Things To Do in Sopot

Sopot

Life centers on the pedestrian Bohaterów Monte Cassino Street (nicknamed "Monciak"), the main axis of trendy cafes, clubs, and restaurants. You'll see the much-photographed Crooked House (Bohaterów Monte Cassino 53; tel. 58/555-51-23), though it's not much to write home about. At the end of Monciak, you'll come to a 5km (3-mile) stretch of sandy beach and the Pier (Molo). Built in 1928, and stretching 515m (1,690 ft.) into the Gulf of Gdansk, it is the longest wooden pier along the Baltic coast. Strolling on the pier is a Sopot de rigueur and a certifiable must-do for the romantically inclined. In summer, you'll find opera singers crooning tunes from Sopot's heyday in the 1930s and old-timer sailors selling tickets for peeping into binoculars. To the north of the beach is another stunning landmark of Sopot: the Grand Hotel. Once you have had enough of the sun and sand, you can escape to the greens and shades of the hilly Opera Park (Opera Lesna; Moniuszki 12). The annual International Sopot Festival (www.sopotfestival.onet.pl) is held every August.

Concerts

On summer weekends, Opera Park (Opera Lesna; Moniuszki 12) hosts regular outdoor concerts, including the annual International Sopot Festival (www.sopotfestival.onet.pl) in August, which draws the likes of Tracy Chapman. At press time, the park's amphitheatre was undergoing renovation. Until it's completed, events are relocated to other venues, such as the horse-riding ring at Hipodrom (Polna 1). Contact the tourist office for event schedules.

Cafes, Pubs & Clubs

Come Friday and Saturday nights, most of the cafes, pubs, and clubs on Bohaterów Monte Cassino Street keep their doors open till dawn. There's a velvet rope in some clubs, so be sure to gloss up and come with a clubbing attitude to get past the doormen.