For the last few years Gdansk (or more correctly Gdańsk) has been consistently listed as one of the top spots to visit in Europe. The city is also a favourite holiday place for many Polish families who come to Gdansk with kids all year round.
We have also visited the city recently and were amazed by how much it had to offer to families with children.
Here is just a couple of examples:
- 2017 Best European Destinations Award – 3rd place
- 2018 Trip Advisor top trending destinations as selected by the travellers worldwide – 5th place
It should not come as a surprise as it is a city with over 1000 years of history, beautiful architecture. Moreover, for centuries it has been one of the most cosmopolitan and tolerant places in this part of Europe. Together with Gdynia and Sopot it is also part of the so-called tri-city, which is effectively three cities working as one.Sometimes you don’t even notice you are leaving one and going into another by simply crossing the street. Each one of them is very different in look and feel – Gdynia is a city built in 1920s, as a brand-new port whilst Sopot is a 19th century SPA by the sea.
But is there much to do there as a family? Is it worth going to Gdansk with kids or will they be bored?
If you can’t decide I hope that my list of 7 things to do with children in Gdansk will help you.
1. PLAŻA – take them to the beach
Being located on the coast of the Baltic Sea, Gdansk is blessed with abundance of beautiful sandy beaches. They are wide and long, full of fine, golden sand and there are no huge hotel complexes which you normally find on the shores in other parts of Europe. Just perfect for the whole family to enjoy.
If you fancy a swim it is doable. The sea temperature can reach 21-22C so it might not be the Caribbean but it is not the Arctic Ocean either. Even if you find the water to be too cold, these beaches are perfect for long walks and watching sea gulls or building the sand castles.
In most places, you will find plenty of places to eat fresh fish for lunch or to buy refreshing ice-creams. You can also expect some water based activities such as slides, banana boat rides, playgrounds and other entertainment.
Even better, in Gdansk it should never take you more than 20 minutes to get to one using the very efficient public transportation.
Here are my two favourite beaches – they are also the safe ones for children as there are lifeguards present.
- Brzeźno – probably the most popular beach in Gdańsk.
It is home to the only leisure sea pier in Gdansk that offers great views of the beach and the sea. If you are lucky there might be even a beach volleyball tournament or other organised children activities
You can easily reach it by taking the tram lines 3, 5 and the seasonal “beach line” 63.
We had so much fun here when we visited – just have a look here.
- Jelitkowo – its unique location on the border between Gdańsk and Sopot gives you a perfect opportunity to make the most of both places.
This beach tends to be a bit less busy as it is further away from main tourist areas. If you are after a more relaxing experience with kids this is the right place in Gdansk to be.
You can take a walk to the picturesque centre of Sopot along the seaside promenade and enjoy the views and breeze. If you are into water sports there is a large windsurfing centre here, where you can try to fight the wind and waves yourself.
You can get here by taking the tram numbers 4, 6 and 8
2. Port Brzeźno – go mad on zip-lines
If you decide to visit the beach in Brzeźno – there is also plenty of attractions for the little ones in the nearby Park Reagana – including a little train ride and a couple of playgrounds.
More importantly you can find here Port Brzeźno which is a great place combining zip lines, tree tops line walks with a large climbing playground for the youngest kids. They offer a variety of courses you can do and they are available for all abilities.
My 6-year-old has done this activity for the first time ever and absolutely loved it. In the meantime, my 3 year old was happily playing on the large wooden castle with a very large slide. And the parents were sitting and enjoying themselves in the sunchairs. ?
The good news is that for the ticket for the playground part is valid for the whole day. So you can go out enjoy the sea and the beach and come back later.
3. See science in action – Hevelianum
Centrum Hevelianum is an interactive science centre/museum designed for children. We were planning to spend about 2 hours there and ended up for the whole day.
The centre is located in an old fort from Napoleonic times on a hill outside the historical town centre. It offers great views of the city in many directions. So even if you are not into the science it is still worth making the little climb.
TIP: if you are walking there, here is a shortcut you can take just by the main long-distance bus station here. If you have a stroller with you this is not the route for you though as there is plenty of steps.
Shows and exhibitions at Hevelianum
It is fully hands-on experience where the kids can go and try, touch and learn on their own. The topics cover different aspects of science, environment, space etc. so everyone will surely find something of interest.
The centre also organises workshops, presentations and demonstrations for the kids. We attended a very interesting science experiment session which got children really engaged and the word “magic” was quite commonly heard. Our session was in Polish but it might be worth checking if they also offer these in English.
Other than the shows, there is plenty of themed exhibitions located in three or four separate buildings across the complex. They are all included in the ticket price but there are also some special or temporary exhibitions which require additional fee. For our children, the absolute hits were the hurricane simulator and recycling computer game.
All of the exhibits and stations had English descriptions or were simply self-explanatory so the language should not be an issue.
There is also a nice restaurant – Wozownia Gdańska located in the restored coach house which is part the complex. It has a good size kids play corner with toys, games and books so you can relax a bit whist children are enjoying themselves. On the menu you will find traditional Polish dishes but offered with a modern twist. If you are looking for suggestions on what to eat, have a look at my post on Polish food your kids will love.
In my mind, this place is an absolute must when it comes to spending time in Gdansk with kids.
4. Take them for a boat trip in the Old Town
The Old Town is a must for any tourist. If you are in Gdansk with children, I am sure they will love the colourful buildings and historical sites. Well…simply have a look at our Instagram post about the Old Town here.
There is so much history to see here:
- The Amber Museum
- The Maritime Museum
- The Ferris Wheel
- Mariacka street full of stores selling little pieces of art made of amber
- The Four Quarters Fountain next to the St Mary’s Church (the biggest brick church in Europe) where kids love to splash
Our kids love boat trips and the Old Town is the place where you can find plenty of options.
If you fancy a self-drive colourful moto water bike you can rent one out here. There are also plenty of options to take a boat ferry from here to Sopot or Gdynia and even the Hel Peninsula across the Gulf of Gdansk.
The one we decided for last time we were here, was 1-1.5h round trip through the port of Gdansk on a ship that looked like a XVII century galleon. It was long enough to see the port, Westerplatte (historical site where the WWII started) and new post-shipyard city centre. It was also short enough for the kids to enjoy and not get bored.
5. Watch animals in the largest ZOO in Poland
The ZOO in Gdansk is the largest (in terms of area) in Poland. It is full of animals from all over the world, including the only orangutans in the country. It is beautifully located in a small valley, surrounded by hills covered in dense forest. That is why, even on the hottest day, there is shadow and breeze. So young visitors can enjoy the animals safe from the sun. The ZOO is one of the Gdansk hidden gems and must visit places for the families with kids.
Thanks to its size, you are guaranteed that there will be no crowds and you will be able to enjoy the animals undisturbed.
There is one animal here that we were told you will not see in any other Zoo in the world. Believe it or not, but not long ago a penguin has hatched here that is 100%….white. Yes, WHITE PENGUIN!!!
For the little ones, there is a mini zoo, where they can feed the goats, sheep and other small and not so small animals. There are also playgrounds, rides and little train that goes around the zoo. There is even a rope park and anyone from 3 years old up can enjoy it.
Gdansk ZOO is located further away from the city centre. Getting there requires a bit of planning but don’t worry, the efficient public transportation will get you there. There are two bus lines (622 and 179) going directly to the ZOO from the centre of Oliwa district.
6. Go and find a (Hewe)lion
The animal symbol of Gdansk is a lion. You will find it in the city’s coat of arms. Also as decorative elements on buildings, fountains and many historical places. No wonder then, that the people of Gdansk came up with a new lion idea. They placed little bronze lion statues in some of the most important places across the city.
They are called Hewelions combining the name of the city’s symbol with the name of one of its most important historical VIP – Jan Heweliusz.
At the moment there is about 20 of these creatures spread across the city and every now and then there is a new one added.
Finding them became one of the funny ways of exploring Gdansk with kids. You go on a lion’s trail which will get you from one important place to another. There is even one at the Gdansk Airport. The lions are situated in such a way that finding them is not as easy as it might sound. They could be hiding behind trees or simply look at people from above.
If you fancy trying to explore Gdansk with children in a slightly unusual manner this would be the way to do it.
7. In winter take kids to magical Gdansk Christmas Market
If you are visiting Gdansk in winter, your kids will surely enjoy the Christmas Market. It is spread across the whole of the Old Town but you will find most of the stalls in Targ Węglowy.
The Christmas Market in attracts exhibitors not only from Gdansk, but also from neighbouring regions and countries. This is the place to experience the culture from the nearby region of Kaszuby. There are plenty of stalls offering typical food and hand-made wooden toys, plates and pottery. They are all decorated in a unique Kaszubian style.
You can also visit stalls from neighbouring countries – Lithuania, Belarus or Ukraine. It is a great experience for the children to see less popular cultures all in one place. And they are all very different from each other.
Of course in the Market you can also find all sorts of sweets, roast nuts and child punch that will keep your little ones happy. For the parents there are the usual treats such as mulled wine but if you fancy something more original you might want to try mulled beer or traditional Polish mead.
I am sure I have not captured all the places in Gdansk worth visiting with kids. Nowhere near. I am not even touching on Gdynia and Sopot. And then there are places around like the enormous medieval Malbork Castle only 1h away. I hope however that I managed to give you an idea for a great place to visit with children.
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