From Gdańsk to Sopot along the seaside

We start in the centre of Gdańsk. Regardless of the direction we decide to take, there will be a cycling path or a specially designated street lane. One of the most popular directions, especially during summer, is… every single one that leads towards the sea.

From the centre of Gdańsk, we continue towards Gdynia, to reach Brzeźno (one of the districts of Gdańsk). We recommend taking a cycling path along 3 Maja street, built uncharacteristically along two elevated slip ways. The route goes above the slope at the foot of which Gdańsk Main Train Station is located. It then continues until it joins with one of the most popular routes along the city’s main artery. The first landmark that we pass is Plac Zebrań Ludowych, where various events and concerts take place during summer, and a skating rink is built there for the winter season. Although located along the three-lane, main street of the city, this part of the route is an easy and pleasant ride thanks to the park located next to it. About 1.5 kilometres towards Gdynia, on the left side of the street, the largest and oldest medical university in northern Poland is located together with the adjacent University Clinical Centre. After a couple of minutes, on the right, the Polish Baltic Opera house will be visible, which houses… Poland’s smallest opera room. It is also the place of our first decision along the route: whether we want to continue straight on, reaching the district of Wrzeszcz, or turn right and continue along Hallera street that is going to take us straight to the district of Brzeźno, located directly at the seaside. As we mentioned before, we continue all the time along the path that will take us straight to the beach. It is also probably the Tricity’s most popular bicycle and pedestrian seaside promenade. The route continues along the seaside, on the way taking us next to Brzeźno Pier. Next to it, one of Gdańsk’s life-guarded swimming areas is located, with a separate sport and recreational area, and several catering outlets. Further, we continue through the small, but picturesque, Jelitkowo. This former fishing settlement had in time developed into a seaside resort with a park and a resort building. Surely not many people remember that for five years, between 1909 and 1914, Jelitkowo had a marina for cruise ships that ran from Gdańsk to Sopot. The ships used to stop at a pier that was completely destroyed by a violent storm in 1914. Jelitkowo is also where the mouth of Oliwski Creek is located. Let’s continue: we approach the border of two cities, Gdańsk and Sopot. We’ll be informed of it by a sign, and… change of paving. On our left, we have the entirely reconstructed Mera Spa Hotel, and further along the way, among others, Sopot Yacht Club. This is where the route gets visibly more narrow, and it continues like this to Sopot itself. We enter Łazienki Południowe (South Park area), with the characteristic building of the Chinese Hotel and a fountain in the centre. Bicycle allows us to reach the entrance of Spa Square, where cycling is not allowed, so we jump off the bicycle and cross the square, or visit the famous Sopot Pier, where cycling is also forbidden (and its best we keep that in mind). Here, we enter Łazienki Północne (North Baths), which are usually less crowded than South Baths, all because a lot of green areas that become dominant from here one. The route goes through what can be called a fragment of a forest. The seaside route ends with Swelina River, called also the Border Creek, which designates the border between Sopot and Gdynia, and the Polish and Free City of Gdańsk border during the inter-war period.