The seaport city of Gdańsk, located on Poland’s Baltic coast, is based around a historic center with sites including the 17^th-century Neptune Fountain with its shining sea deity figure and a cluster of shops and cafés housed within the Długi Targ (Long Market). Besides the fountain and shops, the Royal Route — once used by visiting kings — is lined with sites that include the Golden Gate, Highland Gate, Prison Tower, Torture House and the Mansion of the Society of Saint George. Ornate gates are positioned at each end of the mostly pedestrian area.

If you’re a fan of the King Arthur tales, you owe yourself a visit to the medieval court of Dwór Artusa in the center of the city, dedicated to the legend of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Now officially part of the Gdańsk History Museum, the building was first completed in 1350 and originally provided a place for merchants to gather.

Today, visitors follow a route through town marked by Hewelion the Lion. The bronze lion figures along the trail were created by Gdansk artist Tomasz Radziewicz.

Other not-to-miss sights include the Astronomical Clock inside of St. Mary’s Church, created by clock maker Hans Duringer; the Museum of Tower Clocks in St. Catherine’s Church; and the National Maritime Museum, filled with historic maritime artifacts and an impressive collection of seascapes by painters from the Dutch School.

History aside, this fascinating city also plays host to world-class entertainment at the Baltic Opera, Polish Baltic Philharmonic and the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre.