Around the 7th century in a place where currently Gdansk has been found were small settlements of fishermen villages. First mentioned in the records, in the year 999, as “urbs Gyddanzyc”, Gdansk has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a provincial capital and small trading port. Gdansk quickly began an upwards climb, only to be tied under the influence of the Teutonic Knights in 1308. By then, Gdansk already had a sizable middle class and resembled an Italian city state, rather than a German or Polish city.

Gdansk has a temperate climate with warm summers and cold winters that can be very severe. Rain is possible all year round. Summer is the best time to visit when temperatures range from 20°C (70°F) to 30°C (90°F). Winters are wet, very cold and grey.

The industrial sections of the city are dominated by shipbuilding, petrochemical and chemical industries, and food processing. The share of high-tech sectors such as electronics, telecommunications, IT engineering, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals is on the rise. The city has two main port areas. Nowy Port is a major industrial center for shipyards and other industry. The name means “New Port”, but Nowy Port is actually older than Port Polnocny, or North Port.

Gdansk's Airport is one of the few places in the world which is named after a living person: Lech Walesa. The airport is situated about 10 km west of the city centre. The Main Train Station of Gdansk (Gdansk Glowny) is located just a stone's throw away from the Old Town. Trains leave to Malbork, Torun, Poznan, Warsaw, Krakow or Gdynia from where you can catch trains to the Hel peninsula. Next to the main train station the commuter train station can be found. The public transportation of Gdansk consists of trams and buses, that runs from the City Center to every districts in Gdansk. Fares depend on the duration of the trip.

The Main Town is one of three old districts of Gdansk, close to the Old Town and the Old Suburb. The most precious monuments of the Main Town are situated along the Royal Way which is Dluga Street and Dlugi Targ. Gdansk also has plenty of museums, theatres, a concert hall and an opera house for experiencing the arts.

The National Museum in Gdansk is the only museum of the national status in the Pomeranian province. In addition, it ranks among the oldest museums in Poland. A rich collection of the Early Art Section is presented in the Main NMG building, its most famous display is the "Last Judgement" triptych by Hans Memling, a 15th century Dutch painter.

The Town Hall with beautiful slender tower is another recognisable silhouette on the skyline of Gdansk. Originally begun in the mid-14th century, on the site of an earlier building, the present Town Hall was remodelled after a fire in 1556. Like much of the old town the Town Hall suffered a great amount of damage during the Second World War and was subsequently rebuilt. Inside the Town Hall the Red Room is a highlight, used as a main council chamber during the summer months it is so highly decorated that there is almost too much detail to take in. An ornately carved fireplace stands against the rich red walls which are themselves ornamented by paintings. The ceiling, too, is covered with further pictures, and carved decoration, including, the central oval painting entitled "The Glorification of the Unity of Gdansk" by the Dutch artist Isaac van den Block.

Festivals and events play a huge part in Gdansk tourism as many visitors come to the area just for the sheer enjoyment of the activities. The Heineken Opener Festival is one of the most popular Gdansk attractions. This festival is one of the foremost music festivals in all of Europe with headliners.

One of the oldest and possibly the most impressive Gdansk attraction is the St. Dominic’s Fair. The fair began in 1260 with the granting for the Dominican monks to hold a fair in Gdansk by Pope Alexander IV. Today, you will be able to enjoy all the excitement from concerts to amber craftsmen, from games to parades, and more.