Gdansk Tourist Traps

Gdansk is one of the towns (as quite much of them in Poland) that was damaged in Second World War. Pity, not only newer part of town was touched by War, but also the old part.

Later, at Soviet times, the city slowly was reconstructed, but it is really visible, that part of old town is a new one, but rebuilt using old models. There are, of course, unique, not damaged buildings as it is Mariacki Cathedral.

The trap is that dishonest owners of so called "kantor" where you can exchange your currency into zloty offer a very good rate of exchange. A tourist is very glad but finaly it occurs that the rate is not that good. Why? Because SOMEWHERE it's written that it's only when you exchange a certain amount of money (usually big)-if you exchange a small amount- the rate is usually smaller. It's good to know it BEFORE because AFTERWARDS you can do nothing as it's not against the law.

Unique Suggestions: Say the amount of money you want to exchange and ask them to tell you the exact rate.

This town is a tourist trap, simply because there are so many tourists here! Even in the dead of winter, on a freezing cold 1st January, there were thousands of tourists thronging the streets, and the pier. I know - i was one of them!! :p

Although it is a beautiful town, it's quite difficult to have a nice, romantic experience in such a busy place...

Unique Suggestions: The best option would probably be to go early, as always. Before everyone wakes up. Heck, before the sun wakes up, even! That way you can see what the town looks like, before you freeze to death trying to walk to the end of the pier for that 'perfect' photo opportunity :)

Fun Alternatives: Sopot can be fun, and there's plenty to do there, but it depends on the experience you want to have. If you're up for a nice romantic stroll along the pier, don't bother - stay in Gdansk.

All days I explored Gdansk, I have seen Hitler show on the balcony of main town hall. Don't think he is real Hitler :)

I think they made some Hitler shows for "Kashubian days" festival. Unreal Hitler was talking loudly to crows in Polish language, but quite German pronunciation ;) The talk was about land occupation, German roots, so on.

I wonder if it is associated with Kashubian nation, as Polish talk that Kashubians are more interested in German culture than Polish.

Unfortunately people working at the railway stations do NOT speak any other language than Polish (there are little exceptions but not many).

Unique Suggestions: Before you go to buy a ticket, ask somebody who knows Polish to write all the ticket details for you on a sheet of paper. With this paper go to the ticket office. The price is shown on the cash screen. So don't worry.

If you need to buy a ticket for an international trip at the station in Gdansk Glowny, go to the main hall of the station and go up-stairs on the 1st floor to KASA MIEDZYNARODOWA (INTERNATIONAL TICKET OFFICE). As far as I remember there is no sign in English :-(.

Fun Alternatives: You can always print the text I have attached to this tip and use it, when buying a ticket.

Believe me, I have seen many times desperated tourist who couldn't find the way at the station because of the language barrier...

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If you found the tip useful, please RATE it.
It took time to collect the data and publish it here for you to use it :-).
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Gdansk becomes Mecca for more and more visitors from all over the world and its well maintained downtown and main tourist attractions are well covered in travel books. However there are still off the beaten path attractions which are not ready for crowds of visitors.

It's the best seen in the Oliwa Park. There is NO information about the park, no map, just nothing in any language but Polish (map and historical ingo by the Palm House) and Latin (names of some rare plant species). Add very small parking lot by the entrance, always packed with cars. And the Coach House, the Palm House and the Orangerie were closed for renovations when i visited the park.

Unique Suggestions: Welcome to my map of the park with explanations in my Transportation tip and to my info in my Off the beaten path tips.
Do not visit the park where most do it, that is in sunny, summer weekends.

Fun Alternatives: No alternative. Well, maybe do not drive a car there. Take a taxi or a bus.

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Gdansk is located only 100km (60 mi) from Russia - Kaliningrad region (Kaliningradskaya Oblast) which is the Russian enclave bordering Poland, Lithuania and the Baltic Sea. Surely I wanted to drive there but I need a visa to Russia since Poland joined the European Union in 2004. For me, as a Polish citizen there is no consular fee. But it takes over a week and for multi-entry visa test for AIDS is necessary. Details here. I didn't have so much time. Real tourist trap for me.

Unique Suggestions: Well, at least, when I saw Russian restaurant (Tri Medwiedia. Kuchnia Rosyjska) in downtown Gdansk I had to try delicious Russian food including Russian beer but... it was a total mistake. Details in my restaurants tip, pictures here. Well, skip it and enjoy Gdansk. Keep smiling - look at my picture :-).

Fun Alternatives: Take more time to prepare to a visit Russia and to get a visa on time.
Currently there are no direct cruises from Gdansk to Russia. But you may take a day trip to Kaliningrad, Russia from Elblag (60 km east of Gdansk, over 1 hour by a bus or a train) by a hydrofoil. The trip takes over 3 hours with the two stops in Polish cities: Krynica Morska and Frombork, so only 5 hours is left for Kaliningrad. It costs 180 zl (€ 45) in 2005. Up-to-date information here.

Do you like this sign? I hate it. I can accept a crossed out flash but not a camera unless the sign is put for security reasons (in a military zone for example). In Gdansk, I've found the ban on taking pictures in the Uphagen's House, the History of Gdansk Museum (the Main Town Hall) and in the Artus Court.

Unique Suggestions: I first look at behaviour of other visitors, whether they take pictures and whether they use small, hidden cameras (my recommendation), a camera flash or a tripod (not my recommendation). I follow them and pay attention to the reaction of the museum staff. I never use any illegally taken picture for commercial use. In the Artus Court noone paid attetion to me when I took pictures (with no flash). Honestly, I have noticed the ban sign at the end of my visit. Lucky me :-).

In countries/states of tight law and strong law enforcement (the USA) better follow the ban. At some places you have to sign the statement (once I was forced to sign it to buy a ticket to a gallery) that you was informed and understood the ban.

I always smiled when I saw fast moving Asian visitors (Japanese?) with small cameras taking forbidden pictures as quick as they could in, say, Louvres Museum. I've learned a lot from them ;-).

Fun Alternatives: Skip the place with the ban.
Write or e-mail a complaint letter about the ban to the authorities or local tourist organisation.
What about establishing AABOP - Association Against Ban On Photography? Any wiser name?