Gdańsk once again confirms its position as one of Poland’s strongest tourism markets. This time, though, it’s not about the summer peak season. According to Travelist.pl data cited by Trojmiasto.pl, Gdańsk became the most popular Polish destination for an autumn city break, and the number of bookings rose by 8% year on year. Even stronger momentum was seen in Gdynia, where bookings increased by as much as 83%.

For anyone considering investing in property in Gdańsk and Gdynia for short-term rentals, these are key figures. They show that demand for accommodation in the Tricity doesn’t end with the holidays—city tourism, weekend trips, events, and business traffic can also support apartment performance outside the strict summer season.

But not every property in Gdańsk or Gdynia is automatically a good buy. Key factors: location, purchase price, apartment profile, target group, and how the rental is managed.

Gdańsk leads city breaks—what does this mean for investors?

Just a few years ago, investing in a seaside apartment was associated mainly with the high summer season. But the short-term rental market in Gdańsk is far more complex.

It draws guests by combining multiple demand sources:

domestic and international tourism,
short stays such as city breaks,
business tourism,
conferences and trade fairs,
sport and cultural events,
Christmas market,
an extensive network of air and rail connections.

In Travelist.pl’s latest report, interest in accommodation in Gdańsk rose by 8% year on year. At the same time, the average overnight rate was about 441 PLN, roughly 5% lower than the previous year.

For investors, this suggests a mature market. Demand in Gdańsk is very strong and fairly stable, but competition among accommodation providers is intense.

That’s why, in such a market, importance is growing not only for the location itself, but also for product quality, equipment standards, photos, guest reviews, pricing policy, and professional apartment management.

Gdynia with a 83% rise in bookings—a market worth watching

The data for Gdynia looks even more interesting.

It rose from 7th to 5th in Poland’s most popular autumn city-break destinations. Bookings grew by 83% year on year.

Demand growth also lifted average accommodation prices, from ~340 PLN to ~450 PLN.

So, investors find this two-factor mix especially compelling:

rising number of bookings,
higher average accommodation value.

That doesn’t yet mean Gdynia will automatically become a more profitable market than Gdańsk. It does show, however, that the city has growing potential and should be watched even more closely by people looking for properties for short-term rentals.

Gdynia’s demand profile is slightly different from Gdańsk’s. In addition to classic seaside tourism, events, business, the port, the marina, and the appeal of the city centre and districts near the sea are also important.

At Downtown Rent, we treat the Tricity as one strong tourism region, but we don’t handle Gdańsk, Sopot, and Gdynia the same. Each needs a distinct pricing strategy, positioning approach, and product fit to guest expectations.

Where to invest in Gdańsk for short-term rentals?

There is no single district in Gdańsk that will be the best choice for every investor.

You should consider, among other things:

the investment budget,
price per square metre,
expected revenue,
target guest group,
seasonality,
competition in the immediate area,
investment standard,

City Centre, Główne Miasto, and Wyspa

These are some of the most obvious locations for an investor interested in tourist short-term rentals in Gdańsk.

The proximity to the Motława river, historic sights, restaurants, and the main attractions ensures very strong recognition among both domestic and international tourists.

Still, the most important thing here is differentiating the apartment from competitors.

Build advantages, for example, with:

a balcony or terrace,
an attractive view,
air conditioning,
parking space,
a high finish standard,
an interesting interior design plan,
additional building infrastructure.

Wyspa Spichrzów remains one of the most recognizable investment areas in Gdańsk. However, its high tourism potential goes hand in hand with high purchase prices and a large supply of apartments, so each investment should be analysed individually.

Długie Ogrody and areas near the city

Instead of the strict city centre, locations directly adjacent to it may be an alternative.

Long Gardens and nearby parts of Śródmieście make it easy to access the city’s main attractions and, in some cases, offer a more favourable purchase-to-income potential ratio.

When analysing, look at more than distance from the Main City: building standard, parking access, transport links, and the surrounding investment area.

Wrzeszcz and Oliwa

Wrzeszcz and Oliwa attract a more diverse guest profile.

Good transport links, universities, office buildings, business centres, and access to other parts of the Tri-City mean the property doesn’t have to rely solely on classic tourist traffic.

This may be especially important for an investor looking for a location with potential for both short-term and mid-term rentals.

That’s why, before buying, answer not only this question:

“Where do the most tourists come from?”

but above all:

“Who will be booking this specific apartment for most of the year?”

Where should you invest in Gdynia?

Growing interest in Gdynia makes this market increasingly attractive to investors as well.

We see the greatest potential for the short-term segment primarily in locations that combine access to the city centre, the sea, transport, and service infrastructure.

Gdynia Śródmieście

Śródmieście is the most universal location.

Skwer Kościuszki, marina, city beach, restaurants, railway station, and the business district let you serve both leisure guests and business travellers.

For investors, this means a more diverse base of potential customers.

Kamienna Góra

Kamienna Góra is a location with a more premium character.

High-standard properties work especially well here—especially with an attractive view and a balcony or terrace.

Due to limited supply, however, the entry price into the investment is crucial.

Orłowo

Orłowo is one of the most recognisable and prestigious parts of Gdynia.

The beach, pier, Orłowski Cliff, and the area’s intimate feel offer guests higher-standard seaside relaxation.

In this case, the property’s potential should be analysed primarily in terms of purchase price, the ability to achieve high rates, and demand seasonality.

Redłowo and Wzgórze św. Maksymiliana

Redłowo and Wzgórze św. Maksymiliana can be alternatives to pricier Śródmieście or Orłowo.

Strong city-centre links, close access to the sea, and solid infrastructure help—still, decide only after analysing a specific apartment.

The district name alone does not guarantee a good result.

Gdańsk or Gdynia—where should you buy an investment apartment?

There is no single answer.

Gdańsk is a larger, more mature, and highly recognisable tourism market. It offers large demand at the same time, but it is characterised by high competition.

Gdynia is a smaller market, yet the latest data show a very high growth dynamic in interest.

For investors, the priority isn’t choosing the city; it’s the answer to this

which specific property offers the best ratio between the purchase price and the income you can achieve?

A property bought in a less obvious location at the right price may turn out to be a better investment than a very expensive apartment in the city’s most prestigious area.

Not just the Tri-City. City breaks fuel Poland’s biggest cities

The data for Gdańsk and Gdynia are part of a broader trend.

In Travelist.pl’s ranking, Kraków was 2nd, Łódź 3rd, Warsaw 4th Warszawa, and Gdynia 5th Gdynia.

The development of urban tourism and short weekend trips means attractive investment opportunities are emerging also outside traditionally holiday-focused regions.

That’s one of the reasons why Downtown Rent’s growth isn’t limited to a single market.

Today, we manage properties including in the Tri-City, Kraków, Warsaw, Poznań, Kołobrzeg, in the Podhale region, and in Spain. Downtown’s portfolio includes over 1,000 apartments.

We focus Downtown’s further development on markets that have the potential to generate diverse demand, where professional management can genuinely increase investment efficiency.

We also study other cities and locations, noting, among other things:

the dynamics of tourist traffic,
the city-break segment’s growth,
business demand,
the events calendar,
property prices,
apartment supply,
possible nightly rates,
seasonality,
potential for further market growth.

Is short-term rentals in Gdańsk still worth it?

This is one of the most common questions investors ask.

Just because Gdańsk remains one of Poland’s most popular tourist destinations doesn’t mean every property will be profitable.

The final investment result is influenced by:

purchase price,
precise micro-location,
size,
apartment layout,
number of beds/guest capacity,
floor,
elevator availability,
parking space,
balcony or terrace,
view,
air conditioning,
building standard,
interior design,
furnishings,
competition,
seasonality,
target guest profile,
pricing strategy,
visibility of the listing on booking platforms,
quality of guest service,
distribution method for the offering.

Two apartments located a few hundred meters apart can achieve completely different results.

That’s why it’s worth analyzing the investment before buying the property, rather than only once the apartment is already furnished and ready to be listed on Booking.com or Airbnb.

How does Downtown assess an apartment’s buy potential?

The rental operator’s experience helps you look at the apartment not just as a property, but above all as an hotel-like product that competes for bookings with other offers every day.

As Downtown’s advisory, we analyze, among other things:

the city and micro-location,
existing competition,
accommodation price levels,
seasonality,
the area and layout of the unit,
the possible number of overnight places,
guest profile,
finishing standard,
furnishings,
elements that boost offer appeal,
management model,
property revenue potential.

An analysis carried out before purchase can help identify both opportunities and factors that may limit the future outcome.

Sometimes the investment edge is location. Other times: the right layout, extra bedroom, parking, a terrace, a view, or the ability to tailor a product to a specific guest group.

Downtown Investment Advisory – before you buy a property

Downtown Rent supports investors not only at the stage of later rental management.

Investment advisory—start even before the property purchase agreement is signed.

Compare multiple apartments or projects and judge their future rental-market performance.

In our analysis, we look not only at potential revenue, but also at:

demand structure,
competition,
seasonality risk,
the standard required by that market,
costs to prepare the property,
opportunities to differentiate it,
rental model flexibility.

Our goal isn’t to point to a property that simply “looks good on paper.”

It’s about finding a product where purchase price, standard, location, and revenue potential form a commercially sound whole.

A good investment starts before you buy

Gdańsk’s popularity and Gdynia’s very high reservation growth confirm Tricity’s appeal as a short-term rental market.

Data shows the market is evolving: tourist season is longer, city breaks are rising, and apartment competition is getting more professional.

Simply buying an apartment in a good district isn’t enough.

The key is to find a specific property with the right potential and prepare the right product for the guest.

If you’re considering buying an apartment in Gdańsk, Gdynia, Kraków, Warsaw, Poznań, or another city, it’s worth analyzing its potential before making an investment decision.

The Downtown Rent team can analyze the property’s location, competition, product, and revenue potential, and help prepare it for professional short-term rentals.

Invest with awareness. Talk to the Downtown team about your investment’s potential.

Frequently asked questions

Where should you invest in Gdańsk for short-term rentals?

Most tourist traffic concentrates in Śródmieście (Main Town) and nearby. But that doesn’t always mean the best profits. Choose by balancing potential revenue vs. purchase price, apartment prep costs, and competition level.

Is it worth buying an investment apartment in

Gdynia is an attractive market especially due to rising demand. The latest data on autumn city breaks shows a 83% year-on-year increase in the number of reservations. However, each property should be assessed individually based on purchase price, location, and potential rates.

Gdańsk or Gdynia—where to invest better?

Gdańsk has larger scale and a more mature tourism market; Gdynia’s edge is today’s high growth momentum. For investors, focus on the property price-to-performance ratio, not just the city name.

Is short-term rental in Gdańsk year-round?

Demand is still highest in summer, but Gdańsk attracts guests outside the vacation period thanks to urban and business tourism, events, and city breaks. This allows the best locations to generate bookings even outside peak season.

How can you assess a property’s revenue potential before

Analyze comparable offers in the same micro-location, seasonality, possible rates, competitive standard, guest profile, and the apartment’s features. Downtown can do this analysis before purchase.

Source of data on autumn city breaks: Travelist.pl, based on Trojmiasto.pl.