Oliwa Park (Park Oliwski) is a historic public garden in Gdańsk’s Oliwa district, famous for its elegant mix of French-style formality and English landscape charm. Originating in the 18th century around an old Cistercian abbey, the park covers about 11 hectares and is one of the city’s most picturesque retreats. Lush, tranquil, and rich in variety, Oliwa Park features manicured alleys, ornamental ponds, a botanical palm house, and even a Japanese garden area, making it a beloved spot for both locals and tourists.

A signature element of Oliwa Park is its majestic tree-lined promenades. The most iconic is the so-called Hornbeam Alley, where tall, tightly clipped hornbeam trees arch overhead to form a natural green tunnel – walking through it feels like stepping into a leafy cathedral. Perpendicular to that, a straight allée leads the eye to the facade of the Oliwa Palace (now housing an art museum), with symmetric flower beds and trimmed hedges in front reflecting a French formal layout. Nearby, the Great Pond lies serenely, its surface often dotted with ducks and swans; a small island and a Chinese-style footbridge add to its scenic charm, particularly in autumn when surrounding trees blaze with color.

Scattered throughout the park are botanical treasures. The Palm House is a glass conservatory that shelters exotic palms, citrus trees, and orchids – a humid oasis especially popular in winter months. Outside, one corner of the park has been transformed into a compact Japanese Garden, complete with a koi pond, stone lanterns, maples, and a zig-zag bridge, offering a meditative contrast to the European sections. Across the main stream, the landscape transitions into a more naturalistic style with winding paths, wildflower patches, and clusters of rhododendrons that explode in bloom each spring.

Cultural and historical features enrich Oliwa Park’s atmosphere. Near the old abbey walls one finds an herb garden and remnants of the Cistercians’ plantings. A handful of sculptures and monuments dot the grounds, and at the northern edge stands the Oliwa Cathedral, famed for its monumental organ – often, organ music from concerts can be faintly heard in the park, adding to the ambience. Benches are strategically placed along the avenues and by the ponds, inviting relaxation and reflection.

Open to the public daily without charge, Oliwa Park is meticulously maintained by the city. It is family-friendly (with a playground and small rose garden for children to explore) and serves as an outdoor art gallery during certain exhibitions. Illuminated at dusk by charming lantern-style lights, the park in the evening takes on a fairy-tale quality. Whether for a leisurely stroll, a romantic photo shoot under the Hornbeam Alley, or a quiet sit by the water, Oliwa Park is a hidden gem of Gdańsk that encapsulates centuries of garden art and the soothing power of nature.