Itinerary proposal GDANSK, Poland
Day 1 – GDANSK
“Witamy w Polsce!” “Welcome to Poland!” After breakfast at the hotel leave for your sightseeing tour of Gdansk – the largest city in northern Poland and also one of the most important cultural Polish centers.
Gdansk situated on the Bay of Gdansk on the Baltic Sea and close to the delta of Poland’s longest river, the Vistula, is a city-symbol connected with important events of Polish history. The Second World War began here with the Nazi assault on the Westerplatte peninsula. Gdansk is also z city of Hevelius, Fahrenheit, Solidarity Movement and Lech Walesa – a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Poland’s former President. It was here that the strikes of 1970,1980 and 1988 began, ultimately leading to the demise of communism. The Gdansk Shipyard became a symbol of defying communism in Europe.
Gdansk is the largest city in northern Poland and also one of the most important cultural Polish centres.
With its thousand-year-old history it is called the “Aurea Porta” meaning the “Golden Gate” of the Polish Republic.
There are a lot of numerous monuments and buildings from different epochs and styles.
Old churches, palaces, city gates and fortifications from the period when Gdańsk was the greatest port on the Baltic Sea and a member of the Hanseatic League. The Golden Gate opens onto the Royal Route, which leads along Długa Street where the Main Town Hall is situated. It is one of the most important historic buildings of Gdańsk built between 1379 and 1382. The Main Town Hall houses the Historical Museum of the City of Gdansk. Worth visiting is the Long Market, where the most elegant Gothic building known as the Artus Court is located. There is also the Green Gate, built as a residence for Polish kings, dominated by the figure of Neptune on the fountain, that is a symbol of maritime Gdansk. The most picturesque of all streets is the Mariacka Street with its monumental St. Mary’s Basilica, which is regarded as the biggest church in Poland.
Enjoy your walking city tour of Gdansk. Highlights include: the Upland Gate – a fragment of the city’s former fortifications and one of its main gates, The Golden Gate which opens onto Long Market – a magnificent street, with grand mansions decorated with late Renaissance and Baroque facades, Main Town and the Artus Court – a building used for Hanseatic League meetings. It is renowned as the most beautiful court among all of Europe’s Hanseatic cities. Just behind it stands the tower of St. Mary’s Basilica, a part of the most precious and largest red-brick Gothic church in Gdansk. Stroll along the Mariacka Street, with its gabled terraced houses and elegant amber boutiques. See the Jan Hevelius Monument - astronomer and brewer and visit the St. Bridget's church with an Amber Altar - unique of its kind in the world
Welcome dinner at a local restaurant - “Smacznego!” You will have a chance to taste traditional Polish cuisine.
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 2 – GDANSK – OLIWA – GDYNIA – SOPOT - GDANSK
After breakfast at the hotel drive to the Oliwa cathedral - to admire gothic architecture, baroque furnishing and a sound of 7876 pipes of XVIII c. organ. After a short concert continue with your drive to Gdynia - a young port city, which forms the Tri City region together with Gdańsk and Sopot. Here you will see old vessels and ships moored alongside the wharf.
In the afternoon we propose a boat trip around the bay or an alternative visit to an amber workshop.
On our way back to Gdansk we stop in Sopot – Baltic Sea resort in the style of Art Nouveau with the longest wooden pier in Europe.
Rounding off the day there will be a dinner in a local restaurant together with a glass of traditional herbal spiced “Goldwasser” Gdansk vodka.
Overnight at your hotel in Gdansk.
Day 3 - DAY TRIP FROM GDANSK
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we invite you to discover and explore beautiful sights located nearby Gdansk. Please find our propositions below:
- Full day trip to Malbork
The Malbork Castle (UNESCO World Heritage Site) is a magnificent mediaeval fortress built on the River Nogat. It is the largest brick Castle in Poland and probably in the world. The initial Castle was built in 1274 when the Teutonic Knights founded their new home in Poland. Malbork became the capital city of the Teutonic Order and a seat of its Grand Master, who came to launch the campaign against the Prussians. The Castle in Malbork, systematically extended and fortified over centuries, quickly gained the name of an invincible bastion. Its oldest part is called the High Castle, then came the Forecastle, later converted into the Middle Castle, which was the residence of the Grand Master, and the Lower Castle, the last to be built. From 1457 until the Partitions of Poland this masterpiece of art of the Pomerania region that combines charm with the functional aspects, served as one of the official royal residences of Polish kings. Nowadays the Castle is still in an excellent state, and thanks to Polish conservators the historical halls, chapels, chambers and courtyards retain their impressive splendour. The Castle is also a significant and well-known museum. There is a permanent exhibition presenting the Castle’s history, the collection of mediaeval sculptures, stained glass windows, coins, weapons, tapestries, and a collection of amber art, which is called “northern gold”. The Malbork Castle with its impressive defensive walls and exquisitely decorated rooms, showing majesty and power, still appeals to our imagination and interest.
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- Full day trip to Pelplin and Gniew Castle
Pride of Pelplin is the monumental Gothic cathedral, one of the most sumptuous Cistercian basilicas in Poland. It has Gothic, Renaissance and baroque interior decorations. Its late-Renaissance high alter is Poland’s largest and is believed to be the largest timber alter in Central Europe. The monastic buildings contain Gothic frescoes (15th c.).
Visit the Diocesan Museum, which houses rich collection of sacral art, including a Gutenberg bible printed in 1453 and two Gothic figures of Our Lady.
After visiting Pelplin we continue our drive to Gniew to explore the magnificent, historical Teutonic Knights’ Castle built in the 13th century, partly rebuilt after the fire in 1922. The castle houses a museum and The chapel of saints Hubert and George, the patrons of hunters and knights. The most important place in the Castle, in accordance with the rule of the Teutonic order, was built as the first element of a medieval stronghold. Its medieval character has been preserved up to this day. After sightseeing enjoy lunch in the Castle Inn blended within the medieval walls that will take you on a tasty journey into the past.
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- Full day trip to Torun
Explore the mediaeval city of Torun - one of the most beautiful cities of Poland. Picturesquely located on both banks of the Vistula River, at a site of intersection and ancient trade routes, it has been propagating its traditional economy and openness to the world for nearly 800 years. The city was founded in the first half of the 13th century by the Teutonic Knights.
It is famous for the biggest number, after Krakow, of authentic works of Gothic art and architecture in Poland.
The authenticity of the medieval and Gothic skyline was one of the arguments supporting the decision to add Torun to the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites in 1997. The majority of ancient buildings are located around the beautiful Old Town Square with its monumental Gothic Town Hall and Regional Museum, with a rich collection of mediaeval art, portraits of Polish kings and the Gallery of Polish Painting. There are many other significant monuments such as the Artus Hall or exquisite old Gothic churches. Torun is also the birthplace of the world famous astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus – who “stopped the Sun and moved the Earth”. He was born here on February 19th, 1473 at St. Anne Street, today 17 Copernicus Street, which now houses a museum dedicated to the astronomer.
The most famous product of Torun is the Torun gingerbread. The tradition of the baking of these aromatic cookies in the town of Copernicus is almost as long as the history of Torun. One says that no visitor to our city can leave Torun without gingerbread.
- Full day trip to Kashubian Lakeland region
You can find everything in the Kashubian region - picturesque hills, clean air, sunny beaches, crystal clear rivers, shady forests and interesting historic sites. Kashubia is regarded as one of the most attractive corners of Europe.
The Kashubian region is famous for its folk art and has preserved a large number of traditions and customs. The culture of this interesting region can be admired in the Kashubian museum in Kartuzy known as the Jewel of Kashubia as well as in an open air ethnographic park at Wdzydze Kiszewskie, where one can take part in glass painting, pottery and embroidery workshops.
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- Full day trip to Frombork and Lidzbark Warminski
Today we depart to explore the pearls of the Warmia and Masuria region. We start the tour with a journey to Frombork.
Here Nicolaus Copernicus lived and worked for many years. Once a medieval stronghold, the Cathedral Hill, holds all the major attractions. To the oldest building belongs the monumental brick cathedral surrounded by defensive walls and the Old Bishops’ Palace, which now houses the Copernicus Museum. The hill offers a sweeping view over the Vistula Lagoon.
Our next stop is at the former seat of the Warmia Bishops – the Castle in Lidzbark Warminski. Called the "Wawel of the North" it is located on a narrow ground in the bifurcation of two rivers; Symsarna and Łyna. The bulky mass of the castle co-exists with the picturesque space surrounding it. This superb paradox does not go unnoticed by artists, who open their easels and take their paints and pencils transferring their visions onto canvas.The Castle houses the Museum of Warmia with w rich collection of sacral art. It is worth mentioning that Nicolaus Copernicus lived in this Castle during 1503-1510.
Thank you for visiting Poland