Crooked House in Sopot

The Crooked House in Sopot (Krzywy Domek, say "KSHIH-vih DOH-mek") is a building that looks as if it is melting: wavy walls, warped windows and a roof like a fairy-tale hat. It stands on Sopot's famous pedestrian street, Bohaterów Monte Cassino, known locally as "Monciak," a few minutes' walk from the pier. It is not a historic monument but a 2004 shopping and office building, yet it has become one of the most photographed sights on Poland's Baltic coast, and looking at it costs nothing.

Where is Sopot, and who designed the house?

Sopot is a seaside resort between Gdańsk and Gdynia, the three cities together known as the Tricity (Trójmiasto) on the Gulf of Gdańsk in northern Poland. It is an easy half-day add-on to a Gdańsk trip: the SKM commuter train runs frequently along the coast, and the ride from central Gdańsk takes roughly 20 minutes. Sopot has long been a spa and party town; before 1945 it was the German resort of Zoppot, part of the Free City of Danzig between the wars.

The building opened in 2004 as part of the Rezydent shopping center. Architects Szotyńscy & Zaleski were inspired by the drawings of Jan Marcin Szancer, a much-loved Polish children's book illustrator, and Swedish artist Per Dahlberg; the building's management also cites Antoni Gaudí as an influence. The result is a whimsical, roughly 4,000-square-meter structure that looks deliberately out of place among its neighbors.

International media took notice: the owners point to features by BBC Travel and CNN, and the website Village of Joy ranked it first on a list of the world's 50 strangest buildings.

Things to do at the Crooked House

• Photograph the facade from the opposite side of Monciak to fit in the whole wavy front and green roof.
• Walk through: you can enter from both Monte Cassino Street and Morska Street. In the passage, a wall covered in artists' autographs is signposted as Franciszek Walicki Alley.
• Grab a bite: inside are cafés, a food hall with several counters, a bar, shops, clinics and offices, plus occasional events such as swing dance nights.
• Come back after dark, when the facade is lit and looks even more storybook.

How long to spend and is it worth it?

It is a quick stop rather than a destination: 15–30 minutes for photos and a look around, or about an hour with coffee or lunch inside. Treat it as one highlight of a stroll down Monciak from the train station to the pier. In summer and on weekends the street is packed, so come early in the morning for crowd-free photos. Kids love it.

Opening hours and admission (as of October 2026)

Viewing the building from outside is free at any time. There are no single opening hours: the cafés, restaurants and shops inside keep their own schedules, and the management does not publish common hours. Check krzywydomek.info and its social media for tenants and events. Prices inside are in Polish złoty (PLN).

How to get to the Crooked House

The address is ul. Bohaterów Monte Cassino 53, Sopot, with a second entrance from Morska/Haffnera Street.

• By train: take the SKM commuter train or a regional train to Sopot station, then walk down Monciak past St. George's Church for a few minutes.
• By car: Monciak is fully pedestrianized and central Sopot has paid parking; spaces are scarce in summer, so the train from Gdańsk or Gdynia is easier.
• From the airport: Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport serves the whole Tricity.

Nearby

Monciak continues to Spa Square and Sopot Pier, a wooden pier whose walkway is 511.5 meters (about 1,680 feet) long. Nearby are the beach, the lighthouse and the Spa House, and a short walk inland the Forest Opera hosts summer music festivals.