Xmas Travel: Gdańsk

Often likened to a condensed version of Amsterdam, Gdańsk’s old town is heaped with steep, gabled townhouses and fortress-like churches; it’s an aesthetic profile that makes it one of the best unsung secrets of Northern Europe.

Photo: AW

Stay
Gdańsk has a high headcount of quality hotels: among these, the Hilton looks straight down the Motława River and sparkles with cool. Their trump card is a fifth-floor pool with enthralling views. Puro, in a restored granary, is a face-off between high-tech and industrial history. The Craft Beer Hotel, meanwhile, marks a crossover point between millennial cool and traditional luxury – the on-site brewery is top notch.

Photo: Puro

Eat
Opened in 1918, Kubicki has remodeled itself as an on-edge restaurant serving modern Polish cuisine inside tasteful interiors that keep the venue’s heritage in mind. On the other end of the scale: Bar Pod Rybą, a budget eatery decorated with flea market knick-knacks that recall the times of Old Danzig. The star here is a cast iron oven that knocks out the best jacket spuds that we’ve ever tasted!

See
Taking in Gdańsk’s sights takes days, but those in a rush should tick off the fearsome St. Mary’s Cathedral, the European Solidarity Center and the WWII museum: it’s simply staggering in scope. And don’t forget to browse the amber stores of Mariacka, the town’s most scenic street.

Photo: AW

Drink
Though the beer hall buzz of Brovarnia is hard to top, topped it is by the Cathead Multitap: find a revolving roster of 28 beers on tap and pump inside a noisy space that rings with atmosphere. For a glass of something fancy, then beeline to Chleb i Wino.

Photo: Chleb i Wino

Don’t Miss
In fairness, you’ll only miss it if you’ve got a bag over your head. Peaking at a height of 50-meters, the ferris wheel on Granary Island offers glittery views of the riverfront below.

Photo: AW

The Xmas Market
Held on Targ Węglowy, scheduled attractions include a carousel, a gazebo laced with mistletoe, an eight-meter tall Christmas crib and an ‘ice hill’ running a length of 35-meters.