Gdańsk (sometimes spelled Gdansk in English) is the Polish Baltic capital and the most rewarding cruise call in the country. The catch is logistical: the cruise quay at Westerplatte sits at the historic 1939 site 7 to 8 km from the Main Town, and the day starts with a 15-minute taxi rather than a walk. Once you are in the centre, however, almost everything cruise passengers come for is within a 15-minute walk of the Long Market.
The Main Town is the headline destination, with the brick-Gothic Mariacka Street, the Long Market and Neptune’s Fountain, and the elaborate facades of Długi Targ. Two major museums sit within walking distance: the European Solidarity Centre at the old shipyard, and the Museum of the Second World War on the river side. Malbork Castle (UNESCO), reached by train from Gdańsk Główny in about an hour, is the standout day-trip from Gdańsk and absorbs most of a port day on its own.
Port Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Port Type | Dock at Westerplatte Quay (out of town) |
| Distance to Town | Westerplatte Quay is 7 to 8 km from the Main Town; about 15 minutes by road |
| Currency | Polish złoty (PLN) |
| Language | Polish; English widely spoken in the tourist district and at the cruise quay |
| Best Known For | The brick-Gothic Main Town with the Long Market and Neptune's Fountain, the European Solidarity Centre tracing the 1980s trade-union movement that ended communist rule, the Museum of the Second World War, and Malbork Castle (UNESCO) as a day-trip by train. |
- Obrońców Westerplatte Quay , Primary cruise berth, 7-8 km from Main Town
- Main Town (Główne Miasto) , Long Market, Neptune's Fountain, Mariacka
- European Solidarity Centre , Free trade union and Solidarity history museum
- Museum of the Second World War , Major historical museum near the centre
- Malbork Castle , UNESCO Teutonic castle, train from Gdańsk Główny
Gdańsk: Westerplatte Cruise Quay · View larger map
Getting From the Port to Town
Walking: The Best Option
Not walkable- Walk time: Westerplatte is 7-8 km from the Main Town; taxi or organised transfer needed
- Unlike most of the other Baltic capital cruise calls, Gdańsk is not walkable from the cruise quay. The Westerplatte Quay sits at the historic 1939 site at the mouth of the Vistula, 7 to 8 km from the Main Town. A licensed taxi from the cruise quay (with port-regulated fixed price lists posted at the gate) is the standard option for independent passengers, with a journey of about 15 minutes by road.
Local Bus
ZTM Gdańsk public buses; SKM commuter trains for day trips- Gdańsk public transport is operated by ZTM and covers the city by bus and tram. For most cruise passengers, the practical route is a port-regulated licensed taxi from Westerplatte to the Main Town (rather than a multi-leg bus journey). For day trips to Sopot, Gdynia and Malbork, the SKM commuter train and the PKP Intercity network depart from Gdańsk Główny station near the Main Town.
Taxi
Port-regulated fixed price lists are posted at the cruise quay- Licensed taxis at the Westerplatte cruise quay use port-regulated fixed-price lists displayed at the gate, with the journey to the Main Town taking about 15 minutes by road. Confirm the price card before you set off. Inside Gdańsk itself, the Bolt rideshare app is widely used and a clearer option than negotiating with a city taxi.
Top Excursions
Gdańsk Shore Excursion: Private Gdańsk, Sopot & Gdynia Tour
Private car sightseeing tour through Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia. The best way to see the most interesting places in the Tri-City. Let us take you to the must-sees and we’ll add a pinch of local attractions. Set yourself free and discover the Tri-City off the beaten track. Do not you have many days to
Book This ExcursionGroup Shore Excursion of Gdansk and Oliwa Cathedral from Gdynia
Make the most of your limited time ashore with this half-day group shore excursion, designed exclusively for cruise passengers docking in Gdynia. Discover the highlights of Gdańsk, Poland’s cultural gem, on a guided walking tour through the beautifully reconstructed Old Town — including Long Street,
Book This ExcursionGdansk Shore Excursion Private Sightseeing Tour
All cruises guests who arrive to Gdansk or Gdynia are invite for a few hours tour to Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia. Our itinerary are tailored to the needs of our clients and time which cruises moored in port of Gdynia or Gdansk. Explore the Tri-City area on an 6-8-hour sightseeing tour that includes a v
Book This ExcursionDeluxe Cruise Friendly Gdansk Tour
Dear cruisers docking in Gdania! If you’re eager to immerse yourself in the rich history and enchanting beauty of Gdansk on your first visit, join us for an exceptional shore excursion designed to captivate and delight. Experience the historic charm of Gdansk Old Town, admire the city’s remarkable a
Book This ExcursionMore Experiences in Gdańsk
Malbork Castle Private Tour from Gdansk
Enjoy a private tour just for you and your family and friends and see the highlights of Malbork Castle with audio guide and private driver. Experience the grandeur of Malbork Castle, known as the largest castle in the world. Each tour can be tailored to your personal preferences, schedule, level of
Malbork Castle Private Tour from Gdansk
Experience the Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork like never before. Our tour offers more than just a visit — it’s a deep dive into the heart of medieval Europe. With expert guides, comfortable transportation, and a well-paced itinerary, you’ll gain a richer understanding of one of Poland’s mos
Gdansk: Malbork Castle Private Skip-the-Line Trip by Car
Follow in the footsteps of Teutonic Knights on a private day trip from Gdansk to Malbork Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Optional: choose a full-day trip and visit 3 medieval castles in 1 day! HIGHLIGHTS: – Visit Malbork Castle, one of Poland's most celebrated UNESCO World Heritage sites – Enj
Malbork Castle Tour from Gdansk
We're the only company that offers regular tours so you can have experience in better price! This is shared transportation, shared guide tour in small groups. We use best English speaking museum guides, English speaking drivers and door to door service in comfortable AC minibusses. Small groups for
The best excursions in Gdańsk fill up ahead of peak sailings. Compare options and book before you leave port.
Things to Do in Gdańsk
A focused Gdańsk day spends the morning in the Main Town (Long Market, Mariacka Street, St Mary’s Church) and the afternoon at one major museum, either the European Solidarity Centre or the Museum of the Second World War. Malbork Castle is the alternative if you would rather do one major site than the city itself.
The cruise quay is out of town, so the day starts and ends with a 15-minute taxi each way. The Main Town itself is walking distance once you arrive, with the major sights clustered along the Royal Way (Długi Targ to St Mary’s).
- Main Town (Długi Targ and Mariacka Street). The Royal Way through the Main Town runs from the Highland Gate to the Green Gate, passing through Długi Targ (the Long Market) with Neptune’s Fountain at its head. Mariacka Street, with its amber shops and the entrance to St Mary’s Church, is the most photographed corner. Free; allow at least two hours.
- Main Town Hall and Museum of Gdańsk. The Renaissance town hall on Długi Targ houses the Museum of Gdańsk’s main collection. Adult entry 12 PLN; free on Mondays (May to September) or Tuesdays (October to April). Open Wed-Fri 10:00 to 16:00 (Thu to 18:00) and Sat-Sun 10:00 to 16:00; closed Tuesdays. The tower view of the Long Market is the best in the city.
- European Solidarity Centre. The Solidarity museum at the gates of the Gdańsk shipyard combines an extensive permanent exhibition with the historic shipyard gate where Lech Wałęsa led the August 1980 strike. Open Mon, Wed-Fri 10:00 to 16:00 (closed Tuesdays), Sat-Sun 10:00 to 17:00, with extended summer evening hours to 20:00 on selected dates.
- Museum of the Second World War. The major historical museum on the river side near the centre takes a Polish-centric view of the war and is one of the most comprehensive in Central Europe. Open daily 10:00 to 18:00 with the ticket office closing at 17:00. Allow at least three hours for the permanent exhibition.
- Malbork Castle (day trip). The UNESCO-listed brick castle 60 km south-east of Gdańsk is the largest brick castle in the world and the former headquarters of the Teutonic Order. Historical Castle Route adult ticket 80 PLN (full tour with audioguide). Reach by PKP Intercity train from Gdańsk Główny; total return travel time around 2 hours plus 3 hours on site.
Westerplatte cruise quay has licensed taxis with port-regulated fixed-price lists posted at the rank. Take a card and confirm the destination price before you set off. The Main Town is about 15 minutes by road. Inside the city, Bolt is the simpler app option.
Best Restaurants in Gdańsk
Ratings from TripAdvisor, verified July 2026.
Zafishowani Restaurant
Zafishowani is a fish & seafood restaurant overlooking the Motława River, located in the center of the historic Gdańsk. We serve fresh fish and seafood all year round, in non-obvious combinations with seasonal vegetables and local additives. The menu includes Baltic classics and
#52 of 1,345 Places to Eat in Gdansk
View on TripAdvisorRitz Restaurant
Welcome at Basia’s Ritz Restaurant! „Ritz” is open from Tuesday to Sunday, between 01:00 pm -10:00 pm. The kitchen takes last orders until 09.00 pm. Basia Ritz is the first polish Masterchef. She’s the owner of the restaurant and Chef in her author's kitchen. Restaurant Ritz is t
#16 of 1,345 Places to Eat in Gdansk
View on TripAdvisorPanorama Restaurant
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10.00-22.00 Mondays 10.00 – 20.00 Panorama Restaurant is located in the heart of the city. Business Center of Gdansk – Zieleniak
#165 of 1,345 Places to Eat in Gdansk
View on TripAdvisorRatings & reviews powered by TripAdvisor
Getting Around
The Main Town Hall (the Museum of Gdańsk) charges 12 PLN adult and is free on Mondays from May to September, or Tuesdays from October to April. Open Wed-Fri 10:00 to 16:00, Thu to 18:00, Sat-Sun 10:00 to 16:00; closed Tuesdays. The Renaissance interior and the tower view of the Long Market are both worth the climb.
Essential Travel Tips
Malbork is the largest brick castle in the world and the former headquarters of the Teutonic Order. The Historical Castle Route adult ticket is 80 PLN (full tour with audioguide); the Castle Grounds Route is cheaper. Reach by PKP Intercity train from Gdańsk Główny; total return travel takes around 2 hours plus tour time.
The European Solidarity Centre, at the gates of the historic Gdańsk shipyard, tells the story of the 1980s trade-union movement and the end of communist rule in Poland. Open Mon-Fri 10:00 to 16:00 (closed Tuesdays); extended to 20:00 on selected summer evenings. A short walk from the Main Town.
Getting ashore is only half the day in Gdańsk: it is the return leg, and the all-aboard time, that catches first-timers out. A short packing list of layers, water and comfortable shoes covers most of what changes through a port day.
Deciding between a shore excursion and independent travel in Gdańsk comes down to two things: how much you trust the local logistics, and how forgiving the return is if something runs late. First-time cruisers usually overestimate the difficulty of independent travel in compact ports and underestimate it in spread-out ones.
Before booking a Gdańsk excursion, work out what the ship’s price actually buys you: transport, guide, entry, time. If you can replicate most of those yourself, your onboard spending budget keeps its room for a good meal or a souvenir at the end of the day.
The best time to book a Gdańsk sailing is often less about price and more about cabin availability: balcony cabins on the shaded side sell first, and that has more effect on your day-to-day comfort than any single excursion. Visa rules are straightforward for most UK passport holders.
Frequently Asked Questions
At the Obrońców Westerplatte Quay at Westerplatte, the historic 1939 site at the mouth of the Vistula. Vessels up to 300 m moor directly at the cruise quay. The Westerplatte cruise quay is 7 to 8 km from the Main Town, about 15 minutes by road.
No. The Westerplatte cruise quay is 7 to 8 km from the Main Town, well beyond walking distance. A licensed taxi from the cruise quay rank (with port-regulated fixed-price lists posted at the gate) is the standard option, with the journey taking about 15 minutes by road.
Yes if you accept that it absorbs most of the port day. Malbork is the largest brick castle in the world and the former Teutonic Order headquarters. The PKP Intercity train from Gdańsk Główny takes around an hour each way; the Historical Castle Route ticket is 80 PLN adult including the audioguide. Allow around 5 hours including travel.
The major museum and archive at the gates of the Gdańsk shipyard, tracing the 1980s Solidarność trade-union movement and the end of communist rule in Poland. The permanent exhibition is one of the most respected modern-history museums in Europe. Open Mon, Wed-Fri 10:00 to 16:00 (closed Tuesdays), Sat-Sun 10:00 to 17:00.
Polish złoty (PLN). Poland is in the EU and the Schengen Area but not the eurozone. Card and contactless payment are accepted almost everywhere; you will rarely need cash for a port day. ATMs are common in the Main Town.
No, they are two different cities, although cruise itineraries sometimes list them together as part of the Tricity (Trójmiasto) along with Sopot. Cruise ships dock at Westerplatte in Gdańsk; Gdynia has its own commercial port and is about 25 km north along the coast, reachable from Gdańsk by SKM commuter train.
Ready to Explore Gdańsk?
Gdańsk rewards passengers who accept the out-of-town cruise quay and treat the Main Town as a half-day with one major museum attached. The 15-minute taxi each way is the unavoidable cost of one of the most evocative cruise stops on the south Baltic. The Long Market is genuinely beautiful, the Solidarity Centre is a serious modern-history museum, and Malbork on the train is one of the great brick-Gothic experiences in Europe.
How We Verify Port-Day Details
We aim for practical, low-risk guidance. Before publishing and during updates, we check core planning details against official sources and current operator information.
What We Check
- Berth and terminal details, including whether the port is walkable or requires a transfer
- Transport options and realistic return timing for different port types
- Details that change frequently, such as fares and schedules, with up-to-date notes where relevant
Typical Sources
- Official port authority and terminal updates
- Cruise line port notes and day-of-call instructions
- Local transport operators and official tourism resources