To visit ...
Sopot is one of the country’s most famous towns and is extremely fashionable particularly in the summer months when it often feels that half of the capital has decamped here to see and be seen.
The town’s reputation was built during the late years of the 19th century and the first few decades of the 20th when, as part of the German Empire and then as a part of the Free City of Gdansk, it became the summer home and playground for many of Europe’s ruling classes.
Today, Sopot is once again a hip and happening place with its trendy nightlife while its sandy and sheltered beaches and range of top class hotels and spas are once again attracting an international audience drawn by its beauty and value for money. Kilometres of cycle routes and forest paths also make it ideal for those who like active forms of relaxation while visiting in the warm summer months opens up loads of opportunities for things to do on the sea.
Visit off season in a laid-back atmosphere and find a pretty little town with some very good restaurants ...
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The Molo in Sopot
Sopot's pier provides stunning views of the sea by day and night.
The pier was built in 1827 by a doctor in Napoleon's army and has been renovated several times. At 511m, it's the longest in the Baltic region and the longest wooden pier in Europe A spa garden with rounded pergolas and a fountain marks the entrance to the pier, from which a sandy beach stretches to either side. The pier was re-opened to its full length in July 2011 with the completion of a brand new marina at its tip as well as the construction of a restaurant and a raised viewing platform.
While Poland is fast becoming a typical European country there are still certain traditions and laws which the foreign visitor should be aware of.
Gdansk has a thousand-year history, a location at the crossroads of important commercial and communication routes, an extensive port and mercantile traditions - all this makes it a meeting place of many cultures, nationalities and denominations. It is the historical capital of Gdańsk Pomerania and the largest city of Kashubia. The city was close to the former late medieval boundary between West Slavic and Germanic seized lands and it has a complex political history with periods of Polish rule, periods of German rule, and extensive self-rule, with two spells as a free city. Between the World Wars, the Free City of Danzig was in a customs union with Poland and was located between German East Prussia and the "Polish corridor" to the sea where the harbour of Gdynia grew up. Gdańsk has been part of modern Poland since 1945.
Travel from Sopot to Gdansk in less than 20 min by train.
The name of the train station in Gdansk is ‘Gdansk Glowny’.
Immerse yourself in Gdansk
Hel Peninsula
Surrounded by the waters of the Baltic Sea on three sides, Hel is a unique town in Poland – and each year it attracts thousands of people wanting to spend time at the seaside. Hel offers them exceptional holiday opportunities, full-time relaxation on the beaches and a famous seal centre, the only one in Poland.
During the summer plenty of people relax here in private houses, on camping sites and in guesthouses. you are going to visit Hel, why not drop in to seal centre at the Hel Marine Station?
It is a breeding centre for seals, which are later released to help re-establish the species in the Baltic Sea. It is definitely the biggest attraction for children here. The Museum of Fishing is also worth seeing – located in a former church with a high tower from which you can admire the beautiful landscape. The second most popular spot for visiting is a lighthouse dating from the early 19th century.
Galeria Baltycka
Gdansk's biggest and most popular shopping gallery can be found in the the district of Wrzeszcz at the junction of the main Tri-city road (al. Grunwaldzka) and the main road to the airport (ul. Slowackiego). You’ll find over 200 stores, boutiques, cafes and restaurants set in a state of the art building with headline stores including a three-level H&M, Peek & Cloppenberg, Tommy Hilfiger and Zara.
The mall is located in front of the « Gdansk-Wrzeszcz » railroad station and can also be reached by trams 6, 9, 11 and 12 from Gdansk, city centre, while Neptun taxis charge approximately 30zl one-way.
Aquapark Sopot
Looking to relax, have fun with friends, or throw an original birthday party? Visit Aquapark Sopot.
The water attractions it provides have been made available with clients of all ages in mind. Adults and young people will take advantage of our leisure pools, whirlpools, hydro massage, our 'wild river' and our slides, while the little ones can splash in a wading pool with a slide and water toys. Besides pools, Aquapark also operates The Sauna World, bowling facilities, and a Pick&Roll club.
Solidarity Museum
This museum, opened on the 20th anniversary of the 1980 shipyard strikes, traces the history of the Solidarity movement and Poland's struggle to wriggle out of the grip of communism. The 'Roads to Freedom' multimedia exhibit consists of two parts; in the outdoor portion you'll see a section of the Berlin Wall beside the wall Lech Walesa climbed to lead the shipyard workers, an armoured tank used to put down demonstrations and more. Inside, elaborate dioramas and props recreate the bare cupboards and empty shop shelves with only lard and vinegar of Poland in the 80s. Slideshows and crackling film-reels tell the stories of the political uprisings and the nightmare of martial law. The famous 21 demands of the August 1980 shipyard strike, handwritten on plywood boards and honoured by UNESCO's 'World Heritage List,' are also on display along with letters of support from all over the world.
The well-presented museum is sure to leave a strong impression, particularly of Polish sacrifice.
From the twentieth century tourists came to Sopot to enjoy the sea, and people in poor health to heal with the help of a dip in specialized centers of medicine water. An important feature for the spa of Sopot was the discovery at the turn of the century medicated saline groundwater resources.
Sopot thanks to its location, infrastructure and medical tourism is one of the most visited spas in Poland. You can heal yourself and prophylactically strengthen health, which is supported by the beautiful surroundings and the general atmosphere of relax and recreation.
Health Resort & Spa
Open Air Festival
The Open'er Festival is a music festival which takes place on the North coast of Poland, in Gdynia.
At the beginning of July the Baltic Sea metropolis of Tricity plays host to Open’er, Poland’s best known outdoor festival and one of Europe’s biggest
Opera Lesna Sopot
One of the country’s most famous stages and without question its most wonderfully located is Sopot’s Opera Leśna (Forest Opera), a magical open-air theatre nestled in the middle of a serene hilly forest in the western district of the city.A rebuilding programme in the years 2009-12 now sees it marry its unique location with 21st century facilities and one of the best sound and vision systems in Europe.
