Things to do in Sopot - 17 tips for Poland's luxurious Riviera

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | What to see and do in Sopot, Poland? Sopot is a fantastic little gem – an exclusive seaside resort in the summer, but also a great place to visit at other times of the year. Here are our top picks for things to see and do in Sopot.

Sopot in Poland

We recently visited this little gem in winter, but we have also been here several times in the summer with a camper van. Sopot is a lovely town with a long, beautiful beach and many nice restaurants, while being close to the larger cities of Gdansk and Gdynia.

1. strolling in the centre of Sopot

The central pedestrian street in Sopot is called Monte Cassino, and along this busy street you'll find plenty of restaurants, cafés, ice-cream parlours and shops.

If you follow the street towards the beach you will reach Skwer Kuracyjny, a beautiful square that during the spa era served as the heart of Sopot. Apart from being a beautiful place, you will also find here cafés, restaurants with outdoor seating and sometimes various events and markets.

2. Go out on Europe's longest wooden pier (Molo)

The long wooden pier in Sopot (Molo) is the city's icon and pride. At just over 500 metres, it is actually the longest wooden pier in Europe. In the summer, the pier is crowded with people and restaurants, and you have to pay a fee to enter. In the off-season, it's quieter and free of charge.

3. Sunbathing and swimming on the Polish Riviera

One of the most popular things to do in Sopot is to sunbathe and swim at the long fine beach. The sandy beach is wide and covered with fine-grained sand. If you want beach bars, music, sun loungers and a good walk, head for the beach strip near the Grand Hotel. If you want more peace and quiet, you can head in a westerly direction.

Its proximity to the city centre makes it easy to combine beach hanging with restaurants and cafés. In summer the atmosphere is lively, while in spring and autumn the beach is perfect for long, leisurely walks.

4. Walk or cycle along the seafront

The seafront promenade in Sopot is both long and beautiful. Joggers, families with children and cyclists all mix here. In fact, you can go all the way to Gdynia or Gdansk if you wish. If you don't have your own bike, there are bikes for hire using the app.

5. See the view from the lighthouse

Sopot Lighthouse is located in the harbour area and was originally built as a chimney for a sanatorium. Today, it's a charming landmark - and those who climb up are rewarded with fine views of the city and sea.

6. Check out the ”crooked house”

One of the most photographed buildings in Sopot is Krzywy domek - the crooked house. Completed in 2004, the architecture is inspired by storybook illustrations by Polish artist Jan Marcin Szancer and drawings by Per Dahlberg. You'll find the house in the middle of the Monte Cassino pedestrian street in the city centre, and if you go inside you'll find a small food court.

7. Fascinated by the Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel in Sopot opened its doors in 1927 and has been around for a century. It has hosted world leaders and international celebrities alike. While you can feel the history in the walls, today it is a modern holiday hotel with a spa, restaurant and bar, right next to the beach and the long pier.

READ MORE: Grand Hotel in Sopot - a century of dramatic history

8. Enjoy the spa and sauna

What to do in Sopot in winter? During the cold season, it is popular to travel to Sopot for spas and saunas, perhaps combined with winter swimming for the brave.

There are several different spa hotels to choose from. We stayed at Hotel Haffner, where there is a nice spa area with pools, saunas and treatments. We can also recommend M15 Sopot for a great sauna experience by the beach.

READ MORE: Winter weekend in Sopot - Spalyx on the Polish coast

9. Eat at great restaurants

There are plenty of good restaurants in Sopot. Restaurants are open all year round, and in summer you can find many cosy outdoor seating areas. You'll find everything from rustic and delicious Polish home cooking (try the soup zurek and Polish pierogi!) to international cuisine and fine dining.

READ MORE: 5 restaurants in Sopot that you don't want to miss

10. Taste the ”zapiekanka”

If you want to try something quick and easy to eat, you might want to try zapiekanka. This is a kind of Polish fast food that you often see on the beaches of Sopot - an oblong pizza-like sandwich with ham, mushrooms and cheese, often accompanied by ketchup or mayonnaise.

11. Indulge in lody and gofry - ice cream and waffles

If you're visiting Sopot in summer, you won't want to miss lody (ice cream) and gofry (waffles). These two sweets are immensely popular, and can be found in various stalls in the city centre and near the beach. The waffles are thick and crispy, and are served with various toppings such as icing sugar, whipped cream, fresh berries, Nutella or ice cream.

12. try gin

If you like gin, you won't want to miss a visit to 3city distillery. This is a local distillery located in an incredibly neat little room. You can book a gin tasting here, or you can pop in when the bar is open, which it often is at weekends.

13. See art at the city art gallery

The State Art Museum in Sopot (PGS) is well known in Poland and organises contemporary and classic exhibitions on various themes. The gallery often collaborates with international museums and organises a large number of temporary exhibitions throughout the year. We liked really the sea-orientated exhibition we saw when we were here. It was especially good thanks to the dedicated staff!

14. visit the Grodzisko Open Air Museum

Grodzisko is an open-air archaeological museum located right next to the Hotel Haffner. Here you can see a reconstruction of an early settlement, which shows how people lived in the area in the 800-1000s. There is also a small exhibition with artefacts and information.

15. Hiking in nature

Just outside the city centre Tri-City Landscape Park is a green paradise with hiking trails, viewpoints and forest paths. In the area you will also find The Forest Opera as well as a timber-framed restaurant (Harnas) and a grave site of fallen Russian soldiers.

16. Take a trip to Gdansk

Just 20 minutes from Sopot by car is the beautiful old Hanseatic city of Gdansk. This city was founded in the 13th century and had its heyday in the 16th and 17th centuries. Although the city was largely destroyed during World War II, it has been restored to its former glory.

Today, you can stroll along the harbour, hang out in cosy outdoor cafes or, at best, take in the bustling city centre. market which is organised every year in August. We can also highly recommend a visit to Museum of the Second World War.

READ MORE: Gdansk in Poland - tips for things to see and do

17. Take a trip to Gdynia

The third city included in the “tri-city” (Trojmiasto) is the lovely holiday town of Gdynia. This Polish city offers a pleasant experience with a marina, a large Ferris wheel, lots of fish restaurants and a nice sandy beach in the centre of town.

READ MORE: Things to do in Gdynia, Poland - our top 9 tips

More to see and do in Sopot

Want even more tips on things to do in Sopot? Here are some more suggestions, both in the centre of town and in the surrounding area.

• Forest Opera is a special arena located in the forest just outside the centre of Sopot.
• Hair Bar Sopot is something as unusual as a hairdressing salon where you can get a haircut while having a drink.
• Museum of Sopot is the city's main museum, which tells the story of Sopot's development from a fishing village to an elegant spa town.
• Sklep Alcatraz (Alcatraz Monopolowy) is a specialised liquor store, with a different environment and atmosphere.

Where can you stay in Sopot or park your camper?

Best areas to live in and explore

• City center (Monte Cassino) – Perfect for those who want to be within walking distance of restaurants, shopping, nightlife and the city's main attractions.
• Beach area – Suitable for those who want to wake up near the sea and be able to walk directly onto the beach.
• South Sopot – A quieter area with beautiful villas, parks and proximity to both the city center and the beach.
• North Sopot – Popular for its green areas, nice walking trails and proximity to the forest and nature reserve.

There are, of course, plenty of hotels and other types of accommodation to choose from in Sopot. During our last trip we stayed at Hotel Haffner, which is a five-star spa hotel, which also houses a restaurant recommended in the Michelin guide. We had an excellent room here, with comfortable bed and good shower.

The breakfast was excellent, with a delicious and nicely laid out buffet with delicacies such as cold meats, tasty cheeses and exciting spreads.

If you're coming to Sopot by campervan, there are also several options, with three different campsites in Sopot, all of which are close to the beach.

Pitches and campsites

• Metropolis Sopot is located to the west of the city centre, within walking distance of the main streets. There are also simple bungalows and cottages.
• Sopot 34 is located in the very centre of Sopot, on the eastern side of the beach. It also offers basic accommodation for rent.
• PARK45 (Sopot Park Kemping) is located just beyond Sopot 34. This is a slightly larger campsite, with bungalows and a restaurant.

How to get to Sopot?

Sopot is easily accessible by plane or ferry. From Stockholm Arlanda airport you can fly directly to Gdansk (1 hour 20 minutes) with Ryanair or Wizz Air. There are also direct flights from Copenhagen and sometimes from Göteborg 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).

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Do you have time and opportunity to see more nearby? Of course, there is much more to experience in the rest of Poland. Here you will find more reports and tips:

• Peninsula Hel
• Malbork Castle
• The city of Toruń

A little film from Sopot

Peter has put together a film from our last visit to Sopot (in winter) which you can see here.