Gdynia

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 a quarter-million 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 GDN, 25 kilometers from the city center. 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.

Betonowe

By train

The main railroad station is run by PKP. 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 limited number of international trains, including daily service from Berlin are available too.
If traveling 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

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.

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. You apply for the reduced fair if you can show an international student card and are younger than 26.
Tickets for a bus:

• 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.

Here's the key to understanding Gdynia bus and trolleybus route numbers:

•  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.

others, are normal routes with normal tickets.
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

Gdynia is a relatively modern city and one will not find many historical buildings. The oldest building in Gdynia is 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. Recently reconstructed 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 kilometre-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 located in the center, next to Gdynia Marina and Bulwar Nadmorski (Seaside Promenade).
• Plaża w Orłowie is located 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 located 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 center - get out at the terminus of the line in Oksywie Dickmana direction.

Museums

• Akwarium

  address: =Al. Jana Pawła II 1

• Muzeum Marynarki Wojennej

  address: ul. Sędzickiego 3
  Open air museum of Marine Weapons, helicopters, cannons, torpedoes, fighters.

• ORP Błyskawica

  address: Al. Jana Pawła II
  Warship ORP Błyskawica (Lightning) started service in 1937 and operated during World War II. You can see deck with artillery, engine rooms and a historic exhibition display of the Polish Navy.

• Dar Pomorza

  address: Al. Jana Pawła II
  It's the most famous Polish training tall ship. It was built in 1909.

Sightseeing

• Kamienna Góra with nice panoramic view, also possible to see Hel paninsula.
• 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).

• Beach: beaches in Gdynia are nice, clean and not as crowded as those in Gdańsk and Sopot.
• Cinema

• Heineken Open'er FestivalIf you plan to come early summer don't miss one of the best European open air music festival with more than 70,000 fans and top world stars. Every year, internationally known musicians as well as Polish musicians add their names to the marquee.

Gdynia is a great place for shopping.

• Batory

  address: Ul. 10 lutego 11
  Modern shopping mall right in the city center.

• Klif

  address: Al. Zwycięstwa 256
  High quality shopping mall not far from the Orłowo cliff.

• Gemini

  phone: +48 58 727 99 09
  address: Ul. Waszyngtona 21
  Shopping mall and cinema with a lot of restaurants and small flea market with handmade art work.
• Świętojańska and Starowiejska. Two main shopping streets in Gdynia.
• Hala Targowa, ul. Wójta Radtkego 36. Local marketplace with fruits, fish, and some flea market.

• Pueblo

  phone: +48 58 621-60-07
  address: ul. Abrahama 56 (entrance on Władysława IV)
  It's tough to find a good Mexican restaurant in Poland, let alone Europe, but Pueblo makes a good attempt. Better yet, the servings are plentiful and the price is muy bueno.

• Barracuda

  phone: +48 58 620 8000, +48 58 620 4000
  address: Bulwar Nadmorski im Feliksa Nowowiejskiego 10
  This restaurant, right on the shore of the Baltic Sea, serves up the best seafood in Poland, hand down. The interior is a cool fusion of dark and modern, but the ocean breeze and the Sinatra sonnets make the patio far more pleasant.

• Falla

  address: I Armii Wojska Polskiego 10, 81-383 Gdynia
  Really laid back Israeli food. Hummus, fallafal, Baba ganoush etc with a slight twist. Some of the best I've had and the price is really good. Massive portions!

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

• Pepperland Hostel

  phone: +48 793 376 667
  address: Nabrzeże Prezydenta
  Two level, 17-cabin boat converted into a hostel moored in the city centre. Open from April till September. Free breakfast - cereal, coffee, tea.

Mid-range

• Mercure Gdynia Centrum

  phone: +48 58 666 30 40
  address: ul. Armii Krajowej 22
  The former Orbis hotel underwent a thorough refurbishment and is now a recommendable modern property with a central location and views of the harbour from rooms facing that side. The hotel also features a large indoor swimming pool.

• Hotel KuracyjnyA spa-themed hotel in Orłowo with an adjacent wellness centre

• Antares

  address: ul. Komandorska 59
  The Antares is a skillfully adapted older residential building, now complete with all the features of a midscale hotel, including a small gym.

Splurge

• Hotel Nadmorski

  phone: +48 58 6993333
  address: Juliana Ejsmonda 2
  The boutique hotel features touches reminiscing Gdynia's glorious modernist past inside and out, and boasts a location at the end of the seaside boulevard. A bit out of the way, it positions itself as a leisure destination, and trades on amenities, including a spa institute, and great service, even if its fit-outs have fallen behind with time.

• Courtyard by Marriott Gdynia Waterfront

  phone: +48 58 743 0700
  address: ul. Jerzego Waszyngtona 19
  The limited-service Marriott hotel is an all-new property with very modern if simple furnishings. Some rooms, the hotel's small gym and the ground floor Scandinavian restaurant offer first-row waterfront views of the harbour.

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