Poland’s Baltic Coast is where Hanseatic brick meets pale-gold sand. Gdańsk rose from medieval trade to shipyard solidarity, and today its colorful facades line the Motława River like a painted stage set. Just up the shore, Sopot hums with seaside cafés, a legendary wooden pier, and summer concerts, while Gdynia champions sleek modernism and maritime heritage.

Expect world-class museums such as the Museum of the Second World War and the European Solidarity Center, alongside lazy beach days and pine-scented bike rides. The shallow waters of Puck Bay make the Hel Peninsula one of Europe’s best beginner windsurfing spots, and the seafood is exactly what you want by the sea: simple, fresh, and generous.

Practical notes: Summer (June–August) brings festivals and warm beach weather; May and September are quieter with pleasant temperatures. Poland uses the złoty (PLN); cards and contactless payments are widely accepted. Pack layers—a breezy Baltic evening can roll in even on a sunny day—and always check seasonal ferry schedules.

Gdańsk

Once a proud Hanseatic port, Gdańsk is the “capital of amber” and the birthplace of the Solidarity movement that helped change Europe. Its Royal Way, St. Mary’s Basilica, and the brick medieval Crane set the tone; new icons like the European Solidarity Center add power and perspective.

• Top sights: Long Market (Długi Targ) and Neptune Fountain, St. Mary’s Basilica tower view, the medieval Crane (Żuraw), Mariacka Street for amber, Museum of the Second World War, European Solidarity Center.
• Eat & drink: Pierogarnia Mandu (handmade pierogi), Bar Turystyczny (classic milk-bar comfort), Zafishowani (modern Baltic seafood), Restauracja Kubicki (oldest in town), Brovarnia Gdańsk and Browar PG4 (house beers).
• Stay: Browse Old Town stays on Hotels.com and apartments on VRBO. Look near the Motława waterfront for postcard views.
• Getting in: Fly into Gdańsk (GDN) or arrive by fast train (EIP) from Warsaw (~3 hr). Compare flights and rail on Omio (flights) and Omio (trains); intercity buses are frequent too via Omio (buses).

Day 1 – Arrive in Gdańsk, Step Into the Hanseatic Story

Afternoon: Land in Gdańsk and check in near the Motława. Shake off the journey with a gentle loop: Green Gate to Long Market (Długi Targ), Neptune Fountain, and the ornate Artus Court. Duck down Mariacka Street to see carved gargoyles, amber boutiques, and tiny café terraces.

Evening: Book a waterside table at Zafishowani for Baltic cod with dill and lemon butter or Restauracja Kubicki for classic Polish dishes and river views. End at the Hilton’s rooftop terrace bar for sunset over the Crane and the shipyard lights reflected in the water.

Day 2 – World War II Museum, St. Mary’s, and the Crane

Morning: Coffee and croissants at Drukarnia Café in Dolne Miasto, then 2–3 hours at the Museum of the Second World War—immersive exhibits and a sober, brilliantly curated narrative. Pre-book timed entries in high season.

Afternoon: Quick lunch at Bar Turystyczny (try pork cutlet with mizeria) or Pierogarnia Mandu (spinach-feta pierogi, or goose if in season). Climb St. Mary’s Basilica tower for a sweeping city panorama, then visit the medieval Crane (Żuraw) and the Maritime Cultural Center across the footbridge.

Evening: Sample house lagers at Brovarnia Gdańsk or Browar PG4 by the main station (their amber is smooth and toffee-noted). Dinner at Goldwasser Restaurant—order the zander and a taste of the namesake herbal liqueur dating back to the 16th century.

Day 3 – Shipyards, Solidarity, and Creative Gdańsk

Morning: Cappuccino at Café Józef K (literary vibe), then head to the European Solidarity Center. The rusted-steel building mirrors ship hulls; exhibits trace the workers’ movement that rippled across Europe. Don’t miss the rooftop garden for port views.

Afternoon: Street-food lunch at 100cznia (container park; seasonal) or ECS bistro. Wander Dolne Miasto’s murals and the reimagined Granary Island (Wyspa Spichrzów). Pop into the Amber Museum for craft and geology in equal measure.

Evening: Dinner on Granary Island—think wood-fired pizza and Polish wines at Chleb i Wino or contemporary Polish at Monet-like riverside spots. Nightcap at Lawendowa 8 Wine Bar or craft cocktails in the Old Town.

Sopot

Sopot is Poland’s seaside belle: a belle époque resort with Europe’s longest wooden pier, spa traditions, and sandy beaches edged by pines. By day it’s swims and beach walks; by night its café-lined Bohaterów Monte Cassino (aka “Monciak”) thrums with energy.

• Top sights: Sopot Pier (Molo), Grand Hotel façade, Krzywy Domek (the “Crooked House”), wide Blue Flag beaches, and nearby Gdynia’s Orłowo cliffs and Emigration Museum.
• Eat & drink: Błękitny Pudel (cakes, classic café), Seafood Station (oyster bar and fish), White Marlin (elegant beachfront), Bar Przystań (cult favorite fish canteen), Cały Gaweł (brunch and Polish bistro).
• Stay: Compare beachfront stays and apartments on Hotels.com and VRBO; aim for the beach belt or near Monciak for easy strolling.
• Getting there: SKM commuter trains run Gdańsk–Sopot in ~20–25 minutes (~8–10 PLN/$2–$3). Check times on Omio (trains); buses are an option via Omio (buses).

Day 4 – Transfer to Sopot and Beachfront Bliss

Morning: Ride the SKM from Gdańsk Główny to Sopot (about 20–25 minutes, ~8–10 PLN/$2–$3). Drop bags and grab a second breakfast at Błękitny Pudel—layer cake and espresso are local canon.

Afternoon: Stroll Bohaterów Monte Cassino to the Krzywy Domek (Crooked House), then pay the small entry to walk the 511-meter Sopot Pier for wide Baltic views. Lounge on the beach or book a spa slot at a beachfront hotel for saunas and sea-air relaxation.

Evening: Dinner at Seafood Station for oysters, mussels, and sea bass, or White Marlin for elegant plates and a candlelit terrace in summer. Post-dinner, sip a spritz at Klub Atelier’s beachfront bar or people-watch along Monciak.

Day 5 – Gdynia: Modernist Lines and Maritime Tales

Morning: SKM to Gdynia Główna (~15 minutes). Start at Orłowo Pier for a quiet, romantic walk beneath low cliffs. Coffee with a sea view at Tawerna Orłowska, then hop to the Emigration Museum, housed in the historic transatlantic terminal—moving stories of departures and homecomings.

Afternoon: Lunch at Tłusta Kaczka (modern Polish; the duck is the star) or head back seaside for grilled fish. Families can add the Gdynia Aquarium or the Experyment Science Center; design lovers will enjoy the city’s clean-lined interwar modernism on 10 Lutego and Świętojańska streets.

Evening: Back to Sopot for sunset on the sand. Casual dinner at Bar Przystań (order fried flounder and fish soup) and a relaxed stroll past the Grand Hotel.

Day 6 – Day Trip to the Hel Peninsula: Lighthouse, Seals, and Bike Paths

Morning: Take a regional train from Sopot to Hel (~1 h 45–2 h; ~30–45 PLN/$8–$12 via Omio trains). In summer, consider the fast ferry from Gdynia (~1 hour; check seasonal options via Omio ferries). Start in Hel town: climb the lighthouse for views along the sandspit and visit the Fokarium (seal sanctuary; timed entries in season).

Afternoon: Lunch on the harbor—Maszoperia for grilled fish, or Kutter for herring three ways. Rent bikes and follow the paved path through pines to Jastarnia or Chałupy. The shallow, warm waters of Puck Bay are ideal for beginner windsurf and kite lessons; local schools rent gear by the hour.

Evening: Train back to Sopot for dinner at Cały Gaweł (modern Polish small plates and good Polish wines). If you still have energy, a moonlit beach walk seals the day.

Day 7 – Last Baltic Moments and Departure

Morning: Brunch at Café Vintage or a bakery run for drożdżówka (Polish sweet roll). If you want a souvenir, swing through Gdańsk’s Mariacka Street en route to the airport for responsibly sourced amber—ask for a certificate and look for inclusions, not bubbles.

Afternoon: From Sopot, allow 45–60 minutes to reach Gdańsk Airport: SKM to Gdańsk Wrzeszcz, then PKM train to GDN (~8–14 PLN/$2–$4). Compare schedules on Omio (trains) or opt for a rideshare/taxi (30–45 minutes depending on traffic).

Evening (optional extension via Warsaw): If your onward flight routes through Warsaw and you add a night, treat yourself to an intimate recital at the Fryderyk Concert Hall—an evocative way to close a Polish journey.

Book: Chopin Concerts everyday at the Fryderyk Concert Hall

Logistics recap

• Inbound/Outbound travel: Compare European flights and rail on Omio (flights) and Omio (trains). Buses are plentiful via Omio (buses).
• City-to-city: Gdańsk–Sopot SKM commuter (~20–25 min; ~8–10 PLN/$2–$3) via Omio. Sopot–Hel regional train (~1 h 45–2 h; ~30–45 PLN/$8–$12). Summer fast ferries Gdynia–Hel (~1 hr) via Omio (ferries).
• Where to stay: Central Gdańsk for museums and Old Town access: search on Hotels.com (Gdańsk) or VRBO (Gdańsk). For Sopot’s beach vibe, check Hotels.com (Sopot) and VRBO (Sopot).

Seven days on Poland’s Baltic Coast gives you a satisfying arc: Gdańsk’s history and amber-lit evenings, Sopot’s beach rhythm, and a dash of wild coast along the Hel Peninsula. With easy train hops and steady sea breezes, it’s a trip that balances learning and leisure—and leaves you plotting a return for those long, light northern summer nights.