A Week at the Polish Seaside

I have visited the area I come from with a friend. For foreigners, the biggest surprise is that there is actually a really hot  summer in Poland :) As you can see in the pictures, there are plenty opportunities to sunbathe. The big advantage of Polish coasts are the sandy beaches.

A TRIP TO HEL ;-)

We began our trip with sunbathing and some windsurfing lessons. The windsurfing mecca in Poland is the Hel Peninsula (infamous among foreigners because of its name ;-)). The water is shallow even far away from the shore so it is a safe area especially for beginners though more advanced surfers also enjoy their time there. There are innumerable windsurfing centres usually by camping sites which are spread along the Hel peninsula. The best way to get to Hel from the Tri-City area (Sopot, Gdansk and Gdynia form an aglmeration called Tri-City) is to take the water tram. The trip lasts one hour and is the most pleasant and the cheapest way to get there. In Sopot there are opportunitites to enjoy windsurfing as well at Sopot Sufr Centre where you can also book a room in the small hotel just next to the beach.

HEINEKEN OPEN'ER FESTIVAL

The next three-days were occupied with the music feast - Heineken Open'er Festival. Three days of great world music, the stars that year included Basement Jaxx, Pharrell Williams, Scissor Sisters, Manu Chao and others. All nights of parting left us capable of going only to the beach during the day ;-)

Every year the festival is more and more popular among the foreigners due to its world-class standard at incomparably lower prices (270 polish zlotych - lest than 50 pounds - for the 3-day festival including place at the camping site and free buses from the city centre).

SOPOT

Yet from the beach in Sopot it was really close to the town centre with its numerous cafes and pubs.  Stroll down the main pedestrian street - Monte Cassino - is compulsory for every tourist, and to be fair hard to miss as well as it is the very heart of Sopot. In summer it is full of people on their way to the beach or sitting in various cafes. You can also see there one of the popular spots in Sopot - the "crooked house" built just a couple of years ago.

Monte Casino street is also the best starting point for an enjoyable night out. During our week long trip we made quite a tour of most of the places and in the area you can find a place for every taste, from trendy "Mandarynka" ("Clementine) to Ibiza-style "Copacabana" club. The latter one, situated on the beach just next to the pier, is a perfect place to go for a drink during a sunny day.

GDANSK

The next sightseeing spot was the Old Town of Gdansk. This old Hanseatic city, still being the main important seaport in Poland, has a particularly lovely old town. From the main street - Dluga ("Long street") - with Neptun foundain and City Hall you can reach the river bank from where a ship trip round the Bay of Gdansk can be taken. Walking down the river you can reach other lovely streets of the old town like Mariacka street filled with small amber shops worth visiting even if you dont plan jewellery shopping. That day we have also visited the nearby Museum of Amber. Walking further down the river you can see and go inside the medieval port crane - "Zuraw" which is one of the most recognisable symbols of Gdansk.

GDYNIA

Gdynia is usually thought of as the place to work and shop more than sightsee and relax. There are though a couple of spots worth particular attention. After the hustle and bustle of Sopot the beach of Orlowo is worth particular attention. Being located in a walking distance from the SKM stop (see below about the transport) it is also easily accessible. Orlowo boosts its pier from which you can admire the unique cliff.  Later on, after spending a couple of lazy hours on the beach, we have made an hour-long trip to the top of the cliff from which there is a lovely view of the sea, more resembling some Mediteranean coast than what would usually be associated with the Baltic Sea.

This evening we had dinner at Tawerna Orlowska (the Orlowo Tavern). If you go there sit at the balcony! As this restaurant is situated virtually on the beach, sitting there you can admire the beautiful view on the sea over the fish meal. Just next to the Tavern you can buy a freshly smoked fish from local fishermen.

By air you can get to the seaside most easily if you fly to the airport in Gdansk - Rebiechowo to which there are regular flights from more and more cities in Europe. There is also a direct train to Gdansk from Berlin.

To move round the Tri-City area the most convenient way is the local train - SKM (szybka Kolej Miejska - Fast Urban Train) which connects Gdynia, Gdansk and Sopot. Buses and trams though are pretty reliable and go according to the schedules which are shown on the bus stops. Remember about buying the tickets though!!