Gdańsk Centre Kayak Tours: My experience. Are they worth it?
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Seeing cities from the river perspective is always a good idea, and boat tours are recommended in many of them. But have you ever visited the city from the kayak?
In Gdańsk it’s possible, and it’s an interesting and refreshing form of a visit.
I’m a local, yet somehow it took me years to see the city from the river-kayak perspective. Finally, I did this tour last summer, and I absolutely loved it.
You will find the Gdańsk kayak tour description in this blog post.
What to expect from the tour
It took me quite some time to participate in the tour, and I just regret I did it so late. The perspective and the views of the city centre from the kayak are stunning. And it’s different than when you are on the boat and definitely very different from walking and visiting.
On the river, you also avoid summer crowds. I did the tour in August, during St Dominic’s Fair, which is one of the best known and busiest events in Gdańsk, so crowds were just big. But when being in a kayak, I felt somehow like I had this part of Gdańsk only for me. It was a fascinating experience.
You go on the river in the Old Town, passing the most important landmarks like Ołowianka Island (and the Philharmonic building) and the Crane from the 15th century, one of the most characteristic Gdańsk monuments. You pass under the drawbridge and just next to the Sołdek ship, which you can even give a high five to. Then you go via the less busy canal, looking at the new residential area.
The moment on the tour I liked the most was when, from the calm start, we entered the busy part of the city where the drawbridge and Ołowianka are (it’s where the sign ‘Gdańsk’ is located). It was a very ‘wow’ moment for me. The second moment for me was the finish.
The start and finish of the trip are at the shipyard. Especially when you enter back on the kayak, it makes a spectacular impression.
You can book a sunset tour, which means you are back to the shipyard exactly at the sunset time. The view of the shipyard with cranes in sunset colours is amazing.
For us, the sunset on the day wasn’t spectacular, but fortunately there were some orange lights shining through the clouds, and it was already enough.
Types of tours
Sunset tours are available from May to mid-September, so I recommend this tour if you are visiting Gdańsk during spring and summer. There are also day tours during this time.
During autumn and winter day tours are organised during which you get a special waterproof suit.
During the tour, guides tell engaging stories about the city. There are breaks during which they talk about Gdańsk history and places you pass.
Kayak and kayaking skills
From what I read, there are many participants who don’t know kayaking, and it’s their first time. It’s quite a beginner-friendly trip; at the start you get the training on how to enter the kayak, sit, paddle, etc.
I did some kayaking before, but it was a long time ago, so I treated myself like a beginner. I was a bit stressed about whether I would manage, but actually it felt easier than I thought. After the first stressful minutes, I relaxed and enjoyed it.
Although I have to admit I was quite tired after the tour, it really depends on your shape. The tempo of the tour is rather relaxing, and there are breaks, and it takes around 2 hours of calm paddling.
I was on the kayak with my partner, and we had 2 people kayak. There are 1- and 2-person kayaks to use. You get all the equipment.
Practical info
Meeting point
The start (and finish) point is next to the shipyard.
It’s within walking distance from the Old Town. On the way, you will pass Montownia Foodhall, a nice place for a meal with a big choice of types of food.
And after the trip you can also visit places in the shipyard (Stocznia Cesarska) like Plenum Café or 100nia, or just wander around. It’s anyway one of the must-visit places in Gdańsk.
Preparation for the tour
Before booking, check the requirements regarding the height and weight.
During the spring and summer months, just dress comfortably and according to the weather. Remember that we are at the seaside, and it can get chilly and windy in the evening.
For the winter trip, read exactly the advice from the organiser, and dress in layers, thermal underwear and woollen socks.
I also took the bottle of water and clothes for a change, which were useful, as we got a bit wet (although not a lot, as we also got spray skirts).
Language and weather
When I was on the tour, I was the only Polish person; the rest were foreigners, and the tour took place fully in English.
I think tours take place regardless of the weather, so if you are booking the tour at the last moment, you can try adjusting it to the forecast.
Renting a kayak
If you are very experienced with kayaks, you can also rent one, for example here, and do similar kayaking individually. You can also rent other water equipment like water bikes. But to be honest, I think it’s only for very experienced people. In the season, on the river in the centre, there are many boats, also bigger ones, so you have to be very careful. If you go with guides, they know the river and other boats well; you can also enter close to the shipyard and listen to the stories.
The company that organises the tours is known and official; they are also the partner of the Gdańsk Tourist Card, so you can be sure all is well-organised. The opinions of tours, which you can read online, are also very good.
I know Gdańsk well, but even for me, this trip was an unforgettable experience. I really recommend it for tourists visiting the city. It’s ‘something different’ than usual when visiting cities, and Gdańsk from this perspective is impressive.
