Where to find cheap accommodation in Tricity during recruitment?

For the summer holidays (July-August), Tri-City public universities are transforming part of their Student Dormitories into hostels for tourists. Most importantly for high school graduates: people taking part in the recruitment process can count on special, preferential rates.

1. Dormitories of the University of Gdańsk (UG)

The University of Gdańsk has accommodation facilities located mainly in Gdańsk’s Oliwa (close to the main campus at Bażyńskiego Street) and in Sopot (close to the Faculties of Economics and Management).

• Advantage: Rooms in Oliwa (e.g. DS 3 at Polanki Street or DS 4 at Wspólna Street) are located several minutes walk from the faculties, where meetings of recruitment committees are held.
• Enrollment discount: Candidates for studies, upon presentation of proof of registration in the IRK system (Internet Registration of Candidates) or a summons to the entrance exam, pay about PLN 70-90 per night in a 2-person room (instead of the standard tourist rates of PLN 150-220).

2. Student Dormitories of the Gdańsk University of Technology (Gdańsk University of Technology)

Gdańsk University of Technology provides rooms in dormitories located in Gdańsk-Wrzeszcz (the area of Wyspiańskiego Street and Siedlicka Street – right next to the main campus) and in the seaside strip in Brzeźno (a great option if you want to combine exams with going to the beach).

• Advantage: Excellent communication. From the dormitories in Wrzeszcz you can walk to the university in 5 minutes, and there are trams running next to it that go directly to the Main Railway Station.

3. Dormitories of the Medical University of Gdańsk (MUG)

For candidates for medicine, pharmacy or physiotherapy, the ideal choice are the MUG Student Dormitories located in the Aniołki district at Dębinki Street (right next to the UCK hospital).

• Advantage: You avoid the stress of being late – you can walk to the entrance exams or to submit documents to the Student Affairs Department in 3 minutes.

School Youth Hostels (SSM): Cheap accommodation with price guarantee

School Youth Hostels are public institutions offering accommodation in a tourist standard (dormitories and private doubles). They are much cheaper than commercial hostels and are subject to strict sanitary controls.

1. SSM in Gdańsk-Wrzeszcz (244 Grunwaldzka Street)

This is an absolutely strategic point for any university candidate. The hostel is located on the main artery of the Tri-City.

• Logistics: Right next to the building there is a tram stop “Abrahama”, from where you can take tram lines 5, 6, 9, 11 or 12 directly to the Gdańsk University of Technology (5 minutes) and to the campus of the University of Gdańsk in Oliwa (4 minutes).
• Prices: A place in a dormitory room (with a student/student discount) costs about PLN 55-70 per night.

2. SSM in Gdynia (20 Maurycego Beniowskiego Street)

An excellent option for those recruiting to the Gdynia Maritime University (UMG) or to UG faculties located in Gdynia (e.g. Oceanography).

• Logistics: The hostel is located in the Grabówek district, close to the SKM Gdynia Grabówek station, from where you can easily reach Sopot and Gdańsk.

Short-term sublease of a room from students (Facebook Groups)

In July and August, thousands of students leave the Tri-City for their family homes or for seasonal work abroad. Many of them have year-round room lease agreements and are looking for subtenants for the holiday period (the so-called “sublet”) to minimize the cost of rent payments.

For university candidates, this is a great chance to rent a fully equipped student room in districts such as Przymorze, Zaspa or Żabianka for a few days or weeks for a fraction of the market price.

Where to look for such offers?

Search on Facebook on student and local groups:

• “Flats/rooms Gdańsk Sopot Gdynia – for rent”
• “UG – rooms, apartments, roommates”
• “Gdańsk University of Technology – rooms/apartments”

Often, students offer a single room for a period of 3-5 days at a price of PLN 50-80 per night, simply wanting to recoup part of the cost of the utility fee. This is a much more comfortable and private option than a dormitory room in a hostel.

Commuting logistics and district selection: How to save time and money?

When choosing accommodation for the duration of the recruitment process, you must take into account the topography of the Tri-City. The most expensive and most crowded in the summer season is Sopot and the Main Town in Gdańsk (Śródmieście) – avoid these locations if you want to save money.

Recommended, cheaper districts with excellent access:

Practical tips for a candidate to study in the Tri-City

To make the recruitment process stress-free, implement these practical rules at the stage of booking accommodation:

• Print the confirmation from the IRK/recruitment system: Without this document, the receptions in the UG or Gdańsk University of Technology dormitories will not grant you a preferential rate for the candidate and you will pay the full commercial amount.
• Buy a 24-hour metropolitan ticket (MZKZG): If you have to travel between Gdynia (UMG) and Gdańsk (UG/PG) in one day, single-use tickets will ruin your budget. The MZKZG daily ticket allows for unlimited rides on trams, buses, trolleybuses and SKM trains throughout the Tri-City.
• Avoid taxis without an app: Use only apps (Uber, Bolt, Freenow) or public transport (WTP/ZTM). Traditional taxis caught at the Main Railway Station in Gdańsk or Gdynia in the summer season use astronomical tourist tariffs.
• Book your accommodation in advance: Don’t wait until the last minute. Entrance exams for architecture (PG) or art faculties (ASP) take place on specific dates, which you will find out in advance in the recruitment system. Places in School Youth Hostels for July and August are sold out in May.

Entrance exams and recruitment formalities in the Tri-City do not have to involve spending a fortune on accommodation during the peak tourist season. The most cost-effective and safe choice for high school graduates are the summer dormitory bases of UG, PG and MUG, which offer special discount tariffs for candidates. Alternatives are School Youth Hostels (SSM) and short-term sublease of student rooms via Facebook groups.

When planning a trip, choose sleeping districts (Zaspa, Przymorze, Gdynia-Chylonia) with direct access to tram lines or high-speed urban railway stations (SKM-ki).

Niche Dormitories & Arts/Sports Dormitories – Hidden Accommodation Pearls

While most candidates storm the accommodation bases of the University of Gdańsk and the University of Technology, on the summer market there are excellent, and almost completely omitted accommodation options run by other universities and care facilities.

1. Dormitories of the Academy of Physical Education and Sport (AWFiS) – Czyżewskiego Street

Located in Gdańsk’s Żabianka, on the border with Sopot. It is an absolutely strategic location for anyone who takes exams at UG (the campus in Oliwa is one SKM stop or a 15-minute walk away) or at Gdańsk Tech.

• Why is no one writing about it? AWFiS students finish the session and summer camps very quickly, which means that the local Student Dormitories (e.g. DS “Olimpijczyk”) have free rooms at the beginning of July. Prices for candidates from outside the university are often lower here than at the University of Gdańsk and oscillate around PLN 60-80 per day.

2. Student Houses of the Academy of Music (aMuz) – Łąkowa Street

Located in the Lower Town of Gdańsk. Although it is close to the tourist city center, Łąkowa Street is located off the beaten track of the main trails of the Dominican Fair.

• Advantage: The rooms in the “Red Bridge” dormitory are soundproofed (due to the musicians practicing), which guarantees perfect silence for studying before the entrance exam. A tram ride to MUG or PG takes a maximum of 15 minutes.

3. Bursa Gdańska – Piramowicza Street (Wrzeszcz) and Podwale Staromiejskie Street

School dormitories for secondary youth are transformed into cheap workers’ and student hostels for the duration of the holidays. The dormitory at Piramowicza Street is a masterpiece of location – it is located in the heart of Wrzeszcz, right next to the Gdańsk University of Technology and the Gdańsk Wrzeszcz railway station. Reservations are made directly through the secretariat of the facility, bypassing the commissions of portals such as Booking.com.

Religious and parish houses – “Ultra-quiet” option close to MUG and UG

For people who need absolute peace, sterile cleanliness and conditions conducive to maximum concentration, guest rooms in religious houses are an excellent (and extremely cheap) alternative. You don’t have to be a religious person to use them – there is simply strict observance of the night silence and the rules of the facility.

Verified addresses in the Tri-City:

• Religious House of the Pallottine Fathers (Gdańsk, 3 Skłodowska-Curie Street): Located directly in the Aniołki district, just a 2-minute walk from the main buildings of the Medical University of Gdańsk. They offer modest but very clean single and double rooms at prices much lower than the surrounding hostels.
• Guest rooms at the parish of St. Joseph (Gdynia-Leszczynki, Ramułta Street): An excellent transfer point, close to the SKM Gdynia Leszczynki station. Ideal for those taking the Maritime University exam.

The gray area of “silent subletting” on Facebook – Risks and how to protect yourself

Browsing through housing groups in July 2026, you will come across dozens of offers for short-term sublease of rooms from students. In most cases, it is the so-called unofficial sublease, without the knowledge and consent of the owner of the apartment.

How to minimize the risk when subletting from a student?

• Request consent in writing: Ask the student offering the room if they have the owner’s written consent to sublet (the so-called sublease clause in the main agreement).
• Never pay the whole thing in advance online: In the summer season, fraudsters massively create fake student profiles, offering non-existent rooms in Żabianka or Zaspa and demanding an advance (e.g. PLN 150) with Blik. Make a cash or transfer only after physically entering the apartment and receiving the keys.

Avoiding the “zone of impact” of the Dominican Fair 2026

In 2026, the St. Dominic’s Fair in Gdańsk takes place from the end of July to mid-August. This event completely paralyzes the city center of Gdańsk in terms of transport and prices. Accommodation prices in the area of Długa, Szeroka, Ogarna or Podwala Staromiejskiego streets increase by 300%.

If your exams take place during this period, categorically avoid booking accommodation within a radius of 3 km from Gdańsk Główny.

Where to look for an alternative? Gdańsk South and Fast Tram

Instead of Śródmieście, choose the southern districts, such as Chełm, Ujeścisko or Łostowice. Although they are located far from the sea, they are connected to the center and Wrzeszcz by fast tram lines (e.g. lines 2, 4, 6, 12).

• Advantage: An overnight stay in a guest room in Chełm during the Fair costs a fraction of the price of a room in the center, and by tram line 6 you can get directly to the Gdańsk University of Technology (stop “Politechnika”) or the University (stop “Uniwersytet”) without standing in traffic jams.

The FALA system in 2026 – How to pay less for travel to exams?

In 2026, the FALA System – an integrated ticketing system connecting SKM, trams and buses in Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia – is fully operational throughout the Pomeranian Voivodeship. As a college candidate, you can use it to significantly reduce the cost of travel between colleges.

How does it work in practice?

• Download the FALA app and create an account before you arrive in the Tri-City.
• Register your valid school ID card (high school graduate) in the system. Thanks to this, the system will automatically assign to your profile a 51% discount for railway crossings (SKM/Polregio) and 50% for public transport (ZTM Gdańsk, ZKM Gdynia).
• Use “Tapping” (Check-in / Check-out): When entering the tram or on the SKM platform, put your payment card or phone with the application to the FALA reader. The system will choose the cheapest route fare and settle the ride taking into account your student/pupil discounts, so you don’t have to buy expensive paper tickets or wonder whether you need a single or temporary ticket.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. As a university candidate, can I also book a room in a dormitory for a parent who comes with me?

Yes, most Tri-City universities (e.g. UG and Gdańsk Tech) allow you to book a double room for a candidate and their guardian (e.g. a parent). The guardian may be accommodated in the same room, however, depending on the regulations of a given university, he or she may be subject to a tourist rate or a slightly increased preferential rate. It is worth verifying the detailed rules directly with the administration of the selected Student Dormitory before making a reservation.

2. Do School Youth Hostels (SSM) require a school ID?

Yes, in order to take advantage of the cheapest rates (statutory discount for pupils and students), you must present a valid school (or student) ID. If you have already graduated from high school and are waiting for the results of the admission, your school ID card remains valid until September 30 of the year in which you graduate. This entitles you to discounted public transport and discounts in hostels and museums throughout your holiday.

3. Where to eat a cheap and nutritious meal near the campus of the Gdańsk University of Technology in Wrzeszcz?

Apart from the aforementioned “Akademicki” milk bar on Grunwaldzka Avenue, in the vicinity of Gdańsk Tech (especially around Siedlicka and Narutowicza Streets) there are many student catering outlets. It is worth taking a look at the student canteen in the Main Building of Gdańsk University of Technology or use the numerous booths with casseroles and kebabs in the area of the SKM Gdańsk Politechnika station.

4. Does booking accommodation in a dormitory for the duration of the recruitment process guarantee me a place in this dormitory from October?

No. Booking a room in the summer dormitory accommodation base (July-August) is an independent commercial (hostel) procedure and has no impact on the subsequent process of allocating places in Student Dormitories for the academic year 2026/2027. From October, you must submit a separate social application for a place in a dormitory through the USOSweb system after receiving the official student status of a given university.

5. What should I do if I am late for the last SKM after evening exams or integration?

The Tri-City has a great night transport network. Between Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia, SKM trains run throughout the night (with less frequency than during the day) and night buses of the N1 line (connecting Gdańsk with Gdynia via Sopot). Night stops are located at the main interchanges (e.g. at the Main Railway Station in Gdańsk or Sopot). The cost of a night ticket is the same as a day ticket, allowing you to safely return to the hostel at any time.