“Discover, relax, learn” is the slogan of Hewelianum, located near the Gdańsk Main Railway Station. Created for the twenty-first century, this place enlivens the nineteenth century military buildings, placing in their interiors interactive exhibitions – the permanent physical exhibition “Energy, Sky and Sun” and the historical exhibition, “The Time Machine”, organised in the complex of the shelters. Sometimes on a Sunday afternoon you can watch a historical reconstruction group practice. Here, on the hills of the Cultural Park of City Fortifications “Gdańsk Fortress” with panoramic views of the shipyard and historical Gdańsk, you will want to spend some time.
Over the last decade Gdańsk has become a city of cyclists. About 100 km of cycle paths allows cyclists to bike along the sea coast and the main roads of the city, along historical areas and new housing estates. Travelling the route by bike visitors can enjoy the Opływ Motława River – the old moat surrounding the city from the south and east, but also take a ride along the Radunia Canal or beaches stretching to Sopot and beyond. Cycle paths are complemented by a wealth of forest roads leading through areas of the Tricity Landscape Park. The multitude of trails has something for everyone – whether it is extreme sports, mountain biking or recreational biking. Whatever the case, there are numerous opportunities to enjoy the passing views.
For the convenience of cyclists there are bicycle rentals, and bike stands are commonplace in many parts of the city. You can also reach the PGE Arena Gdańsk football stadium by bike, and here it is worth changing your two wheels for skates. The modern skate track surrounding the stadium is 1745 metres long and its width ensures safe skating conditions.
Hiking around Gdańsk is mostly associated with the sea coast, sand under your feet and iodine. But it is also worth taking a walk on the paths leading to the moraine hills of the Tricity Landscape Park and around city parks to be convinced that you can also spend there a pleasant and interesting time.
An attraction for many tourists is the pub crawl, meaning travelling from pub to pub around the city. This fashion also came to Gdańsk… who knows, maybe it came here much earlier than to other European cities. It is this city on the Motława River that for centuries has been famous for the production of many kinds of popular drinks with an amber colouring. It is here that you will find Piwna Street (Beer Street), which before the war was called Joppengasse. Starting the beer journey from numerous pubs on Piwna Street, you also need to drop by the Flisak pub, which for three generations has operated on Chlebnicka Street, and for a longer moment sit at a pub with a view overlooking the marina. Here you will find Degustatornia in the oldest part of the city, which boasts an offer of almost every type of beer produced in the world. In Gdańsk you can also drink a beer watching a game at the amber football stadium.
To top off your beer journey you can enjoy a club music concert in the heart of the city, take a walk along the sandy beach or have dinner in one of the many restaurants serving dishes from all over the world.
Photo © the City Hall of Gdansk
Gdańsk is the only city in Poland that has been nominated in the competition for the title of “European Best Destination 2017”. You can vote via the portal VisitGdansk from 20 January to 10 February 2017.