Tips on Avoiding Gdansk Tourist Traps

Gdansk Tourist Traps

Gdansk is an interesting city with numerous things to do. Avoid the tourist traps to make the most of your vacation time and not waste your money.

Avoid the City Tours

Don’t take the city tours, these tours rush you and won’t take you inside places, making it a waste of time and money. The only plus is they do offer information on the sites. You will see a lot more on your own if you have a good map and guide book because the main city is small and everything is within walking distance.

Exchanging Money and Buying Tickets

Beware of currency exchange traps. At the kantor they advertise good rates but be sure to read the fine print. Those rates are typically only when exchanging large amounts of currency. Tourists who exchange smaller amounts won’t get the good rate. Tip: Tell them the amount of money you want to exchange and ask them the exact rate. Also, check the daily rates online first and compare with the results the cashier tells you. (If you go closer to the canal, there are companies that offer much better rates).

Unless you speak Polish, buying rail tickets is difficult due to language barriers. Many people at the railway stations only speak the native language. Find someone who understands Polish and can write all the ticket details for you on a piece of paper, and bring that to the ticket office. This way you don’t buy the wrong ticket.

Lighthouse Museum

The Cleveland Lighthouse was built in 1893, and is modeled after one of the lighthouses in Cleveland, Ohio. The lighthouse is currently privately owned by a sea commodore who turned it into a museum. While the sight is nice, the fee is too high for what you’ll get to see. There are some pictures, certificates and some old lighthouse equipment. Most of the descriptions are in Polish. The lighthouse looks nice from the outside but inside it’s nothing special.

One last thing to know, the local pirate cruise will offer great views and is the most popular (because it’s a pirate ship) and, while it is a nice ride, you can take regular tour boats for a cheaper price and still get good photos.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about tourist traps in Gdansk.