Prices in złoty can be better than downtown
Aelia Duty Free sits airside in Terminal T1, right after passport control for non-Schengen departures. It’s the main walk-through shop before you reach the gates, so you almost can’t miss it on the way to boarding. If you want Polish vodka or chocolate without hunting around Gdańsk, this is your one-stop at the airport.
The shop carries standard duty free stock: spirits, wine, cigarettes, skincare, perfume, plus sweets and small souvenirs. You’ll see big Polish brands like Żubrówka on the shelves alongside global labels. Bottle prices on 0.7L spirits can undercut city supermarkets, especially on multi-buy deals, but cosmetics often match regular high-street pricing. Pay in zł, card, or euros, though paying in PLN usually works out cheaper than the airport’s card DCC in EUR.
Aelia in T1 typically opens from the first departures wave around 04:00 until the last evening flights, often past 22:00. That covers most LOT, Ryanair and Wizz Air non-Schengen runs. If you have a tight 30–40 minute turnaround between security and boarding, you can still duck through the shop, but don’t plan big browsing right before a 06:00 Ryanair gate call.
Staff speak Polish and English, and prices are clearly marked in złoty with duty free allowances posted near the tills. Expect standard airport markups on perfume and skincare, but look for promo stands with “2 for” alcohol deals and multipack chocolates. Practical move: take photos of receipts and boxes, as some non-EU destinations check quantities against the EU allowance on arrival.