Granary Island

Granary Island in Gdańsk (Wyspa Spichrzów, roughly "VIS-pah SPEEKH-zhoov") sits between the Motława River and its man-made channel, the New Motława, directly across from the Main Town waterfront. For centuries it held hundreds of grain warehouses that made Hanseatic Gdańsk rich. After World War II it lay in ruins for decades; today it is one of the city's fastest-changing districts, with new buildings echoing the old granaries, riverside promenades, a marina and two movable bridges. It is a free, easy walk with some of the best views of the Old Town skyline.

A short history

The first granaries appeared here around 1330. The area became an island in 1576, when the New Motława canal was dug, which also helped protect the grain stores. Night-time access was banned, guard dogs roamed after dark, and theft was punishable by death. By the 16th century there were about 340 granaries, each known by a name rather than a number.

Gdańsk was the main gateway for Polish grain exports to Western Europe, and this island was its warehouse. In 1914 it still had 294 buildings. Fighting in 1945 destroyed almost everything; only three granaries survived. Some were rebuilt after the war, mostly along Stągiewna Street, but the northern tip remained a field of ruins for more than half a century.

The new Granary Island

Large-scale redevelopment began in the 2010s. A riverside promenade opened in 2014, followed by hotels and apartment blocks whose gables imitate the historic granaries, sometimes incorporating surviving walls. On August 1, 2020, the 57-meter Holy Spirit swing footbridge opened, linking the island's northern tip with the Long Embankment; it swings open in about two minutes to let boats through. On August 3, 2022, the rebuilt Stągiewny drawbridge opened together with a 60-berth marina.

Things to see

• The Milk Churns Gate (Stągwie Mleczne), two towers from 1517–1519 at the island's southern end
• The Motława promenade, facing the Crane, the Green Gate and the Long Embankment
• Surviving and rebuilt granaries on Stągiewna Street
• The swing footbridge and drawbridge in action when yachts pass

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially at sunset or after dark, when the Main Town facades across the river are lit up. Entry is free and the island is open around the clock. Allow 45–60 minutes to walk both banks. The promenades are flat and stroller- and wheelchair-friendly. Expect some construction sites, plus plenty of restaurants on the ground floors of the new buildings.

How to get there

From Long Market, walk through the Green Gate and across the Green Bridge (about five minutes), or use the swing footbridge from the Long Embankment. The Gdańsk Główny train station is a 15–20 minute walk, and Gdańsk Airport (GDN) is about 15 km away. A main road with tram stops crosses the middle of the island. Public parking is paid.

Nearby

• Ołowianka Island and the National Maritime Museum, to the north
• Long Market and the Green Gate, across the river
• The Crane (Żuraw), a branch of the maritime museum