Gdansk, the city located in the northern part of Poland, and the shore of the Baltic Sea, is hands down one of the best and most beautiful places to visit in Poland. The interesting history (especially in the 20th century), beautiful location, and stunning architecture make Gdansk a must stop in your Poland itinerary or a perfect city-break destination in Europe.

If you are wondering if you should visit Gdansk I have a collection of Gdansk pictures from my recent trip there that will prove to you that yes, indeed you should go there.

Why visit Gdansk

If you like pretty and Instagrammable places – Gdansk is a perfect destination for you. But the city offers so much more than just beautiful spots (although there are so many of them!).

While the history of Gdansk dates back to the very end of the 10th century (the place was first mentioned in the year 999), the city played a crucial role in the European history of the 20th century. This is where World War 2 has started, this is also where the Solidarity movement was established (eventually it lead to the collapse of the communist system in Eastern Europe).

Due to the location on the Baltic Sea shore, Gdansk has a pleasant maritime vibe and you can actually hang out at the grounds that used to belong to the shipyard. But even when wandering around the cobbled streets of the Old Town you can be sure to hear and see the seagulls flying above you.

The Old Town looks like a fairy tale with rows of cotton-candy houses and winding lanes where it’s a pure pleasure to get lost. If you can, go for an early morning walk to have the place to yourself. It really feels magical then, like the time has stopped there.

Gdansk is also a great base to visit so many interesting places nearby: Sopot, Gdynia, Hel or Malbork Castle are the most popular day trips from Gdansk but there are many more other options.

These are only a few reasons to visit Gdansk but hopefully, they are good enough and you will consider a trip to Gdansk soon. And with so many great things to do in Gdansk, there is no way you will be bored there.

Best Gdansk photo locations

If you are looking for the best photo locations in Gdansk I can definitely recommend some places that are perfect for taking Gdansk photos, whether you need them for your Instagram feed or to keep the pictures as a souvenir.

Here are my favorite spot for taking pictures of Gdansk:

• The Old Town but especially these streets: Mariacka, Długa, Piwna, and Świętego Ducha
• Motława River embankment, especially between the Green Gate and the Amber Sky ferries wheel
• The Town Hall – the interior and the view from the tower – I think this is the best viewpoint of the Gdansk Old Town (on the contrary, I didn’t like the view from the top of St. Mary’s Church).
• The Bread Bridge (“Most Chlebowy”, known also as the “Bridge of Love”)
• The view from Gradowa Hill, behind the main train station
• Solidarity Center and the shipyard – recently part of the shipyard turned into cool, alternative spaces where you can hang out
• World War 2 Museum with its modern architecture
• Oliwa Park
• Zaspa neighborhood for fans of street art – you can find there so many murals painted on typical Eastern European residential buildings
• Westerplatte – the place where World War 2 has started
• and so many other random spots you will find when wandering around

Gdansk photo tips

During my recent trip to Gdansk, I’ve decided to stay in the Old Town so I could wake up early in the morning to go take pictures without too many people around. As it turned out, it was a perfect decision. Out of the 4 nights I spent in Gdansk, I woke up early three times and took my camera for a walk.

I just loved the empty city, slowly waking up to life. It was so different than a few hours later, with so many people around! If you like having neat pictures without too many people on them – wake up early, you will not regret it!

If you are looking for a good location for taking pictures from above I recommend going to the Town Hall. My intuition told me to go to the highest point in the Old Town – St. Mary’s Church and well, to be honest, I didn’t like the view from there.

It was OK but not wow, you could look only in one direction and the viewing platform was really tiny and rather uncomfortable when it was packed with people. This view was definitely not worth walking over 400 stairs up.

But from there I saw people on the town hall’s tower and that’s where I went right away. Not only the museum located inside the town hall was a huge surprise with its beautiful interiors, but the panorama from that viewpoint was simply amazing, you can see the whole Old Town with the rows of fairytale houses and more.

Another underrated viewpoint is Gradowa Hill from where in one direction you can admire the towers of the Old Town and in another the shipyard in its full glory.

And speaking of the shipyard, if you like the industrial vibe don’t miss this place. It is amazing! You can grab lunch in the food truck and then wander around with your camera, taking photos of impressive cranes and semi-abandoned warehouses.

Gdansk pictures

Below you can see my favorite Gdansk pictures taken during my last trip there. It was really hard to limit myself only to 50 Gdansk images, not because I’m such a great photographer, but because the city is just so very pretty. Just see yourself.

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