Hotels near St Mary's Church

The Basilica of St Mary is a Gothic hall church begun in 1379 and completed in 1502, and it is widely cited as the largest brick church in the world by volume. It fits an estimated 25,000 people, and the nave rises to 30 metres with slender octagonal pillars fanning out into star vaults. Inside look for the 14-metre astronomical clock built by Hans Duringer in 1470, the stone Piata sculpted around 1410, and the copy of Hans Memling's Last Judgment triptych (the original hangs in the National Museum a few streets away).

Climbing the tower is the single best thing you can do in Gdansk for orientation. The 405-step spiral leads to an open viewing gallery 78 metres up with a full 360-degree view over the terracotta roofs of Main Town, the shipyard cranes to the north, and the Motlawa curving south towards the Green Gate. There is no lift and the stairs get tight - allow 15 minutes each way.

Pro Tip: Aim for the tower right at opening (10:00 in summer, 11:00 in winter). Tickets are 20 PLN cash only at the small stand inside the south entrance, and the queue triples after 12:00 when the cruise groups arrive from Gdynia.