Tricity, or simply Trójmiasto, is a common name for a metropolitan area in northern Poland consisting of Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot. They are situated next to each other, in a row on the coast of Baltic Sea. The population of the Tricity has over one million people, making it one of the biggest agglomerations in the country. But what is most important: Tricity is not a homogeneous urban entity, but three cities, with individual their unique history, features and character. That’s my list of 10 must-see things in Trójmiasto!
Long Market (Długi Targ)
Like with every super old city, the most crucial area is its, core and source, which is an ancient town. The very heart of Gdansk’ is Długi Targ street (Long Market), which used to be the place where the first city market was held. Nowadays, it’s become a significant tourist attraction. It features such iconic objects as 17th century Neptune’s Fountain, the Golden House and the Prison Tower. Długi Targ is also known as the Long Market or Royal Way, which is a showcase road from the old city gate to the Motlawa river. Some of those beautifully reconstructed buildings dating back to the 14th century!
Saint Dominic’s Fair (Jarmark dominikański)
The old town is also a host of Saint Dominic’s Fair, a one of the longest of the city’s traditions. Founded in 1260 by Pope Alexander IV and is still running! Its main attraction is a large market with local and foreign sellers presenting handmade goods, antiques and more. The fair happens for three weeks from the last Saturday of July, and it’s accompanied by a series of events like concerts, parades, street theatre. Every year it attracts about 1,000 artisans, merchants and artists and more importantly, around 5 million people!
Arthur Schopenhauer house (dom Artura Schopenhauera)
Fun fact: on 22 February 1788, in the city of Danzig (back then Gdansk were part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth) on Heiligegeistgasse street 114 (today Św. Ducha 47) famous German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer was born. On February 22, 2008, on the occasion of the 220th anniversary of Schopenhauer’s birth, the President of Gdańsk unveiled a plaque commemorating the life of an iconic philosopher.
European Solidarity Center (Europejskie Centrum Solidarności)
The European Solidarity Centre is a moderately young museum, situated in the Gdansk shipyard. However, it has already become one of the most popular tourist attractions. Both its design and the exhibitions it contains is spectacular. The building is made of steel, and its design resembles a ship, what architects especially appreciate. The Centre celebrates achievements of trades unions and the Solidarność movement and its opposition to communist rule in a series of thought-provoking exhibitions.
Fallowce
Nowy Port and Zaspa districts are famous for their unique blocks called Falowce. The name is referring to their length and shape imitating the sea waves. The most extended Polish neighbourhood is located on the district Przymorze in Gdansk, on the Obrońców Wybrzeża street. That kind of building was built in Poland in the late 1960s and 1970s, but also present in Italy. The building has 16 staircases and inhabited by nearly 6000 people. It looks even more incredible then what you’re imagining at this very moment. I highly recommend exploring it.
Emigration Museum (Muzeum emigracji)
People travelled for sustenance, in search of freedom, or for a different life. The journey was tackled on foot, by rail, aboard ships and later aeroplanes. Almost everyone knows someone who chose emigration. Do you want to feel what someone, just like you, felt, as he was leaving at the end of the 18th century? Or understand what it meant to emigrate by force at the beginning of the war? And what does emigration mean in the era of air travel? Emigration Museum in Gdynia is the first institution in Poland, dedicated to the history of migration. The mission of the museum is, through educational, cultural projects and permanent exhibition, to present the fates of millions of people, who decided to start a new life outside their country. Going to Emigration museum, you will contribute not only to the institution but also a cause!
The Orłowo Cliff (Klif Orłowski)
The 60 meters high slope is considered a natural symbol of Gdynia. It’s also one of the most frequently photographed natural sites in Poland. With banners fluttering in the wind, fishing nets drying in the sun, colourful boats on the shore make this place unique, regularly serving as a background of wedding photo shoots. Next to the entrance to the pier is an old fishing harbour.
Bohaterów Monte Cassino street (Monciak)
Sopot has a unique location: with the Gdańsk on the south and Gdynia on the north, it has become a centre of the universe. During summer, it is one of the most crowded and lively places in the country. Its unique atmosphere owes to the artistic tenement houses, historic villas and one of the longest promenades in Poland. Street Bohaterów Monte Cassino, or commonly known as Monciak, is a vehicle-free pedestrian zone. Filled with restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and nightclubs, Monciak is an eye of a cyclone, during the summer season. More than a million tourists each year, comes not without reason. Among the venues, most popular are Spatif and Sfinks. All because of their tradition of attracting a variety of Tricity’s writers, poets, and musicians, having numerous concerts and making the nightlife anecdotes. And of course, there is a Crooked Little House.
Crooked Little House (Krzywy Domek)
This is unmissable work of modern art architecture. An unusually shaped building constructed in 2004 is a home of numerous bars, cafés and restaurants. Dream nightclub on the top floor can party hard until 5 a.m. In an era of social media, Krzywy Domek becomes ridiculously famous between Instagrammers and no one is surprised by that.
Pier and the beach (Molo i plaża)
Sopot is also a home of wide sandy beach spreading for more than four kilometres. Beach in Sopot is THE beach. A beach of all beaches. That’s a magnet powerful enough to attract thousands of tourists. In the middle of the summer days, Sopot beach becomes one of the busiest beaches on the Baltic Coast. So if you fancy for some beach sports, swimming in the sea, eating ice cream or having a beer on golden sands, that’s a place for you. If you up for quiet and romantic walks with your loved one, Sopot got your back, partner. And just before I finish: did you know that the longest pier in Europe is in Poland? But let me check where exactly… umm, right, in Sopot!
