Gdansk Glowny, Poland

Gdańsk Main Railway Station sits in Śródmieście, the city center, between the historic Main Town and the former Gdańsk Shipyard, the company where the Solidarity movement was born in 1980 and where the city's maritime power grew. Today Gdansk combines one of the busiest container ports on the Baltic Sea with a fast-growing sector of IT, finance and business service centers serving clients across Europe. Because the station links the port city with Warsaw, the rest of Poland and the wider Tricity, it plays a central role in moving the workers, students and visitors this economy depends on.

Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport lies about 12 kilometers west of the city center. The Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway (PKM), opened in 2015, gives access to the airport by train from Gdańsk Główny, changing at Gdańsk Wrzeszcz if needed, and city bus 210 is another option, while a taxi typically takes 25–30 minutes. For the Old Town, walking is easiest, but trams also stop right outside: for example, tram lines 2, 3, 6, 9, 11 and 12 serve Gdańsk Główny.

Many of the city's top attractions are inside a 15-minute walk. Długi Targ, the Main Town Hall and Neptune's Fountain give a classic view of Gdańsk's maritime past, while St. Mary's Church, one of the largest brick churches in the world, and the medieval Crane on the Motława riverfront are only a few minutes further. The Old Town also hosts major events, such as St. Dominic's Fair every summer, one of the largest open-air trade and cultural events in Europe, and the European Solidarity Centre is about a 15-minute walk north.

Gdańsk extends north from the Main Town along the SKM line toward Sopot, with a string of lively neighborhoods along the way. Wrzeszcz, a few minutes away by train, is known for Galeria Bałtycka shopping center, cafés, student life and many of the city's newer office buildings. Oliwa, further north, is famous for its Gothic cathedral with a celebrated organ, the landscaped Oliwa Park and the zoo set in wooded hills.

The first railway line reached Gdansk in 1852, and construction of the present train station began in 1894, with the official opening on 30 October 1900. In 1945, the year the Second World War reached the city, the building was severely damaged and set on fire. It was rebuilt after the war, and in 1952 the SKM commuter railway opened alongside it, tying Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia into one metropolitan area.

Gdańsk lies on Poland's Baltic coast at the Bay of Gdańsk, near the mouth of the Vistula River, with the Motława flowing through the historic center. Its coat of arms, two white crosses beneath a golden crown on a red shield held by two lions, appears on buildings across the Main Town and reflects its centuries as a proud Hanseatic port. Gdańsk is the capital of the Pomeranian Voivodeship and, together with Sopot and Gdynia, forms the Tricity, a metropolitan area of around one million people; Sopot is about 20 minutes away by SKM and Gdynia about 35 minutes.

Gdansk Glowny is the city's main station and one of its architectural landmarks, often described as a twin of the station in Colmar, France, because of their similar design. The station underwent significant renovation starting in September 2019, and the work was completed on July 31, 2023, at a cost of about PLN 120 million, restoring the main hall and improving facilities for every user of the station. For travelers, the most relevant changes are the reopened 24-hour main hall, better accessibility and clearer signage.

Gdańsk Główny has 9 platforms, with long-distance and regional trains using separate platforms from the SKM commuter trains to Sopot and Gdynia. Departures and platform numbers are shown on information boards in the main hall, in the underground passages and on every platform. All platforms are reached through underground passages, one leading from the main hall and Podwale Grodzkie and another connecting the platforms with the bus station.

Gdańsk Main Railway Station sits in Śródmieście, the city center, between the historic Main Town and the former Gdańsk Shipyard, the company where the Solidarity movement was born in 1980 and where the city’s maritime power grew. Today Gdansk combines one of the busiest container ports on the Baltic Sea with a fast-growing sector of IT, finance and business service centers based in the city and serving clients across Europe. Because the station links the port city with Warsaw, the rest of Poland and the wider Tricity, it plays a central role in moving the workers, students and visitors this economy depends on.

Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport lies about 12 kilometers west of the city center. The Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway (PKM), opened in 2015, gives access to the airport by train from Gdańsk Główny, changing at Gdańsk Wrzeszcz if needed, and city bus 210 is another option, while a taxi typically takes 25–30 minutes. For the Old Town, walking is easiest, but trams also stop right outside the main entrance: for example, tram lines 2, 3, 6, 9, 11 and 12 serve Gdańsk Główny.

There is no airport-style security screening at Gdańsk Główny, though railway security guards patrol the station and platforms. Arriving 10–15 minutes early is usually enough for catching your train, giving you time to check the departure board and find your platform through the underground passages; allow a little longer at busy times or with heavy luggage.

Gdańsk Główny offers ramps for passengers with reduced mobility, elevators and escalators to the platforms, and accessible restrooms. These facilities ensure ease of access between the main hall, the underground passages and the trains, and station staff can help travelers who need assistance boarding.

Inside the station you’ll find free Wi-Fi, lockers for luggage, a Lost and Found Office and toilets, which charge a fee of PLN 2, and parking is available 24/7 with plenty of space for drop-offs and pick-ups. If you need help, turn to the ticket offices in the main hall. The content in this FAQ and on this site aims to add practical tips to the official timetables, so you can plan your journey through Gdańsk Główny with confidence.

You can buy long-distance tickets from PKP Intercity, the national rail company, online, at ticket machines and at the ticket offices in the main hall, while SKM and regional tickets are sold at platform machines and in mobile apps. Intercity tickets are issued in the passenger’s name, so carry a passport or ID card. When booking online, read the information relating to place how your personal data is processed: you can usually decline the use of your data for advertising purposes and keep only the consents needed to issue the ticket.

Step one is choosing your travel date: PKP Intercity tickets usually go on sale up to 30 days before departure, and summer weekends sell out fast, so it pays to book early. Once you pay, your ticket is saved in your account and sent by email, so review the train number, carriage and seat before you travel. You can share the ticket with fellow passengers or simply show it on your phone during the conductor’s check.