The Best Beaches in Poland's Tri-City (Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia)

First up is the largest settlement in the Tri-city – Gdańsk. Despite such a coloured history, many tourists that visit Gdańsk spend their entire time in the Old Town area, visiting museums and learning all about the history. This city was one of the venues where World War II began. It was also the birthplace of the Solidarity (Solidarność) movement in the 1980s that led to the crumbling of the Soviet Union. But forget all that – Gdańsk has nature, too, and these are four beaches you have to visit if time permits!

Brzeźno beach, Gdańsk

Brzeźno is one of the busiest beaches on this list. Boasting a 130-metre pier and some fine restaurants, these golden sands make a great day out in the summer. The beach is manned by lifeguards and has changing facilities. There are also some great bars, cafés and restaurants near the beach. It is reachable by tram or bus to central Gdańsk. A cycle path to the beach also makes it a prime spot for keen bikers. You are never short of an ice cream here either.

Jantarowa 1, 80-341 Gdańsk, Poland

Jelitkowo beach, Gdańsk

Further up the coast from Brzeźno, this is the northernmost beach in Gdańsk. Jelitkowo beach also offers some tranquility. Nearby you can find a number of bars, cafés and ice cream vendors that open in summer months. The area around has hotels, and there are windsurfing schools and water sports venues, too, as well as beach volleyball.

Jantarowa 5, Gdańsk, Poland

Sobieszewo beach, Gdańsk

Sobieszewo is actually on an island, and is accessed by bridge from Gdańsk. The Messina Spit is an impressive coastal path, and the beach offers views of Gdańsk shipyard as well as over the Baltic Sea. The southern part of the beach is where Poland’s longest river, the Wisła (Vistula) finally enters the sea.

Lazurowa 10, Gdańsk, Poland

Stogi beach, Gdańsk

Poland may not strike you as a country for nudist beaches. A strong Catholic tradition is echoed by a very conservative and calm population. However, Polish people love their freedom, too, especially on one of their country’s finest sandy spots. One kilometre east of the main entrance to Stogi beach, don’t be surprised to see a few naked people. Although it is not an official nudist beach, in summer months, people often lose their robes and bask in the hot sun.

Wydmy 1, 80-656 Gdańsk, Poland

Main beach, Sopot

Sopot has the longest wooden pier in Europe, at 515.5 metres. It starts at the city’s main beach and stretches out far into the Baltic Sea in the Bay of Gdańsk. Sopot is famous for its late-night bars and swanky nightclubs. In the summer, this attracts the most fashionable party-goers in Poland. The beach is one of Poland’s busiest, but stretches far enough for you to find some peace. Sopot also hosts the Sopot International Song Festival, which started during Communist times and is still the largest such event in Europe apart from the Eurovision Song Contest.

Plac Zdrojowy 2, 81-723 Sopot, Poland

Main beach, Gdynia

The charming seaside city of Gdynia is the northernmost of the Tri-City and boasts three superb beaches. The main beach is right in the heart of the city, just a few minutes’ walk from the pier, Gdynia Marina and the Bulwar Nadmorski (Seaside Promenade). It is also known locally as the Plaża Miejska (City Beach). In summer months, it gets packed.

Plaża Miejska, 81-001, Gdynia, Poland

Orłowo beach, Gdynia

Plaża w Orłowie (Orłowo Beach) is located in the southern part of Gdynia in the Orłowo District. It is quieter than the city beach and sits in front of the beautiful Orłowo cliffs. The train goes nearby, and there are also a few hotels and bars. The beach has a pier, and parts of the beach get narrow during high tide.

Orłowska, 81-980 Gdynia, Poland

Osada Rybacka beach, Gdynia

The final beach in the Tri-City is a quite wild yet intriguing option and is known as Osada Rybacka (Fisherman’s village). It is located in Oksywie district in North Gdynia. Here you can watch fishermen at work and enjoy some peace. You’ll need to get here by bus from central Gdynia, as the trains and tram lines don’t go so close. Gdynia is a sailing city, and this beach also provides a good place to watch the boats in the Baltic Sea.

Kolonia Rybacka 5, Gdynia, Poland