Gdynia

Gdynia is a port city in northern Poland. Gdynia, together with nearby Gdańsk and Sopot are often referred as Tricity (pl: Trójmiasto). Gdynia was first mentioned in the 13th century as a fishing village. After World War I, it became Poland's main harbour and the big sea port on the Baltic Sea, which it still is.

Understand
Gdynia is one of the youngest and modern cities in Poland. In the early 1900s Gdynia was a little village, but after World War I and establishing the Free City of Danzig, the Polish Government decided to build a deep-sea port. Construction began in 1921. The city rose fast in the 1920s and 1930s, so architecture and planning reflect European trends of the day - Modernism. The city continues to grow to this day. Today, Gdynia is a modern city with a population of 244,000 (2021) and is the second major Polish port in the Baltic Sea after Gdańsk.

By plane
The nearest airport is in nearby Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport, 25 km from the city centre. The airport is a popular destination for low-price flights from many European airports. Domestic flights are also available.

The regional trains SKM operate between the airport (Gdańsk Port Lotniczy) and the main station of Gdynia (Gdynia Główna). The fastest train takes 26 minutes.



By train
Gdynia is one of the biggest railway hubs in Poland with connections to Warsaw, Kraków, Poznań, Wrocław, Katowice, Szczecin, Toruń, Białystok and many others. A few international trains, including daily service from Berlin are available too. All mainline trains are operated by PKP

If travelling in the coastal area Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia, then look out for the SKM commuter train. Travel from nearby Gdańsk takes about 35 minutes (6.50 zł) with the frequent SKM urban trains, which leave every 8–20 minutes.



By boat

 * From Sweden: Karlskrona-Gdynia by Stena Line. Day trip for a passenger with bike costs around 240 zł.

Additionally, Żegluga Gdańska runs a once-weekly ferry from the small port city of Baltiysk, in the Kaliningrad enclave.

By bus

 * See: PKS

By car
From Gdańsk by the route E75 just east along the coast.

Get around
Zarząd Komunikacji Miejskiej (ZKM) operates buses and trolleybus. Network is efficient and frequent. Locals are keen to help with directions, but always ask several people and see if they agree. Apply for the reduced fair if you can show an international student card and are younger than 26.

Tickets for a bus: Here's the key to understanding Gdynia bus and trolleybus route numbers: others, are normal routes with normal tickets.
 * normal tickets 3.20 zł
 * half-price ticket 1.60 zł
 * express lines ticket and night bus ticket 4.20 zł (reduced: 2.10 zł)
 * There is a 24 hour-ticket (13 zł/6.50 zł) valid on all trolleybus, buses during the day and on night buses.
 * Nxx  are night routes.
 * 5xx  are special routes, which operate only a few days in a year (with the exception of 520 and 530).
 * G J K M R S W Z  are express routes, which link the farthest districts to the city centre. (Normal ticket: 3.50zł)
 * 0x 0xx are free routes, you can catch this bus to supermarkets in Gdynia.

Szybka Kolej Miejska (SKM) is fast regional commuter rail between Gdańsk - Sopot - Gdynia. It's fast and cheap. Ticket price depends on distance e.g.

Tickets for a SKM train:
 * Gdynia - Sopot normal ticket 3.10 zł
 * Gdynia - Gdańsk normal ticket 4.50 zł

See
Gdynia is a relatively modern city and one will not find many historical buildings. The oldest building in Gdynia is the 13th-century St. Michael Archangel's Church in Oksywie. There is also a 17th-century neo-Gothic manor house located in the Folwarczna Street in Orłowo.

However, what most tourists look for Gdynia deals with its recent past. In the harbour there are two museum ships anchored, the ORP Błyskawica destroyer and the Dar Pomorza Tall Ship frigate. Gdynia is also famous for its numerous examples of early 20th-century architecture, especially monumentalism and early functionalism. Świętojańska street and Kościuszki square are also worth mentioning.

The surrounding hills and the coastline attract many nature lovers. Leisure pier and cliff-like coastline in Kępa Redłowska as well as the surrounding Reservation Park are also popular. A 1.5-km-long promenade leads from the marina in the city centre to the beach in Redłowo. Most of Gdynia can be seen from Kamienna Góra (54 metres asl) or a newly built observation point near Chwaszczyno.

You can also take hydrofoil or ship trip to Gdańsk Westerplatte, Hel or just see port.

Gdynia is the only city in Poland and one of the few in Europe to pride itself on such long and accessible seashore. You will easily catch great views of the sea, and also find long promenades, beautiful waterfronts, marinas, yacht clubs and great sand beaches.

Beaches

 * Plaża Miejska (city beach) is in the centre, next to Gdynia Marina and Bulwar Nadmorski (Seaside Promenade).
 * Plaża w Orłowie is in Orłowo District, next to beautiful Orłowo cliffs. Reach by SKM Gdynia Orłowo or trolleybus lines 21 and 26.
 * Osada Rybacka (Fishermen Village) is a quite wild beach in Oksywie district - besides suntanning, you can see beautiful, old fishermen equipment and a funicular for fish transport. It is better to go there in the morning, as in the late afternoon the sun is hidden by cliffs. The beach is accessible by 152 bus line from the city centre - get out at the terminus of the line in Oksywie Dickmana direction.



Sightseeing

 * Kamienna Góra with nice panoramic view, also possible to see Hel peninsula.
 * Cliff and wooden pier in Orłowo. Reach by SKM Gdynia Orłowo or trolleybus lines 21 and 26.
 * Trójmiejski park krajobrazowy (Tricity Sightseeing Park) - a forest-park surrounding all tricity, with many sightseeing spots.
 * Bulwar Nadmorski (Seaside Promenade).

Do

 * Beach: beaches in Gdynia are nice, clean and not as crowded as those in Gdańsk and Sopot.
 * Football: Arka Gdynia play soccer in I Liga, the second tier. Their home ground Stadion GOSIR (capacity 15,000) is 4 km south of town centre with its own railway station.
 * Cinema





Buy
Gdynia is a great place for shopping.


 * Świętojańska and Starowiejska. Two main shopping streets in Gdynia.
 * Hala Targowa, ul. Wójta Radtkego 36. Local marketplace with fruits, fish, and some flea market.
 * Świętojańska and Starowiejska. Two main shopping streets in Gdynia.
 * Hala Targowa, ul. Wójta Radtkego 36. Local marketplace with fruits, fish, and some flea market.
 * Hala Targowa, ul. Wójta Radtkego 36. Local marketplace with fruits, fish, and some flea market.

Sleep
As the TriCity is in effect conjoined and there are good, fast transit links, you can just as well consider accommodation in Gdańsk or Sopot.

Budget

 * Camping U Wnuka (ul. Osada Rybacka, 50 min by bike from main train station) - small but nice place (with sea view), nice host, 30 zł for a night in tent.
 * Camping U Wnuka (ul. Osada Rybacka, 50 min by bike from main train station) - small but nice place (with sea view), nice host, 30 zł for a night in tent.

Go next
Gdańsk Bay:


 * Pommeranian metropol Gdańsk with a beautiful old town and the biggest gothic brick church worldwide
 * sea resort Sopot with the longest European pier
 * sea resort Puck

Vistula Bay:


 * medieval town of Elbląg
 * sea resort and medieval town of Frombork with the grave of Nicolaus Copernicus
 * sea resort Kadyny with one of the best European studs

Kashubian Coast:


 * Słowiński Nationalpark with the biggest dunes in Europe
 * sea resort Rowy
 * sea resort Łeba
 * sea resort Jastrzębia Góra
 * sea resort Rozewie
 * sea resort Władysławowo

On the Hel Peninsula:


 * sea resort Chałupy
 * sea resort Jastarnia
 * sea resort Jurata
 * sea resort Hel

On the Vistula Peninsula:


 * sea resort Krynica Morska

You can go to Karlskrona, Sweden, by ferry run by Stena Line. Ferry goes two times a day - in the day and in the night. The day trip is cheaper (for a passenger with bike costs around 240 zł) and less popular (may not have to be booked in advance, but please confirm with the operator), so ideal for cyclists.