Sopot is one of the smallest (about 41 thousand inhabitants in 2002) but one of the most beautiful Polish towns.

A big forest surrounds Sopot to the west and Gdansk Gulf to the east. It takes about three hours from Polish capital Warsaw by train to Sopot. During summer times it has more visitors than citizens from all parts of Europe.
An excavation conducted in Sopot indicates that this region was inhabited during the early Iron Age about V century B.C. Amber was mined in this region during this time, which was then transported to south to Rome Empire. Fist document where you can see the name Sopot is dated on 5th March 1283 when Polish prince Msciwoj II gave Sopot to Cistercian monastery which was located in Oliwa (today you call this Gdansk Oliwa, which is part of big city Gdansk just a few miles south of Sopot). Later Sopot becomes tourist attraction for its big neighbor Gdansk. During Renaissance Sopot slowly transforms to tourist resort. The turning moment in history was when Jean Haffner a doctor form napoleon army settled down in Sopot and opened first baths and building at the same time park and pier.
In short time Sopot was transformed to very attractive resort, visited by increasing number of visitors from all parts of Europe. On 8 October 1901 Sopot was promoted to town status by Prussian government in Berlin. After the conference at Versailles (1918) Sopot, which many foreign citizens inhabited, went under the jurisdiction of Free Town Gdansk. After World War II Sopot becomes popular place for artists. Sopot Gallery, which is located in old casino building, is one of the most important art centers in Poland. In Forest Opera a festival takes place every year, which attracts many stars from around the world. There are many places where you can play tennis, watch horse races and of course you can ride a horse. As a matter of fact horseraces is the unique place where many state heads used to come to see it. If you like to gamble you can go to Grand Hotel, which is located near pier, a place where you can meet almost everybody.
Sopot as a small town compared to it big neighbors Gdynia and Gdansk was supposed to stay as a tourist resort, but it was slowly transformed to important trade center. Recent years allowed Sopot to integrate fully with the economics structure of modern Europe. As a prelude to coming changes the main street (Monte Cassino Street) was upgraded to a status of modern trading center. This is a place where you can buy almost everything in tens small and big shops. Of course you can find here a place to have a good lunch or dinner and when the night falls there are a lot of disco clubs to choose from. A very dense network of banks makes Sopot a very important financial institution. A very good team of professionals coming from University of law and economy, which is located in Sopot, makes a very important contribution to future development of Sopot. As a matter of fact close location of University of Gdansk and Gdansk Polytechnic contributed to high standard of education of many people. High percentage of inhabitants has some kind of University education what is higher than the national average. Good conditions for investors made Sopot very attractive to invest and over five thousands people have registered some kind of economic activity. In the future Sopot plans to be one of the best tourist attractions in Poland.
After the World War II Sopot lost some of its glory mainly because new communist government was not up to its job. But after the communist system collapsed in 1889, better days came. A lot of money has been invested in restoration of old buildings some of them from 18th century and a lot of new structures have been built. The main street Monte Cassino has been renovated but still more is to come. Future development plans include removing all residential building surrounding Main Street and changing them into trading place. Of course Sopot was always known as a tourist attraction and a lot have been done to renovate and build new hotels forever-increasing number of tourists. Every year you can see something new and probably in a few years old Sopot will be only know from pictures.

Jean Haffner founder of the baths and health resort died suddenly in 1830. The enterprise was taken over by his wife Regina and their daughter Josephine. Nevertheless the enterprise was in serious financial trouble and the situation was worsen by insurrection in 1831 against Russian and German invaders know as November Insurrection. The almost bankrupt enterprise was taken over by Heffner’s stepson in 1834. He invested heavily into reconstruction of the old Spring House, baths, construction of first Sopot Theater in 1843 and he landscaped new terrains bought in 1834 and 1837. Until 1877 everything stayed unchanged
On 18th April, 1877 a new resolution was passed through by settlement officials (Sopot still did not have town status) to buy baths and all buildings belonging to the recreation and health center from Heffner’s family. In 1881 a new Spring House was built, the wooden pier was extended and modernized. A few new luxury hotels like Hotel E. Eissenhardt and Hotel Hugon Werminghoffa were built by the year 1897. More investors flooded the town investing in new restaurants, coffee shops and various motels.
A new tennis courts was built in 1897 – 1901. New Horse Races Tracks and newly open Forest Opera in 1909 were a new attractions for ever increasing number of tourists. Eager for sea trips could take tours organized by Sailing Association from Gdansk On the turn of 19th and 20th century many tourist paths and sightseeing point were renovated. The center of the town was also renovated due to increasing number of tourists. The increase in popularity forced the city official to spend a lot of money on renovations. A new building for balneotherapy (treatment of diseases by baths) was erected. North Baths, South Baths from 1907 and a new Spring House from 1911 – 1912 were added to the attractions.
Beach and water are the main attractions of the town. They are strategically important, since they attract tourists. No one can resign from visiting the pier, which is the biggest pride of Sopot. The pier, based on wooden construction, is the longest pier of this type in Europe (511.5 m long and 10 m wide). A walk over it is an unforgettable experience. Already at the beginning one will see a square with a fountain, a concert bowl and a gallery glazed from the side of the sea. On both sides of it there are benches, where during sunny days enthusiasts of sunbaths may sit. The pier is also the favorite place for romantic walks. This is the place where yachts and ships of "white fleet" moor. At the end of the pier, there is a viewpoint from which one may watch the Grand Hotel, panorama of Sopot and its surroundings, including picturesque landscape spreading out from Redlowski Cape, from the North, to New Port and Westerplatte, from the Southern east. Sopot's offer also includes many sports attractions. Almost all disciplines may by practice in the town.
Visitors are invited to take advantage of tennis courts complex, three stadiums (rugby, athletics and football), fitness trial ideal for jogging or a horseracing track - the only object of this type with a view on the sea in the world. There also is indoor riding stable, where a riding school is organized. Skiers have at their disposal a ski lift leading to Łysa Góra. There are marvelous walking areas, suitable for all seasons of the year. Together with a 4.5 kilometers beach, the sea, indoor swimming pool and a Sports Centre, located in the residential area near the forest, they create unlimited possibilities for enthusiasts of active rest. Lovers of water sports are welcomed to take advantage of the equipment hire, led by the Town's Sport and Recreation Centre. There are many significant tournaments and competitions. Yachtsmen from all over the world race during international yachting tournaments: Baltic Cup, Junior World Championships, and Cup of the President of Sopot Regatta. There are also competitions for enthusiasts of windsurfing, tennis players and athletes. Tourists are also invited to Sopot sport clubs that additionally offer fitness centers, massage and physiotherapy centers and organize dancing competitions, hairdressers' competitions, and fashion and beauty shows.

There are many places in the town which are dedicated to remembering events from past history. Most of monuments were dedicated to events from Word War II. There is a cemetery and monument to commemorate Russian soldiers who fought and died during last months of WWII. Another one located next to city hall is dedicated to Polish opposition, who were arrested and killed during German occupation between 1939 and 1945. Monument of Polish athletes who took part in the underground army to fight German occupation during WWII is located next to the athletic stadium. Monument of Polish sailor was put in North Park and commemorates those who fought on the seas against German Navy. Another monument was erected to remind of the date of 23rd March 1945, which is the date when last German soldier was expelled from Sopot by advancing Russian forces. One of the latest sculptures is dedicated to Polish Underground Army who fought Germans during the occupation and were later arrested by new Polish government which was setup by Russians, those are so called Stalin oppression times; it was built next to university building in 1998. There is of course sculpture of fisherman to remind of the date and place where all began and basis for establishing Sopot health and tourist resort were laid down. It is located on the main square just where the Heroes of Monte Cassino ends and the pier begins, what used to be a small fishing village 200 years ago. There two very famous figures in Polish history, one is Frederic Chopin, probably everybody know the famous 19th century pianist and Adam Mickiewicz one of the most famous 19th century writer and poet. Both figures have their monuments in Sopot. Probably you heart abut Esperanto, founder of the universal language was Polish born scientist and Sopot was in the center of the movement and there is a small stone, which do not reminds real monument but it was put down to remember Sopot and a important place with many events.

1283 AD - the first historical mention of Sopot in a document issued by Mściwój, of pomerania, who gave the village of Sopoth to the Cistercian monastery in Oliwa

16 th - 17 th unturies - the period of constructing residences by wealthy merchants from Gdańsk

1808 - Jean Georg Haffner, a doctor of the Napoleonic armed forces and regarded as the founder of the spa, came to Sopot.

1819 - 1844 - the extension and development of spa infrastructure ( the construction of baths, hotels, restaurants and the pier, which used to be disembled for the winter time)

1870 - Sopot was connected by rail with Gdańsk

1891 - 1909 - Antoni Abraham lived in Sopot

1898 - the construction of the race course

1900 - the construction of tennis courts

1901, October 8 th - the of Sopot was granted of the Treatment Centre

1903 - 1904 the constructions of the Balneological Treatment Centre

1907 - the construction of the southern Baths

1952 - opering of the Treatment and Bath Centre

1999 - Sopot was officially granted spa status

1999, June 5 th - 6 th - Pope John Paul 2 visited Sopot

2001 - the hundredth anniversary of granting the city civic rights (1901)

One of the countries most talked about nightspots. The decadent interior of freaky art, Persian drapes and miscellaneous weirdness (eg. a stuffed tiger suspended from the ceiling) conspires to attract a defiantly artistic crowd. The wonderfully obscure background music, rattan furnished terrace and lethal list of liquors add to the offbeat ambience.
ul. Powstańców Warszawy 18
tel. 550 48 79

Open daily: 18:00-04:00
except:
Friday: 18:00-04:00