Part of the Tricity – with neighbouring Gdansk and Sopot – this coastal city boasts a rich maritime heritage, white sandy beaches and striking architecture.
Two museum ships – a fully-rigged tall ship and a decorated WWII destroyer – are the main attractions in the city’s harbour. A 250-yacht marina is also a must-see which – alongside the annual film festival here – has gained Gdynia the nickname ‘the Polish Cannes’.
Nature lovers will enjoy exploring the beachfront woodland reserve with views over the Baltic sea. Whilst families can explore the natural world at the hands-on science museum and waterfront aquarium.
Largely built after WWI, Gdynia is known for its modernist architecture, which can be appreciated on a walking tour of the city. Kosciuszki Square is a great place to start your stroll around Gdynia and leads down to the waterfront, which is perfect for sun, surf, and seafood on a summer’s day.
Find out more and plan your trip to Gdynia today.
Gdynia highlight: Must-see maritime museums
Tourists flock to Gdynia to enjoy the rich maritime heritage of the area. The city’s Nabrzeże Pomorskie quay is home to two impressive maritime museum vessels – the WWII destroyer ORP Błyskawica and the tall ship Dar Pomorza – and there is a walking tour to explore other exhibits in the town.
ORP Blyskawica destroyer
This WWII destroyer – whose name means Lightning – was built in the Isle of Wight in the 1930s. It is now a museum ship in Gdynia and the oldest preserved destroyer in the world. Błyskawica was highly active in the second world war, covering 146,000 nautical miles, and granted Poland’s highest military award for gallantry. Today, visitors can read about the ship’s service in the museum on-board and explore her engine rooms.
Dar Pomorza tall ship
The Gift of Pomerania is a Polish tall ship built in 1909 and lovingly restored. A regular of international tall ship races, she completed 102 training voyages during 51 years of service in the Polish Merchant Navy, traversing half a million nautical miles. Almost 13,400 students of the Maritime School trained on her. In 2018 she sailed around the world in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Poland’s regained independence.
Gdynia Maritime Legend Route
The ORP Błyskawica and the Dar Pomorza are must-sees on the Gdynia Maritime Legend Route. The route includes exhibits up to 300 years old and introduces some legendary figures, including:
- Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski, the visionary deputy prime minister, and minister of industry and trade, who initiated the development of the port in Gdynia
- sailors Mariusz Zaruski and Leonid Teliga – the first Pole to sail around the world single handed
Things to see in Gdynia
Soak up the sun on Gdynia Beach
Gdynia beach boasts a long stretch of white sand, pretty pier, and pedestrian promenade that is popular with walkers, cyclists, and skaters. It is a great place to spend the day soaking in the sun and surf or watching the sunset from one of the restaurants and cafes that line the waterfront. On the edge of the city, it is only a short walk to Park Rady Europy, the aquarium and several museums.
Explore Polish history at the Emigration Museum
Gdynia port was a major departure point for sea liners leaving Poland and now hosts the fascinating Emigration Museum. This large museum focuses on the history of emigration from Poland through the ages, exploring the routes that Poles followed around the world, and celebrating their contribution to global culture.
It is housed in the pre-war modernist building of the Maritime Station, also found on the Gdynia Maritime Legend Route. The building has featured in several Polish films as well as acting as police headquarters in a TV crime drama series.
Enjoy unspoilt scenery at Kepa Redlowska and Klif Orlowski
Perfect for trekking, hiking or just a gentle stroll, this nature reserve takes in beautiful cliffs, leafy woodland, and beaches. Overlooking the Baltic coast, it offers fantastic views, unspoilt scenery, and a welcome escape from city life. If you want to go walking with children, Marszewo Forest Botanical Garden is great for little explorers, with a range of walks and educational activities related to sustainable development.
Immerse yourself in innovative architecture
Largely built after WWI, modern Gdynia was designed by the best urban planners and architects of interwar Poland. Gdynia was conceived as an avant-garde ‘city from the sea’. Along with Brasilia and Tel Aviv, it is the one of the only places in the world where you can see a complete city centre designed and executed in the Modernist style.
The Gdynia Modernism Route is a real treat for architecture aficionados, taking in residential and public buildings in this innovative style. Many of the buildings along the route are reminiscent of ships. Make sure you see:
- the ZUS building at 24, 10 Lutego St. – today home to the City Office
- the Polish Sailor’s House at 3, Jana Pawła II Avenue
- the luxury Banker’s Tenement on the corner of 3 Maja and 10 Lutego streets (its first stairwell is decorated with pre-war lighting dubbed the ‘space eye’)
The tour also takes in Gdynia City Museum, which is well worth a visit.
Visit ‘the Cannes of Poland’
Gdynia’s marina, Poland’s largest yacht port, berths 250 vessels. This is where the world championships in the 29er class take place every year. It is also home to numerous other events including the annual Sea Festival and Open’er festival in the summer.
Get hands-on with science at Experyment
A must-see for anyone travelling with children, this hands-on science museum has fun experiments and educational activities. Children can learn through interactive exhibits on the human body, animals, physics, hydroelectricity and more. Augmented reality demonstrates the greatest technical inventions of the Renaissance genius, Leonardo da Vinci.
Don’t forget…
- The Gdynia Motor Museum has an impressive collection of 20th-century cars and motorbikes - including a Model T Ford and Harley Davidson 42 WLA - presented in atmospheric street scene of Gdynia from 100 years ago
- The Culinary Centre Route is a must for anyone interested in authentic eateries and local cuisine. It promotes restaurants along the trail, run by people with a passion for cooking
- Open to group tours, Poland’s largest amber workshop - Manufaktura Bursztynu – is dedicated to the history of ‘Baltic gold’
- Gdynia Aquarium is home to sharks, piranha, and turtles. Sixty-eight tanks house 250 species from coral reefs, oceans, the Amazon, and the Baltic Sea
Events and festivals
The highlight of the year in Gdynia is the spectacular annual Sea Festival with boat trips in the Gulf of Gdańsk, a night-time yacht parade, tours of ships, battleship displays and lots of concerts and other events. During the Open’er Festival in July you can enjoy global music stars performing live.
March
- Kolosy National Meetings of Travellers, Sailors and Mountaineers
June
- Sea Festival
July
- Open’er Festival
- Globaltica World Cultures Festival
- Ladies’ Jazz Festiva
August
- Gdynia Aerobaltic
- Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia
September
- Polish Film Festival in September
For more information about the city, please visit the official Gdynia travel website.
