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Time expectations for Gdańsk walk and sights

Hello, I’m reading RS Eastern Europe book and he doesn’t give any suggestions on time expectations. If anyone can help, I would appreciate it. My son and husband are big history buffs.
Gdańsk walk with stops
WWII museum
Solidarity Shipyard / Centre
Westerplatte (including getting there and back)
THANK YOU!

Posted by
46 posts

If you are big history buffs, at least 2 hours and probably 3 hours for the Solidarity Centre. For the WWII Museum, a minimum of 3 hours. I've heard of people taking 2 days. We did it in 3.5 hours, but were on a schedule.

Posted by
1171 posts

I would allow 90 minutes for the first part of the walk, if you want to stop and appreciate details. It is a LONG walk up to the Solidarity Center and shipyards - tram or bus may be easier.

WWII museum : I think a minimum of two hours - three or more if you are really into it. I believe the audio guide requires two hours, although it will update based on location if you decide to move more quickly.

Solidarity Center - an hour minimum, which would be just a walk through - more time for a serious visit. It does a very deep dive into the movement, which some may find less engaging. Allow more time for the shipyards.

Westerplatte - the guidebook indicates 90 minutes there and back on a cruise - allow more time if you want to walk around. You can also take a boat one way and then a tram back.

You might find better info in the Krakow, Warsaw and Gdansk guidebook.

Edited to add: If you have the relatively new Central Europe guidebook, the book covering the polish cities is a full excerpt, so would be redundant. However, if you have an older Eastern Europe book, you might want to upgrade.

Posted by
2688 posts

I spent 2 hrs at the Solidarity Center--the WWII museum wasn't there yet, but knowing my interest in WWII I'd probably have spent a good 3 hrs as a previous poster mentioned. I travel solo so I zip through museums at a good clip. You can catch a boat out to the Westerplatte from the docks in Old Town--the boat I took was an old-fashioned clipper style, the cost was fairly cheap and it will take you out through the active shipping areas, past the Westerplatte, then circles back to the Westerplatte where you can exit to view the monument. The whole excursion took just under 1.5 hours. I am a bit of a shopper, but did not spend more than a couple of hours wandering Old Town and into a few shops--I had lunch on my mind after the boat tour, and knew I was going to the Solidarity museum before catching a train back to Warsaw late in the afternoon.

Posted by
28050 posts

I'm abnormally interested in 20th-century history. I spent about 8 hours at the Solidarity Center and 20 hours at the WWII Museum. If there was information posted in English, I read it; if there were videos subtitled in English, I watched them--and Polish museums are exceptionally English-accessible. Obviously, those times are laughable for everyone else, but perhaps the ratio of time spent in the two museums will be helpful.

Posted by
47 posts

I spent around 90 minutes going through the Solidarity Center and felt like I just skimmed the surface. I spent 5.5 hours at the WWII museum and can definitely understand how acraven spent 20 hours there (it is a huge museum with a ton of information!).

Posted by
124 posts

Thank you everyone! It helps. I'm sure my son and husband will be like acraven and can/will spend most of the day. They wish they had spent more time at the Tank Museum in UK and could have spent 2 days at the WWII museum in New Orleans. All your replies will help in my planning!