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2 Table of contents Table of contents: 1 The TriCity Why study in Gdańsk? Welcome to Gdańsk Worth visiting Free Time Where to eat? Most popular events Public Transport Getting to Gdańsk Accommodations Insurance Prepaid phones Stores If you are looking for a free and safe wireless network you should use GD@NSKwifi. This network is provided by Gdańsk City Hall and has more than 70 free hotspots in various parts of Gdańsk. For more information about accessibility and rules of use go to: Moving to a new country to study can be both exciting and frightening. We are here to help you. The International Student Guide is designed to help new students to learn about Gdańsk. Everyday life in Poland may be different from what you are accustomed to. The aim of this guide is to provide information and tools for international students to make your fi rst day in a new country easier. Over the next 30 pages, you will fi nd some of the most important information about your new home - Gdańsk. Gdańsk is on : Twitter Forsquare Facebook Pinterest Instagram (InGdansk) (ingdansk) (Miasto Gdansk) (Gdansk) (Gdansk_Official) News and events, tourist attractions, historical monuments, accommodations, food establishments, shopping and cultural events are available at and International Student Guide 2

3 The TriCity The TriCity The TriCity (Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia) is an urban area consisting of three diff erent cities brought together by their unique location on the coast of Gdańsk Bay (Zatoka Gdańska). Gdańsk With over a thousand years of history, you can enjoy a great wealth of amazing buildings and monuments that are mostly concentrated in the historic part of the city. Gdańsk has witnessed events that have changed the world. Sopot is Poland s most famous and exclusive tourist health resort and spa. The city never sleeps, lying between the beautiful forest of the TriCity Landscape Park and the sea. Gdynia is the one of Poland s youngest cities; it is famous for its great international Opener Music Festival. 3

4 Why study in Gdańsk? Why study in Gdańsk? Gdańsk, with a population close to half a million, is Poland s maritime capital. It is a large centre of economic life, science and culture, and a popular tourist destination. Lying on the Bay of Gdańsk and the southern coast of the Baltic Sea the city is a thousand years old. With its Hanseatic tradition, it has for ages played a major role in the commercial relationships between Europe s North and West, and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Here you will nd some of the best universities in Poland o ering unique and future-oriented specialisations that are particularly related to the economic characteristics of the region. Apart from Gdańsk s great historic and cultural traditions, the energy of this place constantly allows you to draw satisfaction from life in an exceptional and inspiring environment. All this makes Gdańsk an ideal destination for international students who would like not only to get a degree, but also explore the countries of the European continent. Academy of Fine Arts: Targ Węglowy 6, phone: (48) Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management Miszewskiego St. 12/13, phone: (48) Academy of Physical Education and Sport Kazimierza Górskiego St. 1, phone: (48) Ateneum University 3 Maja St. 25A, phone: (48) Gdańsk School of Banking Dolna Brama St. 8, phone: (48) Gdańsk University of Technology Gabriela Narutowicza st. 11/12, phone: (48) Medical University of Gdańsk: Skłodowskiej-Curie St. 3a, phone: (48) Polish-Japanese Institute of Information Technology: Brzegi St. 55, phone: (48) University of Gdańsk: Bażyńskiego St. 1A, phone: (48) International Student Guide 4

5 Welcome to Gdańsk Gdańsk is a port city by the Baltic Sea, at the crossroads of important commercial and communication routes. It is the capital of the region of Pomerania, a culture centre and the leader in science and business in the region. Gdańsk is one of Poland s oldest cities, and over its thousand years of existence the city has witnessed events which have changed the course of world history. Here, on September 1, 1939, World War II began on Westerplatte peninsula, changing the whole world; Gdańsk was also the place that initiated the fall of communism in Central Europe. Contemporary Gdańsk is a half-amillion, dynamically developing metropolis with picturesque cycling and walking paths, kilometres of beaches, and many ways to have fun. In 2012, the city hosted four matches during the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship tournament. Most of Gdańsk s tourist attractions are located near the heart of its Main Town District, around Długa Street and the River Motława. You can also visit the nearby shipyard with its post-industrial and Solidarity-related monuments. Gdańsk s tourist season is at its height in June, July, and August. Today, Gdańsk is one of the main cities in Poland, signfi cantly growing and remembering it past. Gdańsk is a city where you feel history, but you can see more than just historical monuments. Here is a list of Gdańsk s greatest hits: PGE ARENA Gdańsk PGE ARENA is a stadium in Gdańsk, the home arena of the Lechia Gdańsk football club. The stadium was opened on July 19, It was built specifi cally for the European Football Championship (which was held in 2012 in Poland and Ukraine). The stadium has a capacity of 42,105 seats. The Baltic metropolis was the only Host City of UEFA EURO 2012 located by the seaside. 5

6 Welcome to Gdańsk city economic role. The medieval Crane, which is the oldest harbour crane in Europe, is a reminder of that time. Now it is a promenade with numerous restaurants where you can eat and drink with a view of the marina and the ships sailing on the River Motława. The Royal Route The name given to Długa Street and its extension: Długi Targ (Long Market). From the year 1457, the ceremonial entries of Polish monarchs took place here. Both streets are among the most beautiful in Gdańsk. Here the wealthiest townspeople lived. Długi Targ has what are among the city s most important structures Artus Court, the Main Town Hall and the Fountain of Neptune, one of the icons of Gdańsk. The Crane The biggest Medieval harbour crane in Europe. The oldest documented mention of the Żuraw as a wooden harbour crane comes from It was able to lift almost of 5 tons of goods and help put up ship masts. It was used to unload ships and also served as a tower and a city gate. Today, the Crane is a Gdańsk icon and home to a branch of the Maritime Museum. The Crane is open to visitors during the summer months. You can come and see this surprising piece of medieval construction and various exhibits detailing the interesting history of the entire port of Gdańsk. Long Riverfront The Long Riverfront (Długie Pobrzeże) stretches along the River Motława. In the past it played an important St. Mary s Church The largest brick church in the world. Its construction, which began in 1343, took over 150 years. After reconstruction from damage sustained during World War II, St Mary s again captivates visitors with its size. You can see a breathtaking panorama of Gdańsk from its tower. International Student Guide 6

7 Welcome to Gdańsk city Mariacka Street One of the most stylish streets in Gdańsk. It connects St. Mary s Church with the Long Riverfront. It charms visitors with its beauty, the spirit of the historic city and its houses with richly decorated entrances. Here you can buy beautiful amber products. Gdańsk s city gates The most famous of them are those which stand along the Royal Route. First, it is worth visiting the sixteenth century Upland Gate, which was part of the city s fortifications. The Golden Gate, a masterpiece of Gdańsk art from its golden age, opens the entrance to Długa Street and Długi Targ (the Long Market). The Royal Route closes with the Green Gate, which was the residence of kings coming to Gdańsk. The Amber Museum Museum is situated in the Fore-gate Complex of Długa Street. Here you can see unique amber artefacts, but also amber inclusions: organisms embedded in resin millions of years ago. The most recent specimen in the Amber Museum s natural history collection is the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers The Monument stands on the square near the former Lenin Shipyard. It was made in 1980 by the shipyard workers. This took place a few months after the famous strike of 1980 and the creation of the Solidarity trade union. The monument commemorates the workers who were shot during the strikes and demonstrations in December second world known inclusion of a Solifugae arachnid. Even more impressive is the lizard inclusion which the museum also has in its collection. Former shipyard area The former shipyard area once belonged to the Gdańsk Shipyard, now many new projects are created 7

8 Welcome to Gdańsk city here, including artistic projects. It will become the new Gdańsk centre - The Young City, where modernity joins together with history to fight for freedom. Currently on its terrain the European Solidarity Centre is being built. Roads to Freedom Exhibition The Roads to Freedom is a unique exhibition which tells the difficult history of Poland before 1989 and the fates of people who fought for liberty. It shows a fascinating fragment of Gdańsk and Polish history. The multi-media exhibition is located near the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers at 21 Wały Piastowskie Street. Hevelianum Centre The Hevelianum is a unique scientific centre located in the former Napoleonic and Prussian fortifications in the vicinity of the Main Railway Station. This is the best place for taking photos of the Gdańsk cityscape and for a close encounter with modern science and technology. Brzeźno Pier One of Gdańsk s favourite places to go for a walk. Beautiful sandy beaches stretch throughout Brzeźno and when tourists become tired of the sun they can rest in the shade of trees in nearby Reagan Park which is separated from the beach by dunes and a cycling path which leads to Sopot. Oliwa One of Gdańsk s oldest districts. Among its attractions is Oliwa Park, built in the eighteenth century in the gardens which used to belong to the abbey here and where you can see plant specimens brought from almost all over the world. Next to the park rises the Oliwa Cathedral - the longest church in Poland and one of the longest churches in the world. The main nave is 107 m in length (97.6 m inside). The facade and its spires rise to a height of 46 m. Inside you can admire the famous Oliwa Organ from the 18th century. Wisłoujście Fortress For centuries Wisłoujście Fortress has guarded Gdańsk against attacks from the sea. Its beginnings go back to the 13th century. It successfully defended the city against the invasion fleet of King Stephen Bathory in the year The fortress has replicas of forty cannons that were used in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and is a stage for historical re-enactments. Nowy Port Lighthouse One of the Baltic Sea s most beautiful lighthouses measures 27 meters in height and was put into service in the year Located at the top is a very unusual instrument a time ball. The rise and drop each afternoon allowed ship captains to precisely adjust their chronometers. In 2008 the famous 19th century time ball was restored and today shows the time at 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00 with an accuracy of 1 second per 200,000 years! The Last Judgment The famous painting by Hans Memling is the most valuable exhibit at the National Museum in Gdańsk. The triptych was created between 1467 and It is impressive with its dimensions as well as its technical perfection, the beauty of the vision and the rich, mysterious symbolism. You can admire the masterpiece in the museum s Department of Historical Art. International Student Guide 8

9 Worth visiting Worth visiting The Gdańsk History Museum The Main Town Hall, Długa St , The Wisłoujście Fortress, Stara Twierdza St. 1 The Amber Museum Fore Gate Complex of Długa Street, Targ Węglowy 26, The Artus Court, Długi Targ 43-45, The Uphagen House, Długa St. 12, The Tower Clock Museum (tower of St. Catherine s Church), Wielkie Młyny St. 16, The Polish Post Museum, Obrońców Poczty Polskiej St. 1-2, Westerplatte, Mjr. H. Sucharskiego St. The National Museum Department of Historical Art - Toruńska St. 1, Department of Modern Art - Abbot s Palace, Cystersów St. 18, Department of Ethnography - Abbot s Granary, Cystersów St. 19, 9

10 Worth visiting Polish Maritime Museum Old Granaries, Ołowianka St. 9-13, The Crane, Szeroka St , Maritime Culture Centre, Tokarska St , Archaeological Museum Mariacka St. 25/26, Manhattan Library Al. Grunwaldzka 82, The Blue Lion Granary Chmielna St. 53, The Roads to Freedom Exhibition The basement of the National Commission of Solidarity Wały Piastowskie St. 24, Ergo Arena - events, concerts Plac Dwóch Miast 1 International Student Guide 10

11 Free Time Free Time POPULAR STUDENT CLUBS Autsajder Do Studzienki St. 34, Miasto Aniołów Chmielna St. 26, Club ŻAK Al. Grunwaldzka 195/197, Parlament Club Świętego Ducha St. 2, Dobry wieczór Music club Słowackiego St. 4, Kwadratowa Student s Club Siedlicka St. 4, VClub Jaśkowa Dolina St. 14, Xkwadrat Polanki St. 66, 11

12 Free Time Ygrek Polanki St. 65, MEDYK Student s club Dębowa St. 7, B90 Club (area of the former Gdańsk Shipyard) Doki St. 1, (area of the former Gdańsk Shipyard) Doki St. 1, Bunkier Club & Gallery Olejarnia St. 3, BOWLING Centrum U7 Plac Dominikański 7, phone: (48) MK Bowling Al. Grunwaldzka 82, phone: (48) Bowl Club Kartuska St. 361A, phone: (48) Soprano Al. Rzeczypospolitej 3, phone: (48) SKATE PARKS AND RINKS PGE ARENA Skating Track Pokoleń Lechii Gdańsk St. 1, near PGE Arena Gdańsk El-Wrot Wrotkowisko Dąbrowszczaków St. 20, 2nd floor ERGO Arena Skate Park Dwóch Miast 1. GYM/FITNESS Tiger Gym Al. Grunwaldzka 82, Gymnasion Rajska St. 10, Fit Zone Fitness Academy Gospody St. 3B, Akademos Kazimierza Górskiego St. 1, Kolaseum Premium Life Al. Grunwaldzka 141, Calypso Fitness Club International Student Guide 12

13 Free Time in Galeria Przymorze, 1st floor Obrońców Wybrzeża St. 1, GO-KARTS: IndoorKarting Al. Zwycięstwa 14, near Multikino Pit Stop - Gdańsk Pokoleń Lechii Gdańsk St. 1, near PGE Arena Gdańsk CINEMAS Krewetka Karmelicka St. 1, East Pictures Cinema 6D Obrońców Wybrzeża St. 1, Funmotion 5D Rajska St. 10, Helios Kołobrzeska St. 41C, Multikino Al. Zwycięstwa 14, Żak Al. Grunwaldzka , CULTURE AND ART The Baltic Opera in Gdańsk Al. Zwycięstwa 15, Plama Pilotów St. 11, The Polish Baltic Philharmonic Ołowianka St. 1, Wybrzeze Theatre Targ Węglowy 2, 13

14 Free Time/ Where to eat? The Miniature Municipal Puppet Theatre Al. Grunwaldzka 16, The Forest Theatre Jaśkowa Dolina St. 45, The Baltic Sea Culture Centre in Gdańsk Old Town Hall, Korzenna St , ŁAŹNIA Centre of Contemporary Art Jaskółcza St. 1, Gdańsk City Gallery Piwna St , Powroźnicza St , Günter Grass Gallery in Gdańsk Szeroka St , 36, 37, Grobla I St. 1-2, WYSPA Institute of Art Doki St B.Where to eat? For typical Polish food at low prices try Milk Bars: Bar Akademicki Al. Grunwaldzka 35, Mon.-Fri.: 9:00-18:30 Sat.: 9:00 17:00 Bar Mleczny Turystyczny Szeroka St. 8/10, Mon.-Fri.: 7:30-18:00 Sat.-Sun.: 9:00 16:00 Bar Kalinka Do Studzienki St. 23, Mon.-Fri.: 10:00-18:00 Sat.-Sun.: 11:00 17:00 Kmar Pomorska St. 84, 24 hours / 7days Bar Mleczny Przy Rynku Jagiellońska St. 2, Mon.-Sun.: 6:00-22:00 International Student Guide 14

15 Most popular events Neptun Długa St , Mon.-Fri.: 7:00-18:00 Sat.-Sun.: 9:00 18:00 Syrena Al. Grunwaldzka 71-73, Mon.-Fri.: 7:30-19:00 Sat.-Sun.: 9:30 17:00 Bar Perełka Konstantego Ildefonsa Gałczyńskiego St. 2, Mon.-Fri.: 9:00-18:00 Sat.-Sun.: 9:00 16:00 Bar Sokół Piastowska St. 97, Mon.-Sun.: 9:00-21:00 Most popular events New Music Days - January A festival of contemporary music which bridges the gap between the repertoire played in typical rock and jazz clubs and the music present in the concert halls. Half Price Weekend - April The beginning of the tourist season in Gdańsk features a weekend full of activities at lower prices! The Taste Gdańsk Over the Weekend for Half Price campaign are two days when restaurants, cultural institutions, accommodation and other services are all at half price. Streetwaves - May Streetwaves is an urban project that takes artistic activities out of clubs and galleries into the open space of Gdańsk neighbourhoods. Streetwaves includes many different workshops with music, dance and social initiatives prepared by professional organisers for different age groups and at different levels. Juwenalia May/June Juwenalia is an annual university students festival in Poland, usually celebrated by all the country s universities before the summer exams. 15

16 Most popular events FETA International Festival of Street and Open-air Theatres - July The FETA festival is a unique event showing Gdańsk in a different light - the city will become a natural set design for open-air performances from throughout the world. The River Motława will provide the scenery for productions by theatres from Denmark, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Russia and Germany. Painting - Monumental Art - July Gdańsk is referred to as the Polish capital of murals. These enormous wall paintings can already be seen on the pillars of Kliniczna Junction, in a tunnel at the Wrzeszcz railway station, on the walls of building on Biskupia Górka and the blocks of flats in Zaspa. Baltic Sail - July This colourful sailing event attracts more and more tourists and TriCity residents each year. The organisers provide attractions both for sailors and for those who prefer to remain on land, including the Sea Shanty Festival. Gdańsk Dźwiga Muzę Festival July/ August The Gdańsk Cranes Up the Music Festival is a two-day celebration of music and dance. The event is held at Plac Zebrań Ludowych in Gdańsk. The Solidarity of Arts Festival - August Gdańsk is the perfect place for promoting the solidarity of arts. No other city is so associated with freedom freedom which was achieved with joint effort. The Festival shows Gdańsk as a modern, tolerant and open place, respectful of freedom. Freedom of speech, freedom of the artists, numerous concerts, exhibitions, cinema screenings, performances and multimedia projects are all part of the Solidarity of Arts Festival. International Shakespeare Festival August The Shakespeare Festival is an initiative of the Shakespeare Theatre in Gdańsk. The participants are theatres from different parts of the world, presenting their interpretations of the works of the famous playwright. International Student Guide 16

17 Most popular events St. Dominic s Fair - August St. Dominic s Fair is certainly one of the most recognisable cultural-trade events in this part of Europe. Every year, the 3-week festival is held in Gdańsk with a lots of concerts, theatre and outdoor performances. The tradition of St. Dominic s Fair goes back to the 13th century. There are colourful works of artists and amber jewellery for sale. St. Dominic s Fair is much more than just shopping. Every year it has a rich cultural offer. There are concerts, exhibitions and colourful parades. Mozartiana International Mozart Festival - August During the festival, concerts are held in the unique scenery of the beautiful Oliwa Park. You can listen to Mozart s music in its classic version as well as in many interesting arrangements such as jazz and folk. The picturesque surroundings and amazing atmosphere will appeal even to those who have little idea about the music of Mozart. Soundrive Festival - August This year s edition of the Soundrive Fest has moved to Gdańsk and will be held in a new music venue the B90 club. During this year s edition, some 30 bands from Poland and abroad are going to perform on three stages over three days. Soundrive creates an alternative music scene contrary to the commercial music industry. All About Freedom Festival - October The All About Freedom Festival has three sections - Film, Theatre and Music and stirs up open discussion about the different dimensions and boundaries of freedom. The common element here is the notion of freedom. The All About Freedom Festival will conclude with the Music my Freedom concert. The Narracje Festival - November Narracje is a festival of contemporary art and design held in public spaces. The idea behind Narracje is to invite Polish and international artists and designers and introduce them to the urban fabric of Gdańsk so they can present their work in the scenery of its cityscape. Gdańsk Biega - November Gdańsk Biega is an annual run for fun event hosted by Gdańsk. Last year the event attracted more than 4,000 participants. Jazz Jantar - November The Jazz Jantar Festival was first organised in It is the oldest jazz festival in the Pomerania region featuring jazz musicians from Poland and abroad. SpaceFest - December SpaceFest aims to break away from the classic festival formula and enhances their project through partnerships with foreign musicians, joint workshops, the promotion of young bands, artistic happenings, releasing CDs with music made during the festival and the enthusiastic integration of SpaceFest! musicians and participants. Actus Humanus Festival - December The Festival s carefully crafted repertory and select cast of undisputed authorities among early music performers have already helped to put the city of Gdańsk prominently on the map of events devoted to this period in music. It is an ambition of Actus Humanus to join the Europe s elite festivals of Renaissance and Baroque music. 17

18 Public Transport Public Transport In the area of Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia there are several kinds of public transport: fast trains, buses, trams and trolleybuses managed by three operators. Each operator has its own kind of tickets. In this part of the guide SKM Fast Urban Railway This train runs between Tczew and Słupsk, but mostly you will need only the part between Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia. You can buy tickets from special ticket offices, which are generally located in front of the entrances to platforms, or from ticket machines. Once you have bought your ticket, you have to validate it BEFORE GETTING ON YOUR TRAIN! Special ticket validating machines are placed next to the entrance to the platforms. It is impossible to validate your ticket on the train! You don t need to validate tickets bought from ticket machines. In these machines you can choose the screen language available to buy a ticket. There are two options Polish and English. At night the ticket offices are closed. You can buy a ticket at night either from the ticket machines or on your train in the first carriage from the head of the train. SKM (Fast Urban Rail) trains offer a student s discount* of 51 %. The most important stops: Gdańsk Główny (Main Railway Station) get off here to get to the Main Town, Academy of Fine Arts, Ateneum University, Gdańsk School of Banking Gdańsk Stocznia get off here to get to Gdańsk Medical University Gdańsk Politechnika - get off here to get to Gdańsk University of Technology, Multikino and the Baltic Opera Gdańsk Wrzeszcz get off here to get to the Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management Gdańsk Przymorze - Uniwersytet (near the main campus of University of Gdańsk) get off here to get to the Faculties of Biology, History, Social Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Law and Administration, Geography. Gdańsk Żabianka get off there to get to the Academy of Physical Education and Sport Sopot - (centre, near the University of Gdańsk s Sopot Campus) get off here to get to the Faculty of Economics and Management In the ticket offices you can buy monthly passes. ZTM Public Transport Authority in Gdańsk ZTM s distinctive red buses and trams run in Gdańsk and Sopot. You can buy tickets from kiosks or directly from bus and tram drivers. Students have a 50% discount*. You have to validate your ticket immediately after getting on the bus or tram. There are two kinds of tickets for a particular period of time and single-ride ticket. A one-hour ticket is valid for the 60 minutes after validating it. A one-day ticket is valid for 24 hours after validating it. During this time you can change buses and trams as often as you want. You cannot validate your ticket again. A single-ride ticket is valid only for a single journey in one bus or tram. At night there are special night tickets which you can buy from the bus or tram driver - or you can use your one-day ticket or monthly pass. You can buy monthly passes in special ZTM ticket offices. You can find where they are on their website. You should remember that if you want to have a monthly pass for both Gdańsk and Sopot buses, you should ask for a special monthly pass. The numbers of the regular trams are from 2 to 12, and buses have three figures, e.g. 149 or 254. Night lines have the letter N and a number e.g. N2 or N11. International Student Guide 18

19 Public Transport Ticket Price for students * Ticket Price for students * Single for normal lines 1.50 pln Single for normal lines 1.50 pln Single for night lines 2.00 pln Single for night lines 2.00 pln One hour ticket for normal bus/tram 1.80 pln One for ticket for normal lines 1.80 pln One hour ticket for night lines 2.30 pln One hour ticket for night lines 2.30 pln One day ticket for night and normal lines 6.00 pln One day ticket for night and normal lines 6.00 pln ZKM Public Transport in Gdynia & Sopot Gdynia and Sopot have blue buses. You can buy a ticket from kiosks in Gdynia and Sopot, or from the bus driver. Students have a discount of 50%*. You have to validate your ticket after getting on the bus. You can buy book of 5 tickets for a single journeys from the driver. You can buy monthly passes in ZKM ticket offices. You can find where they are on their website. You should remember that if you want to have a ticket for Gdynia and Sopot, you must ask for a special ticket. Here, as in Gdańsk, there are 2 kinds of tickets for a period of time, and single-ride ticket (for one journey). In Gdynia there are two kinds of buses regular and express. Each kind has different tickets. Express buses are marked with letters (J,K,M,R,S,W,X,Z). Regular buses and trolley cars are marked with numbers e.g. 21, 192, 244, 710). Night buses are marked with N and a number e.g. N1, N40. In Sopot you can find buses from Gdynia and Gdańsk. Here are some rules how to use them: On the 171, N1, 510, and G lines you can use a Gdynia or Gdańsk ticket. In Sopot on Gdańsk buses (red ones), lines 117, 122, 143, 622, and N1, you can use a Gdańsk ticket or a oneday ticket from Gdynia. In Sopot on Gdynia buses (blue ones), lines G, S, 21, 31, 144, 177, 181, 185, 187, 244, and 710, you can use Gdynia tickets or one-day tickets from Gdańsk. What s more, you can buy metropolitan tickets which is valid for all public transport from Gdańsk to Wejherowo. Ticket 24-hours 72-hours monthly Prices for students * SKM + ZTM + ZKM pln pln pln SKM + ZTM or SKM + ZKM 8.50 pln pln SKM + ZTM + MZK 7.00 pln pln pln * It is very important for you to remember your student card while using public transport. Discounts are only working with it Some of the most popular taxi corporations: AS Taxi (48) City Plus Neptun Taxi (48) Dajan Taxi (48) Hallo Taxi (48) Super Hallo Taxi (48) Fares depends of the corporation rules, time and distance. 19

20 Getting to Gdańsk Getting to Gdańsk BY PLANE Gdańsk Lech Walesa Airport Słowackiego St. 200 The Airport offers ca. 40 direct flight connections to airports in Poland and Europe. The flight connections are operated by domestic, international and low-cost carriers. phone: (48) To get from the airport to the train station in Gdańsk Wrzeszcz take bus line 110, to the Main Railway Station in Gdańsk take bus 210. Line N3 will take you to both places at night. BY TRAIN Gdańsk has good rail connections with other Polish cities. Main Railway Station Gdańsk Główny Podwale Grodzkie St. 1 BY COACH Polski Bus The Polski Bus coach operator offers inter-city connec- tions between Gdańsk and seven other main Polish cities. More information: PKS Gdańsk The PKS coach operator offers regional and inter-city connections with several destinations. More information: Both carriers and other external operators use PKS Bus Station located at 3 Maja St. 12 as their base. The Bus Station is situated just nearby the Main Railway Station - Gdańsk Główny BY FERRY Passenger/car ferries run on the following routes: Gdańsk- Nynäshamn, Gdynia-Karlskrona, Gdynia-Rostock and Gdynia-Helsinki. For more information about the timetables and prices regarding routes go to the websites of the ferry operators: Gdańsk- Nynäshamn - Gdynia-Karlskrona - Gdynia-Helsinki/Rostock - International Student Guide 20

21 Getting to Gdańsk 21

22 Accommodation Accommodation all the available options. It all depends on how much money you want to spend and what you are aiming at when choosing your accommodation. Depending on your requirements, you have 2 choices. Option 1: Dormitory Why? A dormitory if you re into partying your way through your studies, meeting a lot of new people, living close to your place of study and want to avoid spending too much, this is the place for you. What? Most rooms in student dormitories are double rooms, but there are also single and triple rooms. Rooms are equipped with furniture such as single beds, desks, and closets. In some dormitories, the occupants share bathrooms among a couple of rooms. There is a fridge to share with other students, but no kitchen utensils such as pots, plates, forks or knives. Dormitories don t provide soap, towels, or toilet paper. In each dormitory there is a laundry for your use. How much? Be prepared to pay a one month deposit (approx. 100 EUR). The monthly fee is also about 100 EUR, again, depending on which dormitory are you staying in. Useful information Erasmus students can enter their dormitory room at any time during the day or at night. The dormitory administrator, who s bound to sit there 24/7, will give you the keys. A thing worth mentioning is that the dormitory administrators sometimes conduct inspections as to whether the students computers have illegal programming e.g. for downloading music or films. They will also check if the copies of your system and programs themselves are legal and not pirated. If you have guests in your room, they must leave at or 24.00, depending on which dormitory you re staying in. If someone wants to sleep over in your room, he/ she must inform the dormitory administrator and pay a fee (about 4 EUR). Your roommates will then be asked to sign a permission slip in order for your guest to stay. You are allowed to organise parties of up to 30 people, but must again get the permission of the administrator to do so. Option 2: Flat or apartment rental Why? If you have a little more money to spend and need a lot more personal space than is available in a dormitory, if you like inviting people and don t want to ask anyone s permission to do so you should consider renting a flat. Basically, if you want to feel at home. Where? Wherever you want to in the city centre, by the sea, or closer to your faculty it s up to you. The location is your choice, but always remember the distance you will have to travel on your way to the university or to work. What? Most apartments for rent are fully furnished, with kitchens and bathrooms, furniture and (depending on the standard) also a TV. It is important that the flat has the International Student Guide 22

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24 Accommodation Internet, so remember to ask. If you think a whole flat is too big for you, it is also possible to rent a room with other students or a family, whichever you prefer. How? There are practically no offers of flats in English, so it would be great if you could get someone to help you with translating the offers. But if you familiarise yourself with how to go about renting a flat, we believe that even lack of language will not be a huge barrier. How to look for a place to live? There are a lot of ways to find an apartment: Internet The web is the best method of looking for someplace to live. There are many websites which are dedicated to advertisements for rental flats. The real estate section allows you to search for flats according to different criteria: price type of apartment (studio flat, two-bedroom flat etc.) size of living area location (region, city, district) Before you start searching, try to think about what you need. Work out your expectations and requirements clearly. Newspapers Polish newspapers and magazines are still a very common way of looking for somewhere to live. It is worth knowing that once a week the newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza has a housing supplement. What s more, every Wednesday in newspaper kiosks you can buy Anonse, a magazine which is full of local real estate ads (Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia). Bear in mind that most advertisements are in Polish. Real estate agencies Finding a flat with the help of real estate agencies has a lot of advantages. First of all, they will review and monitor the real estate market to find you what you want. Secondly, they will send you offers by , and arrange meetings with owners of the flats you re interested in. And most importantly, they will make sure that the contractual part of the rental agreement is done properly and according to the law. Remember, if you decide to rent an apartment found and presented to you by an agent, you will have to pay a commission fee. Usually this amount depends on the flat s value and will usually start at half a month s rent. Acquaintances Nowadays, lots of apartments are rented through acquaintances. It is good to ask friends, your employer, and other people you meet whether they know someone who is looking for a tenant. How much? Basically, the price depends on the location (local amenities, transportation facilities), the number of bedrooms, appliances, and the standard of accommodation. Most flats in Gdańsk, Sopot, and Gdynia are furnished: kitchens are fully-fitted with a fridge, oven and dishwasher. All the administrative charges that you find in advertisements are obligatory and should be added to the rent. These administrative charges will vary from 100 PLN to 700 PLN a month. It is important that you find out whether the cost of the apartment/room includes all utility payments such as heating, water, electricity, and the Internet, as sometimes it does not. International Student Guide 24

25 Accommodation 1 room apartment from 800 PLN up to 1500 PLN (the upper limit seems a reasonable one, but obviously you ll always be able to find something more expensive ) + administrative charges. 2 room apartment 1000 PLN up to 1800 PLN+ administrative charges. 3 room apartment 1200 PLN up to 2200 PLN + administrative charges. When renting a single room in a house or in an apartment, the price is often the amount you ll have to pay, with no additional charges or fees for electricity, water, and heating. 1 room in a house 400 PLN up to 800 PLN. Additional information Landlords normally require a deposit of one or two months rent. You will get the deposit back when moving out, but only if you leave the flat in good condition. Always ask your potential landlord how long he/she wants to rent the flat for. When signing an agreement, you should list all the appliances and furniture in the flat and attach the list to the agreement. The flat s owner may have spare key to your rented flat, but he/she has no right to enter the apartment when you are not there. There are two types of contract: standard and temporary. The second one means that you plan to live in the apartment only for a specified time. You can negotiate the rent. This costs nothing. Sometimes you can get unexpected results. 25

26 Insurance Insurance HEALTH SERVICE EU/EEA citizens Poland has a healthcare system based on general health insurance. Persons covered by the general health insurance are entitled to free health services in the territory of Poland at the health care providers who have signed contracts with the National Health Fund (NFZ Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia). The National Health Fund is the institution responsible for the co-ordination of health services for insured persons and members of their families. Non-EU/EEA citizens The students from non-eu/eea countries should purchase health insurance in their home country before departure. For holders of ISIC or Euro<26 cards, insurance is included in the card and the student does not need to buy another policy unless they want to increase its coverage or value. More information: Students insurance When you re studying abroad, it s a good thing to have insurance. It makes you feel much more secure. Nowadays it s not a problem to get an insurance policy or an insurance card. You can go to an insurance company, e.g. PZU Życie, Allianz or Warta, and ask for an insurance policy. Euro<26 is an insurance card which also provides you with discounts in shops, bars, museums etc. in Poland and elsewhere in Europe. You can choose one of 3 kinds of Euro<26 cards. 1. Euro<26 CLASSIC is for everyone aged from 5 to 30. It gives you access to discounts and all-year-round insurance. 2. Euro<26 BANK CARDS are a special type of card that includes access to bank accounts, discounts and insurance for everyone aged from 5 to Euro<26 STUDENT is for students and pupils aged from 5 to 30. It includes insurance and discounts. Moreover, you don t need to buy any additional insurance at the university where you re studying. How to get them? You can get your Euro<26 card at most tourist offices. To make this easier, go to to find the office that is nearest you. You can also order your card via Internet. Euro<26 card prices: World policy about 75 PLN. Sport policy about 140 PLN. Poland policy about 50 PLN. The all-year-round insurance is available in 3 options: WORLD policy insurance for all countries (except USA and Canada). Contains discounts and sports insurance for amateurs. SPORT policy insurance for active people who love extreme sports. The only exceptions are USA and Canada. International Student Guide 26

27 Insurance POLAND policy insurance only in Poland with discounts in Poland and elsewhere in Europe. In order to get the card you need to prepare a passport photo. Then fill out the form in one of the distribution points: Get your card at a local EURO<26 issuer: APiT HOLIDAYS Straganiarska St , phone: (48) RAINBOW TOURS Podwale Staromiejskie St , phone: (48) ALMATUR GDAŃSK Al.Grunwaldzka St. 140, phone: (48) The ISIC Association is the non-profit organisation behind the International Student Identity Card (ISIC). The ISIC card is the only internationally accepted proof of bona fide student status. The ISIC card allows students the world over to prove their official student status and make the most of targeted student benefits and discounts in close to 125,000 locations across almost 130 countries. In order to get the card you need to prepare a passport photo. Then fill out the form in one of the distribution points: Get your card at a local ISIC issuer: Rainbow Tours Podwale Staromiejskie St , phone: (48) Holidays Straganiarska St. 2-4, phone: (48) Holidays Wały Jagiellońskie St. 2-4, phone: (48) Emergency calls: Mobile: Police: Fire brigade: Ambulance:

28 Prepaid phones/stores Prepaid phones Many international students will bring a mobile phone with them. Pre-paid deals can be a better option than calling to your family and relatives using your own mobile provider. A SIM card can be bought anywhere: stores, supermarkets, gas stations etc. Using polish phone cards is around 75% cheaper than normal calls from your phone, so don t waste your money! You should also remember about Skype. It is very cheap if you want to call a landline number anywhere in the world. Name Initial price 1 min call to China 1 min call to UE SMS international 1 min national call SMS national Play 5,00 PLN 4,00 PLN 1,22 PLN 0,41 PLN 0,29 PLN 0,09 PLN Orange 5,00 PLN 6,05 PLN 1,46 PLN 0,44 PLN 0,29 PLN 0,15 PLN T-mobile 5,00 PLN 9,98 PLN 1,22 PLN 0,41 PLN 0,59 PLN 0,18 PLN Heyah 5,00 PLN 12,10 PLN 0,59 PLN 0,62 PLN 0,30 PLN 0,14 PLN Plus 5,00 PLN 8,00 PLN 1,22 PLN 0,40 PLN 0,29 PLN 0,19 PLN Simplus 5,00 PLN 8,07 PLN 1,80 PLN 0,54 PLN 0,29 PLN 0,19 PLN Price valid as of EUR = 4,2 PLN Stores New country, new language, new city, new reality. This is your new everyday life. We realise that in a new place even the simplest especially for foreigners. But don t worry! Below we present some suggestions and tips about shops and supermarkets, where you will certainly find your favourite foods, pharmaceutical products, and cosmetics. And also a place where you can buy Christmas gifts, and Polish handicraft and souvenirs. In a word, everything you need! Here are our suggestions: Real Hypermarket: Real Hypermarket (Kołobrzeska St. 32) food, pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, multimedia, electronics, bakery, restaurant, jewellery, shoes, laundry, pre-paid phones. Mon.-Sat.: 8:00-22:00 Sun.: 9:00 21:00 Familia Center International Student Guide 28

29 Stores (Al. Grunwaldzka 471) Piotr i Paweł Supermarket, hairdresser, BPH bank, restaurant, pharmacy. Mon.-Sat.: 9:00 21:00 Sun.: 10:00-20:00 Galeria Bałtycka (Al. Grunwaldzka 141) clothing stores, multimedia, book store, shoe store, hairdressers, florist, laundry, pharmacies, perfumeries, optician, jewellery, restaurants. Mon.-Sat.: 9:00 21:00 Sun.: 10:00 20:00 Alfa Centrum (Kołobrzeska St. 41 c) florist, hairdresser, gift packing, laundry, pre-paid phones, clothing stores, shoe store, sports shops, jewellery, book store, souvenirs, perfumery, pharmacy, optician. Mon.-Sat.: 10:00 21:00 Sun.: 10:00 20:00 Galeria Tesco Chełm (Cienista St. 30) food, cosmetics, multimedia, electronics, pre-paid phones, clothing stores, shoe store, sports shops. Opening hours Mon.- Sat.: 9:00 21:00 Sun.: 10:00 18:00 Morski Park Handlowy (Przywidzka St. 8) food, furniture, clothing stores, shoe store, sports shops, perfumery, optician, jewellery. Mon.-Sat.: 10:00 21:00 Sun.: 10:00 20:00 Park HandlowyMatarnia/IKEA (Złota Karczma St. 26) furniture, electronics, multimedia, pre-paid phones, clothing stores, shoe store, sports store, book store, souvenirs, pharmacy, optician. Mon.-Sat.: 10:00 21:00 Sun.: 10:00 20:00 Galeria Przymorze (Obrońców Wybrzeża St. 1) food, clothing stores, shoe store, sports shops, perfumery, optician, electronics, multimedia, pre-paid phones. Mon.-Sat.: 9:00 21:00 Sun.: 10:00 19:00 Centrum Osowa (Spacerowa St. 48) - food, clothing stores, shoe store, sports shops, perfumery, optician, electronics, multimedia, pre-paid phones. Mon.-Sat.: 9:00 21:00 Sun: 9:00 20:00 AUCHAN (Szczęśliwa St. 3) food, clothing stores, shoe store, sports shops, perfumery, optician, electronics, multimedia, pre-paid phones. Mon.-Sat.: 8:00 22:00 Sun: 9:00 21:00 Carrefour Morena (Schuberta St. 102A)- food, clothing stores, shoe store, sports shops, perfumery, optician, electronics, multimedia, pre-paid phones. 29

30 Stores Mon.-Sat.: 9:00 21:00 Sun.: 10:00 20:00 Madison (Rajska St. 10)- food, clothing stores, shoe store, sports shops, perfumery, optician, electronics, multimedia, pre-paid phones. Mon.-Sat.: 9:00 21:00 Sun.: 10:00 20:00 Manhattan (Grunwaldzka St. 42)- food, clothing stores, shoe store, sports shops, perfumery, optician, electronics, multimedia, pre-paid phones. Mon.-Sat. 9:00 21:00 Sun.: 10:00 20:00 Average prices for common services and goods. RESTAURANTS Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant - EUR 4,55 Combo Meal at McDonalds or similar - EUR 3,67 Domestic Beer (0,5 litre bottle) - EUR 1,62 Cappuccino - EUR 1,48 MARKETS Milk (regular), 1 litre - EUR 0,60 Eggs (12) - EUR 1,49 Fresh Cheese (1kg) - EUR 4,75 Chicken Breast (1kg) - EUR 4,03 Apples (1kg) - EUR 0,81 Oranges (1kg) - EUR 1,01 Water (1,5 litre bottle) - EUR 0,44 Bottle of Wine (mid-range) - EUR 4,74 Domestic Beer (0,5 litre bottle) - EUR 0,63 SERVICES Shortcut for men - EUR 7,00 Fitness Club (monthly fee) - EUR 20,0 Cinema (price for student)) - EUR 3,50 GASOLINE - EUR 1,40 tion Day), May/June (Corpus Christi In Poland, as in other countries, there are public holidays free from work. Below you can see the days when most shops and stores are closed: 1 January (New Year), 6 January (Epiphany), April (Easter movable feast), 1 May (Labour Day), 3 May (Constitu- - movable feast), 15 August (Ascension of the Virgin Mary), 1 November (All Saints Day), 11 November (Independence Day), December (Christmas Day) It is worth thinking ahead about buying the products you will need in advance. International Student Guide 30

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32 Published by: Studyfun cooperation with City Hall of Gdańsk Mayor s Bureau of City Promotion Nowe Ogrody Street 8/12 Editor: Waldemar Sidorowicz / Kamila Milewska Work Group: Ala Zysnarska, Mariusz Purzycki, Karolina Białobrzewska, Ewa Jaskowiak, Ania Sławek, Anna Olszewska, Marta Szumała, Krzysztof Woźnica, Bartosz Miłoszewski, Ania Żuralska, Agnieszka Grzelak, Ewelina Podlewska. Graphic Designer: Marcin Wojtkiewicz Photos: City Hall of Gdansk