Gdansk

Gdańsk is located in northern Poland, on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea. It sits at the mouth of the Motława River, which flows into the Gulf of Gdańsk, part of the larger Baltic Sea basin.

The best month to visit Gdansk depends on what you’re looking for. Do you want the best weather, fewer crowds, or the best value? Following are our suggestions for each.

The best weather is a personal preference. We find the best weather for exploring a city is around 55° to 60°F and sunny. The weather in Gdansk during the winter can be very cold, so plan accordingly if you’re visiting during the Holidays.

Below is a chart showing the average high and low temperatures for each month so you can decide what is best for you.

The time of the year with good weather and fewer crowds is often called the shoulder season. The shoulder season in Gdansk is April to May and September to October. For many, this is the best time of the year to visit. We spent the entire month of July in Gdansk. The weather was warm but comfortable, especially during the morning hours.

May and September are good months to visit Gdansk for the best value with decent weather and fewer crowds. The weather during these months can be somewhat cold in Gdansk, but, if you dress appropriately, it can be comfortable for walking most of the day.

If you are planning a trip to Gdansk, there are plenty of excellent places to stay. However, for the best experience, we strongly recommend staying in the Old Town (Stare Miasto). The castle marker on the map below is the heart of the Old Town. We suggest staying as close to it as possible, depending on your budget and preferences.

Here’s a map with hotel and apartment options that can be filtered to meet your needs. Select your travel dates to get specific availability and prices.

The main airport serving Gdańsk and the entire Tricity area (Gdańsk, Sopot, and Gdynia) is Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport (IATA: GDN). Located approximately 12 km northwest of downtown Gdańsk, it’s Poland’s third-busiest airport, handling around 6 million passengers annually

The main train station in Gdańsk is Gdańsk Główny, the city’s primary rail hub and centerpiece of its regional and national rail network. Located on Podwale Grodzkie street, this striking Neo‑Gothic and Dutch Mannerist building opened in 1900 and was recently restored in 2023. It features 10 platforms serving local SKM commuter services, long‑distance PKP Intercity, and regional Polregio trains.

Gdańsk Główny sits within walking distance of the Old Town—around a 10‑ to 20‑minute stroll to the Long Market (Długi Targ)—and offers excellent connectivity to local trams, buses, and the intercity bus station, which is conveniently linked via an underground passage.

Gdansk is in the Central European time zone (CET = GMT / UCT + 1). Daylight saving time applies from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October (CEST).

Polish złoty

Polish is the official language, but English is widely spoken in Gdansk.

Citizens from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia don’t need a visa to visit Poland if they stay 90 days or less. For more information on visa-free travel in Poland, check out our article on traveling visa-free.

Poland’s electrical outlets are Type C and E. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type E is the plug which has two round pins and a hole for the socket’s male earthing pin. They have a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

Travelers from the United States will need an adapter. If you have many items to plug in, we recommend a travel power strip with multiple USBs and standard plug-ins. Using a power strip, you will only need one adapter to plug the strip into the wall.

Travelers will want a SIM card for Poland. You can get either a local SIM card or an eSIM card.

To get a local SIM card, you have to find a local cellular service provider, often stand in line for assistance, show your passport, and complete some paperwork. The SIM cards work great, but purchasing them is somewhat inconvenient. This option is best if you need more than 5GB of data.

We use eSIMs exclusively because they can be purchased through an app prior to arrival in a new country and activated when you hit a cell tower in the country. We use Airalo eSIMs. They work great, and I recommend them if you plan to use less than 5 GB of data during your stay or if you need internet immediately on arrival.

The fantastic train system in Poland makes rental cars unnecessary for most destinations. However, rental cars are needed to reach smaller towns and explore the countryside. In addition to the major car rental companies found in the United States, Sixt and Europcar are common throughout Europe. For a comparison of rental car offers from large, international brands and smaller regional brands, we recommend Discover Cars.