Is Gdansk Safe for Tourists in 2026?

Gdansk is the world's amber capital, but a significant proportion of amber sold to tourists is synthetic, plastic, or glass pressed to resemble natural Baltic amber. Fake amber is sold in souvenir shops, market stalls, and even in stores that appear reputable along Ulica Mariacka and in the Long Market area. Prices charged are those of genuine amber, resulting in tourists paying premium sums for worthless material.

How to avoid: Purchase amber only from shops that display certification from the International Amber Association or the Gdansk Amber Museum. Learn basic at-home tests: genuine amber floats in a saturated saltwater solution and has a distinct resinous smell when rubbed. Be extremely cautious of any seller who cannot explain the provenance of their amber or refuses to allow testing.

Where: Ulica Mariacka (the main amber street), Long Market (Ulica Dluga/Dlugi Targ), souvenir stalls near Green Gate (Brama Zielona), and Motlawa riverfront shops

An organized criminal network operates across Gdansk's Old Town, using attractive individuals to approach men on the street with offers of a free drink. Victims are led into strip clubs — some operating under names like Obsession, Glamour, or Wild Orchid near Ulica Dluga — where drinks are overpriced at 100–200 USD per glass, cards are manipulated for multiple PIN transactions, and in documented cases psychotropic drugs have been found in victims' blood. Losses routinely reach 5,000 USD or more, and police recovery is rare because CCTV shows PIN entries appear voluntary.

How to avoid: Decline any unsolicited approach from a stranger offering free drinks or club entry in the Old Town area, especially at night. Never hand over your card or enter your PIN in a private room inside a club. If you feel unwell after drinking, leave immediately and seek medical help — memory loss and blackouts have been reported.

Where: Old Town streets near Ulica Dluga and Dlugi Targ, particularly after 10 PM; clubs with names including Obsession, Glamour, Wild Orchid operating in the central tourist district

Several currency exchange booths (kantors) in Gdansk's tourist center deliberately display only a single, favorable-looking "sell" rate while hiding the far worse "buy" rate in tiny print. One well-documented exchange on Ulica Dluga charges rates 25–30% below the fair market rate for tourists selling foreign currency. Booths labeled "change" in English rather than "kantor" in Polish and those with flashy yellow-orange signage are the most commonly reported offenders. Tourists typically realize the loss only after the transaction is complete.

How to avoid: Only use a kantor that displays TWO rates (buying and selling) with a spread of no more than 0.10 PLN on major currencies. Check the current rate on Google before approaching any exchange. Avoid all exchanges in the Old Town and at the airport; shopping centers and bank branches offer fair rates. Never exchange at a booth labeled "change" rather than "kantor".

Where: Ulica Dluga (Long Street) in the Main Town; near the Green Gate and Neptune Fountain; airport arrivals hall

Some shops offer to "authenticate" amber that tourists have already purchased or are considering purchasing, using tests that are rigged to validate fake amber as genuine or to condemn genuine amber to pressure tourists into buying the shop's own (equally fake) stock. The electrostatic test — rubbing amber to attract small pieces of paper — is easily faked, and shops may use heated plastic that passes the smell test superficially.

How to avoid: Do not trust in-store authentication tests performed by the seller. The most reliable authentication is performed by the Gdansk Amber Museum or by certified gemologists. If a shop offers to test amber you have purchased elsewhere and then immediately tries to sell you a replacement, this is a clear scam.

Where: Amber shops on Ulica Mariacka and in the Old Town tourist zone; market stalls near the Long Market