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Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Historic city with 81p beers is one of Europe most affordable mini-breaks
The city, which offers a range of restaurants, bars, and nightlife, has been a popular tourist destination for years Fancy a weekend getaway that's rich in culture but easy on the wallet? Brits are known for their love of a quick city break; a swift two-day retreat from the daily grind, the incessant drizzle, and the lure of a Greggs. It's a concept that might just send our friends across the pond into a tailspin. Luckily, the UK's prime location means we're only a short hop away from an array of unique destinations, from the romantic avenues of Paris to the hedonistic shores of Ibiza. However, for those watching their pennies while yearning to jet off, there's one city that's been crowned as Europe's 'most affordable' city break. The TikTok-famous Orda Twins have taken to the platform to share the best bits of theirt jaunt to Gdańsk. The pair showcased a variety of photogenic spots, from trendy cafes and eateries to golden beaches and quaint streets adorned with charming pastel-coloured houses. The comments section quickly filled up with travel buffs singing the praises of this hidden gem, with many recommending the city to their nearest and dearest. "One of the top city breaks in Eastern Europe," one user said. Another agreed, saying: "100 per cent the best place to visit in Poland. Modern city, good food, and many historical sights." A third person wrote: "Poland is so so underrated, I absolutely love it. Always made to feel welcome as a Brit." And a fourth simply said: "Gdansk is beautiful." Nestled in Poland's north, Gdańsk has long been a magnet for tourists. Indeed, over 1.2 million holidaymakers descend upon the port city annually, and it's not hard to see why. A pint of local beer averages at about 81p, while a decent bottle of wine won't cost you more than £5. A three-course dinner for two in a mid-range restaurant is roughly £32, making Gdańsk a real bargain. But there's more to this city than affordable food and drink as it's also a gateway to Poland's haunting past. The Museum of the Second World War is an essential stop, housing over 2,000 exhibits across three thematic sections: The Road to War, The Horrors of War, and The War's Long Shadow. It's advised to allocate at least three hours for this museum, situated just 3km from the Westerplatte peninsula, the site of a German attack in September 1939. A 45-minute drive will take you to the Stutthof Concentration Camp, where you can learn about the atrocities of the Holocaust and pay tribute to those who perished during the war. Back in Gdańsk, you can explore St Mary's Church, Neptune's Fountain, Golden Gate, and Oliwiski Park - all contributing to the city's breathtaking and distinctive architecture. Reaching Gdansk is a doddle, with many major UK airports - including Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Edinburgh, Belfast and Luton - providing direct flights. If your dates are flexible, you can nab a real bargain - with flights from London in September previously priced at £15.. Lodging in Gdansk is also quite reasonable, particularly when compared to other European cities like Paris and Milan. For instance, even a night at the five-star Hilton hotel will only set you back £133 - based on two people sharing in September. But if you're watching the pennies, a cosy apartment can be yours for just £25 per night.
The Journal
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Who is Karol Nawrocki, the Trump-inspired Polish president-elect?
NATIONALIST OPPOSITION CANDIDATE Karol Nawrocki narrowly secured a victory in Poland's presidential election. The 42-year-old nationalist was congratulated by US President Donald Trump following his win. 'TRUMP ALLY WINS IN POLAND, SHOCKING ALL IN EUROPE,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. 'Congratulations Poland, you picked a WINNER!' Nawrocki and his supporting party Law and Justice (PiS) have vowed to strengthen ties with Trump and the US. Nawrocki, a conservative politician, defeated the centrist Mayor of Warsaw Rafal Trzaskowski with a vote of 51% to his opponent's 49%. Trzaskowski ran with the support of the country's Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The Eurosceptic president-elect is likely to use his position to hinder the implementation of Tusk's liberal policies. Nawrocki is an outspoken critic of Tusk's agenda on abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. Who is Karol Nawrocki? Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Nawrocki is a historian with a PhD in the area of anticommunist opposition in Poland. He is an independent politician but is supported by PiS. PiS were in government for eight years – until the election 18 months ago that saw the party replaced by Tusk's centrist Civic Platform coalition. Advertisement Nawrocki is the head of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN). The IPN is an organisation tasked with investigating and prosecuting Nazi and communist crimes between 1917 and 1980. During the presidential campaign, Nawrocki's critics questioned his role at the IPN as he had unique access to state secrets. He also served as the director of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk from 2017 until 2021. Nawrocki supports the close relationship between the Catholic Church and state, and the criminalisation of abortion. He is opposed to the legalisation of same-sex marriage and Poland's adopting of the Euro as its currency. Identified as a right-wing populist and a vehement opposer of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Nawrocki will succeed incumbent Andrzej Duda, also from PiS. PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said that Sunday's election result was a 'red card' for the government. Nawrocki is a former boxer and has authored and co-authored numerous books. In 2018, an unknown author Tadeusz Batyr published a book documenting the life of a gangster from 1980s communist Poland. Appearing on TV to promote the book, wearing a hat with his face blurred, the author claimed he was 'really inspired' by historian Karol Nawrocki. It emerged during the presidential campaign that 'Tadeusz Batyr' was a pseudonym for Nawrocki, and he was praising himself. Facing ridicule, Nawrocki said that literary pseudonyms 'are nothing new' and that he was the only historian in Poland 'who had the courage to study organised crime'. Today, Tusk said a parliamentary confidence vote to demonstrate support for his pro-EU camp after its election loss will be held on 11 June. 'The vote of confidence in the government will take place on Wednesday, June 11,' Tusk told reporters before a cabinet meeting. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Factbox-Poland election: what you need to know
By Marta Maciag, Canan Sevgili and Julia Kotowska (Reuters) - Poland will hold the first round of a presidential election on May 18, setting the scene for a vote that will be crucial for the pro-European government's hopes of implementing its reformist agenda. The election pits liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, a senior member of the ruling Civic Platform party (PO), against historian Karol Nawrocki, who runs Poland's Institute of National Remembrance, and far-right Slawomir Mentzen. Here is a guide to the election, including candidate profiles and key issues: WHAT'S AT STAKE? Prime Minister Donald Tusk's coalition came to power in 2023, vowing to undo the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government's judicial reforms that critics said eroded the rule of law. However, its efforts have been hampered by former nationalist PiS government ally President Andrzej Duda, who has the power to veto legislation. HOW DOES THE ELECTION WORK? Voters will select the president for a five-year term through a two-round system. If no candidate scores more than 50% in the first round, a run-off will be held between the top two contenders on June 1. Presidents can serve a maximum of two terms. Duda's second term ends on August 6. Polls open at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and close at 9 p.m. on May 18. Around 29 million people are eligible to vote. Exit polls will be published shortly after voting ends. Partial results will trickle in throughout the evening on Sunday and on Monday. WHO ARE CANDIDATES? Rafal Trzaskowski The frontrunner, 53-year-old Trzaskowski has served as the mayor of Warsaw since 2018. He was narrowly defeated by Duda in the 2020 presidential vote. Trzaskowski's main proposals include increasing defence spending to 5% of GDP, liberalising abortion laws and developing Poland's arms and technology industry, as well as ensuring Poland has a strong position in the European Union. Karol Nawrocki A conservative historian, 42, Nawrocki is backed by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, which lost power to Tusk in 2023. Between 2017-21, he ran the Museum of the Second World War in Gdansk, in northern Poland. He wants to see lower taxes, a withdrawal from the European Union's Migration Pact and Green Deal, and is critical of giving more rights to LGBT couples. Like Trzaskowski, he wants to allocate 5% of GDP to defence. He is currently polling in second place. Slawomir Mentzen Far-right candidate Slawomir Mentzen, 38, runs a tax advisory firm and is a vocal critic of government regulation. His key proposals include significant tax cuts, withdrawing from the European Green Deal and opposing more gay rights. He believes Poland should avoid taking on excessive military or financial responsibilities in the Ukraine-Russia war. He wants to prioritise Poland's sovereignty by ensuring its constitution overrides EU laws. He is currently polling in third place. Szymon Holownia The speaker of Poland's lower house of parliament, 48-year-old Holownia previously worked as a journalist and television presenter. He founded the political movement Polska 2050, a centrist grouping that is now part of the governing coalition. Holownia's key proposals include promoting regional development, improving public transport and increasing access to affordable housing. He wants to reduce bureaucracy, support Polish businesses, and develop Poland's domestic arms production capabilities. The left Three leftist candidates are also in the race, with 43-year-old Magdalena Biejat, Deputy Senate Speaker, having the highest support. She is one of the most vocal proponents of women's and minority rights, and wants to allow access to abortion after a near-total ban on the procedure was introduced under PiS. Biejat's proposals focus on reducing poverty, increasing public sector wages and making housing more affordable. Her programme is similar to that of 45-year-old Adrian Zandberg, head of the Razem (Together) party. The last leftist candidate is 76-year-old Joanna Senyszyn, an academic, lawmaker and former member of the Polish United Workers' Party which ran the country until the fall of Communism. Other candidates Also running in a 13-candidate field is the far-right's Grzegorz Braun, who in 2023 used a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles in the country's parliament, an incident that caused international outrage. Another candidate is 42-year-old Krzysztof Stanowski, a journalists and YouTuber, who has no political programme and says he wants to show people the campaign behind the scenes and raise money for charities.
Reuters
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Poland election: what you need to know
May 13 (Reuters) - Poland will hold the first round of a presidential election on May 18, setting the scene for a vote that will be crucial for the pro-European government's hopes of implementing its reformist agenda. The election pits liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, a senior member of the ruling Civic Platform party (PO), against historian Karol Nawrocki, who runs Poland's Institute of National Remembrance, and far-right Slawomir Mentzen. Here is a guide to the election, including candidate profiles and key issues: Prime Minister Donald Tusk's coalition came to power in 2023, vowing to undo the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government's judicial reforms that critics said eroded the rule of law. However, its efforts have been hampered by former nationalist PiS government ally President Andrzej Duda, who has the power to veto legislation. Voters will select the president for a five-year term through a two-round system. If no candidate scores more than 50% in the first round, a run-off will be held between the top two contenders on June 1. Presidents can serve a maximum of two terms. Duda's second term ends on August 6. Polls open at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and close at 9 p.m. on May 18. Around 29 million people are eligible to vote. Exit polls will be published shortly after voting ends. Partial results will trickle in throughout the evening on Sunday and on Monday. Rafal Trzaskowski The frontrunner, 53-year-old Trzaskowski has served as the mayor of Warsaw since 2018. He was narrowly defeated by Duda in the 2020 presidential vote. Trzaskowski's main proposals include increasing defence spending to 5% of GDP, liberalising abortion laws and developing Poland's arms and technology industry, as well as ensuring Poland has a strong position in the European Union. Karol Nawrocki A conservative historian, 42, Nawrocki is backed by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, which lost power to Tusk in 2023. Between 2017-21, he ran the Museum of the Second World War in Gdansk, in northern Poland. He wants to see lower taxes, a withdrawal from the European Union's Migration Pact and Green Deal, and is critical of giving more rights to LGBT couples. Like Trzaskowski, he wants to allocate 5% of GDP to defence. He is currently polling in second place. Slawomir Mentzen Far-right candidate Slawomir Mentzen, 38, runs a tax advisory firm and is a vocal critic of government regulation. His key proposals include significant tax cuts, withdrawing from the European Green Deal and opposing more gay rights. He believes Poland should avoid taking on excessive military or financial responsibilities in the Ukraine-Russia war. He wants to prioritise Poland's sovereignty by ensuring its constitution overrides EU laws. He is currently polling in third place. Szymon Holownia The speaker of Poland's lower house of parliament, 48-year-old Holownia previously worked as a journalist and television presenter. He founded the political movement Polska 2050, a centrist grouping that is now part of the governing coalition. Holownia's key proposals include promoting regional development, improving public transport and increasing access to affordable housing. He wants to reduce bureaucracy, support Polish businesses, and develop Poland's domestic arms production capabilities. The left Three leftist candidates are also in the race, with 43-year-old Magdalena Biejat, Deputy Senate Speaker, having the highest support. She is one of the most vocal proponents of women's and minority rights, and wants to allow access to abortion after a near-total ban on the procedure was introduced under PiS. Biejat's proposals focus on reducing poverty, increasing public sector wages and making housing more affordable. Her programme is similar to that of 45-year-old Adrian Zandberg, head of the Razem (Together) party. The last leftist candidate is 76-year-old Joanna Senyszyn, an academic, lawmaker and former member of the Polish United Workers' Party which ran the country until the fall of Communism. Other candidates Also running in a 13-candidate field is the far-right's Grzegorz Braun, opens new tab, who in 2023 used a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles in the country's parliament, an incident that caused international outrage. Another candidate is 42-year-old Krzysztof Stanowski, a journalists and YouTuber, who has no political programme and says he wants to show people the campaign behind the scenes and raise money for charities.
The Advertiser
08-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Keys to Europe's unsung cities: skip the crowds in these amazing destinations
Paris has the Champs-Elysees, New York has Fifth Avenue. Gdansk has the Long Mile, a simply spectacular collection of ornate centuries-old buildings such as the Artus Court and the grand Neptune Fountain. The splendour of the Long Mile is a reminder that this Polish port city was once one of the richest in Europe, and you will find yourself walking along it over and over again, in between visiting other sights such as the glorious town hall, the charming Mariacka Street, the Museum of the Second World War and the world's largest brick church.
