Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot - tourists travel guide

Let's visit Tricity!

Are you planning a tour around Gdańsk, Sopot or Gdynia? Are you already there not knowing how to plan your stay, where to begin your visit? Are you expecting a visit from your friends or family, and don't know where to take them out, what to show and recommend to them? Our guide will help you reach the places worth seeing in the whole Tricity, get to know the most important historic buildings and monuments, facilities and tourist attractions of Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia.

Tricity in a nutshell

Each tourist city has its own landmarks, its must-see places. In Paris it's The Louvre and The Eiffel Tower, in London - Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, in Warsaw - Sigismund's Column and the statue of The Warsaw Siren, in Cracow - The Cloth Hall and The Wawel Castle. What is the symbol of Tricity which must not be missed? Tricity is not a homogeneous urban entity, but three cities, each of them with several, if not more, of their characteristic features. It is hard to imagine Tricity without Neptune Fountain, the majestic Żuraw crane and the Shipyard cranes - the inherent elements of the panorama of Gdańsk, without the Sopot Pier or Gdynia's cliffs, 'Błyskawica' ship and 'Dar Pomorza' tall ship. It's good to bear in mind, though, that, apart from historic buildings and other popular places, each of these three cities, Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia, have their less touristy gems which we recommend to discover during your personal excursions. One thing is certain - in Tricity you will not be bored: you can go night-clubbing, sunbathe by the seashore, taste the local specialities and take advantage of such wide range of activities, that it may even make you seasick! Here you will feel the sand under your feet, breeze on your skin, you will hear the call of the sea and you will the wind blow in your sails.

Accommodation

If you decide to visit Tricity during the holiday season - it is advisable to arrange your accommodation well in advance: (see our recommended hotels, guest houses, holiday apartments and campsites). Most of them offer online booking.

Transport

Before the trip it is good to choose the transport options. Tricity is easily accessible from any large city in Poland. Choose your own means of transport, bus or train. The PKP train timetable is available on our website Polski Bus coach service has lately become a popular means of transport There are flights to Gdańsk departing from several cities in Poland. If you are planning your trip by plane, arriving at Gdańsk Rębiechowo airport you can use a taxi or public transport, checking the city bus timetable straight after your arrival During your stay in Tricity do not forget about the Rapid Urban Railway (SKM) commonly used by the city's inhabitants You can also go on a sea cruise: take the 'water tram' which will take you to Hel.

Map

If you wish to thoroughly explore Tricity and acquire more profound knowledge of the city, you should go on a guided tour, choosing a guide from the list in our catalogue. You will find our map helpful while you are sightseeing and Gdańsk 4youmobile application will make finding your way around even easier. If you need a printed map and brochures go to one of Tourist Information Centres, where you will find plenty of promotional materials and expert guidelines.

Gdańsk

Nad Motławą A thousand years of history and picturesque seaside location makes Gdańsk considered one of the most beautiful cities in Poland and in Europe. Located in the north of Poland, at The Baltic Sea coast, at The Motlawa and The Vistula river estuary and the Bay of Gdańsk, it is a lively cultural, scientific and economic centre, with a large commercial port - an important point of marine industry. It is popular with tourists, both from Poland and abroad, who are curious about the city's history and explore its monuments, absorbing its marine nature. Gdańsk is the city of freedom, where the ideas of Polish companionship and solidarity were born. The unique "genius loci" can be felt among the Old Town terraced houses, among the shipyard cranes of Young Town, on the sandy beaches and post-industrial halls. The omnipresent freedom in Gdańsk inspires actions, changes people and space they live in. The present day Gdańsk is a city open to new ideas, keeping pace with the changing times; traditional yet at the same time very modern.
Złota Brama Brama Wyżynna i Katownia The thousand-year-old Gdańsk is considered to be the most monument-packed city of "Baltic Europe". Most of the monuments in Gdańsk are located near the most representative passage of Main Town District - the Royal Route and the streets parallel to it, along with the promenade, the Motlawa Long Embankment (Długie Pobrzeże). The best place to start sightseeing of the historic part of Gdańsk would be the Upland Gate (Brama Wyżynna) and the the Royal Route stretching beyond it through Long Street (Ulica Długa) and Long Market (Długi Targ) towards The Green Gate (Zielona Brama). In the Green Gate you will find the seat of Pomeranian Tourist Information Centre (Pomorskie Centrum Informacji Turystycznej). Having crossed The Green Gate, you'll find the Prison Tower (Wieża Więzienna) and Torture Chamber (Katownia), called the Barbican of Gdańsk, inside which The Amber Museum is located The Amber Museum is planned to be re-located to the northern end of Granary Island (Wyspa Spichrzów.).

Just behind it, there is the Golden Gate (Złota Brama) and, next to it, The Court of the Society of St. George (Dwór Bractwa Świętego Jerzego) . Within the area bordering on one side with Wybrzeże Theatre and the Barbican on the other, there is a square called Targ Węglowy, a venue of numerous concerts and other cultural events. Just behind The Golden Gate there is a magnificant view on the Royal Route. The Route is lined with charming, restored houses, whose original construction dates back to the 16th and 17th century. We can see gothic references here as well. The houses used to belong to the most prominent patricians, merchants and senior city officials and spacious apartments were rented to Polish kings. One of the most beautiful houses at Długa Street is undoubtedly The Uphagen's House (Dom Uphagena) - which houses one of the branches of the Museum of the History of Gdańsk. All these magnificent buildings are overshadowed by the beautiful and monumental Main Town Hall (Ratusz Głównego Miasta), the most impressive and most valuable secular building of old Gdańsk, the seat of the city authorities. The dome of the tower, measuring 80 metres, is decorated at the top with the metal, gilded statue of the King Zygmunt August. The interior, meticulously reconstructed, is also worth a visit. (There is an online animation showing the history of The City Hall development.
   

                     Fontanna Neptuna Opposite The City Hall there is Tourist Information Centre, office of PTTK Gdańsk and the souvenir shop with postcards and albums of Gdańsk. You can also hire a guide here.
The heart of Gdańsk, unlike many cities with their central squares, is the Long Market, which along with Długa Street in the 13th century functioned as a merchant route. Here, The Neptune Fountain - symbol of Gdańsk, which has been in front of The Artus Court since 1633, is situated. Nearby, there is the beautiful Golden House (Złota Kamieniczka) and the New House of the Court (Nowy Dom Ławy) with The Lady from the Window ("Panienka z okienka") - a young girl dressed as a 17th century maiden who greets the passers-by every day at three past one o'clock p.m. Tip: There is a place on the Long Market from which you can spot three Neptune statues at the same time - try to find it! If you would like to feel like you are there now - take a look at the Panoramic View of the Long Market. Walking towards the Motlawa river, along Long Street, you reach the Green Gate - a branch of the National Museum of Gdańsk. Passing the Green Gate, you will reach The Long Embankment, where your attention will be drawn by Żuraw,- the oldest preserved port crane in Europe and the iconic edifice of Gdańsk. Further on, going over the Green Bridge you can cross the Motlawa river and get to Szafarnia Waterfront, the city's marina and the Lead Island (Ołowianka).
 

               Zielonego Mostu Tourists like to stop by the bridge which is a popular viewpoint and a perfect spot to take a photo. Turning left behind the Green Gate, you can continue your stroll along the Motlawa river. You will go past the harbour of Gdańsk Shipping Company ( Żegluga Gdańska) where sailing vessels call at and depart to Sopot, Gdynia or Hel Peninsula. A little further, next to Baszta Łabędź (Swan Tower) during the summer holiday season there is a stop of 'water tram' and pirate cruise ship "Galeon Lew". Passing the row of buildings where souvenir shops and restaurants are located you reach the majestic Żuraw - crane, which used to serve as a point for trans-shipment and for putting up masts on ships. It also served as the city gate. Inside there is a reconstructed and fully-operating drive mechanism - an enormous wooden wheel, in the past powered by the strength of men's legs.
The building adjacent to Żuraw crane (the branch of National Maritime Museum) is a modern house, yet designed to fit the historical facade of old buildings around, which houses the Centre of Maritime Culture (Ośrodek Kultury Morskiej) - the newest branch of National Maritime Museum, opened in 2012.
 Żuraw i Ośrodek Kultury Morskie Filharmonia Bałtycka The building adjacent to Żuraw crane (the branch of National Maritime Museum) is a modern house, yet designed to fit the historical facade of old buildings around, which houses the Centre of Maritime Culture (Ośrodek Kultury Morskiej) - the newest branch of National Maritime Museum, opened in 2012. The main seat of National Maritime Museum is situated on the opposite side of the Motlawa river on Lead Island in three granaries of historical heritage: "Panna" "Miedź" and"Oliwski" Another part of Maritime Museum is 'Sołdek' - the ship berthed at the Motlawa river bank, the first seagoing ship built in Gdańsk Shipyard after World War II and one of the main attractions of the city. On the opposite river bank there is Granary Island (Wyspa Spichrzów), the city marina with sailing boats and, along the port canal, Polish Baltic Philharmonic located in the building of the former19th century power plant. Transport across the river is possible on 'Motława' - the seasonal ferry , property of The Maritime Museum. In the nearest future the footbridge leading to Lead Island will be available. Walking along the Long Embankment it is worth to head towards the gothic St. Mary's Gate (Brama Mariacka)leading to one of the most scenic streets of Europe - St. Mary's Street. Its old Gdańsk-style architecture is manifested by rows of terraced houses decorated with gargoyles and narrow, richly ornamented facades. The houses once belonged to wealthy merchants and goldsmiths. Just behind St. Mary's Gate there is the Archaeological Museum.html?lang=en the biggest museum of this kind in Northern Poland, with its collection of over 27,000 archaeological, ethnographic, numismatic and wildlife exhibits. The Museum has also its observation tower, where you can admire the view of the panorama of Gdańsk. St. Mary's Street, narrow and full of amber and jewellery stalls and workshops is surmounted by the huge, monumental temple: St. Mary's Church, one of the largest brick churches in the world is frequently referred to as The Crown of Gdańsk From its 77,6 metres high tower , which you have to climb almost 400 steps to get to, the city panorama can be viewed.