Gdańsk Shipyard Walking Tour: The Birthplace of Solidarity
Historical tour of the Gdańsk Shipyard and its role in Solidarity and the fall of communism; we start at Plac Solidarności and move into the yards to trace the city’s industrial past and post‑1989 transformation – Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers of 1970, the shipyard grounds and cranes.
Basic Information
Total time
1h 45m
Language
English, Polish (check the calendar for availability)
Price
„Pay what you wish” tours do not have a fixed price. It is up to you to evaluate your guide’s work and reward it. Some people give 10€, others 50€ depending on their satisfaction and abilities.
Meeting point
Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers of 1970, Solidarity Square Nearest public transport: Plac Solidarności 02 tram stop; Plac Solidarności 01 tram stop
Additional info
☂︎ This tour is organised by Walkative Gdańsk guides. Look for the guide with the yellow umbrella.
♿️ Tour not suitable for people with reduced mobility or strollers
❗Our tours run no matter the weather. High or low temperatures, rain or snow is not a reason for us to cancel our tours. We are always here for you. The only reason for cancellations are extreme weather conditions (like heavy storms…), guide's sudden sickness or no minimum number of people (5) to run the tour, but we will always let you know using the data you provided during registration for the tour.Booking rules
Booking is obligatory. Our pay as you wish tours are designed for individual travellers and small groups. We don’t accept parties of more than 7 people on them. If you travel in a party of 8 or more (school groups, bigger groups of friends etc.), please choose a paid option of 18€ per person or book a Private Tour. For more information on the latter, please contact us.
About the tour
The Gdańsk Shipyard is a must-see for visitors to Gdańsk, so we invite you to our Walkative! tour to uncover with us the Shipyard of change.
For many, the Gdańsk Shipyard is the cradle of “Solidarity” and a symbol of the fall of communism in Europe. For fans of industrial buildings, it is a magical space where the industrial architecture of the late 19th century meets the early 20th century, where relics of communism intertwine with modern 21st century architecture.
The Gdańsk Shipyard is a place where imperialism changed into capitalism, where the industrial goals of Nazism changed into the industrial goals of socialism, where communism with the entire Iron Curtain changed into freedom, where the brutal hand of the free market changed the industrial space into a place of entrepreneurship, culture and entertainment.
We will start our tour at Plac Solidarności (next to Pomnik Poległych Stoczniowców 1970 Monument), from where we will take a journey through the dark years of communism, arriving at the Shipyard, where a lot happened and is still happening.
Come to the Gdańsk Shipyard Ucovered Tour by Walkative!
Highlights
- 1
Centuries of Change
Hear how the shipyard transformed under imperialism, Nazism, socialism, and modern capitalism.
- 2
Fall of Communism
Discover the shipyard's role as a symbol of the collapse of the Iron Curtain in Europe.
- 3
Fallen Shipyard Workers Monument
See the powerful monument at Solidarity Square commemorating victims of the 1970 worker protests.
- 4
Industrial Architecture
Admire a unique mix of 19th-century industrial buildings, communist relics, and 21st-century structures.
- 5
Shipyard's Modern Life
Explore how the area has transformed into a vibrant hub of culture, art, and entertainment.
- 6
Communist-era History
Journey through the "dark years of communism" and learn about the industrial goals of socialism.
7Solidarity Movement
Learn about the birthplace of the trade union that played a key role in ending communism.
Map
Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers of 1970, Solidarity Square Nearest public transport: Plac Solidarności 02 tram stop; Plac Solidarności 01 tram stop
