Gdansk Private Communism Tour: Discover 1980's Poland and the Solidarity Movement History
4.8
11 Ratings
Gdańsk
Travel back to 1980's Communist Poland and discover the history of the Solidarity movement. Explore the European Solidarity Center and visit historic sites connected to the events of August 1980. Choose from 2-hour or 4-hour tour options in multiple languages.
Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers of 1970 - Meet your guide under the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers of 1970, Plac Solidarnosci, 80-001 Gdansk
What's Included
  • Fluent History Expert Guide with Official Gdansk License
  • Free entry to Sala BHP and Gdansk Shipyard (4-hour tour)
  • Complimentary shot of traditional Polish vodka (4-hour tour)
  • Exclusive Commonist-themed Private Tour of Gdansk
  • Pickup from Gdansk Old Town accommodations
  • Skip-the-line European Solidarity Center access (2 & 4-hour tours)
What's Not Included
  • Pickup from accommodation located outside Gdansk Old Town
Additional Information

Take a journey back to Poland in the 1980s, under Communist rule, and uncover the story of Solidarity, the Polish labor union and civic protest movement. Explore the captivating exhibits at the European Solidarity Centre, drop by the historic BHP Hall and Gdansk Shipyard.

Choose from our range of excellent tour packages designed to suit your preferences and interests:

Offered in
English or German or Polish or Russian/
Spanish or French or Italian/
Norwegian or Swedish Languages

2-hour: European Solidarity Centre
Take a tour of the European Solidarity Centre and uncover the history of the Solidarity Movement. This includes priority access tickets.

4-hour: European Solidarity Centre & Gdansk Shipyard
Pick this option to tour the European Solidarity Centre (priority access tickets), BHP Hall, Gdansk Shipyard, and other places linked to the happenings of August 1980.

Have you heard about the events of August 31, 1980? Learn about one of the most significant citizen-led triumphs in Poland’s modern history - the successful Solidarity movement.

  • Pickup service is available only in the area of Gdansk Old Town. It means that your Private Guide will meet you at your accommodation if it is located within 1,5 km from the meeting point. If your accommodation does not meet these criteria, the tour itinerary may be changed accordingly
  • If you provide your accommodation address when making a booking, we will arrange for the guide to pick you up from this Gdansk Old Town address. Otherwise, the guide will meet you at the specified meeting point
  • Please check your email the day before the tour to receive important information
  • Please note that Gdansk Shipyard is closed on Saturdays and Sundays
Location
Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers of 1970
Plac Solidarności
Meet your guide under the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers of 1970, Plac Solidarności, 80-001 Gdańsk
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(11 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
V7680kqtimw
Nov 20, 2023
Great - The guide was brilliant! She really knew her stuff! Very impressive! Wish we knew about her sooner in our trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fran
Aug 6, 2023
Excellent museum in interesting building - Well done Lots of explanations, facts, photos. Important topic, today possibly more than some years ago
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Garygu7500vu
May 22, 2023
Solidarity Museum, Gdansk. A brightly burning beacon of freedom...and a GREAT museum - The Gdansk Shipyard (in 1980, called the "Lenin Shipyard") is where the brave Poles of the Solidarity movement first began to cut the chains by which their Soviet occupiers had bound them. Few know that Lech Walesa had previously been jailed for his labor activism in years before that strike. Fewer still know that it was getting the older shipyard workers to support the strike to really give it "legs". Their entire financial security lay in their state-promised pension! Can you imagine those guys going home to their wives and explaining that they were going to strike, and that they may not be in line to receive a pension afterward? It all came together in 1980, labor activism, a Polish Pope, and a persuasive union leadership, toward poking the Soviet bear, much to the benefit of us all!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Henrikhoholtj
Oct 10, 2022
Brave polish People at Gdansk Shipyard - Our guide Elwira was Very knowledgeable about the uprising at the Gdansk shipyard and Gdansk's history - and inspiring to visit the Solidarity Center Museum.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brianjm2699qj
Dec 6, 2021
5 stars private tour of polish history - Amazing guide, Elvira knowing he history and she have been translator for Lech Walesa ones. So if you will have a private tour guide there can tell you the history whit knowledge and passion then is Elvira you shall have for this tour
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christopher_z
Sep 19, 2020
Solidarity - The tour was very informative and the tour guide certainly knew so much on the subject. Excellent. Would recommend the tour to others.
Review provided by Viator
Lotdeleeuw
Dec 29, 2019
Aanrader! You can’ t miss this - We received a private tour from Elwira, it was an experience one should not miss. Elwira is a natural describing the history the communism history of Poland, details, the life under the control of communism in Gdansk. Grateful to Poland, Gdansk, the shipyard workers, Lech Walensa. Poland is a great country, with great people. Elwira is one them. Thanks 🙏
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Easterneuropehistory
Dec 14, 2019
Fascinating tour. - Elwira was a great guide. She had a personal connection to the communist times in Poland and it showed when a few times she needed a moment to herself as she started to well up! We knew so little in the West of what went on behind the 'Iron Curtain' and hearing and seeing about it first hand makes you realise how lucky we were. The ECS museum was so much better being guided as a lot to take in so were taken to the important parts and done in a more logical order. It was also nice to be shown where other parts of the shipyard was or would of been. The shot of vodka in the restaurant was nice afterwards too and also gave us time to have a general chat with Elwira. Highly recommend. The Poles are definitely fighters and
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K5700fdmaryp
Jun 20, 2019
Great Solidarity Tour with Jakub Zglinski - Jakub Zglinski gave us a fantastic private Solidarity tour on 19 June 2019. He made this tour exceeded our expectations as he was a fountain of information, and impressed us by not answering one question because he wasn't absolutely sure of the answer. We highly recommend Jakub to any one visiting Gdansk.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Larslund_o
May 14, 2024
Too rushed, 4 hour tour in 3 hours - First off, guide was 20 minutes late... The whole experience felt rushed, yet unprepared. We could have spent more time at the excellent Solidarity center. The 4 hour tour was finished after just 3 hours. Not quite the tour that was described... Positive marks for the guide having actually been present at some of the events and could add some personal anecdotes.
Review provided by Viator
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