How big is the group?

Ten is the maximum. Most departures run with four to six travellers. For groups of two we use a car and private guide; for six or more, a minibus.

Is Malbork worth the drive?

Without question. It is the largest castle in the world by surface area, and one of the most complete medieval fortresses in Europe. The scale is impossible to appreciate from photographs.

What about the Hel Peninsula in bad weather?

If the ferry is cancelled due to wind, we take the train instead (it runs regardless). The peninsula is atmospheric in any weather. We carry the seal-sanctuary visit forward and adjust the pace.

Is this suitable for children?

Very much so. The seal sanctuary is a favourite with young travellers, Malbork feels like stepping into a storybook, and the Sopot pier is a hit at any age. The Solidarity Centre is more engaging for teenagers.

Can I combine this with other Poland tours?

Yes. The Gdańsk to Warsaw train is 2.5 hours. We build combined itineraries with Warsaw or Kraków, connected by rail.

When is the best time to visit?

June through September for the warmest weather and longest days. The Hel Peninsula is at its best in July and August. May and September are quieter and still warm enough for the coast.

Cancellation and deposit

A deposit of 300 EUR per person at booking, balance due 30 days before arrival. Full refund less deposit until 30 days out; 50% from 30 to 14 days; non-refundable inside 14 days.

5 days · Hanseatic coastGdańsk & the Amber Coast

From€980p/p

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Hanseatic coast5 days · 1 country

Gdańsk & the Amber Coast

Gdańsk was the richest city in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Long Market still shows it.

5Days

280Total km

MODERATEFitness

PRIVATE2–10 travellers

PLCountries

€980From, p/p twin

The story in one paragraph

Gdańsk & the Amber Coast, at the pace of a long read.

Gdańsk was the richest city in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Long Market still shows it.

Stay on the Motława waterfront and read Gdańsk's Hanseatic wealth in its merchant marks and amber workshops. Take a half-day at Malbork, the largest brick castle in the world, follow the Solidarity story at the shipyard, and spend a day on the coast at Sopot pier and the Hel Peninsula.

At a glance

Start: Gdańsk
Finish: Gdańsk
Distance: 280 km
Group: Private only · 2–10 travellers
Fitness level: Moderate
Best season: May–September
Languages: English, German, Polish
Style: City + Coast

Why this trip.

Four things that set it apart

The Long Market and a Hanseatic fortune

Gdańsk was the richest city in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Long Market, rebuilt after 1945, displays that wealth in painted facades, the Neptune Fountain, and the Artus Court. Our guide reads the merchant marks above the doors.

Malbork, the largest brick castle on earth

A full half-day at the Teutonic Knights' fortress, 60 km south. Three concentric rings of walls, a Gothic great hall, and a kitchen that once fed a thousand. UNESCO-listed, and still astonishing in scale.

Solidarity and the shipyard

The European Solidarity Centre stands at the gate where Lech Wałęsa climbed the fence in 1980. The permanent exhibition traces the movement from the first strike to the fall of the Berlin Wall. We pair it with a walk through the shipyard grounds.

Sopot pier and the Hel Peninsula

A day on the Baltic coast. The longest wooden pier in Europe at Sopot, then a narrow-gauge or ferry crossing to the Hel Peninsula: sand dunes, seal sanctuary, and a fishing village at the tip.

Day by day.

5-day itinerary · approx. 138 km

Each day is built around one or two anchor experiences with deliberate slack for free time. Departure timings adjust slightly with daylight and weather.

01arrival

Gdańsk, Poland

Arrival on the Motława

Arrive at GDN. A 20-minute transfer to the hotel on the Motława riverfront. Evening walk along Długi Targ (the Long Market), past the Neptune Fountain and the Artus Court. Welcome dinner at a waterfront restaurant with amber-coloured Goldwasser on the table.

The airport is close to the city, and you will be at the hotel within half an hour. The building sits on the Motława embankment, facing the medieval crane that once loaded Hanseatic cargo ships. After settling in, we walk the length of the Long Market. Your guide reads the merchant marks carved into the facades and explains how Gdańsk became the wealthiest port city between Lübeck and Riga. Dinner is at a restaurant on the waterfront, candlelit, with views of the crane reflected in the water.

3 km walking Meals: D

Today's highlights

Long Market evening walk
Neptune Fountain
Welcome dinner on the Motława

02Day

Gdańsk — Old Town & Shipyard

Solidarity and the Hanseatic city

Morning at the European Solidarity Centre, built at Gate 2 of the Gdańsk Shipyard. The permanent exhibition traces the Solidarity movement from 1970 to 1989. Afternoon walk through the Old Town: St Mary's Church (the largest brick church in the world), the Great Armoury, and the amber workshops on Mariacka Street.

8 km walking Meals: B

Today's highlights

European Solidarity Centre
St Mary's Church tower climb
Amber workshops on Mariacka

03Day

Malbork → Gdańsk

The Teutonic fortress

Drive 60 km south to Malbork. A private half-day tour of the largest brick castle in the world: the High Castle, the Grand Master's palace, the great refectory, and the fortifications. Lunch in the castle courtyard. Return to Gdańsk by mid-afternoon, free evening.

120 km drive 5 km walking Meals: B · L

Today's highlights

Malbork Castle (UNESCO)
Grand Master's palace
Castle courtyard lunch

04Day

Sopot → Hel Peninsula → Gdańsk

The Baltic coast and Hel

Train north to Sopot. Walk the longest wooden pier in Europe (515 metres), then continue by ferry or narrow-gauge railway to the Hel Peninsula. Sand dunes, the seal sanctuary at Fokarium, and lunch at a fishing village near the tip. Return to Gdańsk by late afternoon. Free evening.

6 km walking Meals: B

Today's highlights

Sopot pier walk
Hel Peninsula ferry crossing
Fokarium seal sanctuary

Your stay · 4 nights

Hotel Podewils

Heritage 4-star, Motława waterfront

A converted 15th-century granary on the Motława, directly facing the medieval crane. Stone walls, timber beams, and a rooftop with views over the Old Town rooftops.

Waterfront terraceRestaurantSpaConcierge

9.1/10 · Verified guests

05departure

Gdańsk

Free morning and departure

A free morning for last walks along the Motława or a visit to the Amber Museum. Late check-out, transfer to GDN airport.

18 km drive 1 km walking Meals: B

Today's highlights

Free morning
Amber Museum (optional)
Airport transfer

What's in.

No surprises after you book

Included

4 nights in a boutique hotel on the Motława waterfront
Private historian-guide for four days
All entrances (Long Market museums, Malbork Castle, European Solidarity Centre, Hel seal sanctuary)
Half-day excursion to Malbork Castle with private transport
Full-day Sopot and Hel Peninsula trip (ferry or train included)
Welcome dinner at a waterfront restaurant
Daily breakfasts, airport transfers in both directions
Curated restaurant shortlist with reservations on request

Not included

International flights to Gdańsk (GDN)
Most lunches and dinners (we send a curated shortlist)
Travel insurance (mandatory)
Tips for guide and driver
Personal expenses

Private & flexible.

From €980 pp · 2026

Every departure of this tour is private, no strangers join, no fixed dates. Pick a start date that suits you; per-person pricing scales with your group size.

Availability

All year round

Lead time

Confirmed within 48 hours · 30+ days lead time recommended

Group

Just you (and your travelling companions)

Group sizeVehicle & guidePer personTotal (twin)

2 travellersCouple, sedan and guide€1340€2,680

4 travellersTwo couples, van and guide€1140€4,560

6 travellersSmall group, van and guide€1040€6,240

10 travellersFull group, minibus and guide€980€9,800

Single supplement €280. Children under 12 receive a 20% discount.

Things people ask.

FAQ

Group sizes, fitness, children, cancellations, the lot. We have answered the common ones.

Request a private quote

Pick a date, we'll quote within the hour.

This is a fully private tour. Your start date, your group, your pace. We confirm availability and pricing within 48 hours and hold your dates for a week, no obligation.

Reply in < 1 hr in business hours

Start any day you like, all year round

2–10 travellers · entirely private

€300 pp deposit · refundable until 60 days out