Our Trip to Gdansk City Center

We started the second day of our Gdansk trip by exploring the city center. That day we walked along the waterfront, wandered through the fairytale streets of Mariacka, climbed the tower of St. Mary’s Basilica to see the most beautiful views of the city and at the end of the day, set off toward Sopot’s famous sunset. As you can imagine it was an adventure filled day, but we were prepared. We had rested and slept until almost eleven. The first thing I felt when I woke up was the smell of the sea. It was really sharp and fresh. The night before I had hung my hoodie outside so it would not smell like food. Everything was slightly damp when I picked it up in the morning. But literally smelled of sea and salt. Luckily the weather was very nice. We started walking toward the center with a light breeze. The small cabin on the bridge we crossed along the way was probably a control center. It looked very aesthetic. Some parts of the city remind me of Germany architecturally. But I think everything in this city is much more dense and intertwined.

When we wondered what more enjoyable things we could do in Gdansk away from the shadow of the war, we got a little help from online reviews and decided to turn our route toward Sopot. But before going there we moved along the waterfront. The dark brick buildings and the old mill looked great. I saw that there was a little bit of ice in the canals. The water was not frozen all the way. The weather here felt warm to me than Krakow. I even thought about taking my coat off at one point. Tourists were scarce. There were people waiting where the ships were. Ships don't interest me much normaly, but I think they really suit the fabric of this city.

When we reached the center we found ourselves in the famous amber streets. We spotted the Italian cafe Ostro, but first, we had to explore that fairytale like Mariacka street. My friends had recommended us to see this street, so I was very curious.

This street takes its name from St. Mary’s basilica, which we visited right after. Reading the names is really hard for me. There are so many letters we aren't used to. Mariacka is a narrow and incredibly atmospheric place away from the tourist crowds. I want to say that the sea-themed decorations original doors and stairs are a real paradise for those who love taking photos. Krakow’s famous magic is, of course in its own place. But here has a much more traditional feel, as if it belongs to another world. I don't remember seeing such a detailed street even in Amsterdam. The stairs, on the other hand slightly reminded me of London.

The city is actually not very big. I think two full days would be enough to visit everywhere by soaking it all in. The basilica was on or way. St. Mary's basilica is a massive structure. It has a capacity of twenty five thousand people. Its Polish name is Mariacka Basilica and the full name is The Co-Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I had read that it is one of the largest brick churches in the world. We went in and examined the interior. I liked it very much. The worn stones on the flors, the old tomb plaques and the sundial inside were worth seeing.

It wouldn't be right to go all the way there and not climb to the top of the tower of course. After paying a fee of about five euros, we climbed over 400 steps. The narrow and winding stairs were a bit tiring. But the view at the top made us forget all our fatigue. The characteristic orange roofs of the city, the new neighborhoods, the waterfront and even the distant Baltic Sea were literally under our feet. This is at the top of the places I would recommend if you come to Gdansk.

It became a place we never wanted to leave. After descending from the tower we passed through the red brick houses with green windows that we loved and headed back toward the waterfront and the Long Market or Długi Targ side, which is considered the important center of the city. After the freezing weather of the previous day, the temperature increase had brought everyone out to the streets. I really liked the buildings here. All of them are in such good condition that it's as if each one has been carefully drawn like a painting and restored. Unlike some cities this is not a messy place. There isn't much chaos of souvenir shops or fast food stalls around, elegant buildings and quality cafes are predominant.

Our next plan was to go to Sopot and catch one of those famous long and crimson sunsets by the seaside. I will talk about these adventures in my later posts. Thanks for reading.