European Ribbon

🎬 Introduction

Sopot, the seaside resort in the Tricity, is one of the most popular health retreats in Poland.

Archaeological findings suggest that traces of a fortified settlement in this area date back to the 7th century. However, the first written mention appears in the 1186 founding documents of a Cistercian monastery, where a village—now the Sopot district of Świemirowo—is referenced. The name “Sopot” surfaces later in 1283 in a decree issued by Duke Mściwój II of Gdańsk, when the fishing village was gifted to the Oliwa Cistercians in exchange for land seized by the Teutonic Knights. Sopot remained under Cistercian ownership for the next 500 years, until the First Partition of Poland, when it was incorporated into Prussia.

Summer resort

The beautifully situated village, with its mild seaside climate, quickly began transforming into a summer resort. The Cistercians were eager to rent out the land to wealthy Gdańsk merchants, who built elegant summer houses there. Unfortunately, most of them burned down in 1733-34, when Russian troops, besieging Gdańsk where Polish King Stanisław Leszczyński had taken refuge, entered the area during his fight for the throne against Augustus III of Saxony. 

Health resort city

The ruined houses of Gdańsk’s patricians were gradually purchased by magnates from the Przebendowski family, from whom the Gdańsk merchant Carl Christoph Wagner acquired them. Wagner made the first attempts to build facilities with warm bathing tubs in Sopot, though without much success. A turning point came with the arrival of Doctor Jerzy (Jean) Georg Haffner, a former physician in Napoleon’s army, who in 1823 opened the first real Bathing Establishment. This was followed by the construction of the Kurhaus (Cure House) and a wooden pier measuring 31.5 meters, (103 ft) marking the beginning of today’s famous pier. These investments revitalized the town and defined its character to this day.

With each passing year, more spa visitors flocked to Sopot, especially after the opening of the Gdańsk-Berlin railway line. On October 8, 1901, by decree of German Emperor Wilhelm II, Sopot—then known as Zoppot—was officially granted city rights. The city thrived, and before the outbreak of World War I, it saw the establishment of the Balneological Institute, the Forest Opera, and the Southern Baths.

Free City of Danzig

After World War I, under the Treaty of Versailles, Sopot was incorporated into the newly established Free City of Danzig. For nearly 20 years, the city became a border point with the Republic of Poland. During this time, just within sight of Sopot’s beach, the city of 🔗 Gdynia began to emerge. In the interwar period, Sopot remained a popular resort where visitors could not only improve their health but also participate in key social events. The elegant Spa House featured richly decorated ballrooms, and in 1920, a prestigious casino was opened in one of its wings. In 1927, the neighboring, now legendary, Grand Hotel was built. The following year, the pier was extended to 512 meters, (1,680 ft) setting the record for the longest wooden pier in Europe.

During World War II, Sopot was annexed by the Third Reich, but it suffered significantly less damage than neighboring Gdynia and the heavily bombed Gdańsk. On March 23, 1945, the ‘liberating’ Red Army entered the city.

Back to Poland

After the war, Sopot became part of the Polish People’s Republic and underwent rapid reconstruction. The Baltic Philharmonic, Drama Theater, Academy of Fine Arts, and Music Institute were all established. In 1946, the tram line connecting Sopot to Gdańsk was reactivated.

Sopot once again attracted artists and festivals. In 1964, the International Song Festival, which had begun in Gdańsk just three years earlier, was relocated to Sopot, where it has been held annually ever since. In 1963, the city’s main street was closed to car traffic, creating one of the most popular promenades in Poland, known as “Monciak”.

Visit

Getting to Sopot

Sopot, like the other cities of the Tricity area, is well-connected with the rest of the country. Today, the cities blend seamlessly, nearly erasing their administrative boundaries. The A1 highway, known as the Amber Highway, leads to Gdańsk, 🚘 and the entire Tricity area is encircled by a ring road. Train connections 🚊 are also excellent, with Sopot’s station conveniently located near the start of the city’s main pedestrian street. The Rapid Urban Railway (SKM) 🚃 operates in a loop, stopping at numerous stations between Gdynia, Sopot, and Gdańsk, and also provides access to the Lech Wałęsa International Airport in Gdańsk. 🛫

🚌 Public Transportation in Sopot

Public transport throughout the Tricity is integrated, despite being operated by several independent carriers, and is covered under a single metropolitan ticket system. Below are the most popular ticket types for using public transport:

• Single-ride ticket: Valid for one journey on regular, express, or night lines of ZTM in Gdańsk, ZKM in Gdynia, or MZK in Wejherowo.
• Metropolitan ticket via mobile apps: Purchase tickets through apps such as SkyCash, moBILET, or MPay. Validating the ticket requires entering the vehicle’s line number in the app.
• Paper municipal ticket: Must be validated upon boarding the vehicle.
• 75-minute metropolitan municipal ticket (app-only): To validate, enter the number of the first vehicle you board. The ticket is valid for 75 minutes from the time of validation.
• 24-hour or 72-hour ticket: Available in both paper and electronic forms. This ticket can also include travel on trains operated by one, two, or all carriers.