I have spent a lot of time in Gdansk and it does have a very pretty old section around amber street. The rest of the town is Very industrial. It forms part of Tri city with Gadnyia and Sopot.

Sopot has some nice beaches but that is about it.

As for language Eglish is fine with most service people and all young people. German is also very well spoken as the place fills up with old Germans in the summer.