Winter weekend in Sopot - Spalyx on the Polish coast

Writer: Helena Bergström

Have you thought about spending a winter weekend in Sopot? This exclusive Polish seaside resort, located just next to Gdansk, is best known for its long sandy beaches and great swimming holidays. However, the small seaside resort surprises even in winter!

Winter weekend in Sopot

We travelled to Sopot for a few days in January, on a press trip together with two other Scandinavian journalists. For us it was not the first (but rather the third or fourth?) time in Sopot, but it was definitely the first time we got to experience this little gem in winter.

When it comes to the weather, maybe we were lucky, depending on what kind of weather you like of course. It was right winter when we visited Sopot, with white glorious snow embedding the city in a beautiful blanket. Of course, it is not always like that. In winter, of course, in this part of Europe, it can be minus degrees as well as plus degrees.

Whatever the weather or season, Sopot offers a huge dose of charm, with its grand seaside resort architecture and all the villas with beautiful ornate wooden balconies. It's easy to imagine what it was like here at the turn of the century - wealthy tourists strolling through the town in their beautiful dresses, in between soothing cures and meals in exclusive restaurants.

What is Sopot like in winter?

So, what is Sopot like in winter? Sopot is a small town. In fact, only around 36,000 people live here, and the big tourist flows come in the summer. Before coming here, we wondered if it might feel a bit ”dead” ... ?

We must say that we were surprised by how lively Sopot was in January after all. People were walking everywhere - in the town as well as on the beach - and virtually all hotels, restaurants and cafés were open. The only things that seem to be closed in winter are the ice-cream and waffle parlours, and possibly the restaurants close slightly earlier in the evenings.

The atmosphere in Sopot in winter is really cosy. Just like in summer, it feels like a holiday resort, but with a remarkable calmness about it. There's no need to crowd, it's not hard to find a table in the restaurants and the staff have plenty of time to pay attention to you.

And the prices are much better. Hotel prices are lower, and you don't have to pay a fee to go out on the long famous pier.

Nature ... and skiing!

Sopot is located by the sea and when you think of Sopot, it is often sandy beaches and beach restaurants that come to mind. But the fact is that you are also close to the forest, which rises just behind the upper part of Sopot. There are hiking trails here, and we walked a short distance among the tall trees in the hilly landscape.

There is even a small ski slope with a lift - very popular with local families with children.

In the forest we also walked past a super cosy restaurant, in a lovely timbered alpine style. We had other things on the agenda on this occasion, but if we had been here on our own, we would probably have dropped in for a beer and a soup.

By the way, we also saw people enjoying cross-country skiing - along the long beautiful winter beach!

Spalyx in Sopot

Spending a winter weekend in Sopot is a great way to enjoy a spa. There are plenty of spa hotels and wellness centres in this small town, and in winter they are both less crowded and more affordable.

Hotel Haffner

We stayed at the luxurious Hotel Haffner, which is both nice and in a great location. We never tried the hotel's restaurant, which is recommended in the Michelin guide, but we enjoyed the delicious breakfast every morning.

We also enjoyed the lovely spa, where at 9am we were left to our own devices.

We particularly appreciated the hot whirlpool, but there is also a pool where you can swim, various saunas and the opportunity to alternate the sauna with a cold bath. In addition, you can of course book various treatments.

M15 Sopot

Another wellness experience during our winter weekend in Sopot was the visit to the M15, which is a restaurant with saunas. The restaurant is beautifully located by the sea, and from the sauna's large windows you have an incredible view of the beach and the Baltic Sea.

If you want, you can go straight from the sauna for a refreshing cold bath in the sea. The visit here was absolutely marvellous, and even though it was winter, we met several other guests in the sauna. Simply popular!

Restaurants and other experiences in Sopot

During a winter weekend in Sopot you can combine spas and walks with restaurant visits and other experiences. Most of the restaurants in Sopot open all year round, you can enjoy everything from rustic Polish home cooking to modern international cuisine and fine dining.

The small town also offers other experiences, such as cosy cafés, galleries and museums. And of course, the stately Grand Hotel in Sopot! In addition, it is very close to make excursions to Gdansk or Gdynia. Here you will find all our tips on what to do. What to see and do in Sopot.

How to get to Sopot?

You can easily reach Sopot by plane or ferry. From Stockholm Arlanda you can fly directly to Gdansk with Ryanair or Wizz Air, which takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. There are also direct flights from Copenhagen and sometimes from Gothenburg Landvetter. From Gdansk airport you can get to Sopot by taxi (20-30 min) or train (35-45 min).

Another option is to travel by ferry, and you can of course take a car if you wish. The easiest way is to travel Nynäshamn-Gdansk with Polferries or Karlskrona-Gdyna (Stena Line).

Curious about a winter weekend in Sopot?

Curious about a winter weekend in Sopot, or are summer holidays more your thing? Maybe you've already visited the city? If so, summer or winter? Please tell us!

This trip was a press trip organised by Visit Sopot. All thoughts and opinions are always our own!