Poland's Baltic Sea resort of Sopot is a hidden gem

By Horst Heinz Grimm May 4, 2010, 18:12 GMT

Sopot, Poland - The Polish resort of Sopot on Gdansk Bay is hemmed in by steep forests and the Baltic Sea, making it an idyllic hidden location for a summer holiday.

'Before the Second World War, it was known as the Monte Carlo of the North because of its casinos and luxury hotels,' explains Boreslaw Podraszko, a tourist from Warsaw.

Then, the town was known as Zoppot and was a favoured destination for the rich and famous. Today it's well within the price range of the average tourist and its sheltered location is once again making it more and more popular.

'The climate is pleasant and there are no mosquitos. The water is also warmer than other Baltic resorts,' explains Cezary Kozlowski as he sits beside his friend Podraszko on the sandy beach sipping a beer.

From where they are sitting, the pair can clearly see the town's most visible landmark, a 500-metre-long wooden pier that is the longest of its kind in Europe.

According to estimates, Sopot draws around 2 million, mainly young, visitors a year with the town's pristine strand being the main attraction.

Neighbouring Gdansk is only a 30-minute drive away on the motorway, making it an excellent destination for a day trip, while Castle Marienburg, built by the once powerful Teutonic Knights and a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site, is just 60 kilometres away.

Sopot is known as Poland's summer capital and in the last two decades has slowly shaken off its reputation as a resort for the working class.

International hotel chains now run the two luxury hotels situated along the beach, one of which is the Grand Hotel, dating back to 1927 and previously a favourite destination for prominent celebrities.

Most tourists, however, have to satisfy themselves with more modest accommodation.

Johann Georg Haffner, a doctor in the service of Napoleon, founded Sopot's first climatized sanatorium in 1823, and there are still rehabilitation centres to found in the town to this day. However, in the summer months, the majority of visitors are happy to enjoy the beach in its purest form, with open-air discos allowing them to party until the sun comes up.

Music festivals also take place each summer in the town's 101- year-old forest opera, which has attracted big name acts such as Elton John.

The town's Monciak pedestrian zone runs from the beach straight through Sopot. The rows of renovated houses offer excellent shopping as well as numerous cafes and restaurants.

One building designed by Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi resembles a crushed beer can and has been named the 'drunken house' by locals.

Eccentric actor Klaus Kinski (1926-1991), who achieved world fame through his roles in the films Fitzcarraldo and Nosferatu, was born in Sopot and a memorial plaque has been erected at his home where his films are also shown.