Gdynia, Sopot and Gdańsk are known as the Tri-City, so while I stayed in Gdańsk, I was able to spend some time in these neighboring cities as well.
I had taken the overnight ferry from Karlskrona, Sweden to Gdynia; thus, Gdynia was actually my first experience in Poland.
Just as I had arrived by boat, so has Gdynia cemented its value: Gdynia’s history lies in its maritime strength.
Set along Pormorski Quay leading out to the ocean are two of the three maritime vessels accessible via the Naval Museum of Gdynia: Dar Pomorza, the three masted barque built in 1909, served in the Polish Merchant Navy until the 1980s and the ORP Błyskawica, the last surviving destroyer from World War II, was built in the 1930s. The third and newest ship, the 2002 ORP Sokół submarine, sits outside the main building of the naval museum. Since I had just visited a Maritime museum and submarine the day before in Karlskrona, I decided to skip these, but they looked interesting for those interested in ships.
Just across the pedestrian and bike path from the Naval Museum is Plaża Śródmieście (Gdynia’s city beach). Even on an overcast mild temperature day, people were still enjoying the soft sands and beach volleyball courts of the beach.
Unlike most places I visited in Europe, Gdynia doesn’t have an old town. Until the 1920s, it was just a small fishing village. However, after World War I, Gdynia transformed into a “window on the world” port city. Built in the 1920s, the city is modernist at its core, and the Modernist Center showcases the beauty behind the UNESCO World Heritage buildings that are the cornerstone of the city. Modernism is focused on simple design elements, so the exhibit helped me appreciate the minute details of the style.
To get a better view of the city, I took a short ride on the city’s free funicular from the Music Theatre up to the top of Kamienna Góra. While the hill is only about 50 meters high, it still offers a nice view of the Hel Peninsula, city beach, and pier. If the weather was nicer, I can imagine families enjoying the park just below the summit.
A few days later I took a day trip to Sopot from Gdańsk Even though it’s a neighboring town to Gdynia & Gdańsk, its vibe is very different. Instead of maritime history and modernist architecture, Sopot’s history lies in tourism. Nicknamed “The Pearl of the Polish Riviera”, the town soothes tourists souls with its the pastel colored buildings lining Bohaterów Monte Cassino Street, the main pedestrian shopping street, and the soft sands of the expansive beach.
Even the interior of the Neo-Gothic St. George Church features white washed walls and minimalist details to highlight the color of the stained glass windows.
About halfway down the pedestrian street is one building that is unlike the others. The Krzywy Domek (The Crooked House) looks like something out of a funhouse. Built in 2004 by architectural firm Szotyńscy & Zaleski, the design was inspired by fairytale book illustrations of Jan Marcin Szancer. Inside is a food court and a tucked away atrium dining area.
The pedestrian street opens up into large piazzas with shopping areas, manicured gardens and cafes encircling them. Just before the pier is the impressive Sopot Grand Hotel, which commands the Skwer Kuracyjny piazza with its large fountain and covered walkways sporting tourist shops and food stands on either side. The piazza featured an exhibition highlighting the wooden architecture of the city.
This all leads to Sopot’s pier. At 511 meters, the Molo is the longest wooden pier in Europe. Built in 1827, the wide pier stretches out into the Baltic Sea offering benches along each side, views of the beach and grand hotels, and access to Sopot’s marina.
Neighboring the pier and beach is a well manicured forested area with more seating options, fountains, and shaded restaurant patios. The whole city feels made for refined relaxation.
To get a glimpse of Sopot beyond the main tourist strip, I took a walk to the Goyki 3 Art Inkubator. Walking here led me past grand old houses that represent the history of luxury in the town. Goyki 3 is housed in one of these grand houses. They give tours of the house a few times a day (during the week) and feature a two room art gallery for exhibitions. Outside of these public facing options, they are at their heart a place for artists to build a supportive community.
On the way back from Goyki 3 Art Inkubator, I decided to stop into the Dworek Cafe Bar – also inside a historic house. Because it was a beautiful day, I relaxed with a coffee in their lush back garden decorated with large paintings and small water features. However, the interior spaces were cozy and inviting and it looks like they hold evening concerts from time to time.
Based on my June 2026 visit
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