Poland

Gdansk street art – the biggest urban gallery in Poland

(Last Updated On: 15/03/2023)

When taking the train from Gdansk to Sopot or Gdynia you pass a big area with large blocks of flats. That’s Zaspa – one of the residential districts of the city. At first sight it looks pretty average, just another random place that you can find in this part of Europe. But when looking closer it turns out it is actually more than special! The majority of blocks is covered in huge murals, representing the best of what Gdansk street art can offer!

Gdansk street art

Gdansk street art scene in Zaspa

The first mural in Zaspa was created in 1997 by Rafał Roskowiński. It shows two most iconic Polish citizens – Lech Wałęsa, the father of “Solidarność” movement that has changed the history of Poland and Europe at the end of the 20th century, and the Pope John Paul 2nd. The mural was one of 10 that were made to for the 1000th birthday of Gdansk. And that’s how the whole huge gallery of murals has started.

gdansk-street-art (42)

Now there’s the annual street art festival taking place in the neighbourhood, the mural school and the Monumental Paintings Collection. There’re over 50 works spread all over the area, some better than others but together they make a wonderful collage of Gdansk street art. Apparently it’s the world’s biggest collection of murals located in such a small area – this itself makes visiting Zaspa one of the best things to do in Gdansk! The artists that were invited to create on the walls of Zaspa came from all over the world – it’s easy to see the influence of artists from South America, Polish murals scene or members of Prague street art community.

Gdansk street art

My impressions from exploring murals of Zaspa

I was lucky this summer I had to go from work to Gdansk. And since I had free 7 hours I thought it’s a perfect opportunity to explore Gdansk street art scene in Zaspa. I printed a map from their wesbsite and I expected it would take me some 2 hours to see all the work. Oh how wrong I was! 4 hours later I could hardly feel my feet, I was overwhelmed with the creativity I’ve witnessed and my head was about to explode from all the awesomeness around! Yet I still kept going, there were few more murals I wanted to see! I was especially impressed with those huge ones, created on the walls of 10-storeys blocks! My mind just couldn’t take it all in!

Gdańsk street art

Gdańsk street art

Gdańsk street art

Gdansk street art in Zaspa – practical informations

You can easily get to Zaspa by city train (SKM) – you have to go to Gdansk Wrzeszcz station (then you’re on the eastern edge of the neighbourhood and exploring from there is much easier) or to Gdansk Zaspa (you’re in the middle). It is possible to go for the organized tour around. I’d have loved to do that but the timing wasn’t good. So I just printed the map from the website and walk around on my own. I also found couple of big maps around Zaspa neighbourhood, pointing where murals can be found. The official website of Murals Gdansk Zaspa is a perfect source of information about the works that can be found in the area!

Gdansk street art

Gdansk street art – a photo gallery

Here you have pictures of most of the murals I’ve found! Aren’t they amazing?


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73 Comments

  • Reply
    Esther
    08/10/2015 at 15:05

    Great photos ;) I love murals! I’ve seen a couple in Krakow, but I would love to explore more of Poland. Such a great urban art scene.

    • Reply
      kami
      17/10/2015 at 21:13

      Thanks! Poland has become really big in the street art scene and I couldn’t be happier about that :) you definitely should explore more than just Kraków, every big city has some amazing murals!

  • Reply
    Iza Zawadzka
    08/10/2015 at 19:35

    Fajny pomysł na betonowe osiedla, ale faktycznie można mieć przesyt…

    • Reply
      Kami and the rest of the world
      16/10/2015 at 19:41

      nigdy się nie czułam sponiewierana muralami, a w Gdańsku mi się zdarzyło

  • Reply
    Maria Cerejo
    08/10/2015 at 21:37

    What a great post! Can’t believe I went to Gdansk and missed all of this. I did see some great murals in Warsaw and Lodz though =)

    • Reply
      Kami and the rest of the world
      16/10/2015 at 19:50

      yes, Łódź is pretty big when it comes to street art! and Warsaw has its moments too! :D

  • Reply
    Darek Sekula
    09/10/2015 at 08:52

    szał! :D

    • Reply
      Kami and the rest of the world
      16/10/2015 at 19:50

      tak bardzo! :D

  • Reply
    Monika Marcinkowska
    09/10/2015 at 08:54

    Ja na street art trafiam zazwyczaj przypadkiem, tylko dwa razy na wyjeździe zrobiłam sobie z tematyczną wycieczkę.

    • Reply
      Kami and the rest of the world
      16/10/2015 at 19:18

      gdzie? ja parę razy byłam na wycieczkach streetartowych z przewodnikiem, super sprawa! a tak to nawet nie chcąc wpakuję się w jakiś street arcik :)

    • Reply
      Monika Marcinkowska
      16/10/2015 at 19:26

      Ameryka Poludniowa: La Paz w Boliwii i Valparaiso w Chile :)

  • Reply
    Tatiana
    09/10/2015 at 09:55

    Beautiful! We have in plans Zaspa – next nearest time we visit Gdansk.

    • Reply
      kami
      17/10/2015 at 21:15

      you definitely should do that! I’m sure you will love it big time!

  • Reply
    Karolina Roszek
    09/10/2015 at 08:55

    Mój piękny Gdańsk <3

  • Reply
    Dominika Sidorowicz
    09/10/2015 at 08:57

    Uwielbiam street art i zawsze, wszędzie go “zwiedzam”, a polski jest naprawdę bardzo niezły! :D

    • Reply
      Kami and the rest of the world
      16/10/2015 at 19:18

      dokładnie tak :)

  • Reply
    Maciej Marczewski
    09/10/2015 at 09:01

    A jak! Nasza gdańska Zaspa daje radę!

    • Reply
      Kami and the rest of the world
      16/10/2015 at 19:40

      zdecydowanie!

  • Reply
    Ania
    09/10/2015 at 10:46

    Z takimi muralami jakoś da się znieść wielką płytę. Świetne! Jeździłam kiedyś często do Gdańska, do rodziny, bardzo lubię to miasto. Muszę się wybrać na dłużej :)

    • Reply
      kami
      17/10/2015 at 21:17

      ja jakoś nigdy do końca Gdańska nie czułam. Piękny i w ogóle, ale ciągle mi tam czegoś brakuje, chociaz pomału się przekonuję :) a murale na blokowiskach są najlepsze, zupełnie odmieniają takie miejsca! :)

  • Reply
    Michał - Podróże Reportera
    09/10/2015 at 10:52

    Mieszkałem tam kiedyś i pamiętam tą twarz papieża :) Zaspa przodowała w polskiej sztuce murali, dziś fajne murale są też w innych miastach, ale te gdańskie mają piękną, długą historię.

    • Reply
      kami
      17/10/2015 at 21:18

      no rozchulała się Polska muralowo, praktycznie w każdym większym mieście można coś znaleźć! Ale te gdańskie mnie zachwyciły, chociaz ciut za dużo ich tam było. A papież troszkę przerażający wyszedł ;)

  • Reply
    Marta Gawrychowska
    09/10/2015 at 10:03

    Cuda, uwielbiam murale ❤️

    • Reply
      Kami and the rest of the world
      16/10/2015 at 19:42

      ja też!

  • Reply
    Julia
    09/10/2015 at 11:09

    Kama, I’m impressed again. Want to see more and more street art on your blog!

    • Reply
      kami
      17/10/2015 at 21:18

      Thanks! There’s still plenty coming! :)

  • Reply
    Tyna Julia
    09/10/2015 at 10:56

    Mega, tylko trzeba o ten street dbać – sprane po kilku latach murale nie wyglądają już tak fajnie – mamy parę takich przykładów w Poznaniu :)

    • Reply
      Kami and the rest of the world
      16/10/2015 at 19:42

      ano niestety… ale dopóki jest moda powinno być dobrze

  • Reply
    Kinga Bielejec
    09/10/2015 at 13:28

    Takie cuda u nas w Gdańsku! Rewelacja! :)

    • Reply
      Kami and the rest of the world
      16/10/2015 at 19:40

      no mega dość!

  • Reply
    Połącz Kropki
    09/10/2015 at 21:53

    Już wiem co będę robiła przy okazji następnej wizyty w Gdańsku;D

    • Reply
      kami
      17/10/2015 at 21:19

      polecam bardzo!

  • Reply
    Traveling Rockhopper
    10/10/2015 at 08:25

    Niesamowite, ile ich można znaleźć!

    • Reply
      kami
      17/10/2015 at 21:20

      trochę w sumie przytłaczają ;)

  • Reply
    Mirøslav Hristøff
    11/10/2015 at 06:49

    “The Future was here” – so strong message. I liked that most. And that one with number 29 on the building.

    • Reply
      kami
      17/10/2015 at 21:22

      “the future was here” is among my favourites too!

  • Reply
    Magdalena Nieścierowicz
    12/10/2015 at 08:46

    Ile tych murali jest, super. Lepsze murale niż szarość bloków. Fajną sprawą jest też to, że są związane z historią.

    • Reply
      kami
      17/10/2015 at 21:23

      zgadzam sie :)

  • Reply
    Jenna
    12/10/2015 at 10:34

    I love street art! Looks like you found some great murals! I would love to explore Gdansk and find these–can’t believe how many murals you found–the seem to be everywhere!!

    • Reply
      kami
      17/10/2015 at 21:24

      They were everywhere, at some point I just felt overwhelmed with them! And Gdańsk is amazing, not only when it comes to street art so I hope you will get to see it one day!

  • Reply
    antonette - we12travel
    12/10/2015 at 20:20

    I loved Gdansk although I didn’t really recall so much murals and street art. How long was it ago, about 5 years I guess, since we met there? Had a really good time, also loved Sopot near the sea …

    • Reply
      kami
      17/10/2015 at 21:25

      yes, 5 or 6! Time flies so much! Back then I wasn’t even interested in street art :) Gdańsk is great, the whole 3 cities area is! You definitely should come back!

  • Reply
    Lauren
    12/10/2015 at 23:16

    Wow! I would spend hours here. They are all so beautiful and it’s amazing how these murals are across such huge buildings! I would love to walk all over the place here.

    • Reply
      kami
      17/10/2015 at 21:26

      I’m sure you’d love it, it’s an amazing place! And I was so impressed with those huge murals, I really can’t imagine how someone can paint such an amazing things!!

  • Reply
    Za miedzą i dalej
    14/10/2015 at 16:51

    Nawet nie wiedziałem, że w Gdańsku jest tyle street artu! :D

    • Reply
      kami
      17/10/2015 at 21:29

      ja do niedawna też nie :) niesamowite miejsce!

  • Reply
    Ron Robbins
    21/10/2015 at 19:57

    Holy cow – those are some massive murals! I’d love to spend some time just walking around and taking photographs of the city. I really like the one with the rubber cube…so interesting. Which one was your favorite?

    • Reply
      kami
      15/11/2015 at 12:39

      I’m sure you’d enjoy Gdańsk, it’s a wonderful city anyway and all these murals just adds up to the overal great place! I can’t really say which one was my fave as I was impressed with every second one but the rubber cube is among my faves too!

  • Reply
    Marissa Tejada
    21/10/2015 at 20:42

    Amazing street art! Such creativity. Nice post :D

    • Reply
      kami
      15/11/2015 at 12:44

      Thank you!

  • Reply
    Shing
    26/10/2015 at 17:12

    Oh wow Kami! I’m getting wanderlust just looking at these photos! I would love to spend a full day just getting to know Gdansk through its street art. The size and location of these plastered against flats reminds me of Lodz so much! Poland is one of my favourite countries, I need to get my Polish fix soon!

    • Reply
      kami
      15/11/2015 at 12:42

      You definitely should come again! Have you been to Warsaw? I’d love to show you around! Funny I haven’t really explored the street art scene in Łódź but I can imagine Gdańsk is similar in that matter! You’d love it for sure!! And Gdańsk itself is pretty amazing too!

  • Reply
    Street Art Around the World - Travelnuity
    08/11/2015 at 23:01

    […] Find out more and see more examples at Kami and the Rest of the World – Gdansk Street Art. […]

  • Reply
    When in Gdansk | Oogst Groningen
    20/01/2016 at 21:07

    […] Gdansk Links: In Your Pocket Gdansk B90: concerten & clubbing Gdansk Street art: the biggest urban gallery in […]

  • Reply
    Erin
    12/02/2016 at 20:22

    So many great articles on Poland. Thanks for directing me here. Unfortunately I wont be making it this trip but I will get here someday!

    • Reply
      kami
      15/02/2016 at 22:19

      I’m glad you enjoy posts and I hope you will make it here one day!

  • Reply
    Epepa
    16/02/2016 at 10:37

    Oh, it’s really great! I’m impressed! Long time no see Gdańsk, I was there only once actually when I was a kid and I don’t remember much from this trip.

    • Reply
      kami
      23/02/2016 at 08:18

      you definitely should go back, you will be surprised how beautiful and cool the city is!

  • Reply
    What I missed in Gdańsk and surrounds | 12monthsinwarsaw
    25/06/2016 at 09:31

    […] Murals:  huge paintings on the concrete walls in Zaspa, a Gdańsk bedroom district. […]

  • Reply
    Szymon | Znajkraj
    13/07/2016 at 09:39

    How cool is that! :)

    Ale dawno nie widziałem już ich wszystkich. Ale fajnie przeczytać tyle dobrego o własnym mieście i czasem swoich kolegach :)

    • Reply
      kami
      21/07/2016 at 21:36

      cieszę się, że się spodobał wpis :) mnie te murale bardzo wymęczyły, tak ich duzo na tak wielkim terenie, głowa mi niemalże eksplodowała od nadmiaru wrażeń :)

  • Reply
    joe lee
    04/04/2017 at 10:08

    Loving the streetart! May have to revisit Poland, it’s been over 14 years since my big trip over there. I’m sure thing’s have changed!

    thiswayup world / Joe

    • Reply
      kami
      17/04/2017 at 19:42

      you definitely should come back, you will love it! And the street art scene in Poland is amazing!

  • Reply
    laurent jacquet
    16/04/2019 at 20:23

    Lodz is also amazing city to discover street art :) https://streetart360.net/2019/04/16/street-art-in-lodz-poland/

    • Reply
      kami
      27/04/2019 at 13:06

      Indeed! It was one of the reasons why I enjoyed it so much

  • Reply
    Mirko G. S.
    18/05/2019 at 21:40

    Twice in Gdansk and I missed a lot of things! Next time absolutely: Wielki Mlen; Wisloujscie Fortress; the bastions; Zaspa! Thank you a lot without this page I will continue ignoring such an interesting place!

    • Reply
      kami
      25/06/2019 at 17:25

      I hope you will make it there next time! All the best!

  • Reply
    Cathy Reichardt
    13/07/2019 at 19:03

    So unexpected, and absolutely up my alley! We’ll be in Gdansk with our pre teen son and our dog in 10 days, and this is exactly the sort of offbeat stuff I’d been looking for. Thank you so much!

    • Reply
      kami
      20/07/2019 at 12:36

      I’m sure you will enjoy Zaspa (and Gdansk). You can find more murals and nice modernism architecture in Gdynia, only a short train ride away from Gdansk!

  • Reply
    Mirko G. S.
    04/01/2020 at 20:46

    Just returned from my latest trip in Poland. Veni, vidi, vici. Unluckly there was no official firework show (we had a wonderful day on 31 December, no wind, eccellent seeing, it would be awesome shooting the Żuraw reflecting on the river with big fireworks high on the sky reflecting down in the water as background…); unluckly the Wielki Młyn was close for renovation works in progress; the Wisłoujście Twierdza was close too (it’s open in the summertime only), but it was beautiful too, I finally visited Zaspa and the bastion area and even if closed the surroundings of my targets granted a lot of occasions. After all it’s not my last time here!

    • Reply
      kami
      13/01/2020 at 12:30

      I’m glad you enjoyed your trip to Gdańsk. It’s a wonderful city! This year many Polish cities banned fireworks for NYE and I kind of understand it, it must be a nightmare for animals. I hope during your next visit you will be more lucky with open monuments. All the best!

  • Reply
    Mirko G. S.
    26/09/2020 at 22:08

    Come back at the beginning of July, I brought my mother too and we visited the Wisłoujście Twierdza… wow it’s simply beautiful! This time I discovered the reality of the Bar Mleczny and I’m trying to understand what they are and their history as I heard they are returning in auge and my Polish friends do not know much about.

    • Reply
      kami
      30/09/2020 at 11:48

      Gdansk in summer is too crowded for me :) But I really like this city and I always enjoy returning there, I have just spent there few days recently. As for Bar Mleczny, Wikipedia has a pretty good explanation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_mleczny I’m glad you liked your trip to Gdańsk!

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