Old Town Motława River Eco Cruise Gdansk

The Motława River and the Long Embankment

The Motława is the river that made Gdańsk rich. For centuries ships from across the Baltic moored along its banks to load grain, timber and amber, and the riverside quay of the Main Town, the Long Embankment, was the city’s busiest street. Today it is lined with tall, narrow merchant houses with colourful gabled facades, rebuilt after the destruction of 1945.

Seeing them from a small boat is one of the best ways to understand the shape of the old port. A boat tour in Gdańsk on the Motława also gives you a quiet break from the crowds on the quay, and the low position on the water makes the facades and towers look even taller. The audio guide explains the city’s history as a Hanseatic trading port.

The Crane and the water gates of the Old Town

The most famous sight on the river is the Crane, a massive brick gate topped by a wooden structure that was once the largest port crane in medieval Europe. Built in the 15th century, it was powered by men walking inside huge treadwheels, lifting cargo and setting masts on ships. Today it belongs to the National Maritime Museum and is the symbol of Gdańsk.

Along the embankment you also pass the city’s water gates, each opening from a street of the Main Town onto the river: St. Mary’s Gate, at the end of the street leading to St. Mary’s Church, Straganiarska Gate, St. John’s Gate and the Holy Spirit Gate. From the water you see how the gates once controlled access between the port and the town.

Granary Island and the Sołdek ship museum

Across the river lies Granary Island, where hundreds of brick granaries once stored the grain that made Gdańsk one of Europe’s richest ports. Most were destroyed in the Second World War, and the island has been reborn with new buildings that echo the old granary shapes, alongside the surviving historic ruins.

Moored by the island of Ołowianka, opposite the Crane, is the Sołdek, the first sea-going ship built in Poland after the war, launched in 1948 and now a museum ship you can visit. Your cruise passes close by, giving a good view of its black hull and white superstructure. The museum buildings on Ołowianka are part of the same maritime museum as the Crane.

The Museum of the Second World War and the shipyards

Further downstream the scenery changes from medieval to modern. The Museum of the Second World War, opened in 2017, rises from the riverbank as a striking leaning tower, and its large exhibition lies mostly underground. It is one of the most visited museums in Poland and a good next stop if you want to learn more about the city’s wartime history.

Beyond it lie the historic shipyards. The Imperial Shipyard was founded in the 19th century, and the Gdańsk Shipyard, with its tall cranes, became famous worldwide in 1980 when strikes there gave birth to the Solidarity movement. Seen from the water, the old cranes and docks show the industrial side of Gdańsk that many visitors miss.

The Green Gate, the marina and practical tips

The cruise begins and ends near the Green Bridge, beside the Green Gate, a grand 16th-century gateway built as a residence for visiting kings and the eastern end of the Royal Route through the Main Town. The modern marina nearby, with its yachts and small boats, shows the lively face of today’s riverside.

Departures run every hour from 11:05 to 15:05, so the cruise is easy to fit into a day of sightseeing. It is a good choice for a first visit to Gdańsk, or for a break between museums. The best time to visit Gdańsk for a river cruise is from May to September, but cushions and blankets keep you comfortable on cooler days.