Gdynia
Established a hundred years ago, as a base for the modern port built for the free Poland. Contemporary Gdynia, which forms a common organism („Tri-City”) with neighboring Gdańsk and Sopot, has many great and original tourist attractions.
Gdynia – the City of Sea
Established a hundred years ago, as a base for the modern port built for the free Poland. Today, the City invites you to board museum ships: the destroyer ORP Błyskawica, and Dar Pomorza, as well as to join the trails: the Gdynia Modernism Trail, the Gdynia Centre Culinary Trail and the Maritime Legend Trail.
After the First World War, Poland regained independence after 124 years of partitions, and received a narrow access to the Baltic Sea. On the calm waters of 'God’s Cove’ in the Bay of Gdańsk, where the Kashubians – the guardians of the sea – governed for centuries, the government of the Second Republic of Poland implemented its vision with the hands of experts and specialists. This is how the former fishing village became a city with military, trade, fishing and passenger ports, tailored to the 20th century.
Contemporary Gdynia, which forms a common organism („Tri-City„) with neighboring Gdańsk and Sopot, has many great and original tourist attractions.
You can’t miss this
Only in Gdynia can you pass through the interior of the steam boiler on the ORP Błyskawica, the oldest preserved destroyer in the world, which fought throughout the Second World War. It is moored at the Pomorskie Quay, next to another attraction, the Dar Pomorza museum ship. During 51 years of service for the Polish Merchant Navy, the unit finished 102 training cruises, covering half a million nautical miles. Nearly 13,400 students of the Maritime School were trained on board. In 1982, Dar Pomorza was formally withdrawn from service and the flag was raised on its successor, Dar Młodzieży, designed and built in Gdańsk. In 2018, the ship circumnavigated the world to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Poland’s regaining independence.
ORP Błyskawica and Dar Pomorza are absolute must-sees of the Maritime Legend Trail in Gdynia. This trail presents the traditions of the Polish fleet, in the Naval Museum and in the Open-Air Exhibition of Naval Armaments with exhibits as old as 300 years. The trail introduces legendary figures, such as Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Treasury of Industry and Trade, and also a visionary, who was behind creating both the Port of Gdynia and the Central Industrial District; as well as sailors: Mariusz Zaruski and Leonid Teliga – the first Pole who sailed around the world alone.
The Emigration Museum is a unique place on the map of the country, as it shows the history of emigration from Polish lands. It is located in a pre-war, modernist building of the Maritime Station, also included in the Gdynia Maritime Legend Trail. The object „played” in several films: „Żona dla Australijczyka” („A Wife for an Australian”), „Kochaj albo rzuć” („Love or Leave”), and in one of the episodes of the TV series „Kryminalni” („Crime Detectives”) as the Police Headquarters. Gdynia City Museum is also worth visiting, as it is not only a museum documenting the history of Gdynia, but also a centre for the promotion of Polish and European design.
You can discover the secrets of the underwater world in the Gdynia Aquarium – you can see there, among others, animals living in distant parts of the world, such as Africa or North America, but also in the waters of the Atlantic or the local Baltic Sea. One of the biggest and newest attractions of the Gdynia Aquarium is the „Cold Seas” exhibition, located underground, below the sea leve
Where to have to fun?
Gdynia Marina, the largest yacht harbour in the country, is filled with 250 vessels. Every year, the 29er world championships are held here. Additional 150 berths await sailing enthusiasts at Marina Yacht Park. It is worth stopping in Gdynia at the end of June for the annual, spectacular Sea Festival with cruises on the Bay of Gdańsk, a night parade of yachts, ships visiting, demonstrations of combat units, with many concerts and other events.
Open’er Festival in July is an opportunity to hear world music stars live. Other worthwhile events include: National Meetings of Travelers, Sailors, and Mountaineers – „Kolosy” in March, Globaltica Festival of World Cultures, and Ladies’ Jazz Festival in July, Architecture Weekend in August, and Polish Film Festival in September.
The Charm of Modernism
The Gdynia Modernism Trail is a real treat not only for architecture enthusiasts. Apart from Gdynia, perhaps only in Tel-Aviv or Brasilia can we see the entire city centre with residential houses and public buildings, built in this one, innovative style. The emerging „city of sea” was to become a window to the world, sunny and avant-garde. The best urban planners and architects of the Second Polish Republic displayed the highest skills. Many of the buildings met on the trail resemble ships. Just like the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) Office Building at No. 24 10 Lutego Street – today the seat of the City Hall, the Polish Sailor’s House at 3 Jana Pawła II Avenue, or „Bankowiec” – a luxurious apartment house at the corner of 3 Maja and 10 Lutego streets (its first staircase is decorated with pre-war lighting called the „cosmic eye”)..
The modernist city centre of Gdynia is the pride of the city, the youngest and largest monument on the list of Historical Monuments and a Polish candidate for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Al Capone, flavours and Baltic gold
What else can you visit in Gdynia? Ford T – the first belt-produced passenger car, Buick Deluxe, the armored version of which was driven by Al Capone himself, or Harley Davidson 42 WLA – the most famous military motorcycle in history, can be all seen at the Gdynia Motor Museum. An impressive collection of cars and motorcycles of the 20th century is collected there, presented in an atmospheric setting, stylised as a street in Gdynia 100 years ago..
The Experyment Science Centre in Gdynia (3,500 square metres) offers five interactive exhibitions: ‘Action: Human’, ‘Hydroworld’, ‘Tree of Life’, ‘Invisible Forces’, ‘Direction: Health’, making the exploration of knowledge attractive and engaging. The Centre organises shows, workshops and events for different age groups, popularises science, educates, helps develop interests and inspires lifelong learning.
Forest Botanical Garden „Marszewo” conducts classes in the field of sustainable development, in accordance with the requirements of the school core curriculum. Walking along the Alice Trail and Roots Trail are especially recommended.
Gdynia was the first city in Poland to initiate the Culinary Trail, created by nearly 80 of the best restaurants and eating places in the city centre. Two of them, Oberża 86 and Butchery & Wine, have been recommended by the most important culinary guide in the world and can boast a red plate with the Michelin inscription.
It is also worth visiting the largest amber factory in Poland, Manufaktura Bursztynu (visiting by groups only). During the Amber Emotions sightseeing programme, visitors will listen to stories and anecdotes about ‘Baltic gold’, learn how to distinguish genuine amber from its counterfeits, and get to know its properties..
