POLAND - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 453

The Gdańsk Standard Tourist Card (good for 24 or 72 hours), provides dis-
counts for over 240 attractions throughout the Tricity area, with free admission to
24 of these. The MAX Card provides for the same discount, plus free public trans-
portation in the city throughout the validation period. The cards are available at the
tourist office, and range from 58 zł for a 72-hour MAX pass to 20 zł for a 24-hour
Standard pass.
Located a 1-minute ferry ride across the Motława River from the old port of
Gdańsk, the Polish Maritime Museum is worth a visit. Its impressive collection in-
cludes the earliest port crane anywhere in Europe, originally built in 1444 as both a
lift for cargo and ship masts, and as a defensive gate for the city. The first ship built
post-World War II in Poland for a Polish owner, the S.S. Soldek is preserved as a
museum ship here, and there are numerous displays about the maritime history of
the region and the Polish people as a whole. Open 1000-1600 Tuesday-Sunday,
tickets are 12 zł and include the ferry ride. Visit www.cmm.pl .
Along the coast to the west of Gdańsk, toward the town of Sopot, are some of
the most famous beaches in northern Europe. While the water and air temperature
are never likely to compare with the Mediterranean, the water quality is excellent,
and the beach beautiful. If you travel in the summer months, expect to be surroun-
ded by thousands of Europeans from all over Germany and Poland spending their
summer vacation on the beach. If you decide to spend the night during high sea-
son, be sure to have reservations, as most hotels will be booked solid.
Given the relatively long travel time to Gdańsk, this could easily be a two-day
trip, overnighting in Gdańsk before returning to Warsaw. For an excellent overnight
experience, consider the Hotel Willa Litarion, located in the middle of old Gdańsk
and less than a mile from the train station. Prices start around 200 zł a night, which
includes breakfast; www.litarion.pl .
Gdańsk could also be your link to Scandinavia, as a ferry is available traveling
between Gdańsk and Nynäshamn, just south of Stockholm. The ferry leaves at
1800 from either Gdańsk or Nynäshamn, arriving at 1300 the next day in the op-
posite city.
Day Excursion to
Lublin
Gateway to the East
Depart from Warsaw Centralna