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Gdansk Culture & history

Our most recommended Gdansk Culture & history

Gdansk: Stutthof Concentration Camp Regular Tour

1. Gdansk: Stutthof Concentration Camp Regular Tour

Step back in time on this tour of the Stutthof Concentration Camp from Gdansk. Be moved by stories from the camps victims and see sights where past atrocities occurred.  Be picked up from your hotel in a comfortable and climate-controlled minibus. Relax on the drive to the Stutthof Concentration Camp. Meet your guide and begin your tour of the complex.  Visit to the old and new camp quarters, before moving on to see inside of the commander’s villa. Proceed to the gas chambers and crematorium, while hearing about the mass murder that took place here.  Pay your respects at the camp victims’ monument, before learning about the persecution and occupation of Pomerania. Later on, you will see the first Nazi concentration camp outside of German territory. Travel to Sztutowo, where there was a former camp. Take a 2-hour guided tour of the Stutthof Museum before returning to your accommodation in Gdansk.

Gdansk: City Cruise on Historical Polish Boat

2. Gdansk: City Cruise on Historical Polish Boat

Discover Gdańsk from the water on board a replica of a Polish river ship used for over 400 years. Used mainly in the 18th century, this intimate, wooden, and spacious 12-seater boat will take you to places large ships are unable to go and thanks to the low number of passengers, you'll feel at ease and special. Start the cruise from the former Gdańsk Shipyard that once was a workplace for nearly 18,000 people and unavailable to visitors for over 170 years. Gdansk Shipyard was established after 1945 in place of the former German shipyards. It was here that the "Solidarity" movement began in 1980, leading to the fall of communism in Poland. Next, cruise on Motława River in the center of the Old Town. You’ll see many tourist attractions, including the ruins of the Teutonic castle, water gates leading to the city, the famous wooden crane from the 15th century, charming old tenement houses, and their new setting. Follow a route that will also show you monuments and new buildings of Ołowianka and the Granary Island. This trip is also a unique and only opportunity to see up close specialist vessels, Gdansk port cranes that are the symbol of the city, and the internal quay of the Port of Gdansk.

Gdańsk: City Sights and History Guided Walking Tour

3. Gdańsk: City Sights and History Guided Walking Tour

Please note that booking this tour you will be joining our general free walking tour (tour in which it is up to the guest how to reward his or her guide). In this case the amount you pay covers the reservation fee and the guide's payment. If you wish to join a smaller, private tour let us know and we will organise it for you! Discover the architecture and history of Gdańsk on a walking tour that covers the same route that was walked for centuries by the kings of Poland. Dive into local culture which was has Polish, Dutch and German influences. Meet your guide at the city's Golden Gate and make your way to the colorful merchant town houses that were destroyed by the war, but painstakingly rebuilt. Hear about how merchants made the town the richest city on the Baltic Sea. Walk thorugh Long Market and see the Neptune fountain. Admire St. Mary's Basilica's Gothic brick work and view the Zuraw treadwheel crane in the harbor which is the largest of its kind in the world and a symbol of the city. See the city's rivers and canals as you walk. Travel back in time as your guide tells you about how WWII started in the city and how the Solidarity movement heralded the fall of communism in the Eastern block.

Gdańsk: Polish Vodka Tasting & Traditional Appetizers

4. Gdańsk: Polish Vodka Tasting & Traditional Appetizers

Head to an authentic vodka bar to taste 6 shots of vodka with this experience in Gdańsk. Savor three different appetizers that have been selected to compliment your dinks. Listen as your knowledgeable guide reveals the secrets of Polish vodka to you. Meet your host close to the entrance. Make your way to the vodka tasting table to delight your senses with 6 types of vodka. Learn about these vodka brands and the history of vodka in Poland from your local host. Have a complete Polish experience by pairing your vodka with three small plates of food that is typically served while drinking. Let your host regale you with tales from Poland's communist past.

Gdańsk: City Tour by Electric Golf Cart

5. Gdańsk: City Tour by Electric Golf Cart

Discover the best of Gdańsk on a 1-hour guided, private tour covering the city's main sights. Sit back and relax as a knowledgeable guide presents Gdańsk's history, neighborhoods, and attractions. The tour visits the following highlights: • Highland Gate • Prison Tower and Torture Chamber • Golden Gate • Great Armory • St. Mary's Church • Court of St. George's Brotherhood • Granary Island • Crane • St. John's Church • Polish Post Office • Solidarity Square • Museum of the Second World War • Shipyards • European Solidarity Center

Gdansk: Private Communism Tour with Solidarity Center Museum

6. Gdansk: Private Communism Tour with Solidarity Center Museum

"Do you know what happened on August 31, 1980? Learn about the greatest civic success in the modern history of Poland - the victorious Solidarity movement. Embark on a Communist-themed tour of Gdansk and discover the history of the revolution that led to the fall of the Communist Bloc. During the 2-hour tour you will learn in depth about the Communist-era Poland and the birth of democracy in the Eastern Bloc. Visit the European Solidarity Center (ESC) with skip-the-line tickets that let you beat the crowds. Inside this modern museum, you will walk step by step through the history of Solidarity. You will see the original Tables of 21 Postulates - the written demands that the strikers at the Lenin Shipyard (now Gdansk Shipyard) made against the authorities in 1980, as well as other documents and photographs that document the trade union’s fight for freedom - the strikes, the 1989 round table talks, and first pluralistic election in Poland since 1947. Learn about Lech Walesa, Anna Walentynowicz, and other heroes who led the revolution. Your Private Guide will help you to understand the exhibitions and the historical context behind the Solidarity strikes and their legacy on the rest of Eastern Europe. Choose the 4-hour option to learn even more about the Polish People’s Republic (commonly known as PRL) and communism. See the Solidarity Square and hear the tragic story behind the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers of 1970. Visit the historic site where the “Gdańsk Agreement” of 31 August 1980 was signed - the Center of worker protection of Gdansk shipyard, also known as Sala BHP. The last stop will be Gdansk Shipyard (Stocznia Gdansk), where 17,000 ship builders began the civil resistance against the communist regime in 1980. In the tradition of PRL, we will also invite you for a shot of Polish vodka."

Gdansk Old Town 2-Hour Walking Tour

7. Gdansk Old Town 2-Hour Walking Tour

Explore the compact Old Town of Gdansk to see a unique blend of Gothic, Renaissance, and Mannerist architecture lining some of the most beautiful streets and squares in Europe. Perfect for those with limited time to explore, a professional guide will introduce you to an interesting assortment of monuments, telling fascinating stories along the way. Start at the Golden Gate, once part of the old city’s fortifications. Continue to the Torture Chamber, where executions were carried out until the middle of the 19th century. Next, go to the 16th-century Upland Gate, the main entry point of the Old Town, where the king of Poland would arrive in the city from Warsaw. Continue along the Royal Way to Long Market and the Town Hall. The focal point of Long Market is the Neptune Fountain of the sea god. Walk down to the banks of the Motława River before visiting The Crane, revealing the city’s golden age of trade. Pass St. Mary's Church, thought to be the largest brick church in the world, to end at the imposing Great Armoury, one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in the city.

Gdansk: Private Wolf's Lair Tour

8. Gdansk: Private Wolf's Lair Tour

Your private tour for just you and your group begins as you are picked up from any location in Gdansk, Sopot, or Gdynia. Following 3 hours of driving, you'll arrive to Wolf's Lair. The fortress is composed of 80 buildings which were built between 1940-1942, with 50 of them being bunkers. The headquarters had its own electric power generator, railway station, and an air-strip, and quarters for top Nazi officials as well as a casino and cinema were located in the central part of the compound. The whole area was camouflaged, protected by barbed wire and mine fields. Transportation is conducted by deluxe, spacious, and air-conditioned vehicles which are driven by experienced chauffeurs. Throughout your journey to the site and back you will be free to admire the beauty of the Polish countryside.

Gdansk Private WWII Tour with Museum of the Second World War

9. Gdansk Private WWII Tour with Museum of the Second World War

During your tour of Gdansk, you will get to hear of the facts, legends, opinions, and consequences of World War II for Gdansk, Poland, Europe, and the rest of the world. You will visit the most important places connected with Gdansk history during the war, and your guide will tell you the stories about brave heroes, victims, and crime. The purpose of this trip is to help you forge your own opinion on the course of the war and its consequences, based on new information. You will visit the Polish Post Office Museum, which was a symbol of the Polish heroic resistance in 1939, at the beginning of World War II. The museum aims to educate you about the patriotic activity of Poles in war-torn Gdansk, as well as the cultural achievements of the "Free City" citizens. Select the extended option, and you’ll also visit the World War II Museum, the newest and most visited museum in the city. Journey 15 meters underground to the museum’s permanent exhibition. At almost 5,000 square meters, the museum is the largest historical museum in Poland. Experience a guided tour which will delve into the war’s causes and consequences, as well as the perspective of its victims, perpetrators, heroes, and common folk.

Gdansk Private Walking Tour: Legends and Facts

10. Gdansk Private Walking Tour: Legends and Facts

Learn the facts and legends of the historic city of Gdańsk on a private walking tour of the highlights and main attractions. Marvel at the former gates of the Old Town, including the Upland Gate at the start of the Royal Way. Hear how this route was only accessible to the powerful monarchs in former days. Continue to Long Market and the Town Hall. Then, pass Neptune Fountain and Arthur's Court (Dwor Artusa) to see the former meeting point of the city’s merchants, now a branch of the Gdańsk History Museum. Go inside the court, where the walls are covered with friezes of mythological and historical characters. Continue to the Green Gate overlooking the Motlawa River. Then, enter St. Mary's Church, the largest brick church in the world. End your two hours of sightseeing at the imposing Great Armory and admire one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in the city. Listen to detailed descriptions of the architecture and discuss the city's medieval history and contemporary legacy. Choose the three-hour tour option to explore the other sides of the Old Town and the islands on the Motlawa River. Discover the adorable Spichrzow Island and admire the architecture and yachts in the area. See the Baltic Symphony Hall and its fantastic buildings. Extend your sightseeing to four hours and enter St. Bridget's Church to see the unique altar made of amber, the most important raw material of the region. Be amazed by the extraordinary embellishments on the roofs and walls, and enjoy included admission.  On the six-hour tour, embark on a full exploration of Old Town and Main Town. Your guide will tell you everything about the city, including interesting facts and fantastic legends. There will be enough time to discover every corner of the city, and to enjoy a special visit of the European Solidarity Center, one of the most modern museums in Europe. Wander through the moving exhibitions and informative installations on the history of Poland and Gdansk.

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Sopot

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What people are saying about Gdansk

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 548 reviews

My mother and I booked were picked up promptly from our hotel and safely driven to Stutthof Concentration camp. There our driver introduced us to our guide. The tour itself was moving and informative. We had a little time afterwards to roam the camp alone wherever we needed to. Both our guide and our driver had fantastic English and were extremely friendly.

Great tour. Our guide was friendly and aware of the weather. Very informative. I enjoyed the inside of St. Mary’s Church the most. 2 and a half hours is a bit long, especially if the weather is poorly but I am so glad I booked this tour on my visit to Gdansk.

We spent the tour with pleasure. Guide told us a lot of interesting facts and magnificent legends. We were guided through terrific streets among awesome buildings.

Prompt pickup, guide was knowledgeable and able to answer extra questions.

The guide was very friendly, really funny and spoke German very well.