Gdansk Old Town: how to cycle through the city

Gdańsk is a city made for cycling. Cobbled lanes, a scenic waterfront, post-industrial shipyard grounds — all connected by a well-maintained network of bike paths that lets you see more in a few hours than a full day on foot. Below you will find a tried-and-tested cycling route through Gdańsk that links the major landmarks with lesser-known corners of the city.

This route is not about chasing kilometres. It is about discovering the beauty of Gdańsk and getting closer to the thousand-year history of this Baltic port — a history with more twists than the Vistula River itself.

No Bike? No Problem

If you do not have bikes for everyone in your group, there is no need to worry. You can always rent bikes in central Gdańsk and hit the road. We offer city bikes, electric bikes, and children's bikes — there is something for everyone. And if you prefer to explore with a guide, you can join the bike tours run by Poland By Locals. Tours depart from ul. Chlebnicka 19/20 everyday at 10:00 AM. A local guide will show you hidden alleys and tell you stories you will not find in any guidebook.

The ride begins on ul. Długa — cycling is allowed here, though watch out for pedestrians, especially during the summer season. This is one of the most important streets in Gdańsk, serving as the city's main commercial artery for centuries. At the Long Market you will pass the richly decorated Renaissance townhouses, all meticulously rebuilt after the war. The Main Town Hall houses a branch of the Gdańsk Museum with exhibitions on the city's history, while the Artus Court served for centuries as a meeting place for merchants and aristocrats from across Europe. Stop at the Neptune Fountain, a symbol of Gdańsk since the seventeenth century, for your first photo of the day. Further along, at the Golden Gate, historical photographs show the scale of the city's wartime destruction in 1945 — a striking contrast with the rebuilt streetscape of today that illustrates just how much effort went into restoring Gdańsk to its former glory.

Head towards St. Mary's Basilica, approaching from ul. Piwna. Lock your bikes at the racks and step inside the largest brick church in the world. The monumental interior is impressive even for visitors who have seen many European cathedrals — the Basilica can hold up to 25,000 people at once. Inside, look out for the fifteenth-century astronomical clock and the numerous Gothic altarpieces. If you have the time, the tower climb is a must — 409 steps lead to a viewing platform with a panorama stretching across the entire Tri-City and the Bay of Gdańsk. On a clear day you can see as far as the Hel Peninsula. Check opening hours and ticket prices on the Basilica's website. Tip: arriving before 11:00 AM means fewer crowds on the staircase and significantly better conditions for panoramic photos.

Just behind the Basilica lies ul. Mariacka — Gdansk's most photogenic street and arguably the most beautiful lane in all of Pomerania. Its signature stone perrons (raised merchant terraces) are now lined with café tables and stalls selling amber jewellery. This is the best spot in Gdansk to shop for amber — from classic silver-set pendants to contemporary designer pieces. The street is particularly atmospheric in the evening, when illuminated facades reflect off the wet cobblestones. Take a moment to linger here, because this little street captures the spirit of old mercantile Gdańsk like no other place in the city.

The route continues along the Motława River to Długie Pobrzeże — the waterfront promenade that has been the heart of Gdańsk's maritime trade since the Middle Ages. Here stands the icon of the city — the Gdańsk Crane, the largest medieval port crane in Europe. This fifteenth-century timber structure was used to load and unload merchant ships and to raise masts. Today it houses a branch of the National Maritime Museum. It is one of the most photographed landmarks in the city and a perfect spot for a short break with views over the water and the moored boats.

Before crossing the river, make a detour to Plac Obrońców Poczty Polskiej (Polish Post Office Defenders Square). This site is closely tied to the outbreak of World War II. On 1 September 1939, several dozen Polish postal workers mounted a heroic defence against German forces. Behind the post office building you will find a moving installation commemorating their arrest and subsequent execution. If Westerplatte is not on your itinerary, this stop is essential. The Ołowianka footbridge rises every 30 minutes — check the current schedule on the GZDiZ website.

On the far bank of the Motława you will find the finest panoramic view of Gdansk — the Long Waterfront with the Crane silhouetted against the skyline, a scene that appears on every postcard from the city. Stop at the Maritime Museum, which traces Gdansk's seafaring history from the Middle Ages to the present day, or step aboard the museum ship SS Sołdek, the first vessel built in post-war Poland, now serving as a floating exhibition. Then continue towards the Lower Town (Dolne Miasto) — a historic neighbourhood undergoing rapid regeneration. Neglected and forgotten just a few years ago, it now attracts artists, new cafés, and residential developments. Atmospheric streets, raw brick architecture, and an authentic character make it well worth visiting before the district transforms beyond recognition. The bike path runs along the Motława, past the former defensive ramparts, to the Kamienna Lock and the Żubr Bastion. Ride up the bastion hill for an idyllic, panoramic view over the city — a perfect spot for a short rest before continuing the ride.

Follow the cycle path past the Forum shopping centre and along ul. 3 Maja to reach the historic shipyard grounds — a place that changed the course of European history. The first essential stop is the BHP Hall, where the August Agreements were signed in 1980, launching the Solidarity movement that would eventually help bring down communism in Central Europe. Inside, the original interior has been preserved, and you can grab the hall's legendary orangeade — the same drink that fuelled the striking workers. The second stop is the Imperial Shipyard, built by the Prussians in the nineteenth century and recently opened to visitors. A marked trail leads through massive cranes, brick production halls, and former factories, telling the stories of the people who worked here. It remains one of Gdansk's least-explored historic spaces, almost entirely free of tourist crowds. A full visit to the European Solidarity Centre deserves a separate afternoon — plan it as its own trip. Practical note: cycling through the shipyard is straightforward, but watch out for uneven surfaces, protruding stones, and old railway tracks crossing the path.

The cycling tour of Gdansk is slowly coming to an end as we head back towards the Main Town. The return leg passes through St. Catherine's Church — the oldest church in Gdansk, dating back to the fourteenth century. For centuries it served as the city's main parish church before St. Mary's Basilica took over that role. Right next to it stands the Great Mill — a monumental brick building erected by the Teutonic Knights in the fourteenth century. For over five hundred years it ground grain for the residents of Gdańsk, making it one of the largest industrial facilities in medieval Europe. Today the building serves a commercial function but has retained its impressive original form. To round off the ride, you can climb Jacek Tower on ul. Łagiewniki for views over the rooftops of the Main Town, or explore the cellars of the Archaeological Museum, where exhibits trace the earliest history of Gdansk back to the tenth century.

Gdansk packs heritage, coastline, and post-industrial character into a compact area. A bike lets you move between attractions without wasting time in traffic or hunting for parking. Flat terrain, short distances, and a growing network of cycle paths make a bike tour the most efficient and enjoyable way to experience the city.