11 Things to Do in Gdansk On a Rainy Day

Gdansk is a gorgeous seaside city in Poland. There are tons of activities to do here such as strolling through the old town, riding a pirate ship and taking in the wonderful views of the sea.

In fact, your Gdansk itinerary will surely be packed given that the city also forms a tri-city with Sopot and Gydnia, which will make your travel itinerary a lot longer. 

However, your sightseeing options become a lot scarcer when it’s raining outside. Fortunately, there are some indoor activities you can do in Gdansk on a rainy day. Here are 13 of them.

1. The Museum of the Second World War

This museum is quite new as it only opened in 2017. It’s a great addition to the touristic attractions in the city as it details the events leading up to World War II and how they impacted Poland.

It’s best to visit the museum early in the morning because it can get quite packed later in the day, and perhaps even more so when it’s raining outside.

The building is split into three parts: the past, present and future. The underground exhibit, which is the main part of the museum, represents the past, the square surrounding the building represents the present and the leaning tower represents the future.

The exhibit underground contains tons of amazing artefacts, such as the belongings of families who were involved in the war. You’ll easily be able to take in the vast information the museum has to offer through its interactive gadgets such as touchscreens, dioramas and more.

You’ll definitely spend a long time at this museum if you’re really interested in history. If you get hungry during your trip there, you can leave the building to eat and re-enter it but you may have to wait to go back inside if the museum is at full capacity. You can visit the café on level 2 of the building. There are also places to eat nearby the museum.

More info

Cost: 23 PLN

Audio Guide: 5 PLN

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday 10 am to 8 pm in July and August, Tuesday through Sunday 10 am to 6 pm September through June, closed Mondays.

Website: https://bilety.muzeum1939.pl/

2. The European Solidarity Centre 

This is also another great museum. It educates visitors about Polish citizens’ opposition to communism and details the country’s road to democracy, which is something I had never heard about until I visited the museum.

On the outside of the building, you’ll see the Monument of the Fallen Shipyard of 1970 and the gate with the sign “Stocznia Gdanska.”

The former pays homage to 42 people who were killed in 1970 during the Polish 1970 strikes, and the latter, which was once a shipyard, is a symbol of the Solidarity Movement.

Once you’re inside, you’ll come across an atrium on the ground floor, which is free to enter. It contains trees, a place to rest, conference halls, library archives and more.

In addition, there are also free temporary exhibitions on the ground floor you can visit. There’s a café on this floor, too, which you may need to visit given that you may spend several hours at this place.

You can easily make your way around the museum with the free audio guide that comes with the admission ticket. The audio guide tracks where you are so when you get close to an information point, it feeds you the necessary information.

It even guides you around the museum, so you don’t miss anything. There are also videos to watch and interactive screens to use for more information.

I have a short attention span and easily forget auditory information but because of how interactive and well laid out the exhibits in the European Solidarity Centre were, I recall a lot of what I listened to during the several hours I spent there.

In fact, it’s one of my favourite museums I’ve ever been to. So, it’s definitely worth a visit even when it’s not raining outside.

More info

3. St. Mary’s Basilica 

St. Mary’s Basilica, also referred to St. Mary’s Church, is easy to get to as it’s in the centre of the old town, which you’ll most likely be staying in or near.

It’s believed to be the largest brick church in the world and can hold up to 25,000 people. The church seven entrances with interesting names such as the Purse Maker’s Door.

One of the most interesting things about the church is its huge astronomical clock created in 1464. It’s complex as it not only tells the time and date but shows phases of the moon, the astrological position of the sun and the moon and the calendar of saints.

The church also has a 78-metre tower, which takes 405 steps to get to get to. It gives wonderful views of the city. You may want to leave the tower for another day if you visit the church when it’s raining, however.

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4. Forum Gdansk         

I stumbled across this place on accident as I badly wanted something quick to eat and Google told me that there was a McDonald’s here.

I had also spotted Forum Gdansk on my first day in the city because it looked pretty at sunset. When I finally visited it, I found out that it contained more than just a McDonald’s.

This modern shopping and entertainment centre was built on the remnants of the Targ Sienny (Hay Market) and Targ Rakowny ( Crayfish Market). Its four storeys contain shops such as Adidas, Zara and H&M as well as restaurants like McDonald’s, KFC and Pizzahut.

The complex also features a gym, fitness centre, cinema, public parking and a public square that many people chill out at. You can also see gorgeous views of the old town from here. All in all, this is an excellent place to pass the time away on a rainy day.

More info

Cost: Free

Hours: Monday to Saturday- 9 am to 10 pm, Sunday 9 am – 9 pm

Website: https://forumgdansk.pl/en

5. The Main Branch of the National Maritime Museum

There are eight other attractions that make up the National Maritime Museum: the Crane, the Maritime Culture Centre, the Fisheries Museum, Vistula Lagoon Museum, Vistula River Museum, the Shipwreck Conservation Centre, the Soldek Steamship Museum and the Dar Pomorza ship Museum.

You can buy a combo ticket to all the attractions that make up the National Maritime Museum or you could buy separate tickets for each attraction.

However, the main branch of the National Maritime Museum offers the best experiences so, if you’re strapped for time and happen to visit Gdansk on a rainy day then I suggest only buying admission to this museum.

Here, you’ll get to learn about Poland’s nautical history in three galleries: “Poles on the Seas of the World”, “Underwater Archaeology and Diving” and “Maritime Gallery.”

More info

Cost: 12/8 PLN. The permanent exhibit is free on Wednesdays.

Hours: Monday to Tuesday, Thursday to Sunday – 11 am to 6 pm, Wednesday – 1pm to 6pm.

Website: https://en.nmm.pl/

6. The Great Armoury 

The Great Armoury, designed by the Flemish architect Anthonis Van Obbergen, was built between 1600 and 1609. Unfortunately, it was damaged during World War II so it had to be entirely renovated.

The building’s stunning exterior even stands out on a rainy but the site’s main attraction is inside where you’ll find an art gallery created by the Academy Of Fine Arts.

There’s also a wine bar on the ground floor, which allows visitors to appreciate the interior of the armoury when there are no exhibitions.

More info

Cost: Free

Hours: 11am – 6pm, January – 12 pm to 6 pm, December 10 am to 8pm ; Entry to Main Hall – 10 am to 6 pm.

Website: http://www.zbrojowniasztuki.pl/

7. The Amber Museum

The Baltic region is famous for its amber, which is why there are quite a few museums about this gemstone in the area. You can spend part of a rainy day learning about the history of Baltic amber at the Amber Museum. The collections here are quite impressive as they span over several storeys.

However, this tourist attraction is quite popular to visit so it can become quite cramped especially when there are school trips, so it’s best to come during quieter hours.

More info

Cost: 16/8 PLN. Entry is free on Tuesdays. The Viewing Tower costs an additional 10 PLN.

Hours: Tuesday – 10am to 1pm , Wednesday, Friday and Saturday – 10 am to 4 pm, Thursday – 10 am to 6 pm, Sunday 11 am to 4 pm.

Website: https://muzeumgdansk.pl/

8. St Bridget’s Church 

St. Bridgets’s church, like St. Mary’s, was a refuge for members of the Solidarity Movement. The church was also damaged badly during the Second World War, like other places on this list.

Thankfully, it was reconstructed in 1973 with the help of its original designs dating from 1394-1420. The church is simple in design in some areas and intricate in others. The main point of interest is the Amber Altar, which still continues to be worked on.

This altar is impressive as it includes amber figures of the Virgin Mary, St Bridget of Sweden, St. Elizabeth Hesselblad and more. There’s even an amber monstrance of the relics (remnants) of the heart and blood of Pope Saint John Paul II and the Blessed Jerzy Popieluszko.

The walls of the church are also intriguing to look at as they’re decorated with memorials of several conflicts Poland has experienced such as the Soviet Massacre of Polish officers at Katyn. In addition, you can also visit the crypt which contains the relics St Bridget as well as some skulls.

More info

Cost: 4PLN. Children 7-and-under: 2PLN

Hours: 10 am to – 6.30 pm.

Website: http://www.brygida.gdansk.pl/

9. Artus Court  

This mansion in the centre of Gdansk, inspired by King Arthur and the 12 knights of the round table, used to be a symbol of the city’s power in the 16th and 17th centuries as it was a meeting place and the heart of social life for merchants as well as the bourgeoisie.

It was first built in 1350 but suffered a fire in 1476, so was refurbished in a gothic style. However, Abraham van den Blocke later gave the court a Dutch Mannerism makeover in the 1610s, which was restored following the damage the building underwent during World War II.

Although the beauty of the wonderful exterior of the court may be diminished on a dreary day there’s plenty to do and see inside. In fact, the building is a branch of the Gdansk History Museum.

There are antiquity and art exhibits visitors can see as well as some portraits of past famous visitors of the court, plus more. You’ll also find a 36 foot tall Renaissance stove inside the building. It’s decorated with 520 tiles, the majority of which are original.

More info

Cost: 16/8PLN. Free on Tuesdays.

Hours: Closed Mondays. (June to August) Tuesday to Saturday -10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 11 am to 5 pm. (Other months) Tuesday to Saturday – 10 am- to 4 pm, Sunday 11 am to 4 pm

Website: http://www.muzeumgdansk.pl/

10. The Hevelianium Centre

More info

Cost: 20/15 PLN. Some exhibitions charge extra.

Hours: Closed Monday. Tuesday to Sunday – 10 am to 4 pm. Some exhibitions close at 6 pm.

Website: https://www.hevelianum.pl/

11. Oliwa Cathedral

Oliwa Cathedral was originally constructed as a simple wooden building in the 12th century but burnt down in 1350, and was yet again destroyed in 1626 by Swedish soldiers. After this, it was rebuilt to look like the wonderful structure it is today.
You may still want to visit this place on a dry day as it’s surrounded by Oliwa Park, which is nice to explore when it’s not raining. You also have to catch a train to get there, which you may not want to do because of the weather conditions.

More info

Cost: Free, but you have to pay 12-20 PLN if you visit during an organ recital. Tickets are available about an hour beforehand.

Hours: 7 am to 6 pm. Sunday 7 am to 8 pm.

Organ recital: Monday to Saturday – 12 pm, Sunday – 3 pm. Organ recitals may not take place on Saturdays from January to March, so just double-check to make sure.

Website: http://www.archikatedraoliwa.pl/