There's no better way of seeing the whole cityscape than from above! And in Gdańsk there are a few viewpoints you can choose from. On a short visit, you might be able to visit only one (as I did), but I think it's a must-do!
Main Town Hall Tower
View of the Main Town Hall from Long Market
The City Hall is the second tallest building in Gdańsk – it is 52 metres high. From its tower, you can get an impressive view of the historic part of the city, especially the Royal Route.
Entry to the tower costs 12 PLN, 6 PLN concession.
Opening hours:
Low / Winter Season (30. September – 26. April)
- Monday: closed
- Tuesday: 10 am – 1 pm – free admission day
- Thursday: 10 am – 6 pm
- Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 10 am – 4 pm
High / Summer Season (27. April – 29. September)
- Monday: 10 am – 1 pm – free admission day
- Other days of the week: 10 am – 6 pm
St. Mary's Church Tower
St. Mary's Church (or Basilica) is the tallest brick temple in the world. Its bell tower is 80 metres high and the viewing terrace is right on top of it. The location in the heart of the city guarantees stunning views – of the Town Hall, the Royal Way, lovely houses and other iconic attractions of Gdańsk. On a clear day, you can also see Gdańsk Bay, Gdynia, Sopot and Hel.
To get to the tower you need to climb 412 stairs and unfortunately, it is not possible to use the lift. Mind that the rooftop terrace is quite small, so it fills up with people quite quickly!
You can visit the tower every day from 10 am to 7 pm (last admission at 6:30 pm).
The adult ticket costs 10 PLN, concession 5 PLN.
St. Catherine's Church Bell Tower
285 stairs lead to the viewing gallery, where from a height of 50 meters you can admire the splendid panorama of the Old Town and the Main Town. The tower also includes a carillon, an instrument consisting of several dozen bells and equipped with a manual keyboard.
Tickets cost 10 PLN adult or 5 PLN concession.
AmberSky Ferris Wheel
It is located on the Ołowianka Island. With a height of over 50 meters is an original viewpoint allowing you to see the Old Town, the stadium, the shipyard and even Hel. All this can be viewed sitting in one of the 36 comfortable, air-conditioned and heated gondolas. The ride takes approximately 15 minutes.
Adult ticket costs 30 PLN, concession 20 PLN (VIP cabin 250 PLN).
Opening hours:
- Sunday - Thursday 10:30 am - 10 pm
- Friday - Saturday 10:30 am - 12 am
You can find out more about it here: http://ambersky.pl/about-us
European Solidarity Center
Viewing terrace is located on top of this modern cultural and museum facility, at a height of 25 m. From here you can also see the Old and the Main Town, however, the Gdańsk Shipyard, which is very important for the activities of ECS, with its characteristic Port Cranes, comes to the fore.
Opening hours: everyday 10 am - 6 pm (during winter the terrace is open when weather permits)
The adult ticket to the ESC costs 25 PLN (concession 20 PLN), the price includes an audio guide
You can get more information on the official ESC website: https://ecs.gda.pl/title,Jezyk,pid,860,lang,2.html
Olivia Star - the highest observation deck in Gdańsk
It is located 130 metres above ground level, on the 32nd floor of the highest office building of the Olivia Business Center complex in Gdańsk Oliwa. It is also the tallest building in northern Poland with a total height of 156 meters! It provides fantastic views of the four directions of the world. From here you can see the vast Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia Orłowo, and in good weather the Gdańsk Bay and the Hel Spit.
Adult tickets cost 20 PLN (pre-booked online 18 PLN), concession 17 PLN (online 15 PLN).
Opening hours:
- Monday - Saturday: 12pm - 10 pm (last entry at 8:40 pm)
- Sunday 11am - 9 pm (last entry at 7:40 pm)
More info on their website: https://www.oliviastar.pl/en/viewing-floor/
Góra Gradowa (Gradowa Hill)
It is 54 meters high, located on the site of the former Jerusalem Bastion, which is part of the 19th-century defensive forts. The location in the centre of Gdańsk provides great views of the entire Old and Main Town, as well as the shipyard areas.
Admission is free.
There is also the Hewelianum Centre near Gradowa - a great attraction for families, especially for the youngest. It is a modern facility that is a place for interactive and creative learning combined with great fun.
