"A shade of what it once was" Gdansk by andrewyong

Gdansk has a long history (founded in 997 AD). Once a powerful port, who traded with the other powerful city-state (Venice), many tried to possess it or had possessed it (Prussia-it was once known by its Germanic name, Danzig) and it has undergone many turmoils, the last of which (WW2) left it in ruins. Then, the League of Nations governed it as a free-state before it was finally included in independent Poland.

It seems the place will be jammed-packed in the summer as together with the coastal cities of Sopot (spas) and Gdynia and nearby Hel Peninsula (there's a highway to Hel), this area of the Baltic has many beaches for sun-seekers and people would dine al-fresco.

You could also take ferries to Talinn or Stockholm from/to Gdansk.

• Pros:good in summer
• Cons:almost dead in winter