The must-see places and attractions in Gdańsk in winter

Winter in the capital of Pomerania is for those who value peace, atmosphere, and a genuine connection to the city's history.

If you're wondering what to do in Gdańsk in winter, we have the answer for you: everything. From beach walks in winter sunshine, to oyster tastings in intimate lounges, to museum visits without lines and crowds. We've prepared a detailed guide to attractions that will make your winter weekend by the Baltic one of the best trips of the year.

The Christmas market in Gdańsk received the title of best in Europe in 2024, surpassing giants like Vienna and Strasbourg. Over 92,000 votes from Christmas market lovers around the world leave no doubt – this is a place you must visit.

The market begins on November 21st and runs through December 23rd, 2025. The official opening ceremony takes place on November 22nd at 4:00 PM on the stage at Targ Węglowy (Coal Market). Half an hour later, the "Winter Night's Dream" parade begins – a colorful procession of elves, fairy tale characters, and singing carolers that travels through the market streets.

Opening hours are thoughtfully designed for everyone – from Sunday to Thursday, the stalls operate from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and on Fridays and Saturdays, they stay open longer, until 9:00 PM.

This year, the market occupies record space. In addition to the traditional Coal Market, it spills onto Bogusławski Street (all the way to the Shakespeare Theater), encompasses the Armory of Art and Craft, Tkacka Street, and, for the first time, the courtyard in front of Forum Gdańsk. That's over 220 stalls scattered throughout the historic city center.

The Coal Market becomes a true open-air food court. Among over 220 stalls, you'll find traditional Polish pierogi – with cabbage and mushrooms, ruskie (potato and cheese), with meat – each costs about 12-15 zł per serving. Next to them, slices of bread with lard smell delicious, sprinkled with chives and served with pickled cucumber.

Hungarian lángos – puffy flatbreads fried in deep oil and topped with cheese, garlic, or sour cream – are a hit every year. Lines also form for churros, Spanish donuts dusted with sugar and cinnamon, served with hot chocolate.

The market streets have their own names – Chocolate, Cinnamon, Angelic, and Christmas Eve. Each leads to a different zone full of attractions.

The Armory is the kingdom of craftsmen and artists who present products available only here – hand-blown ornaments, Gdańsk gold (amber products), wool sweaters, and wooden toys. This is a place where you'll find a gift you can't buy anywhere else.

The Venetian carousel (12 meters in diameter and over 11 meters high) is not an ordinary attraction. Manufactured specially for Gdańsk in an Italian workshop, with hand-painted figures representing Poland's regions. Horses, teacups, carriages – each element is a work of art. A ride costs 10 zł.

The rotating roller coaster, "Spinning Roller Coaster," with barrel-shaped cars, caused a sensation last year. The track loops in a figure-eight, and the cars rotate around their own axis – sometimes you ride forward, sometimes backward. A ticket is about 15-20 zł.

For lovers, a special corner under the mistletoe with romantic lighting has been prepared – the perfect spot for a photo or proposal.

After soaking in the market atmosphere, it's worth heading into the depths of the Old Town. A winter walk along Długi Targ (Long Market) is a journey through history – every townhouse has its own story, and the winter lights reveal architectural details from the shadows that you might not notice in summer.

Cobblestone streets reflect lantern light like wet diamonds. The Uphagen House shines with warm light through decorative windows, the Golden House glistens with gilding, and Neptune's Fountain – surrounded by Christmas decorations – becomes a favorite spot for souvenir photos. In December, themed illuminations are often installed here, creating a fairy-tale scenery after dark.

The Main Town Hall, a Gothic-Renaissance pearl of Gdańsk, can be visited in winter without the summer lines. From the town hall tower (401 steps to climb), you get a panoramic view of the city covered in snow or shrouded in morning fog – a view worth the effort.

Mariacka Street in winter is a different reality. The characteristic porches with carved balustrades look like something from a Gothic drawing, and when snow appears, the whole thing resembles a scene from olden times. Amber shops – "Gdańsk gold" – offer peace in winter and the opportunity to actually examine the products.

Enter one of the workshops – the owners will passionately tell you about inclusions (insects trapped in amber millions of years ago), show you different colors of amber (from milky to cognac), and explain how to distinguish real amber from fakes. In winter, these conversations are possible – in summer, there's no time for such details.

The largest brick church in Europe makes an even greater impression in winter. Enter around noon, when the sun breaks through the stained-glass windows – colored light falls on the white walls, creating a kaleidoscope of color. The astronomical clock strikes the hour, and the echo resounds in the nearly empty nave. In winter, you can spend a moment here in concentration, which in summer, in the crowd of tourists, simply cannot be done.

Entry to the tower (over 400 steps) costs 10 zł and leads to a viewing platform with an amazing view of winter Gdańsk. In December, when dusk falls at 4:00 PM, you can see illuminations throughout the city – one of the most beautiful views in Poland.

About 30 minutes by tram from the center, and you find yourself in another world. Oliwa Park, founded as a monastery garden, transforms into a gala of light and shadow in winter. From the end of November to the end of December, the park fills with illuminations – lit-up trees, light installations, and colorful projections on the Abbots' Palace.

High hedges create natural walkways that, in the evening – backlit with LEDs – look like corridors in a fairy-tale castle. This is a favorite place for couples looking for romantic scenery, but also for families with children who love to run between the light installations.

After a walk, you can stop by Oliwa Cathedral – historic organs, concerts, and silence that is often lacking in the city's hustle and bustle.

The Old Town is just a warm-up. You'll discover the real charm of winter Gdańsk by the sea, where the wind blows strongest, and the iodine in the air acts as natural therapy.

Gdańsk is not just monuments and markets. It's primarily the sea – and in winter it reveals its most therapeutic properties. What in summer is a pleasant addition becomes the main asset in winter: iodine in the air.

Marine aerosol (a mixture of iodine, bromine, salt, and magnesium suspended in the air) is much richer in winter than in summer. High wind speed and higher waves cause seawater particles to mix with air, creating a natural inhalatorium.

The closer to the shoreline, the higher the concentration of iodine. That's why it's not enough to look at the sea from the promenade – you need to go down to the beach, walk up to the water. Breathe deeply, with full lungs. Iodine supports thyroid function, bromine has a calming effect, magnesium relaxes muscles, and salt has antiseptic properties. This isn't pseudoscience – it's proven action that sanatoriums along the entire coast utilize.

Brzeźno Beach – wide, with a long wooden pier. In winter, you can walk a kilometer over the water listening to the roar of waves beneath your feet. The pier leads to a small platform where, in strong wind, you feel the structure gently sway. It's a strange feeling, but safe.

After coming down from the pier, it's worth sitting in one of the seaside cafes. Hot chocolate by the window with a view of the sea is a way to warm up before the next walk. On weekends, walruses meet on Brzeźno beach – more on that in a moment.

Jelitkowo and Jelitkowski Park – this is a combination of beach and green seaside park. You can walk along the alley right by the shore, where pines and oaks twisted by the wind grow. Benches facing the sea are the perfect place for a break with a thermos.

Jelitkowo is quieter than Brzeźno – fewer people, more space. If you're looking for solitude and time for reflection, this is your spot.

Stogi – the least touristy of Gdańsk's beaches. Locals who know every corner come here. The beach is narrower, but that's what creates a more intimate atmosphere. In winter, at sunrise (around 7:30-8:00 AM in December), you can meet photographers hunting for shots with morning fog over the water.

Every Sunday in winter at 12:00 PM, Gdańsk walruses meet on Brzeźno beach. This isn't a closed club – anyone can join (though it's worth starting with a doctor's consultation, especially if you have heart or blood pressure problems).

The procedure is simple: warm-up on the beach (10 minutes of energetic exercises), entering the water (1-3 minutes depending on temperature and experience), exit, and quick drying and dressing. After leaving the water, you feel a wave of heat – the body activates defense mechanisms. The euphoria can last several hours.

Remember: ice swimming is not bravado. It's a thoughtful activity requiring preparation, common sense, and, initially, the company of experienced people.

Twenty minutes by SKM train and you're in Sopot. The pier, 511 meters long, is the longest wooden structure of its kind in Europe. In winter, without crowds, a walk here is an almost meditative experience.

The boards creak underfoot. Waves crash against the pilings. Seagulls circle overhead, sometimes perching on the railings. At the end of the pier, you feel as if you're in the middle of the sea – all around you is just water and horizon.

Entry to the pier in the winter season (November-March) costs 3.50 zł, so it's symbolic. It's worth coming at dusk – then the lit lanterns of the pier create a line of light leading into the depths of the Baltic.

Winter Gdańsk is a city that understands what a frozen tourist needs. After hours of walking in frosty air, when your cheeks burn from the wind and your fingers in gloves can barely move, you need a place that will welcome you with warmth. Literally and figuratively.

After a full day of exploring Gdańsk in winter, you need a space where atmosphere is as important as food, where the lighting is dimmed to a level perfect for conversation, where time stops rushing.

Secret Room is an atmospheric lounge in the center of Gdańsk – a few steps below street level, which immediately gives you the feeling of entering another world. Moderate lighting, comfortable armchairs, and background music at a level that allows conversation without raising your voice.

Restaurant birthday (December 12-14) – these three days are special for us. We celebrate with our guests, preparing a surprise for everyone who visits us – loyalty card holders will receive gifts. On December 12-13, a DJ will play in the restaurant, and on December 14, a live band will perform. Reservations are required – seats disappear within a few hours.

Christmas Offer (December 25-26) – Christmas in elegant surroundings instead of at the home table? For many, this is an attractive alternative. We prepare a special Christmas menu. And of course, Christmas mulled wine, the recipe for which is our secret.

Fresh Oysters – Secret Room chefs serve fresh oysters with aromatic lime and signature sauces. Available at specific hours (best to call and confirm availability):

• 3 pieces – 79 zł – perfect for a start, taste test
• 12 pieces – 239 zł – classic platter for two
• Unlimited – 179 zł – for true enthusiasts

The bar at Secret Room is a space where we take every cocktail seriously. We don't buy ready-made mulled wine in a bottle. Every ingredient is weighed, every proportion perfected. We select wines specially for each variant. Fruits are fresh or from the best frozen stock. Honey from local beekeepers.

Our mulled wine is available in several versions – from classic to signature experiments.

We present a new offer every month – seasonal specials, limited dishes, and cocktails inspired by the seasons. It's worth following our social media or simply stopping by and asking what's new on the menu.

We invite you to Secret Room – your winter oasis in the heart of Gdańsk. Because after a full day of winter adventures, you deserve a place that will welcome you with true hospitality.

During the Christmas market (especially on weekends), parking downtown is mission impossible. The city runs additional tram routes leading to the Coal Market.

• Single ticket: 4.60 zł (valid 60 minutes)
• 24-hour ticket: 16 zł (pays off with 4+ rides)
• 72-hour ticket: 40 zł (ideal for a weekend)

You can buy tickets at machines at stops, in the jakdojade or moBILET app, or from the driver (more expensive – 6 zł).

Trams run until about 11:00 PM, then night buses (same tickets).

SKM (Fast Urban Railway) – connection between Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia. A ticket from Gdańsk zone to Sopot is about 4.50 zł. Trains every 10-15 minutes.

Gdańsk in winter is not a Light version of the city. It's not "well, since I can't go in summer, too bad, I'll come in winter." This is Gdańsk in its best form – without masks for tourists, without rush, without crowded restaurants and lines for every attraction.

This is a city that breathes to the rhythm of its residents in winter. Where in a cafe on Mariacka Street, you can talk with the owner about the history of the building where his family has been for generations. Where in an amber shop you have time to listen to stories about "Gdańsk gold" instead of being rushed by a crowd.

The Christmas market in Gdańsk (best in Europe) is just the beginning. Then there are winter walks by the Baltic, where iodine in the air acts as natural therapy. There are museums without lines, where you can spend as much time as you want. The Gdańsk winter break is full of workshops, fun, and learning for children.

And there's food – from pierogi at the market, through fresh oysters, to exquisite fusion dishes. And mulled wine – a drink with a tradition dating back to Hanseatic times, available today in dozens of variations.