Things to do in Torun

Torun is the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus, born here in 1473, and its Gothic old town survived the Second World War intact, unlike Gdansk's rebuilt Glowne Miasto - this is genuine medieval brick, not postwar reconstruction, and it carries UNESCO World Heritage status accordingly.

The city is also Poland's gingerbread capital, with piernik traditions going back centuries and several bakeries and museums built around it. Torun sits roughly 170 kilometres from Gdansk, about two and a half hours away on a direct train.

That is already several hours of travel there and back, so treating Torun as a quick half-day add-on undersells both the journey and the old town itself; a full day, or a night here, suits the amount there is to see far better than a rushed return trip.