Where to Stay in Gdańsk: Best Areas and Their Highly-Rated Hotels

Looking for the perfect place to stay in Gdańsk – whether you're after historic charm, buzzing city life, or peaceful luxury? The city naturally divides into three distinct accommodation zones, each with its own unique appeal.

The first popular hotel area is the Old Town near the railway station, the second is the tourist-favorite city center around Długa Street, and the third stretches beyond Długi Square to Wyspa Spichrzów island and the Nowa Motława waterfront areas. Nowa Motława is a branch of the Motława River where upscale hotels and various accommodation options have been popping up recently. If it's your first time visiting the city, pick your accommodation from one of these three areas.

Getting from the airport is easiest to the Old Town, and pretty straightforward to the Długa Street area too. Some hotels in Gdańsk even offer their own airport shuttle service.

Gdańsk is part of a larger area called the Tri-City, which also includes the summer beach resort of Sopot and the port city of Gdynia. Getting between the Tri-City towns is a breeze with the local train, and many visitors actually choose to stay in Sopot or Gdynia instead of Gdańsk. Sopot is especially great if you want to combine a beach holiday with city exploration.

Accommodation Prices and Availability

Hotel prices in Gdańsk have been climbing lately. One big reason? The city has become a hotspot for budget airlines, bringing in more tourists than ever. Finding affordable rooms in the city center can be tough, especially during summer season, which runs from early May through the end of September. The same goes for Easter weekend and pretty much any weekend throughout the year.

Your best bet for scoring a good deal is right at the beginning or end of summer, or during the winter months. If you're really watching your budget, you can find rooms for just a few dozen euros a night outside the city center. Just keep in mind that the cheapest places often come with their quirks, things might not work perfectly, and they're usually in less charming neighborhoods.

Want to make sure you've got a room? Book 4-6 weeks ahead if you're traveling between early May and early September. For the best budget-friendly hotels that still offer quality in the city center, you'll want to book at least two months in advance. The same goes for weekends and popular holiday periods outside summer (think Easter, fall break, and Christmas), give yourself a couple months' lead time. Sure, you can usually snag a room at pricey chain hotels at the last minute, but be prepared to shell out over a hundred euros per night.

Top Hotel Areas

Next, we'll take a closer look at the best hotel areas in terms of location and services, one area at a time. We'll also showcase top-rated hotels and other lodging options in each location.

Główne miasto - The Heart of the City Around Długa Street and Długi Square

The historic center around Długa Street and Długi Square is a fantastic place to base yourself in Gdańsk. This area is packed with accommodation options, many of them small, charming hotels with real character. Everything you could want is right at your doorstep, tourist attractions, shopping, restaurants, cafés, and nightlife are all within easy walking distance. Stay here and you'll basically only need public transport for getting to and from the airport.

It's a sprawling area with minimal car traffic, making it perfect for exploring on foot. The main train station sits just outside the historic core, but it's still within reasonable walking distance. From there, you've got excellent connections to anywhere in the Tri-City area. Just a heads up, taxis might not be able to drop you right at your hotel door here, so it's worth checking the access routes with your accommodation beforehand.

Price-wise, this area isn't significantly more expensive than others, though it does get pretty packed with tourists in summer. The riverside is where all the action is, but as you venture further away, especially down the side streets, things get progressively quieter. That said, if you want to soak up Gdańsk's maritime atmosphere, definitely pick a hotel along the Motława River.

Some excellent hotel options in this area include Hanza Hotel, Hotel Wolne Miasto, Liberum and Qubus Hotel Gdansk.

Stare Miasto - The Old Town

Right next to Gdańsk's railway station, you'll find an area called the Old Town, though the name's a bit misleading. Before World War II, this was actually one of the oldest parts of Gdańsk, but after the devastating bombings, only a handful of buildings were reconstructed to match their original designs. These days, the area is dominated by buildings from the socialist era.

The neighborhood centers around Rajska Street, home to the Madison shopping center and plenty of large hotels. If you're staying here, getting to the airport is a breeze. Trains from the railway station run constantly to other parts of the Tri-City area, and you can walk to the main attractions downtown, like Długa Street, in just over ten minutes. While the area is quite spread out, if you stay near the market hall, you'll cut that walk to Długa significantly.

You'll find modern shopping spots and restaurants throughout the area. As for must-see attractions, there's a museum dedicated to the dark events of World War II, and the relatively new Solidarity Center, which sits right by the entrance to the old shipyard area. Near the railway station and on side streets downtown, like Szeroka Street, you'll find convenient accommodation options, all within easy walking distance from any part of the Old Town.

Check out these solid options in the area: Hotel Bonum, Celestin Residence, Hotel Almond Business & SPA and Hotel Number One.

If these don't quite hit the mark, browse through all Old Town hotels to find your perfect match.

Wyspa Spichrzów Island and the Szafarnia Street Area

Wyspa Spichrzów (Granary Island) and the neighborhood behind it, particularly around Szafarnia street, have become Gdańsk's up-and-coming accommodation hotspots. While this area has had everything from hostels to hotels for quite some time, it's only recently emerged as a major place to stay in the city.

You'll find plenty of places to rest your head here. Szafarnia street and its surroundings are home to several large, well-equipped hotels with all the bells and whistles. In terms of accommodation options, it's pretty similar to what you'd find in the Old Town.

Where you stay here makes a difference in how much walking you'll do. If you book a place on Wyspa Spichrzów island itself, you're just a stone's throw from Długi square. Getting from the airport takes a bit longer compared to the Old Town, though. If walking isn't your thing, Uber or a taxi will still get you around quickly in this part of town.

This is one of Gdańsk's most maritime districts, where you can watch ships come and go and really feel the city's connection to the sea.

If you're looking for a place to stay in the area, Dom Muzyka is definitely worth checking out.

Sopot

Sopot is a summer resort town just a quick 30-minute train ride from Gdańsk. It's a fantastic place to stay during the warmer months, especially if you're planning to visit central Gdańsk but want somewhere more laid-back to crash at night. You'll find everything from traditional hotels to Airbnb rentals.

The town's long sandy beach is a real draw if you love being by the sea and soaking up beach life. Prices are pretty reasonable for most of the year, except during peak season in July and August when they can skyrocket. If you're planning a midsummer trip, book early, seriously.

Staying close to the beach is always a smart move here. Just a heads up though, hotels along Monte Cassino Street can get pretty noisy on summer nights thanks to the buzzing nightlife scene, so maybe skip this area if you're a light sleeper.

Check out Sopot's hotel options on Hotels.com.

Gdynia

Gdynia is another great option for overnight stays, with plenty of hotels to choose from. Just keep in mind that the city is quite spread out, and the port area in particular has lots of unique spots worth exploring. If you're getting around without a car, make sure to pick your accommodation based on good transport connections.

The city is packed with activities and attractions that both kids and young people will love.

Check out Gdynia's hotel selection on Hotels.com.

Private Rentals and Apartments, A Great Alternative to Hotels

Booking an apartment through sites like Airbnb or Hotels.com is a fantastic choice if you want more space and that home-away-from-home feeling during your trip. Pretty much every apartment comes with a proper kitchen, and most also have a washing machine, some even throw in a balcony with a view if you're lucky.

Private apartment rentals have really taken off in recent years, and you'll find plenty of options scattered throughout the city. The Old Town apartments in Gdańsk are especially popular since you'll be right in the heart of things, close to all the main sights, restaurants, and pedestrian streets. The prices are competitive too, and you can pick a place that fits both your location preferences and your must-have amenities list.

Apartments can also be a lifesaver when hotels are fully booked during peak season or major events. Just make sure your apartment is near public transport, same rule as when booking a hotel. And definitely read through other guests' reviews carefully, they'll often tell you more than the photos ever could.

Hotel Tips

Here are some well-located and popular places to stay. Each one has been selected with care to reflect what they offer at the time of writing, whether that’s great value, comfort, or just a good vibe. Of course, as with anything in travel, things can change. A place might be refreshed with a renovation, or sometimes the charm just shifts over time. We advise you to learn more about the property and check the latest reviews and up-to-date details before you book, just to make sure everything still matches what you're looking for.