I’ve lived in Gdansk for over twenty years now so I figure it’s about time I promoted the place. It is, after all, one of the venues for the EURO 2012.
Neptune playing football
Is that a football there?
‘Feta’ week, Gdansk
Gdansk, Old Town
The statue of Neptune with the football was in fact on display for only one day, as an April Fool joke on 1 April (Yup, those grumpy looking Poles do have a sense of humour!…) The real statue from the famous historical Neptune fountain was being renovated and it has now been restored to its full glory as can be seen here
Gdansk marina
Leba, gorgeous beaches 100 kms from Gdansk
Baltic Arena
For more about Gdansk:
Should you be here for one of the matches, this is to show you what the city itself looks like and where it might be nice to spend an afternoon or so whiling your free time away. Most of the photos are of Gdansk and a couple of Sopot.
Gdansk shipyard
And let me add that, no, it is not all shipyard and post industrial wasteland though I personally think that is one of its attractions.
Gdansk shipyard
Wałęsa, who else…
Gutenberg monument in our local woods
Sopot beach on a deserted morning
Sopot restaurant art gallery
Gdansk, Motława river canal
a local fish bar, Sopot
Gdansk is part of the Tricity, made up of Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia. The distance between Gdansk and Gdynia is about 22 kms and the three cities are located on the Baltic coast. It takes about half an hour to drive the distance (add up to another half hour during rush hour). There is a local train (SKM) which takes about 45 mins from Gdansk to Gdynia.
Sopot is in between so divide those times in two to work out how long it takes to travel from Gdynia or Gdansk to Sopot.
The main attraction in Gdansk is the Old Town and the canal area and marina while Sopot’s main attractions are its beaches and the lively night life in a beautiful turn of the 19th/20th century setting.
This blog is not intended as a guide, but here is an online guide for Gdansk which could prove useful:
http://www.inyourpocket.com/poland/gdansk
woods at the end of our street, and we live in the centre of town
Abbot’s Palace, Oliwa, Gdansk
frozen over canal, Gdansk
wall art, Gdansk
bird sanctuary, Sobieszewo, Gdansk
Sobieszewo beach, 25 mins drive from Gdansk
local beach where I go nordic walking a few times a week
strolling towards St Mary’s Basilica, Gdansk
piaregan 
Even for me who knows Gdansk well, it’s nice to be reminded how lovely it really is, seeing your photos. You’re lucky to live in the centre of town , yet be able to pop into the forest anytime, or go to a local fish café for a meal on the beach throughout the year. My favourite photo is the very peaceful bird sanctuary one !
Actually had another look at your photos and like the shipyard ones with the “cranes” and artistic wall art and really turquoise blue sky (is it real ????), the one taken on the beach with the waves and shipyard in background is good , (taken from a boat???).
Yup, they are all real! and taken with my basic point and shoot camera, no photoshopping whatsoever! And yes, that shipyard shot was taken from a boat:)
Surfed in via your post on TripAdvisor! I won’t be going to the games, but my husband got a ticket. We rented a campervan and are staying near Stogi Beach and then take four days around Poland before driving back to Dresden, where we live. I think we will stick to the coastline (instead of doing the crazed American thing of trying to drive everywhere in limited time), so any recommendations are welcome!
I have my eye on the Vistual Peninsula and Malbork Castle, maybe Leba or Hel or something too. Not sure yet but I do plan to eat a lot of Pierogies =)
I agree, Sami, that if you have four days it’s better to focus on the coastal area. All the places you mention are unique in their own way. If the weather is nice, and Stogi starts looking a bit busy, you can always head to Sobieszewo (island) which is on the way to the Vistula peninsula. It is quiet and a great place to get away from it all. There is a bird sanctuary where we often head out to for a day; even if you don’t get to see too many birds, you can hear them 🙂 and the beach close by tends to be much quieter than elsewhere. I have some pics up of it on this post.
Malbork castle is also something you shouldn’t miss, and the sand dunes at Leba are something else. I’d say what with visiting Gdansk and Sopot, you’ll have your hands full with your itinerary. Not sure of the best place for pierogi, but if you like pancakes with a myriad of different fillings, I hear this place (on main road as you drive from Gdansk to Sopot, on the left side, behind the large Media Markt and Castorama stores) is supposed to be wonderful:
http://www.manekin.pl/gdansk,dojazd
Have a wonderful time! We cycled past the stadium today and it looks like it’s ready for action! (We’ll be watching on tv)
Thank you so much! I usually plan trips by my stomach, so having good food recommendations is HIGHLY appreciated.
I am excited about the campervan because we are usually tent-backpacker campers, and I think it’s going to be a fun/difference experience. I hope we can find some really nice spots on the beach.
Sami, I am pretty sure you are not allowed to camp on the beach, if that is what you had in mind, but there are campsites which are right next to the beach.
As for planning hols according to your stomach, that sounds like me:)
In fact, I am in the process of preparing a post with places to eat in the Tricity which I should have up by later today. Better late than never!
Mis-type! Meant to say near the beach! Though On The Beach would be much cooler (and not in the Nevil Shute kind of way). `
I am enjoying reading about all of your travels! We are a couple that loves to travel too–part of the reason we left the U.S. for Europe. You should check out my friend’s blog http://www.livingif.com. They gave up their jobs and are traveling the world. I think they’ve been at it for nearly two years! We didn’t do anything so drastic, but it is great fun reading about their adventures.
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Sami, sorry to take so long to reply. I must admit I had never heard of Nevil Shute, to my amazement, when I then read about how esteemed a writer he is. Checked out your friends’ blog, nice way to live!
I’ve updated my post on places to eat in Sopot as well as in Gdansk which you can check out if you like, if you are still in this area. Hope you’re having a great time!