This Hanseatic town and the home of Lech Walesa, has a lot more to offer than the Solidarity movement is a paradise for visitors, with its historic charm intact despite the heavy toll of World War II. With its tempestuous history, dating back to 997, it has for many centuries been a merchant city of splendid cultural and scientific achievements, full of interesting architecture. In 1997, Gdansk celebrated its millennium anniversary.
 

Located on the Baltic Coast in the North of Poland, Gdansk is the biggest port in Poland. It is part of the Tri-City area which includes the modern seaport of Gdynia and the resort town of Sopot.

By air
It takes approximately 50 minutes from Warsaw. Direct international flights art available from London (2h 10 min.) and Hamburg (approximately 1h 20 min.)

By rail
Express and fast train easily connect Gdansk with Warsaw, taking about 4h.

By road
Gdansk is situated at 343 km from Warsaw. Road connections are good.
 

The most important sights are found along the "Way of the Kings", a 2 to 3-hour walk. Starting at the "HohenTor", the walk goes through the market to the "Green Door" at the river Motlawa.

Here one can find the most beautiful architectural elements of the city, all concentrated in one area:

Neptune's Fountain, in front of the late-Gothic Artus Court, one of the Old Town's most impressive buildings, the Golden House, the Patrician houses and the City Hall.

The City Hall with its tall, thin tower dates from the XlVth and XVth centuries and offers a spectacular view of the city. Within the City Hall one can find the History Museum of the City of Gdansk.

Parallel to the Way of the Kings, runs the romantic Mariacka Lane, inviting strollers to experience the quiet times of the past Also to be found here is the Long Market, bustling with activity well into the evening. The medieval St. Mary's Church, Poland's largest church, towers majestically over the city.

The Gdansk National Museum, housed in a XVth century Franciscan monastery, is also well worth a visit.

Boat trips around the port of Gdansk are available during spring and summer, taking passengers to the main harbour; passing the Westerplatte Peninsula (where on 1st September 1939 at 4.45pm the Second World War started) and the Hel Peninsula, with its beaches and romantic fishing villages.

The State Opera, the Baltic Philharmonic and the Theatre Wybrzeze provide interesting concerts and events for international visitors.

A special event in Gdansk is the Annual Dominican Fair held in August. Artisans, folk dancers and musicians take over the streets and plazas of Gdansk during its commemoration of St. Dominic.
 

 Just 11 kilometres from Gdansk is Sopot, the exclusive Polish beach resort. This traditional spa resort now attracts an international clientele with its casino, dining and nightlife. Its completely renovated Grand Hotel and Pier recall the glamour of a bygone era.

Gdynia, a modern port city and the third pillar of the Tri-City, is located just 20 km from Gdansk.
 

Beyond the Tri-City the coastline stretches for hundreds of kilometres.

The Kashuby Lake District is another area worth a visit, ideal for water sports and horseback riding, or lust for a refreshing change from city life.

The Teutonic Knights, who built the Malbork castle, have been gone for centuries but the structure remains as the largest medieval fortification in Europe, listed by UNESCO as part of the World Heritage. Another notable spot is the town of Frombork, associated with the great Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.
 

Tel. (00-48-58) 314355