Things to do in Sopot – 17 tips for the luxurious Polish Riviera

Writer: Helena Bergström

What can you see and do in Sopot in Poland? Sopot is a great little gem: an exclusive seaside resort in summer, which is also fun to visit at other times of the year. Here are our top tips for things to see and do in Sopot.

Sopot in Poland

Sopot can be described as one of the most exclusive seaside resorts in Poland. In the 19th century, the aristocracy from Gdansk and Europe began traveling here for the sea air and health-promoting baths. During the interwar period, Sopot flourished as an entertainment and spa town, and to this day its legacy can be felt in its stately villas, parks and relaxed holiday atmosphere.

We recently visited this gem in the winter, but have also been here before in the summer with the camper. Here comes our guide to Sopot – with both new and old photos.

Sopot is located in the Bay of Gdansk and is part of the “Trojmiasto” (Tricity Area), which consists of Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia.

What can you do in Sopot?

What can you see and do in Sopot? This is a super nice town for those who love beach life, spas, restaurants and a wonderfully exclusive holiday feeling (without it being unnecessarily expensive). Here we have collected our best tips in a list.

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1. Stroll through the center of Sopot

The central pedestrian street in Sopot is called Monte Cassinoand along this lively street you will find many restaurants, cafes, ice cream kiosks and shops.

If you follow the street towards the beach you will arrive Kuracyjny Squarea beautiful square that served as the heart of Sopot during the spa era. Besides the fact that this is a beautiful place, you will also find cafes, restaurants with terraces and sometimes various events and markets.

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2. Go out on the longest wooden pier in Europe (Molo)

The long wooden pier in Sopot (Molo) is the icon and pride of the city. At just over 500 meters it is actually the longest wooden pier in Europe. In the summer it is full of people and restaurants, and then you also have to pay a fee to enter the pier. In the low season it is quieter and free.

3. Sunbathing and swimming on the Polish Riviera

One of the most popular things to do in Sopot is sunbathing and swimming on the long, fine beach. The sandy beach is wide and covered with fine-grained sand. If you want beach bars, music, sunbeds and bars, aim for the beach strip near the Grand Hotel. If you want more peace, you can move west, for example.

The proximity to the center makes it easy to combine beach spots with restaurants and cafes. In summer the atmosphere is lively, while in spring and autumn the beach is ideal for long, relaxing walks.

4. Walk or cycle along the Beach Promenade

The promenade in Sopot is long and beautiful. Joggers, families with children and cyclists come together here. If you want, you can even go all the way to Gdynia or Gdansk. If you don’t have your own bicycle, bicycles can be rented via the app.

5. Check out the view from the lighthouse

The Sopot lighthouse is located near the harbor area and was originally built as a chimney for a sanatorium. Today it is a charming landmark – and those who climb it are rewarded with beautiful views over the city and the sea.

6. Watch “the crooked house”

One of the most photographed buildings in Sopot is Crooked house – the crooked house. The house was completed in 2004 and its architecture was inspired by storybook illustrations by Polish artist Jan Marcin Szancer and drawings by Per Dahlberg. You will find the house in the middle of the Monte Cassino pedestrian street in the center, and if you go inside you will find a small food court.

7. Fascinated by the Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel in Sopot opened its doors in 1927 and has therefore been around for a whole century. Both world leaders and international celebrities have stayed at this hotel. While you can feel the history in the walls, today this is a modern holiday hotel with spa, restaurant and bar, right on the beach and long pier.

8. Enjoy the spa and sauna

What can you do in Sopot in winter? During the cold season it is popular to travel to Sopot for spa and sauna baths, perhaps combined with winter baths for the brave.

There are several spa hotels to choose from. We stayed Hotel Haffnerwhere there is a beautiful spa with swimming pools, saunas and treatments. We can also recommend it M15 Sopot for a wonderful sauna experience on the beach.

9. Eat at nice restaurants

There are plenty of good restaurants in Sopot. The restaurants are open all year round and in the summer there are many cozy outdoor seating areas. You’ll find everything from rustic to good Polish home cooking (try the soup sour and Polish pierogi!) to international dishes and tasty food.

10. “Casserole” flavor

If you want to try something quick and easy, you might want to give it a try casserole. This is a kind of Polish fast food that you often see on the beaches of Sopot: an elongated pizza-like sandwich with ham, mushrooms and cheese, often accompanied by ketchup or mayonnaise.

11. Enjoy lody and gofry – ice cream and waffles

If you visit Sopot in the summer, you definitely won’t want to miss this ice cream (ice) and waffles (waffles). Both sweets are extremely popular and can be found in various stalls in the center and near the beach. The waffles are thick and crispy and are served with various accessories such as powdered sugar, whipped cream, fresh berries, Nutella or ice cream.

12. Try gin

If you like gin, don’t miss a visit 3city Distillery. This is a local distillery in an incredibly neat little building. You can book a gin tasting here, but you can also drop in when the bar is open, often on weekends.

13. Check out art at the city’s art gallery

The State Museum of Art in Sopot (PGS) is well known in Poland and displays contemporary art and classical exhibitions with different themes. The gallery often collaborates with international museums and has a large number of temporary exhibitions throughout the year. We liked it Real the ocean-oriented exhibit we saw while we were here. Extra nice thanks to committed staff!

14. Visit the Grozisko open-air museum

Stronghold is an archaeological open-air museum right next to Hotel Haffner. Here you can see a reconstruction of an early settlement, showing how people lived in the area in the 8th to 11th centuries. There is also a smaller exhibition with objects and information.

15. Walking in nature

It widens just outside the city center Three-city landscape park out – a green paradise with hiking trails, viewpoints and forest paths. You can also visit the area The Forest Opera as well as a half-timbered restaurant (Harnas) and a grave for fallen Russian soldiers.

16. Take a trip to Gdansk

Just a 20-minute drive from Sopot is the beautiful old Hanseatic city of Gdansk. This city was founded in the 13th century and experienced its heyday in the 16th and 17th centuries. Although the city was largely destroyed during the Second World War, it has been restored and is regaining its former glory.

Nowadays you can stroll along the harbour, hang out on cozy terraces or, at best, take a look at the lively market that is organized every year in August. We can therefore heartily recommend a visit Museum of the Second World War.

17. Take an excursion to Gdynia

The third city that is part of the “three cities” (Trojmiasto) is the nice holiday town of Gdynia. This Polish city offers a pleasant experience with a marina, a large Ferris wheel, many fish restaurants and a beautiful sandy beach in the middle of the city.

More to see and do in Sopot

Would you like more tips about what to do in Sopot? Here you will find some more suggestions, both centrally in the city and in the surrounding area.

• Forest Opera is a special arena located in the forest just outside the center of Sopot.
• Haarbar Sopot is something as unusual as a hair salon where you can get a haircut while enjoying a drink.
• Museum of Sopot is the city’s main museum, which tells the story of Sopot’s development from a fishing village to an elegant spa town.
• Alcatraz store (Alcatraz Monopolowy) is a specialized liquor store, with a different environment and atmosphere.

Where to stay in Sopot

There are of course many different hotels and other accommodations to choose from in Sopot. On our last trip we stayed in Hotel Haffnera five-star spa hotel, which also houses a restaurant recommended in the Michelin Guide. We had an excellent room here, with a comfortable bed and a good shower.

The breakfast was absolutely excellent, with a delicious and beautifully presented buffet with delicacies such as meats, good cheeses and exciting mixes.

If you come to Sopot with a camper, there are also several options, with three different campsites in Sopot, all close to the beach.

• Metropolis Sopot is located west of the city center, within walking distance of the city center streets. There are also simpler bungalows and cottages here.
• Sopot 34 is very centrally located in Sopot, on the east side of the beach. There are also simpler accommodations for rent here.
• PARK45 (Sopot Park Camping) is located just past Sopot 34. This is a slightly larger campsite, with bungalows and a restaurant.

How to travel to Sopot?

You can easily reach Sopot by plane or ferry. From Stockholm Arlanda you can fly directly to Gdansk (1 hour and 20 minutes) with Ryanair or Wizz Air. There are also direct flights from Copenhagen and sometimes from Gothenburg Landvetter. From the airport in Gdansk you can reach Sopot by taxi (20-30 min) or train (35-45 min).

Another variant is to travel by ferry, and then you can of course take your car with you if you want. The easiest way is to go Nynäshamn-Gdansk with Polferries or Karlskrona-Gdyna (Stena Line).

More to see and do nearby

Do you have time and opportunity to look around the area? There is of course much more to experience in the rest of Poland. Not far from the Tricity region you will find the beautiful Hel Peninsula, the fascinating Malbork Castle and the beautiful historic city of Torun.

A video from Sopot

Peter has put together a film of our last visit to Sopot (in winter) which you can see here.

More tips on what to do in Sopot?

Have you visited this gem on the Polish coast? If so, what are your top tips for what to see and do in Sopot?