Gdansk With Kids: Things to Do and Real Costs

Gdansk with kids works really well, especially if your children like boats, ships and anything that feels like a pirate adventure. We spent five nights there in July 2026 with our son, who was nine at the time. His favourite moments were a pirate ship cruise to Westerplatte and a museum ship he could explore from top to bottom. We also took the train to Malbork Castle, the largest brick castle in the world.

Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tours and services we would use ourselves.

This guide covers everything we did, what our son loved and what he found boring, and what it all cost. Every price is in Polish zloty (PLN) with an approximate US dollar figure, so you can plan your own family trip with real numbers.

---

---

Our Gdansk Trip at a Glance

When	10 to 15 July 2026 (5 nights)
Our son’s age	9
Where we stayed	Doki Living Apartments, next to Montownia Food Hall in the old shipyard area
Getting there	Flight from Warsaw, then on to Copenhagen by air
What we did	Pirate ship cruise to Westerplatte, Malbork Castle by train, National Maritime Museum and the Sołdek ship, Old Town
Total cost	About 5,550 to 5,900 PLN (about $1,460 to $1,560) for three people, flights not included

Things to Do in Gdansk With Kids

Here is what we did in the city, starting with our son’s favourites, followed by other popular family attractions. We used a rate of about 4.3 PLN to the euro and 3.8 PLN to the US dollar, which is roughly what it was during our trip.

The pirate ship cruise to Westerplatte

This was one of our son’s favourite things in Gdansk. We took the Black Pearl, a replica pirate galleon, on a Saturday morning. It leaves from the riverfront in the Old Town, sails out through the port and shipyards, and turns around at Westerplatte.

Westerplatte is the peninsula where the Second World War began. On 1 September 1939, German forces opened fire on the small Polish garrison stationed there, and the defenders held out for seven days. Today it is a memorial site, with a tall monument on a hill, ruined barracks and a small cemetery.

We stayed on board for the round trip rather than getting off. You can see the Westerplatte monument well from the water, and the commentary explains what happened there. We paid €22 per person, so €66 (about 284 PLN, or $75) for the three of us.

Kid verdict: loved it.

🕐 Opening Hours: Every day in summer, with regular sailings during the day (check the timetable at the quay)
💰 Entry Fees: €22 per person, about 95 PLN ($25), which is what we paid

Tip: two sister ships, the Black Pearl and the Lion Galleon, do the round trip. You can buy tickets at the quayside or book online in advance. If you want to walk around Westerplatte, tell the crew when you board: you can get off there and come back on a later sailing.

Book the pirate ship cruise to Westerplatte

National Maritime Museum and the Sołdek ship

Our son loved this one too. We bought the combined ticket for the National Maritime Museum and the Sołdek, a museum ship moored on the Motława River right next to the main building. The museum is the best place in the city to understand why Gdansk is the way it is.

Gdansk has always been a port city. It joined the Hanseatic League, the medieval trading alliance of Baltic and North Sea ports, in 1361, and in the 16th and early 17th centuries it was one of the richest cities in Europe. It is still a major port today: Gdansk is one of the busiest ports in the European Union, and you will see its cranes and cargo ships up close on the pirate ship cruise.

The main museum tells that story inside three old granaries on Ołowianka Island, with ship models, finds from Baltic shipwrecks and maritime paintings.

Sołdek ship

The Sołdek is a coal and ore freighter launched in Gdansk in 1948. It was the first seagoing ship built in Poland after the Second World War, a symbol of the country rebuilding its shipyards, and it sailed until 1980. What makes it so much fun for children is that you can go inside and explore. The highlight for us was the captain’s bridge, with its wheel and instruments, and you can even ring the ship’s bell. Our son loved both, and the combination of the museum and a real ship he could climb around was perfect for him.

Kid verdict: loved it, especially exploring the ship.

🕐 Opening Hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday to Sunday, 11 AM – 6 PM | Wednesday, 1 PM – 6 PM (15 June to 6 September 2026; last entry an hour before closing)
💰 Entry Fees: 39 PLN adults | 29 PLN reduced (including school pupils from the EU, EEA and Switzerland) | Under 7 free (museum plus Sołdek)

Tip: for our family, the combined ticket came to 107 PLN (about $28). The permanent exhibition is free on Wednesdays (except the third floor), but the Sołdek still needs a ticket. A bigger pass for 64 PLN also includes the medieval Crane.

The Old Town: the Royal Route, Long Market and Neptune’s Fountain

Gdansk’s Old Town is one of the prettiest old towns we have seen, and it is very compact, so you can see the main sights on foot in a few hours. The historic heart is officially called the Main Town (Główne Miasto). Its main street is the Royal Route, made up of Long Street (Długa) and Long Market (Długi Targ), with the Golden Gate at one end and the Green Gate by the river at the other.

We walked the Royal Route past rows of tall, narrow merchant houses, each painted a different colour and decorated right up to the rooftops. Halfway along is the Neptune Fountain, in front of Artus Court, where the city’s wealthy merchants once met, with the tower of the Main Town Hall close by. From the Green Gate we went down to the riverfront along the Motława, where the medieval Crane stands. We saw the Crane from the outside, but didn’t go in.

It is hard to believe that around 90% of the city centre was ruined in the Second World War. Most of what you see today was rebuilt after the war, which is a great story to share with children as you walk.

Honestly, our son wasn’t very enthusiastic about wandering the Old Town. What kept him going was stopping for pierogi. If your children are like ours, plan the Old Town around a food stop and keep it short.

Kid verdict: a bit boring, but the pierogi saved it.

🕐 Opening Hours: Open all day, every day (busiest in the middle of the day in summer)
💰 Entry Fees: Free

Tip: walk the Royal Route from the Golden Gate to the Green Gate, then finish on the riverfront, where the pirate ships leave from, so there is something to look forward to.

St Mary’s Church tower

One of the most popular things to do in Gdansk. St Mary’s Basilica took more than 150 years to build, from 1343 to 1502, and it is one of the largest brick churches in the world. Inside, look out for the 15th-century astronomical clock. The tower is the best viewpoint over the Old Town, but the climb is more than 400 steps, so it suits older children with plenty of energy.

🕐 Opening Hours: Church: weekdays, 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM in July and August (5:30 PM the rest of the year) | Sundays, 11 AM – 12 PM and 1 PM – 6:30 PM (closed to visitors during Mass) | Tower: every day, 10 AM – 6 PM from July to September
💰 Entry Fees: Church free | Tower 20 PLN adults | 10 PLN reduced

Museum of the Second World War

The main exhibition is big and covers a lot of difficult material. There is a separate children’s exhibition, Journey in Time, which is included in the main ticket.

🕐 Opening Hours: Tuesday, 10 AM – 4 PM | Wednesday to Sunday, 10 AM – 6 PM (closed Mondays)
💰 Entry Fees: 33 PLN adults | 23 PLN reduced | 72 PLN family (up to 5 people, 1 or 2 adults with children up to 19) | Under 7 free | Free on Tuesdays

Tip: free Tuesday tickets are collected at the ticket office on the day, with no advance reservations. Otherwise, buy only from the museum’s own ticket website. The museum says it is the only authorised seller.

European Solidarity Centre

Located in the same former shipyard area as Doki Living and Montownia. In August 1980, strikes at what was then the Lenin Shipyard led to the founding of Solidarity, the first independent trade union in the communist bloc, led by the electrician Lech Wałęsa. The movement helped end communist rule in Poland in 1989 and inspired change across Central and Eastern Europe.

The centre opened in 2014, and its permanent exhibition tells that story across seven halls, with an audio guide included in the ticket. The building and its rooftop viewing deck are free to visit. It is best for older children with an interest in history.

🕐 Opening Hours: May to September: Monday to Friday, 10 AM – 7 PM | Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM – 8 PM. October to April: Monday and Wednesday to Friday, 10 AM – 5 PM | Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM – 6 PM (closed Tuesdays)
💰 Entry Fees: 40 PLN adults | 35 PLN reduced | 100 PLN family (2 adults + 1 child) | 115 PLN family (2 adults + 2 or 3 children) | Under 7 free

Amber Museum

The Amber Museum is a popular family stop. It is housed in the Great Mill, a huge brick mill built by the Teutonic Knights before 1364, which in the Middle Ages was one of the largest industrial buildings in Europe. Gdansk calls itself the world capital of amber, and Baltic amber has been traded and carved here for centuries. Inside you will find pieces with insects trapped inside them, as well as amber art and jewellery.

🕐 Opening Hours: Wednesday to Monday, 10 AM – 6 PM (closed Tuesdays)
💰 Entry Fees: 37 PLN adults | 26 PLN reduced (pupils and students) | 99 PLN family (1 or 2 adults with children under 18) | Free on Mondays

Hevelianum

Hevelianum is a science centre inside a 19th-century fort on Gradowa Hill, above the main train station, named after the Gdansk astronomer Johannes Hevelius. The fort’s brick walls and passages are fun to explore, and the hilltop has great views over the Old Town and the shipyards.

Inside, there are three hands-on exhibitions: Around the World, about the planet’s continents and cultures, Puzzle, full of maths brain-teasers, and With Energy!, about physics and energy. Hevelianum also runs outdoor games, workshops and an escape room, so check the calendar on its website before you go.

🕐 Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 8 AM – 4 PM | Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM – 6 PM (closed Mondays)
💰 Entry Fees: 30 PLN adults | 25 PLN reduced | 80 PLN family (all three exhibitions) | 20 PLN adults | 15 PLN reduced (single exhibition)

Sopot, Oliwa and the beach

Sopot is a classic Polish seaside resort, with a long wooden pier and a wide, sandy beach. Oliwa has a large park and a cathedral famous for its huge 18th-century organ. Gdansk also has its own Baltic beaches, such as Brzeźno and Stogi, which locals use in summer.

Both are easy to reach on the SKM commuter train from Gdańsk Główny, the main station, with trains every 10 to 15 minutes during the day. Get off at Gdańsk Oliwa for the park and cathedral, or at Sopot for the pier and beach. Buy tickets from the machines at the station or in an app such as Koleo or SkyCash, and validate paper tickets on the platform before you board.

🕐 Journey Time: About 10 minutes to Oliwa | About 15 minutes to Sopot
💰 Train Fares: A few złoty per adult, one way (check the current fare in the Koleo app or at the station ticket machine)

Malbork Castle Day Trip From Gdansk

Malbork Castle, the largest brick castle in the world, is an easy day trip from Gdansk. It was built by the Teutonic Knights from the late 13th century and became the seat of their Grand Master in 1309. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We took the PKP Intercity train from Gdańsk Główny, which took about 25 minutes, then walked about 20 minutes to the castle. We spent about three hours inside with the audio guide. Our trains and family castle tickets came to about 590 PLN ($155) for the three of us.

Kid verdict: he loved the armoury and seeing where the Teutonic Knights used to live.

Read our full guide to Malbork Castle with kids for the train options, family ticket prices, the audio guide, stroller tips and what our day cost.

Where We Stayed in Gdansk

We stayed five nights at Doki Living Apartments, booked on Booking.com. It cost €616 for the five nights (about 2,650 PLN, or $700), without breakfast.

We would recommend it 100%. It was very clean and comfortable, and the location was great: right next to Montownia Food Hall and close to the Old Town. Having a fully equipped kitchen made a big difference, because we could cook some meals ourselves.

Staying next to the food hall was our son’s favourite thing about the whole trip. He loved having it right next door.

Where We Ate in Gdansk With Kids

We ate out for most lunches and every dinner, and we bought groceries for breakfasts and some lunches. Main dishes cost us roughly €12 to €15 each (about 50 to 65 PLN).

Montownia Food Hall

Montownia is in a former U-boat assembly hall from the Second World War, now a food hall with more than 20 food stalls. We ate there a few times (honestly, too many times!). With so many stalls to choose from, it is an easy option with a child.

Pierogarnia Stary Młyn

We went to Pierogarnia Stary Młyn, on Świętego Ducha Street in the Old Town, a couple of times. It specialises in pierogi, including oven-baked ones. These pierogi stops were the highlight of our son’s Old Town walks.

Groceries and cooking

We spent about €100 (about 430 PLN) on groceries over the five nights. With a kitchen in the apartment, cooking breakfast and some lunches kept our food costs down and gave us a break from eating out.

Getting to Gdansk and Getting Around

We flew into Gdansk from Warsaw and took a Bolt from the airport to our apartment. When we left, we took another Bolt back to the airport and flew directly to Copenhagen.

• Airport transfers: we used Bolt both ways. There is also a train from the airport, which involves a change at Gdańsk Wrzeszcz to reach the main station.
• Getting around the city: we walked to the Old Town, the river and the museums, and used Bolt when we needed it.
• Trains: we took the train to Malbork. The SKM commuter trains also link Gdansk with Oliwa and Sopot.
• Trams and buses: Gdansk has a good tram and bus network if you are staying further out.

For mobile data, we compare the options in our guide to the best eSIMs for international travel.

What Our Gdansk Family Trip Cost

These are the costs for two adults and one nine-year-old for five nights. Flights are not included, because they vary so much depending on where you fly from. We flew in from Warsaw and out to Copenhagen. Where we didn’t keep an exact receipt, the figure is an estimate and marked with a “~”.

Item	PLN	USD
Doki Living Apartments, 5 nights, no breakfast (€616)	2,650 PLN	$700
Pirate ship cruise to Westerplatte (3 × €22)	284 PLN	$75
Malbork Castle family tickets	200 PLN	$53
PKP Intercity train to Malbork and back (3 people, about €15 each way)	~390 PLN	~$102
National Maritime Museum and Sołdek	107 PLN	$28
Bolt to and from the airport	~100 PLN	~$26
Eating out (about 27 dishes at €12 to €15)	~1,390 to 1,740 PLN	~$365 to $460
Groceries (about €100)	~430 PLN	~$113
Total	~5,550 to 5,900 PLN	~$1,460 to $1,560

Accommodation was the biggest cost, followed by food. The activities themselves were good value: the pirate ship and the museum ship, our son’s two favourites, cost us less than 400 PLN together.

How Many Days Do You Need in Gdansk With Kids?

We had five nights, which gave us time for the pirate ship, a full day at Malbork, the Maritime Museum and some Old Town walks, without rushing.

• 2 to 3 days: enough for the Old Town, a boat to Westerplatte and one museum.
• 4 to 5 days: adds a Malbork day trip and more museums, at a relaxed pace.
• A week: time for Sopot, Oliwa, Hevelianum and the beaches as well.

Gdansk With Kids: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gdansk good for kids?

Yes. It is compact, walkable and full of ships, boats and hands-on museums. Our nine-year-old loved the pirate ship cruise and the Sołdek museum ship. The Old Town walks were the least exciting part for him.

What is there to do in Gdansk with kids?

Our top picks are the pirate ship cruise to Westerplatte, the National Maritime Museum with the Sołdek ship, and a day trip to Malbork Castle. Hevelianum, the Amber Museum and the beaches are other popular choices.

Is Westerplatte worth visiting with kids?

Yes, especially by boat. The pirate ship makes the trip fun, and you see the monument from the water even if you stay on board. If your children are older, getting off to walk around the site adds more of the history.

Can you visit Malbork Castle from Gdansk by train?

Yes. Direct trains run from Gdańsk Główny to Malbork, and the fastest take under half an hour. The castle is about a 20-minute walk from Malbork station. Our Malbork Castle with kids guide has the full details.

How much does a family trip to Gdansk cost?

Our five nights for two adults and a nine-year-old cost about 5,550 to 5,900 PLN (about $1,460 to $1,560), not including flights. Accommodation was about 2,650 PLN of that.

Are museums in Gdansk free on certain days?

Some are. The Museum of the Second World War is free on Tuesdays, the National Maritime Museum’s permanent exhibition is free on Wednesdays, and the Amber Museum is free on Mondays. Malbork Castle’s outdoor grounds route is free on Mondays.

Final Thoughts on Gdansk With Kids

We would happily recommend Gdansk to other families. For our son, the pirate ship, the museum ship and a food hall next door were the highlights. From here we flew on to Copenhagen, where we spent three weeks; read our Copenhagen family guide for what came next.

If you are planning more of Poland, see our guide to Krakow with kids. Later that summer we also visited Prague with kids and Chișinău with kids.