Gdansk River Cruise on the Motława – What You’ll See from the Deck

A Gdansk river cruise on the Motława is the easiest way to see the city from the side that merchants and sailors saw it from for centuries. The Main Town (Główne Miasto, the historic centre) faces the river – its streets run down to the quayside, and along the water stand the old water gates, the medieval Crane and rebuilt granaries. From the deck you can take it all in at once, without having to squeeze through the crowds on the promenade.

Below we describe what you can see from the water in central Gdansk and further on, towards the Dead Vistula – depending on the route. On a private BoatParty cruise the route is agreed individually when you book, so treat this article as a map of possibilities rather than a fixed itinerary.

Gdansk river cruise on the Motława – why the city looks best from the water

The Motława is a short, calm river (approx. 65 km long), but it was here that the port of Gdansk operated from the Middle Ages onwards. The Main Town has what is known as a comb layout: the river is the spine of the comb and the “teeth” are the main streets leading down to the water. That’s why the deck of a boat is the best place to understand how the city was built.

The lower Motława in Gdansk, from the Green Bridge (Most Zielony) all the way to its mouth, is part of the port’s maritime area. In season, sightseeing boats, yachts and smaller craft pass each other right in the centre, and the quaysides on both banks buzz with life from the afternoon until late in the evening.

The Long Embankment and the Crane – the west bank of the Motława

The Long Embankment (Długie Pobrzeże) is a waterside promenade along the river’s west bank. It once consisted of separate wooden piers for unloading ships, which were joined into one in the 17th century. Today it is the city’s most recognisable panorama – especially when seen from the water.

As you sail along the quay, you’ll pass a series of water gates leading from the river into the city:

• the Green Gate (Zielona Brama) by the Green Bridge – a Renaissance gate and one of the most striking buildings in the city,
• the Bread Gate (Brama Chlebnicka) – Gothic, with the Gdansk coat of arms still without its crown – and St Mary’s Gate (Brama Mariacka) with three coats of arms above the passage,
• the Holy Spirit Gate (Brama św. Ducha) – rebuilt in the 1990s,
• the Crane (Żuraw), and beyond it, on the Fishermen’s Embankment (Rybackie Pobrzeże), St John’s Gate (Brama Świętojańska) and the Straganiarska Gate.

The Crane was built in 1444. According to the National Maritime Museum, of which it is now a branch, it is the largest and oldest surviving port crane in Europe. Inside, huge wooden treadwheels were turned by port workers walking inside them – and from the water you can really see how massive the structure is compared with the townhouses next to it.

Granary Island and Ołowianka – the east bank of the Motława

On the other side of the river lies Granary Island (Wyspa Spichrzów). It became an island in 1576, when the New Motława canal was dug, and in the 16th century around 340 granaries stood here. In 1945 the buildings were almost completely destroyed. Today the northern tip has been rebuilt with hotels and flats, and a pedestrian quay runs along the water.

Further north lies Ołowianka. It owes its name to the lead warehouses that once stood here (ołów is Polish for lead). From the deck you’ll recognise several landmarks:

• Sołdek – the first ocean-going ship built in post-war Poland, now a museum ship moored at the Ołowianka quay,
• the National Maritime Museum granaries – Panna, Miedź and Oliwski, rebuilt in 1985,
• the Polish Baltic Philharmonic – housed in the former municipal power station, built in 1896–1898,
• the Royal Granary (Spichlerz Królewski) from the 17th century, with its long side facing the river.

Cheat sheet for the deck – what to spot from the water

Place	Where to look	What to look out for
Green Gate and Green Bridge	the start of the Long Embankment	a panorama of the whole old port
The Crane	the Long Embankment, where Szeroka Street meets the quay	the wooden structure between two towers
Maritime Museum granaries and Sołdek	Ołowianka	the steamship at the quay and three rebuilt granaries
Baltic Philharmonic	Ołowianka	the buildings of the former municipal power station
Shipyard cranes	the Dead Vistula	visible on longer routes

Footbridges, bridges and the Dead Vistula – what else may appear on your route

Central Gdansk is criss-crossed by movable crossings. The drawbridge footbridge to Ołowianka has been in operation since 2017 and is raised regularly to let vessels through. The swing footbridge between the Long Embankment and Granary Island (57 m long) has been opening since 2020 at the request of the marina harbour master. And since 2022 the Stągiewna Bridge (Most Stągiewny) has once again worked as a drawbridge. Together they set the rhythm of boat traffic in the very heart of the city.

Beyond Ołowianka the Motława flows into the Dead Vistula (Martwa Wisła, a former arm of the Vistula) near Polski Hak. On the left bank of the Dead Vistula lies the Gdansk Shipyard with its cranes, further on stands Wisłoujście Fortress, and at the point where the river meets the Bay of Gdansk you’ll find Westerplatte, the symbol of the outbreak of the Second World War. Whether it’s worth heading that way during a two-hour cruise, or better to stay in the historic centre, is something we’ll decide together when you book.

A private BoatParty cruise in Gdansk – how it works

At a BoatParty event the boat is reserved just for your group. Every package includes 2 hours of boat hire, and we set the departure time individually: in the afternoon, at sunset or in the evening. The boarding point, start time and route are confirmed when you book. You’ll find details and all occasions on our page about boat parties in Gdansk.

Package prices in Gdansk apply to groups of 30 or more: Basic from €20, Star from €25 and VIP from €36 per person. Smaller groups receive an individual quote. A cruise through the centre works brilliantly as a hen party on a boat in Gdansk, a birthday or a company team-building event, among other things.

Afternoon, sunset or evening?

An afternoon cruise gives you the best light for the details of the townhouses and gates, and the liveliest quaysides. A sunset cruise brings warm colours to the brick façades and the best group photos. In the evening the city switches on its lights, which are reflected in the Motława – a good time if the party is what matters most and the views are simply the backdrop.

A few rules on board: comfortable flat shoes, follow the crew’s instructions and never lean over the side, not even for the perfect shot of the Crane. It gets cooler on the water in the evening, so bring an extra layer – you’ll find the full list in our post on what to bring on a boat party.

FAQ – Gdansk river cruise on the Motława

Will we see the Crane on a Motława cruise?

The Crane stands on the Long Embankment, right in the centre on the Motława, so cruises through the historic part of the city usually pass it. The exact route of your cruise is agreed when you book.

Can a Motława cruise go as far as Westerplatte?

Westerplatte lies at the mouth of the Dead Vistula, where it flows into the Bay of Gdansk – further out than the historic centre. Whether your route includes that stretch depends on what we agree when you book and on how you’d like to use your 2 hours on the water.

How long is a private BoatParty cruise on the Motława?

Every package includes 2 hours of boat hire. We set the departure time individually: in the afternoon, at sunset or in the evening.

Where does the boat leave from in Gdansk?

The boarding point is agreed when you book, together with the start time and route. We confirm all the details before the party.

How far in advance do we need to book a cruise?

Send the booking form at least 5 working days before the event. Weekends in the summer season are worth booking well in advance.

Gdansk from the deck – summary

From the water, Gdansk unfolds as one continuous story: the water gates, the Crane, the granaries, and further on the shipyard and the Dead Vistula. Choose the time of day, count your guests and have a look at our boat party planning checklist. We’ll tailor the rest – the route, start time and package – together with you.