Summary of Attractions in Gdynia
Situated on Gdańsk Bay, Gdynia is a port city that emerged during the interwar period of the 20th century. Renowned for its pristine sandy beaches and coastal forests, it quickly evolved into a favored holiday destination while also serving as Poland’s principal embarkation point for emigrants heading to America.
A notable museum addressing this sensitive topic, along with the Polish diaspora, opened in 2015 and is complemented by several other maritime-themed attractions, including one of Poland’s foremost aquariums and a naval museum.
Constructed in the 1920s and 1930s, Gdynia boasts an abundant collection of Modernist and early Functionalist architecture, whose residential blocks, city infrastructure, and museums contribute a distinctive charm to the urban landscape.
Let’s investigate the top attractions in Gdynia:
1. Emigration Museum
During the interwar period, this Modernist maritime terminal at Nabrzeże Francuskie (French Quay) facilitated the departure of thousands of Poles permanently leaving their homeland.
Thus, in the early 2010s, it became the prime location for a sophisticated new museum dedicated to the phenomenon of emigration, which opened to the public in 2015. The Emigration Museum has amassed a wealth of archival footage, photographs, audio recordings, personal anecdotes, and artifacts to illustrate the motivations and methods by which individuals emigrated to countries such as Brazil, Australia, and the USA.
2. ORP Błyskawica
The ORP Błyskawica, or “Lightning,” is a Grom-class destroyer and is the oldest preserved vessel of its kind globally, having been commissioned in November 1937. Constructed by J. Samuel White shipyard on the Isle of Wight, this ship was maneuvered out of the Baltic just before the outbreak of World War II to evade destruction.
During the war, it engaged in numerous operations, including the evacuation at Dunkirk in 1940 and various confrontations across Europe and the North Atlantic.
The ORP Błyskawica was converted into a museum ship in the 1970s, offering a visitor trail that allows inspection of its deck, torpedo cross-section, anti-aircraft guns, depth charges, and naval mines.
Visitors can also explore below deck into areas including the radio room, engine rooms, and officers’ mess, with informative plaques detailing each area.
3. Dar Pomorza
Managed by the Polish National Maritime Museum, this fully-rigged sailing ship is located along the waterfront adjacent to ORP Błyskawica and has traveled extensively throughout Europe.
Launched in Hamburg at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in 1909, it was delivered to Great Britain in 1920 as part of war reparations following World War I.
Subsequently, Dar Pomorza became a training vessel in France and later for the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia.
In 1935, it notably became the first ship to circumnavigate the globe under the Polish flag.
After participating in numerous tall ship races in the 1970s, Dar Pomorza was retired as a museum ship in 1983. Visitors can board the ship to explore its internal mechanisms and learn about its storied past via informational panels.
4. Skwer Kościuszki (Kościuszko Square)
Named after Tadeusz Kościuszko, a national hero who led Poland’s 1794 uprising against Russian domination, Skwer Kościuszki is a central feature of Gdynia that visitors often return to.
This expansive square functions more as a broad promenade leading to the South Pier, where several museum ships are moored.
Overlooking the square are Modernist apartment buildings from the 1930s, along with the Polish Navy’s command building, which was decommissioned in 2014. A diverse array of restaurants surrounds the square, with the marina, cinema, theater, aquarium, and main museums all within short walking distance.
5. Naval Museum
This museum is responsible for the care of the ORP Błyskawica situated at South Pier, and it also features an indoor gallery within a building that shares premises with the Gdynia City Museum.
One of its most notable exhibits is located immediately to the left upon entering—the Westerplatte Eagle, a bas relief of an eagle that used to embellish the entrance of the barracks at the Westerplatte Transit Depot.
This piece was discovered amidst rubble after World War II; Westerplatte was the first land target during Germany’s invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. The museum’s collections have been compiled since 1953 and include uniforms, equipment, indoor and outdoor weaponry, medals, models, paintings, and photographic exhibits, predominantly from the Second World War.
6. Kamienna Góra
Located south of the marina and South Pier, this upscale neighborhood has attracted a distinguished array of business leaders and cultural figures who have built their villas here over the past 80 years.
One of the reasons for this choice is its elevation, standing at 50 meters above the rest of the city on a steep clay hill composed of glacial till. The observation terrace, topped with a monumental cross, offers panoramic views of Gdańsk Bay, the yacht harbor, and the northern districts of Gdynia.
7. Kamienna Góra Gdynia Funicular
The Kamienna Góra funicular, which began operations in July 2015, provides free transport up and down the hill. The lower station is situated at the revitalized Plac Grunwaldzki, and both the lower and upper stations were designed to complement Gdynia’s Modernist architectural style.
Spanning 115 meters in length, the single unmanned carriage accommodates up to 12 passengers and operates between 10:00 and 22:00. The system relies on passenger operation, equipped with buttons to summon the train and initiate the journey.
8. Gdynia Beach
Although not expansive, the main beach in Gdynia is ideally situated just below Kamienna Góra near the Marina.
The fine white sandy beach extends approximately 300 meters along the bay and is suited for sunny days.
While the water may be brisk, the beach has a gentle slope and features shallow waves on calm days.
The beach is flanked by a long promenade that meanders into the Kępa Redłowska nature park to the south.
Along its northern edge, visitors will find several cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating, accompanied by a lengthy grassy strip.
9. Orłowo Pier
This leisure pier, established during World War I, serves the seaside resort village of Orłowo, located just a few kilometers down the coast.
At one point, the 430-meter-long pier competently rivaled the nearby resort of Sopot; however, severe storms in 1949 reduced it to its current length of 180 meters.
Today, visitors admire the pier for its simple elegance, characterized by whitewashed timber and benches, as well as views towards the Orłowski Cliffs.
Early risers will find no better location to observe the sunrise, and within a matter of moments, they will encounter a selection of cozy cafes and restaurants.
10. Motor Museum
Upon entering this private automotive museum, it is evident that the owner has invested considerable passion in the collection.
The museum houses 200 historic vehicles within a vintage-themed hall, where even the floor is paved with cobblestones from 1920s Gdynia.
The exhibition features 50 cars, complemented by a remarkable assortment of 150 motorcycles from the first half of the 20th century, produced by renowned brands including Indian, Harley-Davidson, Zündapp, Royal Enfield, BMW, and the Polish Sokół brand.
Special vehicles of note include the sleek WFM Osa moped, a Škoda Tudor, a Model T Ford, and a Buick Master Six from the mid-1920s, with the Buick maintaining its original paint, upholstery, and air in its tires.
11. Museum of Gdynia
Though Gdynia is a relatively new city, its swift development during the interwar years offers significant insights into its history.
This museum contains numerous artifacts that depict those formative years, including archival photographs that document the construction of the port and its subsequent destruction during World War II.
A collection of various historical documents, such as posters, driving licenses, school certificates, passports, tickets, restaurant menus, maps, and marriage certificates, sheds light on daily life in interwar Gdynia.
At the time of this writing, two short-term exhibitions were showcasing the history of Gdynia’s Protestant community and the architectural photography of Tadeusz Wański from the 1920s.
12. Kępa Redłowska
Located between Gdynia and Orłowo is a 118-hectare nature reserve established in 1938 to protect coastal beech forests and unique populations of Swedish whitebeam.
Despite being within the city limits, the park offers a sense of remoteness amid this unspoiled woodland and tranquil beaches.
Visitors can also opt for a scenic walk along the seafront trail that extends all the way to Sopot.
The park’s headland is particularly picturesque, where the Orłowski Cliffs present a natural balcony that stretches for 650 meters.
Composed of glacial sediment, these cliffs rise above secluded beaches adorned with rocks.
13. Torpedownia Babie Doły
This atmospheric, abandoned torpedo station attracts those interested in military architecture and those who appreciate the beauty of dilapidated structures.
Positioned a few hundred meters off the coast, approximately ten kilometers north of Gdynia, this facility was built as a research center by the Wehrmacht at the onset of World War II and featured a pier linking it to the shore, which was removed in the 1990s.
Today, the site is evident from the beach, gradually succumbing to erosion from the sea and harsh winters.
14. Centrum Nauki Experyment
A collaborative project between the city and the Pomeranian Science and Technology Park, Centrum Nauki Experyment stands out as one of Poland’s premier interactive science museums.
Featuring 200 interactive stations, the learning experience is enriched by a dedicated team of enthusiastic guides.
One of the highlights is Hydroworld, where children can explore fundamentals of hydrological engineering by creating whirlpools, constructing sluice dams, and experimenting with Archimedes screws.
Visitors can also engage in virtual surgeries, investigate magnetism, experience simulated earthquakes, and discover various optical illusions that challenge human perception.
15. Gdynia Aquarium
This highly sought-after attraction located on the South Pier commenced operations in 1971 and resides within a Modernist ferry terminal dating back to 1938. The aquarium houses approximately 215 species of fish, invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians, ranging from Chinese turtles to garden eels, showcased across an exhibition space exceeding 900 square meters.
The diverse habitats include a coral reef, the Baltic Sea, seagrass beds, and an Amazon-like environment.
The tanks are complemented by static displays concerning oceanography and hydrobiology, and a theater that opened in 2005 screens underwater documentaries.
Special attention should be given to the Baltic Hall, located on the upper floor, which offers stunning views of Gdańsk Bay.
