Gdansk
About Gdansk
Gdansk has a buzzing harbor-side location and is fast becoming one of Poland's most exciting destinations, with an active student population making it popular with young Poles. Making up part of the Baltic coast's Tri-city area along with Sopot and Gdynia, the city has elegant buildings, river cruises and local brews on tap at waterside beer gardens. Most of it was rebuilt after World War II, and its historic architecture has been carefully restored to reflect its mercantile past.
There are hostels in Gdansk throughout the old and new towns, with most being within walking distance of the city's major sites. Lodge in a traditional tenement house by the river, or choose a hostel where the rooms are themed around major cities of the world. And if you like the idea of somewhere with veggie credentials, there's a Gdansk hostel that is 100% vegan. Breakfast is often free, and many hostels have shared kitchens. Some Gdansk hostels have a bar where you can taste local brews.
The old town is the bustling heart of Gdansk. Taking a stroll from your hostel to DÅ‚ugi Targ (Long Market) takes you to medieval merchants' guilds or the marina, lined with cafés and shops. Around Ulica Mariacka, the pre-war terraces have been converted into artisan shops. In the summer, stay a night or two in Sopot, where locals flock to swim. Oliwa is known for its grand old villas and relaxed public park.
Few people leave without a visit to Zuraw (the Gdansk Crane). Once the largest human-powered crane in the world, it still dominates the skyline. If history's your thing, don't miss a trip to the architecturally controversial European Solidarity Centre, too. Here, you'll learn about the strikes that ultimately led to the fall of communism. In the residential district of Zaspa, the communist-era facades are colorfully decorated with street art. Gdynia, a 30-minute train ride north, is a good place to try the local cuisine, including freshly caught cod.
The SKM, or commuter train, is the ideal way to get around the Tri-city area. Within Gdansk, the tram and bus networks are easy to use. The compact old town is walkable, and in the summer you can take a leisurely cruise from the marina. Gdansk Glowny train station is in the city center and connects to many European countries. Trains and buses run from here, taking around 40 minutes to reach Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport.
Accommodation in Gdansk
There are many different options for arranging student accommodation in Poland. They vary depending on the city and higher education institution you choose. Many Polish HEIs have their own dormitories, which are usually the cheapest option available. However, most Polish students prefer to rent a room in a private apartment.
Student houses and dormitories
The pricing of the student houses depends on the particular HEI. Usually, the cost of accommodation in a dormitory ranges is around EUR 60-80 monthly for a shared room and between EUR 100-150 for a single room. However, the standard of the dormitories may differ greatly even between various student houses of the same HEI, so it’s good to do some research before the final decision. What doesn’t differ is the friendly and helpful atmosphere in the student houses.
Private housing
It is quite common in Poland to rent a room in a bigger apartment. Most of the out-of-town students share flats in this way. The cost varies between cities and it depends greatly on the location of the apartment as well as the size and quality of the room. The monthly rent is usually between EUR 150 and 200. Some landlords may require a deposit of a similar amount. Don’t worry if you don’t have friends to live with. Sharing a flat with locals is an amazing opportunity: you can pay for the accommodation and get great friends for free! And if you really don’t like to share, you can find an independent apartment. The rent for the smallest, one-room apartment starts from about EUR 300 (in Warsaw).
Visa and residence card costs
This applies only to those students who come from the countries whose nationals are obliged to get a visa before coming to Poland. If you come from the European Union, you can skip visa fee charges. For those requiring it - there is no uniform fee, but it should not exceed EUR 70. When applying for a visa, please remember about other costs which are not stated directly - you need to have health insurance of at least EUR 30,000 and be in possession of sufficient funds to cover your entry, stay and departure - which is minimum PLN 543 for each month of studies and PLN 200, 300 or 2,500 for securing a return journey for people from neighboring countries, EU countries or non-EU countries respectively.
Even if you do not need a visa to come to Poland, bear in mind that every foreigner staying in Poland for a period longer than 3 months has to apply for a temporary residence permit, so for visa holders, it is also the next step to plan in their budget. The cost of issuing a temporary residence permit for students is PLN 390 in total.