[Travel] Gdańsk Trip

Endlich habe ich Zeit dafür!

I took a two-week vacation last month to four countries and my first stop is Gdańsk in Poland. This city, once a free state under the protection of the Kingdom of Poland, is truly a marvel and an unexpected beauty. It is so rich in history and a known trade capital amongst the many Hanseatic cities in Europe. This is also the city where WW2 officially started when Hitler attacked Polish forces at Westerplatte on 1 September 1939.

I've stayed for three days here which includes a day trip to the nearby city of Malborg (which I would also be featuring in another blog). In my opinion, it is more than enough to cover the main tourist sites in the Old City (upon entering Brama Wyzynna), the Westerplatte peninsula and the New City.

Gdańsk is relatively more expensive than neighbouring Polish cities and I got waaaaay over my budget here even though I stayed with someone (who I met by the way on a Facebook Group called Host a Sister--highly recommended if you are on a tight budget and/or just backpacking). There was just too much to see and too much to do and eveything costs money. I did a lot of planning and research beforehand but budgeting using prices from blogs published a couple of years (or even months) ago is not that reliable. I plan to upload a separate budget blog since I can't do so at the moment while I am on a vacation. My notes are not with me. 

For now, enjoy these photos I've taken during my trip and tidbits of information about it.

I love taking photos of manhole covers. It usually bears the city's coat of arms or any symbols representing it.

Another cute thing about European cities are the hidden statues all over. It is a tourist thing to look and map for these little fellas. These three are just some of many scattered in Gdańsk. The one on top is located at Hevelianum. The last one is besides the big Gdańsk sign located at the old town.

Old Town Attractions

Dwór Artusa

and the famous Fontanna Neptuna in front of it

Inside the Dwór Artusa

King Charles III walked in this very hall.

The Main Town Hall

You can climb the Town Hall Clock Tower to see an outstanding view of the Old City

View in front of the Fontanna Neptuna

View from the clock tower

View from the clock tower

Small scale of the Main Town Hall

Basilica of St. Mary's Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Bazylika Mariacka Wniebowzięcia Najświętszej Maryi Panny w Gdańsku

The astronomical clock. This one is better than the one in Prague

The Crane

Stary żuraw portowy

It is currently close for construction but they are saying that by 2025, you can try to lift up heavy goods using the old method again. It's like hamster wheel mechanism.

Views

View of the Motława River at the Green Gate (nothing is Green there but for some reason, medieval people call it that way)

Sołdek Museum

This is a retired ship that is now a museum related to maritime in Gdańsk

Mariacka Street

A charming street where amber jewellery are being sold

Zespół Przedbramia

Previously a prison and now a museum. This imposing building is the first one you'll see after going through the many gates of the Old City

Main Town/New Town

Góra Gradowa

Gradowa Hill

This cross is on top of the hill which was previously a part of the old city wall defense. 

          FYI (source):

Unveiled on September 3, 2000 on the site of a World War II anti-aircraft gun, the Millennium Cross is one of the most visible monuments in Gdansk. As it name suggests, it is a Christian cross and stands at over 16m tall. It sits overlooking the city from the highest point in the city, in an area which houses the remains of a Napoleon-era fort and a modern day science museum. The cross was created to mark 2,000 years of Christianity, the 1,000th anniversary of Gdansk (created 997) and to commemorate those who had died in the city during the previous 300 years. The cross was designed by sculptor Jacek Luczak.

Dwór Cechu Młynarzy

Replica of the Great Mill

                     FYI (source):

Half-timbered building, a replica of the Great Mill built on the northern side of the island in 1831, which was demolished due to poor technical condition and rebuilt in a new location thanks to history lovers. After the destruction in 1945, it was rebuilt only in 1997 (as the second replica of the building) thanks to the preserved documentation. Also known as the House of the Millers' Guild.
The building housed the Hostel Dom Młynarza and the Inn "Pod Wielki Młynem". At the end of 2013, a chocolate lounge was opened there, which was suspended on 21 December 2015.

of course, all these locks from lovers. Very common in Europe

Westerplatte

The peninsula where the Invasion of Poland began. Also really nice beach area.

FYI (source):

The Westerplatte Monument, also known as the Monument to the Defenders of the Coast (Polish: Pomnik Obrońców Wybrzeża) is a war memorial located in Gdańsk, Poland, on the Westerplatte Peninsula in the Gdańsk harbour channel constructed between 1964–1966 to commemorate the Polish defenders of the Military Transit Depot (Wojskowa Składnica Tranzytowa, or WST) in the Battle of Westerplatte, one of the first battles in Germany's invasion of Poland, which marked the outbreak of World War II in Europe.

Coast

ruined building

Others

I wasn't really able to try a lot of local foods during my visit. I opted to check out fast food chains that I've missed back home since I am so deprived in Norway (not a lot of familiar and good options). I kept on eating at KFC since I miss eating juicy fried chicken so much.

Lody (ice cream)

They serve it extremely long like this.

Always 10/10 during hot days

Gold Wasser

A drink which is only distilled in Gdańsk.

It is a clear and spicy-sweet liqueur, in which small gold leaf flakes float, has an alcohol content of 40 percent by volume.

If you want to read more, click here.

First Polish meal at Bar Neptun

Affordable and really good.

I ordered goulash with mash potates, pancake with champignon and mushroom soup and kompot (non alcoholic fruit drink)

Me collecting more coins

Muzeum II Wojny Światowej - Gdańsk

World War II Museum

(I want to make a separate post for this since this one is memorable for me as a history junkie)

Bye for now.