It was Easter Sunday. Sunny, cold and windy. Shops, restaurants and tourist attractions were closed. I was sick with a bad cold, a plague that just wouldn’t leave me. And I was completely alone in Gdansk, Poland.
While part of me wanted to stay in bed all day and re-watch Season 1 of the Game of Thrones (and the urge was quite strong), I was very determined to enjoy my getaway weekend to Gdansk to the fullest and not let my circumstances bring me down.
So I headed off to nearby Sopot for the day. A city known for having the longest wooden pier in Europe at 515 meters and an Unvertical House that looks like it was put together by a drunken sailer, who wouldn’t want to pay a visit?
Although looking at these pictures may make you cold (grab a blanket and wrap it tight to keep warm), you’ll soon understand why it’s so easy to love Sopot.
You begin at the boardwalk which is full of unusual looking trees and pretty buildings filled with shops and food stands.
I wondered what this charming little scene would like in summer. I was later informed that everyone comes here to hang out – locals and tourists – and at night the trees are lit up with hundreds of tiny white lights. It must be so pretty!
I walked through the trees and caught my very first glimpse of the Polish Baltic Sea.
To others walking by, I may have seemed like a crazy woman but I shouted in complete and utter delight. It was surreal to be taking in all that beauty and clean sea air.
I hadn’t expected much from Sopot but in this moment, I fell in love (again) … perhaps my fair Budapest has found itself a rival for my affection?
The famous pier stood off into the distance.
Then there I was, walking on Europe’s longest wooden pier on a spring day that should have been warm but instead was absolutely freezing! Despite the cold temperatures, I couldn’t help but be amazed, inspired, awed.
Not sure why, but it seems I had a fascination for benches on this day!
Oh, be sure not to dive off the pier.
These men braved the cold to sit outside and entertain crowds with their music. RESPECT!
Finally, I made my way back to shore.
I’d earlier observed people feeding seagulls and thought “Oh, how nice!” and then came across this …
Swans! Yes, there were random swans at the Baltic Sea just chilling like they belonged there. You can only imagine how insane people thought I was when I once again squealed aloud in delight.
Sopot is also renowned for being a spa and wellness town. To top off my already perfect my day there, I concluded my walk and headed over to the Sheraton Sopot Hotel to enjoy their water therapies and a Swedish massage.
While nothing like Club Med all inclusive holidays, this was surely the best spa experience I’ve had to date. And best of all, it only costs about 20 euros for the water therapies which includes access to an indoor heated pool, saunas, jacuzzi and relaxation area.
So if you’re ever in Sopot, you absolutely must enjoy the spa at the Sheraton! You’ll understand why after you’ve completed your experience …
While my Easter holiday may not have gone exactly as planned, I wouldn’t have wanted this day to be any different. My stress melted away and I was ready to return to Berlin … or was I?
Stay tuned for an upcoming blog post about how I got stranded in Poland!
It seems like you had a really beautiful day 🙂 I think Poland really is all about small cities such as Sopot.
@A Montrealer Abroad – I think so too! Sopot is so very very beautiful. I really want to see it in the summer!
I love these images – the quality of the light is amazing. I’ve been to Sopot in summer and it’s mobbed with people. It’s great fun, and really good for people watching, but I actually think now that it looks prettier in winter.
I love the contrast of the snow at the beach. I heard that lots of Berliners go to the “Polish Riviera” for their holidays because it’s so inexpensive. The beaches look nice!
I am searching for a weekend destination this June and you just gave me an idea. I’m very familiar with the port of Gdansk but only because most of the vessels that our company supplies dock there every week. I probably know most of the ship’s agents there. I think it’s time to pay a visit.
Beautiful photos Cheryl, enticing actually. I love beaches, no matter how stormy they are. I think the beach lives in the hearts of every tropical girl.
@Katie – Thank you! Cool that you’ve seen Sopot in the summer. I think many places are prettier in the winter, I felt that way about Prague.
@Andrea – Lovely, isn’t it? I’d love to go back sometime.
@Dheza – Thanks so much! Look forward to hearing about your time there. I think you’ll enjoy and definitely hit up that spa, it’s fantastic. =)
Brrr not sure that I would enjoy swimming there haha. I love visiting the beach on a wintery day all rugged up warm. Prefer the summer mind you 🙂
Beautiful pictures! I went to Sopot once and found a massive storm 🙂
@Cole – It was really really cold! Especially with the wind, but oh oh so striking and beautiful.
@Angela – Thanks! Hmmm a stormy day could provide a good photo op as well. 🙂
Stunning photos, they really do convey the feeling of cold! 😉 I’m feeling a bit chilly now, which is a bit worrying considering the heat wave we’ve been having over the weekend here in London 🙂
Is that SNOW on the pier in one of the photos?? Brrr…. This city looks lovely, though, and if you say it’s worth visiting instead of watching Game of Thrones, then I’ll believe you… barely. 😉
@Jarmo – Ha ha! Warm yourself up with a nice big up of coffee. Trust me, I had a lot of coffee and tea that weekend! 😉
@Christy – Yes, snow in April! It was definitely worth it as Sopot is so very beautiful. And well, that spa … more than made up for it! 🙂
Looks like a great place to visit. Might have to put it on my travel wishlist.
@Spencer – It’s lovely! You should go for sure.
I live in Vilnius, not very far from Sopot, but it would take a weekend trip to go there. The seaside is very similar to our Palanga, esp. the wooden bridge. But we don’t have swans there coming so close.
@Ele – So cool! I hope to visit Vilnius someda and would love to see your seaside as well. Hope you make it out to Sopot someday soon. 🙂
I can understand why you fell in love with this place. All of your shots are stunning. Being the spa junky that I am, I would have been lining up at the Sheraton spa. I’m heading to Prague in less than a month and can’t wait to take advantage of some of the spas.
@Nancie – Thanks! I hope you enjoy Prague and your time in the spas there. You should look up information on beer baths you take in the area. 🙂
Love your cloud photos. I’m fascinated by seas/oceans, maybe because I grew up so far from one.
This place looks so beautiful, Cheryl! I’m so glad you got found the energy to get out and enjoy it. I had to giggle at you shouting about how great it was. It was really great to finally meet you in Umbria! I hope you have fully recovered from your cold by now and are enjoying your travels.
@Laurel – I want to live by the sea! The best I have is the Spree and lakes that surround Berlin. Not really sooooo great. 😉
@Cherina – Thanks so much! Me too … that cold stuck with me even post TBU. It was great to meet you as well! Maybe we’ll meet again at TBU in Porto?
Gorgeous photos! It is so awful to be sick when you’re traveling, but if you have limited time in a place, you have to suck it up and enjoy what you can. (I’m fighting a cold right now, but luckily I have already seen the sites and can just watch movies and rest.)
@Stephanie – why, thank you. It’s horrible to be sick when you’re on the road. I still got out but really had to slow my pace. Hope you get better soon and glad you got to see all the sites you wanted!
To be fair I had no idea what Poland looked like but I had no idea it was as pretty as that.
@Ayngelina – Poland is one of my favorite countries now!