get around in Gdansk

• ZTM Gdansk provides relatively convenient public transport system with buses, trams and water trams.
• There is a 24h ticket (12 zlotys, 6 zlotys with student discount) valid on all trams, buses during the day and night.
• Two water tram lines goes from Zabi Kruk to Westerplatte and from Targ Rybny to the National Sailing Center.

How to get in Gdansk

Gdansk has an international airport and many low-cost operators provide flights here.

Gdansk is well-connected with several bus operators. PolskiBus, Eurolines and Ecolines provide connections to and from the city.

PKP Intercity and Przewozy Regionalne has train connection to Gdansk.

SKM offers commuter train service between Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia.

Text: Timo Hellman

Photos: www.gdansk.pl, Wikimedia Commons with CC / M.Minderhoud, Voron, Michael Caven, Maciej Szczepańczyk, Maciej Szczepańczyk, Poco a poco[/fusion_text]