Pier in Sopot

Sopot Pier (Molo w Sopocie; say "SOH-pot") is the signature landmark of Poland's Baltic coast. The wooden promenade is 511.5 meters long, with 458 meters stretching out over the Gulf of Gdańsk, and its story began in 1827. Walking to the end is a rite of passage in the Tricity (Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia): waves under the boards, views of the Grand Hotel, Gdynia and the Hel Peninsula, and a marina full of yachts. It is about 15 km from Gdańsk's Old Town and easy to reach by commuter train.

A short history

The first jetty, just 31.5 meters long, was built in 1827 by Dr. Johann Georg (Jerzy) Haffner, the physician who founded Sopot as a spa – then the Prussian resort of Zoppot. It was lengthened to 150 meters by the late 19th century and to 315 meters in 1910. The present pier dates from 1927–1928.

Between the wars, when Sopot belonged to the Free City of Danzig, the pier served as a passenger landing. Ocean liners anchored offshore and passengers came ashore by boat; the biggest was the German Columbus (32,364 GRT). The Seedienst Ostpreußen service linked Sopot with Kiel, Riga and Helsinki. Seaplanes even landed here in 1923 before air traffic moved to Gdańsk in 1925. After World War II demolition was considered in 1948, but the pier survived and was strengthened with a concrete head in the 1990s.

The pier today

In 2005 part of the pier became a harbor and it was named after Pope John Paul II. A marina with 103 berths opened in July 2011. Since 2020 the pier has been run by the city's sports and recreation center, which sold 960,000 tickets in 2021 alone.

Things to do on and around the pier:

• walk to the pier head for views across the bay, and on clear days to Gdynia and the Hel Peninsula;
• watch boats come and go in the marina;
• admire the 1927 Grand Hotel right on the beach;
• see the lighthouse and spa house on the square at the pier entrance.

Sopot Pier is often described as the longest wooden pier in Europe. The round-trip walk takes about 30–40 minutes. The deck is flat and works well with strollers and wheelchairs.

On screen and for families

The pier has starred in many films, from the 1943 German Titanic to the Polish cult crime comedy Sztos (1997). For families it is a safe, flat walk with railings on both sides, and children under 3 go free. It is windier at the end than on the beach, so bring a layer even in summer.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, the pier is open 24 hours a day, except when weather makes it unsafe. Admission is charged only in season – in 2026 from April 10 to September 30 – so in October and winter you can walk on for free.

2026 season prices (MOSiR Sopot):

• standard 10 PLN, reduced (ages 3–16) 5 PLN;
• family tickets 21–23 PLN; seniors 70+ 8 PLN;
• free for children under 3, people with disabilities up to age 26, and Sopot residents.

In peak summer (June 27–August 31) the fee applies around the clock. From April 10 to June 26 it applies 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; in September until 8 p.m. (9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays). Outside those hours, walking on is free. Buy tickets at the ticket desks at the entrance or online. Contact: MOSiR Sopot, +48 58 550 12 15.

Getting there

Take the SKM commuter train to Sopot station, then walk down the pedestrian street Bohaterów Monte Cassino (about 15 minutes). Trains run frequently from Gdańsk and Gdynia; Gdańsk airport is roughly a 25-minute drive. Parking in central Sopot is paid and scarce in summer.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes – especially early morning or at sunset in summer, or on a crisp autumn day when it is free and quiet. In hard frosts the pillars below the deck freeze into spectacular ice sculptures. Combine it with the Crooked House on the main street, the beach and a trip to Gdańsk.