Gdansk

Set on the Baltic coast, the port city of Gdansk may surprise with the range of its accommodation. Built in 1451, the oldest house in the city has been converted into the charming Gotyk House (Ulica Mariacka 1). For a taste of local flavour, it can't be beaten. The historic building even has a basement museum dedicated to Copernicus. If high-octane glam is more your bag, the five-star Gdansk Hilton (Targ Rybny 1) has it in spades, with rooms featuring "serenity" beds, a rooftop pool and an "urban beach". At the other end of the scale, Hotel Grand Cru's (Ulica Rycerska 11-12) exposed brick walls and wet rooms make it a great choice, as is the atmospheric Holland House Residence (Ulica D?ugi Targ 33-34), right in the centre.

Gdansk is home to "Baltic Gold", or better known to us as, amber. The resinous gem is celebrated with a dedicated museum, but visitors can pick up amber at shops all over the city; head to family-run Dawid (Ulica Mariacka 13-15) for starters. For clothing and electronics, upmarket shopping mall Galeria Baltycka (Aleja Grunwaldzka 141) houses over 200 stores and restaurants, while Madison Park Shopping Gallery (Ulica Rajska 10), decorated with sculptures symbolising elements of Gdansk's history, is bigger on local ambience. For traditional souvenirs, head to Cepelia (Ulica Dluga 47) which has been selling Polish folk art for the past half century.

At the budget end, you can't get more value for money (or authentic) than a bar mleczny (milk bar), which serves authentic Polish dishes; opt for pierogi at Bar Mleczny Neptun (Ulica Dluga 33-34). More upscale is Restauracja Kubicki (Ulica Wartka 5), which serves a more refined Polish menu. Seafood restaurants are popular in Gdansk, and arguably the best of them is Restauracja Targ Rybny Fishmarkt (Ulica Targ Rybny 6C), where diners can enjoy the ocean views from the veranda whilst trying excellent fish dishes. End the evening with a local beer from microbrewery Brovarnia Gdansk (Ulica Szafarnia 9).

Gdansk DocFilm Festival

June

Taking place at the Neptun cinema, this festival celebrates the best Polish documentary films out there. Hard-hitting topics are brought to the fore, so if you want insight into issues around exploitation and unemployment, this is where you'll find it.

Sail Gdansk

July

The annual sailing race across the Gdansk Bay is one of the top events in the maritime calendar. Uniquely, any boat can take part, so spectators can watch a range of boats out on the water.

Heineken Open'er Festival

July

Taking place a few miles outside of Gdansk in the seaside town of Gdynia is the must-do festival for music lovers in Poland. With the likes of Bloc Party and Kings of Leon having performed in previous years, this is the place to let loose and rock on.

Shakespeare Festival

August

Gdansk celebrates the bard's plays by staging a week of performances throughout the Tri-City area. With actors and audiences from all over the world in attendance, this is the place to observe Polish culture at its best.

St Dominic's Fair

August

If there's one time antique lovers should come to Gdansk, it's during St Dominic's Fair. The fair sees up to 1,000 merchants and artisans set up their stalls selling all manner of handicrafts, antiques and art, while celebratory concerts and fireworks are held by the city.