Itinerary
Best Day Trips from Gdansk
The frequent SKM commuter railway links Gdansk with Sopot and Gdynia in minutes, while direct trains carry you to Malbork Castle and Gothic Torun. In summer, ferries add Hel and Westerplatte to the mix. Most trips run on rails you can turn up and use without booking ahead.
From
Gdansk
Getting there
SKM commuter train, rail and ferry
Best day trip
Malbork Castle, about 30 to 55 minutes by train
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1
Malbork Castle
The largest brick castle in the world stands about 60 km southeast and is a UNESCO site and the former seat of the Teutonic Knights. Direct trains from Gdansk Glowny run several times an hour, taking between 30 minutes on a fast EIC service and 55 minutes on a regional train. Allow two to three hours for the courtyards and interiors.
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2
Sopot
The Tricity's seaside resort is around 20 minutes away on the frequent SKM commuter train, which runs every 10 to 15 minutes. Its wooden pier reaches more than 500 metres into the bay, and Bohaterow Monte Cassino Street leads down to a wide sandy beach.
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3
Gdynia
The third Tricity port lies about 35 minutes from Gdansk on the same SKM line. Built largely from scratch as a modernist harbor in the 1920s, it offers the Gdynia Aquarium, the preserved warship ORP Blyskawica and the pier on Kosciuszko Square.
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4
Hel Peninsula
This thin sand spit curves into the Baltic and ends at the fishing town of Hel, reached by direct train in about 2 hours 35 minutes or, in the warm season, by ferry across the bay in a little over an hour. Beaches line both sides, and a seal sanctuary sits near the tip.
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5
Torun
The Gothic birthplace of Copernicus lies about 150 km south, with direct trains in about 2 hours 15 minutes each way. Its red brick old town is a UNESCO site; the long ride makes for a full day, so start early and confirm the return service.
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6
Westerplatte
The peninsula where the first shots of the Second World War were fired in 1939 sits at the mouth of the harbor within Gdansk. A water tram or cruise from the Motlawa riverfront takes 30 to 60 minutes, or buses 106 and 138 reach it in about half an hour. The ruins and monument make a shorter half day outing.
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