Exploring Gdansk in One Day: From the Best Pierogi to Top Landmarks

Exploring Gdansk in One Day: From the Best Pierogi to Top Landmarks

Today we’re visiting Gdansk, Poland, bringing you the perspective of visitors from a cruise ship who only have one day to visit this city. So, we’ve we’ve made it to Gdansk today and we can talk a little bit about how to get here if you happen to be on a cruise. So it’s a little complicated from a cruise ship. So we boarded in the town of Gdina which is roughly depending your mode of transportation 30 40 minutes away from Gdansk which is where a lot of old buildings and history is located. Now the cruise ships offer shuttles. They offer transportation to Gdansk. But in our case, if we wanted to take a shuttle, they only offer transportation to Gdinia at a certain stop off at a mall area. Yeah. Well, no, there So on Princess there is an excursion. It’s called an excursion. Excursion. Sure. No, no, but but the excursion, one of the options is basically a ride into Gdansk. So, it’s like the Gdansk City Center excursion. They drop you off here. It’s something like 45 bucks ahead. So, you know, the issue with that is it costs a bit of money and then you’re limited to their timetable. You only get like so much time here. So, what we opted to do is to walk from the port to a train station, Gdinia Stochnia. It’s about what? A half hour walk. Yeah. So, it’s a bit of a walk. You probably could take a taxi from the port to the train station if you don’t want to walk that far. But then the thing you want to know about is once you get to the train station, it’s basically a platform. There’s not a station. There was there was a little kiosk machine supposedly that should have been um available to purchase tickets, but it wasn’t working. Oh, no. So, in our case, we ended up getting on the train when it pulled up with the help of a gentleman told us to get on the train. Get on the train who only spoke Polish, by the way. So, so that’s one thing to know is if if you’re going from the cruiseport to the nearest train stop, don’t expect anybody to speak English. Yeah, you may get lucky, but odds are it’s not going to happen. I happen to know just enough Polish to get by. So, we were able to get our ticket from the conductor and I we bought an all day ticket. Yeah. And the price I think and convert it to US dollars like basically like five bucks. Yeah. So, that allows us to spend as much time as we want here and then we can get on the train and go to other places. If we want to go to Soapot, if we want to go to Oliva, right, we can do that. Yeah. So, if you want to save some money and if you have Google Translate on your phone, that may help you ask some questions. Yeah. If you don’t speak the language and get some answers. And there was a lovely couple from uh Montreal. Montreal. She spoke really good English, but that wasn’t helping her to figure out how to get on the train, how to pay. Um, so they were so ever grateful that you could speak some Polish and uh you helped them out. Happy to help. Yes. Yes. Hopefully they have a good day, too. Yes. And we are just about in the old town, so we’re going to check it out. Yes. [Music] So you mentioned Oldtown and getting to Oldtown. So let’s start there. It is an iconic old town. This area is a perfect blend of medieval and modern architecture. You walk along Long Street, which is a beautiful street, and you admire these colorful facads and ornate buildings that are lined on both sides of Long Street. There are fantastic restaurants and cafes everywhere you turn. A must-sea spot in Gance Oldtown includes the Neptune Fountain, which is a famous landmark and symbol of the city and the Golden Gate, one of the main entrances to the old town. We’re going to take a peek inside St. Mary’s Basilica in Gdansk. Church is absolutely huge, made of brick, massive structure. In the center of Oldtown, don’t miss out on visiting St. Mary’s Church, also known as the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It’s one of the largest brick churches in Europe and an important example of Gothic architecture. This church has played a significant role in the city’s history, serving as a place for worship and also as a watchtower during times of war. Construction of the church began in 1343 and was completed in 1502. So, this church is over 600 years old. It has quite a history. and it’s undergone several renovations and additions over time with its most recent restoration completed just in 2011 after damage from the World War II [Music] bombings. One of the notable features of St. Mary’s Church inside is its famous astronomical clock. This was built back in 1464 and it’s one of only a few surviving medieval clocks in Europe and attracts many visitors with its intricate design and functionality. And we had a chance to gawk at it during our latest visit [Music] there. The main altar of St. Mary’s Church is a masterpiece of Gothic art. It was created by master Michael of Augsburg. This artistic feature includes movable wings that can be presented in various configurations depending on the lurggical calendar. Depending on the time of year you visit, you may see a different scene depicted from this beautiful artistic work at St. Mary’s altar. St. Mary’s church has played an important role in Polish history. It is where the first elected president of Poland, Le Venza, prayed after his release from prison in 1983. The church also served as a symbol of resistance during the solidarity movement against communism. When you visit, you can climb the 405 steps of the tower to get a stunning view of Gdansk old town. If you’re just walking around the old town, you definitely want to take a stroll along the Mlava River Embankment. It’s lined with cafes and shops. It’s a wonderful place just to walk to people watch. Look at the boats in the channel. It’s a perfect place for history buffs and people who just want a leisurely afternoon. There’s historical sites in the area. There’s an this iconic crane from the medieval era that you can’t miss that’s become a symbol of Gdanska’s maritime heritage. And here in Gdans on the riverbank area, there’s not only lots of great places to eat in the city, but especially uh some of the restaurants here right on the river is uh some of the best food we’ve eaten when we visited the city before. Le best I’ve ever had. That’s pickled herring. Polish herring with views of the water when you eat here. Very cool. Highly recommended. [Music] So, I did have on the list for the next time I came to Dons, cuz we’ve been here before, was to check out a museum that wasn’t here the last time we visited, which is the Museum of the Second World War. Was all excited to go there until I realized that our one-day cruise stop in this area was on a Monday. Yeah. All museums closed on Monday. Kind of common in Europe. Yes. Just so you know, when you travel, especially on Mondays in Europe, check to uh see what’s open cuz lots of things can be closed. Mhm. And here is the famous Neptune fountain. [Music] Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, born May 24th, 1836 in Gdansk. A great physicist, creator of the first reliable thermometers and mercury field ones, introduced the scale of temperature used till now in some countries. example in the USA. We still use it. If you remember your math class, there’s your conversion formula. I remember using that. Yep. Yep. I sat in math class as a kid and used that formula to go back and forth. And when in Poland, Sherogis were almost a must. And last time we were in Poland for nearly a month, our favorite pyogi, yes, place was a place called Pier Garnia Mandeue. We ate at the one in Oliva, which is nearby here. And there is one of the branches in the Gdansk. And we’re going to go have ourselves some pureogis. Yay. I heard a tour guide in the center of town telling the tourists where the best pureis were, but he pointed to a different place. So he clearly and you said no was mistaken. They can eat there. We’re going to eat here. No visit in Gadansk is complete without trying some of the traditional Polish cuisine. Our top recommendation is Piraia Mandeue. I think most people know pureogis and Poland are just linked together. Yes, I I think that’s a pretty well-known fact. But these pureogis, these pureogis, oh my goodness, there are so many different types, varieties, sweet, savory, all kinds of flavors. It’s unbelievably remarkable. It’s so good. I highly recommend this place because their pureogis are particularly yummy. So at Pure Garnia Mandeue, the selection options that you have available are just amazing. So this is not your run-of-the-mill potato and cheese pureogi, though they do have something like that, too. But we are getting um out of the many options on the menu, we we’re getting one thing called Daria Wajora. I think it’s how it’s called. Boiled dumplings with black seed with chickpeas, sundried tomatoes, hazelnuts, onion, parsley served with yogurt sauce, and it has a base of chili, mint, and honey. How’s that for a combo? And we’re also going to get one order of a yeast dough purei that will be filled with chopped spinach, sundried tomatoes, and feta cheese. And that’s going to be topped with a dill sauce. They make these while you wait here. So, our order is going to take 25 minutes. And um can’t wait to eat. Oh, that’s what that’s wonderful. Right. Isn’t that great? Well, what is that about? The raspberry. Raspberry lemonade. Yeah. But it’s got real ras raspberries. This is mint right here. And it’s a little flower. Marvelous. Marvelous. [Music] Good stuff. I almost got something like that, too. And maybe I should have cuz we’ve been walking around and a little warm. But remember last time we were here, this is the place that out of any restaurant we’ve been to, they do tea the best. Hot tea the best cuz it comes in a classic teapot. It also comes with a timer. So depending on the kind of tea that you get, they make sure that it’s steeped for the right right amount of time. And the instruction is when your timer goes beep beep beep, that’s when you know it’s done and you can um take your tea leaves out and enjoy your tea. So there’s my tea kettle and my timer. So, our pureis have arrived. We have our baked ones with spinach and some other stuff in it, I forget. And now we have the boiled ones that have all those wonderful flavors in it. I forgot what it’s called, but let’s dig in. Yeah, there are so many varieties to choose from, including options for meat eaters as well as the vegan crowd. So, this dish right here is part of um an offering that they have called Dumplings of the Champions. And the way they describe this, it says Dumpling Dumplings of the Champions is a project created in order to give the guests here a chance to try recipes that come from some of the best chefs in Poland. and their uh website. You can find them at puragaria/mandu.pl or or they’re also on Facebook. You can find them at pureia mandue. They can uh show you how kitchen masters prepared these very proprietary stuffings for the Mando restaurant. Very unique, very good. These are the yeast ones. Spinach and feta. The spinach. Yeah. Kind of a Mediterranean type of taste to it. It’s baked. [Music] Oh my god. Mhm. They also have options for remembering your visit by maybe buying a shirt. This shirt says stop war equals make pureogi. So there you go. All we have to do is make pureogi and the world will be at peace. Our next stop is kind of on the edge of the old town and it’s solidarity square also known as plat solidosi. And this square holds immense historical significance as this is the place where the first major anti-communist movement occurred in Eastern Europe led by Le Fuenza. Today it serves as a memorial to the struggle for workers rights and it’s home to the European Solidarity Center. You can take a walk around the square to see important monuments and memorials dedicated to this pivotal moment, not only in Poland’s history, but in world history as well, too. And you can visit the Solidarity Museum at this site. For my perspective, I think it’s one of the best museums I’ve ever visited. Just be sure that if this is something you want to see, check to see that the museum is going to be open during your visit. [Music] Another recommended spot is St. Bridget’s Church. It is a must-see which holds architectural and historical significance. This church was initially built in the 14th century and has undergone various renovations. One of the most impressive features of the church is its amber altar. A masterpiece made from over 200 kg of amber. It’s considered one of the largest amber works in Europe and is a sight to behold with its intricate details and golden glow. This altar is regarded as a work in progress and continues to be enhanced. Two crosses on either side of the altar contain holy relics. One bears the blood of St. John Paul II. The other cross has the heart of Father Yer Popullesko. This wonderful man became associated with the solitary trade union and was murdered in 1984 by three government agents who were later tried and convicted of his murder. This church has a lot of unique history related to the solidarity movement. We were moved by the Ken epitap in the church that commemorates 23,000 Polish officers and soldiers, prisoners of war, killed by the Soviets in 1940 on the orders of Stalin. In 1987, US President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan came to visit this basilica where he expressed great interest in the cotton massacre. We also visited the skull crypt at St. Bridget’s Church. In 2016, an underground entrance leading to a chamber with a pile of a hundreds of human skulls was discovered. Many belonged to sisters of St. Bridget who lived and prayed during the time of the monastery at the basilica. There is also a reoquary which contains the relics of 25 saints and blessed and a reoquary of St. Bridget herself, which holds relics of St. Peter and St. Paul of the Holy Cross, as well as several Polish saints. Aside from its stunning architecture, St. Bridget’s Church also played an important role during World War II as it served as a military hospital for German soldiers. Today, it stands as a symbol of resilience and rebirth for Gdansk. A few other things that you can do when in Gdansk. If you like museums, you’ll find the Amber Museum. This region is famous for this item which they call Baltic gold. We’ve already mentioned a few churches. And if churches are your thing, not too far away from the center of Gdansk, you can get to a place called Oliva where you can visit the Oliva Cathedral. Beautiful church and it’s got this magnificent organ. If you’re able to be there when the organ is played, it’s quite the experience. Where the pipes are, there’s figurines that move when the organ plays. So, it’s it’s a little bit different than your typical pipe organ. Quite the sight to see. Soapot is one of the other locations nearby. If you’re comfortable taking a train, you can get yourself from Gdansk to Sopot. There’s a wonderful pier area there. It’s another place where you can enjoy the Baltic Sea and you may also find an excursion available from your cruise ship to get you to that area. So, you have lots of options. Let’s talk about transportation. You’ve got several options within Gdansk. Walking is probably the best way to explore Oldtown, but you can consider using public transport or taxis for longer distances if you want to venture to some of the nearby areas. Again, if you’re tight on time, guided tours are a great option. You most likely will have options for those from your cruise ship. And as part of a cruise stop, we do recommend using the transportation options offered by your cruise ship, unless you’ve previously visited Poland before and you’re comfortable with a DIY experience in this country. Before you leave Gdansk, don’t forget to pick up some unique souvenirs. Given the city’s reputation for high quality amber, amber jewelry is a popular choice, and you’re going to see it for sale all over the city. There’s also local crafts like hand painted pottery, traditional Polish textiles, all kinds of things that’ll make great keepsakes, and you’ll find plenty of souvenir options in Old Town. Not super straightforward here on which train to take, but we think we found the right one cuz in Dansk there’s several lines. You have to find the right line. Um and there’s several platforms. We had to we got on the wrong one first. Didn’t get on the train. Line. That platform was for a different line. We found the right platform and we believe our train is right on the way in about 10 seconds towards Lamorg. But we’re going to get off at I think we’ll see if we get there. What do you got there? Nick Treat from Poland. And we’re back at the ship. And my feet are tired. I’m so tired. I I can’t even imagine how many steps we put in. Yeah. We’ll check that in a minute. [Music] For those planning Baltic cruises, Gdans should definitely be on your list. It’s a city that offers historical landmarks, cultural experiences, and fantastic cuisine. If you get to Gdans, Poland as part of your cruise, you’ll likely have options of pre-made excursions to make the most of your visit to this part of [Music] Poland. That wraps up our guide today for visiting Gdansk as part of a one-day stop for cruise ship travelers. We hope you found our tips helpful and feel inspired to explore this beautiful city. and we’ll be back with you in a couple of weeks for one more destination on our Baltic cruise adventure. [Music]

Will you visit Gdansk Poland as part of a cruise ship itinerary? We head out from Gdynia to visit Gdansk for one day. In this episode, visit cultural landmarks, explore the Old Town, and eat the best pierogies in the world at Pierogarnia Mandu.

Subscribe to check out our next video, continuing our Baltic and Scandinavian Cruise adventure.

0:00 Getting to Gdansk from Gydnia Cruise Port
3:55 Gdanks Old Town
5:12 St. Mary’s Church (Bazylika Mariacka)
7:45 Motlawa River Area
8:56 Museum Tips
9:29 Neptune Fountain and Fahrenheit Memorial
10:32 World’s Best Pierogies at Pierogarnia Mandu
16:22 Solidarity Square and Museum
17:45 St. Bridget’s Church and Amber Altar
20:22 More Things To Do in Gdansk
21:22 Transportation in Gdansk
22:03 Souvenirs
22:30 Heading Back to the Cruise Ship From Gdansk

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