Gdańsk

Gdańsk

PL
Population487,834
Gdańsk is a city on the Baltic coast of northern Poland, and the capital of the Pomeranian Voivodeship. With a population of 486,492, it is Poland's sixth-largest city and principal seaport. Gdańsk lies at the mouth of the Motława River and is situated at the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay, close to the city of Gdynia and the resort town of Sopot; these form a metropolitan area called the Tricity (Trójmiasto), with a population of approximately 1.5 million. The city has a complex history, having had periods of Polish, German and self rule. An important shipbuilding and trade port since the Middle Ages, between 1361 and 1500 it was a member of the Hanseatic League, which influenced its economic, demographic and urban landscape. It also served as Poland's principal seaport and was its largest city from the 15th century until Warsaw surpassed it in the 18th century. With the Partitions of Poland, the city was annexed by Prussia in 1793, and became a part of the German Empire in 1871. In 1807–1814 and 1920–1939 it was a free city. On 1 September 1939 it was the scene of a military clash at Westerplatte, one of the first which initiated World War II. The contemporary city was shaped by extensive border changes, expulsions and new settlement after 1945. In the 1980s, Gdańsk was the birthplace of the Polish Solidarity movement, which helped precipitate the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact. Gdańsk is home to the University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk University of Technology, the National Museum, the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre, the Museum of the Second World War, the Polish Baltic Philharmonic, the Polish Space Agency and the European Solidarity Centre. Among Gdańsk's most notable historical landmarks are the Town Hall, the Green Gate, Artus Court, Neptune's Fountain, and St. Mary's Church, one of the largest brick churches in the world. The city is served by Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport, the country's third busiest airport and the most important international airport in northern Poland. Gdańsk is among the most visited cities in Poland, having received 3.4 million tourists according to data collected in 2019. The city also hosts St. Dominic's Fair, which dates back to 1260, and is regarded as one of the biggest trade and cultural events in Europe. Gdańsk has also topped rankings for the quality of life, safety and living standards worldwide, and its historic city centre has been listed as one of Poland's national monuments.

Places to Explore

Curated experiences in Gdańsk

Twierdza Wisłoujście

Twierdza Wisłoujście

Wisłoujście Fortress (Polish: Twierdza Wisłoujście, German: Festung Weichselmünde) is a historic fortress located in Gdańsk by the Martwa Wisła river, …

Molo w Brzeźnie

Molo w Brzeźnie

Brzeźno Pier (Polish: Molo w Brzeżnie) - a pier located in Brzeźno, one of the resort boroughs of Gdańsk, Pomeranian …

Pomnik Poległych Stoczniowców w Gdańsku

Pomnik Poległych Stoczniowców w Gdańsku

The Monument to the fallen Shipyard Workers 1970 (Polish: Pomnik Poległych Stoczniowców 1970) was unveiled on 16 December 1980 near …

Muzeum II Wojny Światowej

Muzeum II Wojny Światowej

The Museum of the Second World War (Polish: Muzeum II Wojny Światowej) is a state cultural institution and museum established …

Dyrekcja Kolei w Gdańsku

Dyrekcja Kolei w Gdańsku

Sanktuarium Matki Bożej Brzemiennej w Gdańsku Matemblewie

Sanktuarium Matki Bożej Brzemiennej w Gdańsku Matemblewie

Katownia

Katownia

The Torture Chamber (Polish: Katownia; German: Painkammer) is a building located in central Gdańsk. One of a series of city …

Narodowe Muzeum Morskie

Narodowe Muzeum Morskie

The National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk (Polish: Narodowe Muzeum Morskie) is a maritime museum in Gdańsk, Poland, established on 1 …

Baszta Narożna

Baszta Narożna

Wieża Więzienna

Wieża Więzienna

Bazylika Świętego Mikołaja

Bazylika Świętego Mikołaja

Basilica of Saint Nicholas (Polish: Bazylika św. Mikołaja; German: Nikolaikirche) is a Brick Gothic church situated in the Old Town …

Fontanna Neptuna

Fontanna Neptuna

Neptune's Fountain (Polish: Fontanna Neptuna; German: Neptunbrunnen) is a historic fountain in Gdańsk, a Mannerist-Rococo masterpiece, and one of the …

Europejskie Centrum Solidarności

Europejskie Centrum Solidarności

The European Solidarity Centre (Polish: Europejskie Centrum Solidarności) is a museum and library in Gdańsk, Poland, devoted to the history …

Bazylika Archikatedralna Trójcy Świętej

Bazylika Archikatedralna Trójcy Świętej

Oliwa Cathedral, formally known as the Archcathedral Basilica of the Holy Trinity, is a Roman Catholic church in the district …

Baszta Wielka Stągiewna

Baszta Wielka Stągiewna

Brama Żuławska

Brama Żuławska

Kościół pw. Świętej Barbary

Kościół pw. Świętej Barbary

Złota Brama

Złota Brama

The Golden Gate (Polish: Brama Złota, German: Langgasser Tor) is a historic Renaissance city gate in Gdańsk, Poland. It is …

Kościół pw. Świętego Jana

Kościół pw. Świętego Jana

St. John's Church (Polish: Kościół św. Jana; German: Johanneskirche) is a Brick Gothic church situated in the Old Town of …

Kościół pw. Świętego Jakuba

Kościół pw. Świętego Jakuba

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