Gdansk
Practical know-how for Gdansk: when to go, getting around, money, tipping and the small things that make a trip easier.
Plan your Gdansk trip
- Flight + Hotel PackageRecommended Best option if you want the trip arranged together. View Packages Packages
- Hotels Prefer to book accommodation separately? View Hotels Hotels
- Flights Already have accommodation? View Flights Flights
- Things To Do Tours, attractions and experiences. View Activities Activities
- Best time to go
- June–September for warm weather and beaches; December for Christmas markets and amber stalls.
- Currency
- Polish złoty (PLN)
- Tipping
- About 10% in restaurants if service is not included.
- Language
- Polish. English is widely spoken by younger people in cities.
- Plugs
- Type C/E (two round pins), 230V. UK visitors need an adapter.
- Emergency
- 112
Getting there and around
Airport: Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa (GDN). Direct flights from London take about 2h 19m.
Public transport: a single ticket is typically £0.9–£1.3. A day pass or a travel card is usually better value if you ride several times a day.
Money and tipping
Currency: Polish złoty (PLN).
Tipping: About 10% in restaurants if service is not included.
Take a debit or credit card with no foreign transaction fees if you can, carry a little cash for markets and small cafés, and when a machine offers to charge you in pounds, choose the local currency.
Typical daily spend: see the Gdansk cost guide.
Language, culture and daily rhythm
Language: Polish. English is widely spoken by younger people in cities.
Rhythm of the day: Lunch is the main meal for many locals. Milk bars (“bar mleczny”) are cheap, canteen-style places for traditional food.
- Pay by card nearly everywhere; keep a little złoty for small stalls.
- Pierogi and soups at milk bars are some of the best-value meals in Europe.
- Trams and buses are cheap and cover the cities well.
Booking ahead and saving money
Book ahead: Malbork Castle. These are best reserved in advance.
Free things to do: 7 of the 11 places in our Gdansk guide are free. See them.
Book timed-entry sights, popular restaurants and weekend trains ahead. Flights and hotels are usually cheapest booked 6 to 12 weeks out for city breaks, and earlier for summer beach holidays.
Safety, health and watch-outs
Emergency number: 112.
- Avoid street currency exchange: use ATMs or a card, and decline pound conversion.
- Check opening days: many museums close on Mondays and have a free-entry day.
A UK GHIC gives you access to state healthcare in the EU on the same terms as locals, but it is not a substitute for travel insurance. Take out insurance that covers medical care, cancellation and your activities.
Practical details
Plugs and voltage: Type C/E (two round pins), 230V. UK visitors need an adapter.
Tap water: Tap water is safe to drink.
Entry and documents: Entry rules, passport validity and any pre-travel registrations change. Always check the GOV.UK foreign travel advice page for your destination before you book and again before you travel.
General guidance for Poland, written for UK travellers. Rules, prices and opening hours change: check official sources (GOV.UK foreign travel advice, venue websites) before you travel.