Tricity has a lot of interesting things to see and do on offer.
Each of the three cities has a different character and is worth a visit. Gdańsk is undoubtedly the star, with its stunning architecture and interesting turbulent history. Sopot is where you can find a lot of wild parties at night but also enjoy the calmness during the day. Gdynia is located along a beautiful beach with many businesses taking advantage of that and is quickly catching up with the other two when it comes to cafes, bars and restaurants.
If you’re planning a trip to Poland and need some inspiration, this article is for you.
Where is Tricity?
Tricity (or Trójmiasto in Polish) is the area in northern Poland, located on the coast of the Baltic Sea, consisting of three big cities: Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia. You can easily reach it by train from many big Polish cities, arrive by ferry or fly to Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport.
Things to do & see in Tricity:
1. Taste regional food at Jadłostajnia Kolibki
Farmer’s market organised twice a week in an old stables building. The farmers and producers come from the region and sell their produce to (mostly) locals – not many tourists make their way down there.
What’s on offer? Vegetables, an array of cheeses, meats and drinks as well as baked goods and seasonal produce. There are also some food trucks and hot meals available (anyone up for some pierogi?).
It’s a good idea to bring cash as not many stalls accept cards. The market is open on Saturdays from 10am till 3pm and on Thursdays from 12.30pm till 6pm.
2. Visit bars & cafes in Dolny Wrzeszcz
A small area along Jana Kilińskiego and Wajdeloty streets right next to the Gdańsk Wrzeszcz train station. Most of the buildings in Dolny Wrzeszcz have been recently renovated and hipsters took over the area.
It’s a good place for an afternoon stroll with a bit of shopping (especially if you’re looking for some vintage clothes), cafes (Kurhaus, Kawiarnia Czkawka), craft beers (Z Innej Beczki) and even a barber visit (Barberian owned by Nergal of Behemoth). If you love ice cream you also have to check out great traditional ice cream at Kwaśniak.
3. Go on a street art walk in Zaspa
Zaspa is a huge set of concrete condominiums which were built in the 70s and 80s on a place previously occupied by an airport. Now, almost all the buildings are decorated with large scale murals, which were painted by international street artists. Currently, the collection consists of over 60 really impressive art pieces.
Read out how to organise a DIY tour of Zaspa.
4. Have a sunset drink in a rooftop bar
Puro Hotel in Gdańsk has a lovely rooftop bar called Ink Above with views of the Old Town and Motława River. The menu features a lot of cocktails, including classics like negroni or martini as well as their creative creations. There’s also wine and straight spirits available.
I usually visit rooftop bars towards the end of visits to cities to see from above the streets I’ve walked and landmarks I visited. And to say “cheers, it’s been a good one”. Cap that with a sunset and you’ll have great memories of Gdańsk.
5. Walk from Kolibki to Gdynia
Does anyone fancy a long walk on the beach? After visiting Jadłostajnia Kolibki we walked from there to the city centre of Gdynia. It’s about 6 kilometres, mostly on the beach – just the last one kilometres is on a paved walkway.
On the way, there are some beautiful cliffs and many opportunities to see various birds and collect seashells. Relaxing afternoon with a touch of work out.
6. Have a glass of cherry juice for adults
Wiśniewski is a craft spirit made of sour (whole) cherries from Polish orchards and aged in oak barrels. They use traditional methods to create their special cordial-like drink. My mum said it tastes exactly like the one her grandmother used to make at home and hide from the kids.
Wiśniewski, at 16% alcohol, is slightly stronger than wine but way weaker than vodka. It’s served with a few whole cherries in the shop and if you buy a full bottle you’ll also have some whole cherries in there.
The bar-and-shop-in-one concept revolves around one product. It’s a good place to start an evening of partying or for an afternoon treat. A bottle of Wiśniewski (sold in 500ml and 700ml bottles) will make a nice souvenir. The product is naturally gluten-free without any artificial additives.
7. Shop at Hala Targowa
Hala Targowa is a large market hall built in 1896 housing around 100 stalls. The building even survived the massive destruction of Gdańsk brought by WWII. It’s been recently renovated and modernised.
The lowest floor features a small museum which showcases archaeological finds, including foundations of a church dating back to 1170. There are also many food stalls on that level. Stalls on the first and second floors are mostly fashion-related.
Outside of the building, on a small square, you can find a green market (called Zieleniak) with fruits, vegetables and flowers.
8. Fine-dine at Sztuczka
Sztuczka is a creative fine dining restaurant in Gdynia. They pair seasonal produce with great wines and, as they’re located near the sea, feature a fair bit of seafood on the menu.
During our visit, the restaurant was quiet and we had the pleasure of meeting chef Kamil who spoke about his food with passion and was interested in our feedback.
If you’re after a quick lunch, check out Sztuczka Bistro in Sopot.
9. Learn about the history of Solidarity at the European Solidarity Centre
The simple and rusty-looking (due to the material used, which is the same as the ship’s hull) building houses a fantastic, interactive museum. Some of the original buildings (the former Lenin Shipyard’s Gate No. 2 and the nearby BHP Hall), as well as the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers, are also part of the permanent exhibition.
I recommend getting the audio tour to get a better understanding of the importance of the exhibits. Don’t try to rush the visit, it will take at least 3 hours and don’t forget to visit the observation deck on the top floor.
10. Give Gdynia a chance
Gdynia, the least visited of the three cities, is often omitted by visitors. Even locals say it’s just the “bedroom”, a place where people come to sleep but they work and party in either Sopot or Gdańsk.
I’d say it’s a great spot for a day trip. Starting with Jadłostajnia Kolibki (see the 1st tip), a walk on the beach (tip #5) to the beautiful marina and historical ships which you can also visit. For lunch, visit Browar Port Gdynia for some good food and craft beers. Black & White Coffee serves good flat whites and if you’re thirsty Morze Piwa has a lot of craft beers to choose from. For dinner go to Sztuczka (tip #8).
12. Walk around a park with coffee in hand
Park Oliwski is my personal favourite spot in the Tricity for an afternoon stroll. Especially when I do so with coffee from the next-door cafe Przelewki in hand.
The park, which was established around the XV century next to a monastery, has changed in shape and grown in size over the years, now consists of manicured gardens and lush, forested parts. The total area is currently 10 hectares.
13. Soak up the sun on the Molo
Molo – the wooden Sopot Pier – is one of the most popular places to visit in the Tricity. It’s over 500m long and has an array of side decks with benches where, even on cold days, many people relax and try to catch some warm sun rays. It’s also popular as health-destination due to the high concentration of iodine in the spots farthest from the land.
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