Dom Zachariasza Zappio

Dom Zachariasza Zappio occupies a historic merchant's house on Swietojanska, one of the oldest streets in the Old Town — the building is named after Zachariasz Zappio, a 17th-century Gdansk headmaster whose library is still in the Polish Academy of Sciences up the road. Since the conversion to a hostel the interiors mix restored brickwork, vaulted cellar rooms and clean modern bunks. The location is five minutes from Dlugi Targ, four from St Mary's Church and two from Mariacka amber street.

Dorms come in 4, 6, 8 and 10-bed layouts, with reading lights, lockers, and shared bathrooms on each floor. Some of the 4-bed dorms sit in the old vaulted cellar and feel like sleeping in a history museum. Private doubles and family rooms are available on the upper floors, some with courtyard views. The stairs are old Polish oak with no lift — part of the character, but worth knowing if you arrive with a heavy pack.

The rooftop terrace is the headline amenity. Open from May through September (weather permitting), it serves €4 Lech and cocktails from 17:00, and gives you sightlines to the spire of St Catherine's and the red roofs of the Old Town. Sunset from the terrace in July is a genuine moment. Downstairs a small ground-floor bar runs year-round with acoustic nights on Saturdays.

A hot-and-cold buffet breakfast (cold cuts, eggs, pastries, pierogi once a week) is included from 07:30 to 10:30. Between the heritage building, the rooftop, the included breakfast and the Old Town location, Zappio is the upper-middle pick — pricier than Dzien Dobry, cheaper than a hotel, and with more character than either.