Should we . . .?
As we leave Gdansk, we can’t help but feel a pang of regret at having missed the 13th-century Malbork Castle, almost entirely destroyed during WWII. What a pity to have missed the world’s largest brick castle, its deep-red walls unfolding through courtyard after courtyard. Yet its decades of meticulous restoration offer a poignant reminder that, although the scars of war may never disappear, history can endure—and be painstakingly preserved for generations
Sopot: An Unhurried Vibrancy
Our return drive to the port takes us to Sopot, a seaside resort that turns out to be quite unlike any other place we have encountered. Our driver pulls up on the main street, close to a restaurant, and stops beneath the shade of a tree.
We trust him, but we cannot help wondering: What are we doing here? Is he taking us to a souvenir shop? Perhaps there is some tourist stop we have not been told about.
Our suspicions soon prove unfounded. The driver points towards a road beside the restaurant and tells us to take a look. He will wait for us.
Curious, we step onto the road and, almost immediately, our eyes are drawn in a dozen directions. Before us stretches a vast paved square, alive with possibilities. Where do we begin? What should we make of this unexpected place?
Right into the Baltic Sea
As is almost always our instinct, we decide to go as far as we can.
And there it is—the blue Baltic Sea, stretching towards the horizon like an open invitation. The sea seems to pull us towards it, and the long wooden pier makes the invitation even harder to resist. It reaches far out into the Baltic, and we learn that it is the longest wooden pier in Europe. Entry, however, comes at a fee, and with our limited time we decide to admire it from a distance. Still, I cannot help imagining how beautiful it must be at sunset, when the fading light settles over the water and the pier becomes a path into the evening.
Relaxedly vibrant
Around us, Sopot is full of life, but never seems hurried. There are activities for children, outdoor cafés and eateries spilling into the open spaces, and souvenir shops displaying local crafts.
The landscaping catches my attention too. Flowering plants soften the surroundings, while fountains add movement and sparkle. There is plenty happening, yet somehow the place does not feel noisy. Instead, there is an unhurried vibrancy to Sopot—a gentle energy that allows people to enjoy themselves without seeming to be in a rush to get anywhere.
Perhaps that is what stays with us most. A resort can easily become overwhelming, especially one filled with tourists, shops and attractions. Sopot, however, seems to have found a way of being lively without losing its sense of ease.
Yet another miss
There is, of course, the famous Crooked House, with its whimsical bends and curves, connected to a shopping centre. It is one of Sopot's landmarks, the sort of place that would surely have made a delightful addition to our photographs. But somehow, we miss it.
And perhaps that is the nature of travelling. We do not always see everything we are supposed to see. Some places announce themselves loudly; others reveal themselves almost by accident. Sopot is one of those unexpected discoveries—a place our driver led us to without explanation, where a simple turn onto a road opened up a whole new world.
Gydina! How different!
Gdynia — how different it feels from its neighbours: one steeped in history, the other shaped as a seaside resort.
As the youngest of the three cities, Gdynia carries a distinctly modern spirit. You can feel it in the clean lines of its streets, its architecture, and the sense of openness that runs through the city. There is something quietly refreshing about a place that doesn’t look back quite as much as its neighbours, but instead seems to embody a vision of what a city could become.
.Historic Gateway to the world
At the waterfront, the retired destroyer ORP Błyskawica lies silent beside the graceful masts of the Dar Pomorza. Once they crossed oceans, carrying people, dreams, and duty. Now they remain still—weathered witnesses to the countless lives they once connected, and the history they helped protect.
What's the history?
The very first building as we sailed into the harbour was the Emigration Museum, housed in the old Maritime Station—once Poland’s gateway to the world.
Its halls tell the stories of millions who left with little more than a suitcase and an uncertain future. Poland’s vast diaspora suddenly felt less like a statistic and more like a collection of deeply human choices: every departure a leap into the unknown, every arrival the beginning of a life not yet imagined. It explains the fact that Poland was one of the world's largest diasporas.
A hub indeed
The port is home to the Polish Navy headquarters, while also serving as a major passenger and cargo hub, with reliable ferry connections to destinations across Europe.
