Caught between two Gs (Sopot (Poland))

Member Name: dangaroo

Product:	Sopot (Poland)
Date:	03/08/09 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice mixture of town, park and beach

Disadvantages: Too many tourists in summer, not as good as Gdansk culinary wise

Alongside its larger neighbours Gdansk and Gdynia, Sopot forms part of the so-called Trojmiasto (Three Cities). I've been there 3 times at different times of the year and the first time in April 2005, I found the place extremely enjoyable.

There's not that much to Sopot, it has a train station which connects the city with the rest of Trojmiasto, a long street called Monte Cassino which is full of bars, cafes, restaurants and one or two shops. Up the hill, are a handful of side streets leading off it, on the left you will find one of the best pubs - Cafe Jozef K (non-smoking).

Follow the street downwards and you'll pass the pub & cheap grub heavily dominated part to reach the longest pier in Europe, recently they've begun charging an entrance fee to walk along it but as I remember it's rather nominal. It jets out some 450 metres in to the sea and will definitely please pier lovers.

Walking along the coast in either direction is pleasant, the beaches sand is soft and provided you are not there in the middle of the tourist season, you can't really have a bad time. There's cafes and pubs every spotted along the beach front, so plenty of places to relax.

One of the landmarks in the town is the crooked house (Krzywy Domek) built in 2003, it's a pretty odd looking structure although last time I visited, I noticed that a tree was kind of obscuring it! Sopot is a great place to chill out but it can be quite the opposite in the summer when it's heaving with tourists, go out of season (a little bit) and have a good time! Prices are pretty dear by Polish standards and the standard of food is quite ropey in the standard places serving up sausage, chips, fish, burgers etc.

Sopot also hosts a music contest (next weekend actually), acts from all over Europe take part and it's quite fun although it's usually very much schlager territory.

Summary: Go when the tourists are away