Gdynia

Poland

Gdynia is a port city in northern Poland. Gdynia, together with nearby Gdańsk and Sopot are often referred as Tricity (pl: Trójmiasto). Gdynia was first mentioned in the 13th century as a fishing village. After World War I, it became Poland´s main harbour and the big sea port at the Baltic Sea, which it still is.

Gdynia is one of the youngest and modern cities in Poland. In the early 1900s Gdynia was a little village, but after World War I and establishing the Free City of Danzig, the Polish Government decided to build a deep-sea port. Construction began in 1921. The city rose fast in the 1920s and 1930s, so architecture and planning reflect European trends of the day - Modernism. The city continues to grow to this day. Today, Gdynia is a modern city with a population of a quarter-million and is the second major polish port in the Baltic Sea after Gdańsk.

Gdynia is a relatively modern city and one will not find many historical buildings. The oldest building in Gdynia is 13th century St. Michael Archangel's Church in Oksywie. There is also a 17th-century neo-Gothic manor house located in the Folwarczna Street in Orłowo.

However, what most tourists look for Gdynia deals with its recent past. In the harbour there are two museum ships anchored, the ORP Błyskawica destroyer and the Dar Pomorza Tall Ship frigate. Gdynia is also famous for its numerous examples of early 20th century architecture, especially monumentalism and early functionalism. Recently reconstructed Świętojańska street and Kościuszki square are also worth mentioning. The surrounding hills and the coastline attract many nature lovers. Leisure pier and cliff-like coastline in Kępa Redłowska as well as the surrounding Reservation Park are also popular. A 1.5 kilometre-long promenade leads from the marina in the city centre to the beach in Redłowo. Most of Gdynia can be seen from Kamienna Góra (54 metres asl) or a newly built observation point near Chwaszczyno. You can also take hydrofoil or ship trip to Gdańsk Westerplatte, Hel or just see port.

Gdynia is the only city in Poland and one of the few in Europe to pride itself on such long and accessible seashore. You will easily catch great views of the sea, and also find long promenades, beautiful waterfronts, marinas, yacht clubs and great sand beaches.

  • Plaża Miejska (city beach) is located in the center, next to Gdynia Marina and Bulwar Nadmorski (Seaside Promenade).
  • Plaża w Orłowie is located in Orłowo District, next to beautiful Orłowo cliffs. Reach by SKM Gdynia Orłowo or trolleybus lines 21 and 26.
  • Osada Rybacka (Fishermen Village) is a quite wild beach located in Oksywie district - besides suntanning, you can see beautiful, old fishermen equipment and a funicular for fish transport. It is better to go there in the morning, as in the late afternoon the sun is hidden by cliffs. The beach is accessible by 152 bus line from the city center - get out at the terminus of the line in Oksywie Dickmana direction.

Dar Pomorza

Plaża Miejska (city beach) is located in the center, next to Gdynia Marina and Bulwar Nadmorski (Seaside Promenade).

Plaża w Orłowie is located in Orłowo District, next to beautiful Orłowo cliffs. Reach by SKM Gdynia Orłowo or trolleybus lines 21 and 26.

Osada Rybacka (Fishermen Village) is a quite wild beach located in Oksywie district - besides suntanning, you can see beautiful, old fishermen equipment and a funicular for fish transport. It is better to go there in the morning, as in the late afternoon the sun is hidden by cliffs. The beach is accessible by 152 bus line from the city center - get out at the terminus of the line in Oksywie Dickmana direction.

  • Akwarium.
  • Muzeum Marynarki Wojennej, ul. Sędzickiego 3. Open air museum of Marine Weapons, helicopters, cannons, torpedoes, fighters.
  • ORP Błyskawica, Al. Jana Pawła II. Warship ORP Błyskawica (Lightning) started service in 1937 and operated during World War II. You can see deck with artillery, engine rooms and a historic exhibition display of the Polish Navy.
  • Dar Pomorza, Al. Jana Pawła II. It's the most famous Polish training tall ship. It was built in 1909.

Akwarium.

Muzeum Marynarki Wojennej, ul. Sędzickiego 3. Open air museum of Marine Weapons, helicopters, cannons, torpedoes, fighters.

ORP Błyskawica, Al. Jana Pawła II. Warship ORP Błyskawica (Lightning) started service in 1937 and operated during World War II. You can see deck with artillery, engine rooms and a historic exhibition display of the Polish Navy.

Dar Pomorza, Al. Jana Pawła II. It's the most famous Polish training tall ship. It was built in 1909.

  • Kamienna Góra with nice panoramic view, also possible to see Hel paninsula.
  • Cliff and wooden pier in Orłowo. Reach by SKM Gdynia Orłowo or trolleybus lines 21 and 26.
  • Trójmiejski park krajobrazowy (Tricity Sightseeing Park) - a forest-park surrounding all tricity, with many sightseeing spots.
  • Bulwar Nadmorski (Seaside Promenade).

Kamienna Góra with nice panoramic view, also possible to see Hel paninsula.

Cliff and wooden pier in Orłowo. Reach by SKM Gdynia Orłowo or trolleybus lines 21 and 26.

Trójmiejski park krajobrazowy (Tricity Sightseeing Park) - a forest-park surrounding all tricity, with many sightseeing spots.

Bulwar Nadmorski (Seaside Promenade).

  • Beach: beaches in Gdynia are nice, clean and not as crowded as those in Gdańsk and Sopot.
  • Cinema Skwer Kosciuszki
  • Heineken Open'er Festival. If you plan to come early summer don't miss one of the best European open air music festival with more than 70,000 fans and top world stars. Every year, internationally known musicians as well as Polish musicians add their names to the marquee.

Gemini shopping centre with Sea Towers in the background

Beach: beaches in Gdynia are nice, clean and not as crowded as those in Gdańsk and Sopot.

Cinema

Heineken Open'er Festival. If you plan to come early summer don't miss one of the best European open air music festival with more than 70,000 fans and top world stars. Every year, internationally known musicians as well as Polish musicians add their names to the marquee.

Gdynia is a great place for shopping.

  • Batory, Ul. 10 lutego 11. Modern shopping mall right in the city center.
  • Klif, Al. Zwycięstwa 256. High quality shopping mall not far from the Orłowo cliff.
  • Gemini, Ul. Waszyngtona 21, +48 58 727 99 09. Shopping mall and cinema with a lot of restaurants and small flea market with handmade art work.
  • Świętojańska and Starowiejska. Two main shopping streets in Gdynia.
  • Hala Targowa, ul. Wójta Radtkego 36. Local marketplace with fruits, fish, and some flea market.

Batory, Ul. 10 lutego 11. Modern shopping mall right in the city center.

Klif, Al. Zwycięstwa 256. High quality shopping mall not far from the Orłowo cliff.

Gemini, Ul. Waszyngtona 21, +48 58 727 99 09. Shopping mall and cinema with a lot of restaurants and small flea market with handmade art work.

Świętojańska and Starowiejska. Two main shopping streets in Gdynia.

Hala Targowa, ul. Wójta Radtkego 36. Local marketplace with fruits, fish, and some flea market.

  • Pueblo, ul. Abrahama 56 (entrance on Władysława IV), +48 58 621-60-07. Noon-11PM. It's tough to find a good Mexican restaurant in Poland, let alone Europe, but Pueblo makes a good attempt. Better yet, the servings are plentiful and the price is muy bueno. 35 zł.
  • Barracuda, Bulwar Nadmorski im Feliksa Nowowiejskiego 10, +48 58 620 8000, +48 58 620 4000. Noon-Midnight. This restaurant, right on the shore of the Baltic Sea, serves up the best seafood in Poland, hand down. The interior is a cool fusion of dark and modern, but the ocean breeze and the Sinatra sonnets make the patio far more pleasant.
  • Falla, I Armii Wojska Polskiego 10, 81-383 Gdynia. Noon-Midnight. Really laid back Israeli food. Hummus, fallafal, Baba ganoush etc with a slight twist. Some of the best I've had and the price is really good. Massive portions!

Pueblo, ul. Abrahama 56 (entrance on Władysława IV), +48 58 621-60-07. Noon-11PM. It's tough to find a good Mexican restaurant in Poland, let alone Europe, but Pueblo makes a good attempt. Better yet, the servings are plentiful and the price is muy bueno. 35 zł.

Barracuda, Bulwar Nadmorski im Feliksa Nowowiejskiego 10, +48 58 620 8000, +48 58 620 4000. Noon-Midnight. This restaurant, right on the shore of the Baltic Sea, serves up the best seafood in Poland, hand down. The interior is a cool fusion of dark and modern, but the ocean breeze and the Sinatra sonnets make the patio far more pleasant.

Falla, I Armii Wojska Polskiego 10, 81-383 Gdynia. Noon-Midnight. Really laid back Israeli food. Hummus, fallafal, Baba ganoush etc with a slight twist. Some of the best I've had and the price is really good. Massive portions!

Gdańsk Bay:

  • Pommeranian metropol Gdańsk with a beautiful old town and the biggest gothic brick church worldwide
  • sea resort Sopot with the longest European pier
  • sea resort Puck

Vistula Bay:

  • medieval town of Elbląg
  • sea resort and medieval town of Frombork with the grave of Nicolaus Copernicus
  • sea resort Kadyny with one of the best European studs

Kashubian Coast:

On the Hel Peninsula:

On the Vistula Peninsula: