Highlights / Museums & Historical Sites

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Hans Memling’s “Last Judgment” impressive triptych is the museum’s most precious exhibit, while the institution also boasts a large variety of other unique artworks, including paintings, ceramics, furniture and goldsmithery items. Apart from the main building, there are 6 more branches of the National Museum in other parts of Gdansk - the Modern Art Gallery in Oliwa, the Gdansk Photography Gallery, the Ethnography Museum, the Green Gate, the National Anthem Museum and the Gentry Tradition Museum.

An interactive permanent exhibition, where the history of the Solidarity movement is brought to visitors in a captivating way. Part of its mission is to “commemorate, maintain and popularise the heritage and message of the Solidarity movement and the anti-communist democratic opposition in Poland and throughout the world”.

The observation deck on the rooftop has free admission and offers views over the area of the former Gdansk Lenin Shipyard, the Old Town as well as the Main City of Gdansk. Further facilities include a play department for children (5 PLN per child per hour), an underground parking (entry from Nowomiejska Street, 4-10 PLN per hour) and restaurant Amber Side.

This state-of-the-art museum offers an unprecedented look at the Second World War. The 5000 sq m of permanent exhibitions mainly present the experiences and suffering of civilian populations, with the military events as a background. While the museum focuses on the countries of East-Central Europe, it also shows the tragic war times from the perspective of other world countries.

Audio guides offer 5 language versions: Polish, English, French, German and Russian.

Apart from the main granary buildings, there are 3 more branches of the museum in Gdansk alone (9 in total in the Tri-City area) - the Crane (Zuraw) and the Maritime Culture Centre across the river, as well as Sołdek - the ship docked next to the granaries.

The Gdansk Museum, which has its seat in the Main Town Hall, celebrates the city's rich and vibrant 1000 year long history. The building's origins date back to the 14th century, but it has been rebuilt and embellished throughout time. Climb the 50 meter high tower for great views over the Main Town and beyond, after you've explored the town hall's stunning interiors.

Some of the museum's other branches include Artus Court, Uphagen House, Westerplatte, the Polish Post Office Museum and the Amber Museum.

Now a floating part of the National Maritime Museum, Sołdek was the first vessel entirely built in a Polish shipyard after WWII. The 87 meter long ship was operating until the end of 1980. If you want to see Sołdek from another perspective, try kayaking on the Motlava canal.

Part of the National Maritime Museum. Three exquisite exhibitions on separate floors - ‘Boats of the world’s people’, ‘People-Ships-Ports’ and ‘Ships. Our Passion’. The large pool filled with remotely steered boats and ships is a huge attraction for kids.

A small museum, which gives visitors a glimpse into how the interiors of Gdansk’s townhouses presented themselves in the 18th and 19th century.

The peninsula is famous for the Battle of Westerplatte, which initiated World War II in 1939. Nowadays this historical site is an open air museum. Polish soldiers resisted the German attacks for as long as 7 days despite big disproportions in numbers. Their bravery was commemorated by the massive 23 meter high Monument of the Coast Defenders standing at the entrance to the harbour. More insight can be gained by visiting Guardhouse Numer 1, a branch of the Gdansk Museum, open for visitors from May till September.

Along with Westerplatte, this former post office building is a symbol of the Polish heroic resistance in 1939, at the beginning of World War II. The museum educates about the patriotic activity of Poles in war-torn Gdansk and the cultural achievements of the citizens of the 'Free City'.

Displayed in a unique gothic-renaissance building, the Fore Gate Complex, the museum’s exhibitions present the origins, history, marvelous features and kinds of amber. The fossilized tree resin, which is also called the Baltic gold, played a very important role in Gdansk’s history and is a major part of the city’s heritage. Many of the exhibits are truly astonishing, may it be a lizard imprisoned in amber or a modern design jewellery item.