Train to Gdynia – connections, tickets and travel guide

• Character of the city: harbour, modernist buildings from the 1930s, museum ships ORP Błyskawica and Dar Pomorza, Gdynia Aquarium, beaches in Śródmieście and Orłowo

• Best time to go: June-August, when it is 20-25°C during the day; May and September if you want to avoid the biggest crowds

• Local transport: trolleybuses and buses of ZKM Gdynia and trains of SKM Trójmiasto; a single ticket costs a few zlotys, a daily ticket a dozen or so

• How much to go for: a weekend is enough for a city break, and for a quiet visit with beaches it is worth planning 3-4 days

• Practical tip: you can get from Gdynia Główna station to Orłowo beach by SKM train in a few minutes

The best choice is June–August, when the daytime temperature is 20–25°C and the beaches are fully accessible, but May and September also work well for sightseeing.

Spring (March–May)

• In May, the gardens at Kamienna Góra are in bloom, so you can combine a walk with a view of the sea.

• You can visit the museums and museum ships without summer queues, and accommodation prices are lower than in high season.

• Daytime highs are 6°C in March and 15°C in May, so a windbreaker is handy for seaside walks.

Summer (June–August)

• The beaches in Śródmieście and Orłowo are fully accessible and the sea temperature reaches 18–20°C in July and August.

• At the end of summer, the Gdynia Film Festival takes place, so accommodation prices rise and it is worth booking in advance.

• Sunset over the sea falls after 9 pm.

• July and August are the peak season, so you will find the most people on the beaches and waterfront.

Autumn (September–November)

• In September, the sea is still around 17°C and tourist traffic decreases noticeably.

• From October onwards, accommodation prices are lower and you can visit museums and attractions without queues.

• It is best to plan a city break for September or early October, as you are more likely to encounter wind and rain in November.

Winter (December–February)

• You will encounter fewer tourists in winter, and the Gdynia Aquarium and museum ships are still open.

• Walking along the waterfront in winter is picturesque, but temperatures drop to 0–4°C.

• This is the period with the lowest accommodation prices of the year.

You can get to Gdynia directly from many cities in Poland, and the train stops at Gdynia Główna station. Connections are operated by PKP Intercity, POLREGIO and SKM Trójmiasto.

From Malbork

• You take about 1 hour 10 minutes by POLREGIO train to Gdynia Główna.

• The route takes you through Tczew.

• If you are returning from a trip to the Teutonic Castle, you get on a train and go straight to the sea.

From Hel

• From Hel to Gdynia Główna you take a POLREGIO train for about 1.5 hours.

• On the way you pass Puck, Reda and Rumia.

• There are several connections a day during the summer season.

From Elbląg

• From Elbląg to Gdynia Główna you take a POLREGIO train for about 1 hour 40 minutes.

• The route passes through Malbork and Sopot.

• You have a choice of several connections per day.

From Słupsk

• From Słupsk to Gdynia Główna you take a POLREGIO train for approximately 1 hour 50 minutes.

• This connection is direct.

• There are several trains per day.

From Bydgoszcz

• From Bydgoszcz to Gdynia Główna you take a POLREGIO train for about 2.5 hours.

• On the way, you pass Tczew and Gdańsk.

• You will also take the same train from Poznań.

From Warsaw

• The fastest connections from Warsaw to Gdynia Główna take about 3 hours without a change.

• On IC and EIC trains, the journey time is about 3-3.5 hours.

• The route passes through Malbork and Tczew.

• You can choose between several connections per day.

From Olsztyn

• From Olsztyn to Gdynia Główna you take one PKP Intercity train for about 3 hours.

• The route passes through Malbork and Gdańsk.

• You will find several connections per day in the timetable.

From Poznań

• A direct connection from Poznań to Gdynia Główna takes about 3.5 hours.

• The route goes via Bydgoszcz, and further via Tczew or Gdańsk.

• There are several trains per day.

From Krakow

• From Krakow to Gdynia Główna you take a direct Pendolino approximately 5.5 hours.

• On the way, the train passes through Warsaw, Malbork and Tczew.

• Some IC connections go via Wrocław and Poznań, and the journey time is about 8 hours.

You buy a ticket on Europodróże without registration - you give the route, choose the connection and pay. You receive your ticket by e-mail and SMS. 30 minutes before departure you get an SMS with a link to your ticket, so you are not looking for it in your email inbox. The earlier you buy, the better the price and the greater the choice of seats, especially in the summer season.

You can return your PKP Intercity tickets up to 20 minutes before departure and exchange them up to 30 minutes before departure. See the ticket returns and exchanges page for details.

On PKP Intercity and POLREGIO trains you can benefit from statutory concessions: 51% for students, 37% for children and young people, 30% for senior citizens. Discounts are also available with the Large Family Card, the family ticket and the Cheap with Relatives offer.

You can get around the centre of Gdynia on foot, as the main attractions, the waterfront and Kościuszko Square are close to the station. For further excursions, public transport and the SKM come in handy.

ZKM Gdynia operates trolleybuses and buses throughout the city. You can buy tickets from ticket machines at stops or from the driver. For several journeys a day, choose a day ticket.

SKM Trójmiasto connects Gdynia Główna with Orłowo, Sopot and Gdańsk. You can get to Gdynia Orłowo station in a few minutes and to Sopot in about 20 minutes. If you are planning a day trip to Sopot or Gdansk, the SKM runs regularly throughout the day.

Taxis and shuttle apps operate at the station. This is a useful solution when returning from the beach with luggage or for an evening transfer.

Mevo city bikes have stations at the station and in the centre. A ride along the waterfront to Orlowo by bike takes a dozen minutes.

Where to stay overnight:

• The area around Skwer Kościuszki - gives the best access to attractions and the waterfront

• Orłowo - a quieter district with a beach and seaside resort atmosphere; you can get around Gdynia on foot, by SKM and public transport

Skwer Kościuszki and the quay

Skwer Kościuszki and the quay bring together the main attractions in the centre of Gdynia. This is where the museum ships ORP Błyskawica and Dar Pomorza are moored. There is an entrance fee and a tour of each takes 45-60 minutes. The ORP Błyskawica is one of the oldest surviving destroyers in the world, while the Dar Pomorza is a three-masted school sailing ship from 1909.

Gdynia Aquarium

The Gdynia Aquarium at 1 Jana Pawła II Avenue is one of the largest aquariums in Poland. There is an entrance fee and the tour takes 1.5-2 hours. Queues are usually shorter in the morning than in the afternoon, especially in summer.

South Pier

The South Pier gives a view of the harbour and the Bay of Gdansk. Entry is free. In the evening, you will see a panorama of the waterfront and Kamienna Góra from here.

Kamienna Góra

Kamienna Góra is a hill with a park and an observation deck overlooking the city and the sea. From the centre, you can walk here in a few minutes. At the top, there are benches, greenery and one of the best views in the Tricity.

The beach in Orłowo and a wooden pier

The beach in Orłowo and the wooden pier are a few minutes' SKM ride from Gdynia Główna station. The beach is quieter than in the city centre and the Orłowo cliff rises above the shore. You can also take the train from Gdynia to Hel, and the journey takes about 1.5 hours.

Plan for 1 day

In the morning, you visit the waterfront and ship-museums, for a total of 1.5-2 hours. At noon you visit the Gdynia Aquarium, where the tour takes 1.5-2 hours. In the afternoon you go to Kamienna Gora, and in the evening you take a walk on the South Pier.

Plan for the weekend

Day 1: Arrange the same as the 1-day plan.

Day 2: In the morning, take the SKM to Orlowo for a beach and cliff walk, and in the afternoon go to Sopot. The drive to Sopot takes about 20 minutes.

The area around Skwer Kościuszki and Świętojańska Street concentrates Gdynia's main gastronomic zone. At the quayside you will find fish restaurants overlooking the harbour, and on Świętojańska Street cafes, bars and establishments with Polish and international cuisine.

Fish and seafood - a local speciality. Look for fish fryers by the quayside - cod, herring and flounder are among the most popular choices here. There are also quieter establishments in Orlowo than in the centre.

Hala Targowa on Wójta Radtkego Street is the place to go for local produce: vegetables, dairy products, cold cuts and fish. The largest selection awaits in the morning and before noon.

Świętojańska Street is Gdynia's main shopping street. Here you will find cafes, restaurants, shops and galleries, as well as souvenirs with a maritime theme and Gdynia modernism: posters, ceramics and postcards with 1930s architecture.

The Tricity is one of the important amber centres in Poland. You can buy jewellery and ornaments made of amber at the quayside and in shops on Świętojańska Street.

Orłowo offers a quieter atmosphere than the centre. Here you will find local cafes and restaurants with a view of the sea. It is a good place to have lunch after a walk on the beach.

Souvenirs

• Posters and postcards - with motifs of Gdynia modernism and 1930s architecture.

• Ceramics - with maritime motifs, available at the quay and on Świętojańska Street.

• Amber jewellery - purchased at the quay or in shops on Świętojańska Street

Below you will find indicative costs for a stay in Gdynia in three variants – from budget to comfortable.

Budget – accommodation in a hostel or budget guesthouse, food at milk bars and fish-and-chip stands, ZKM transport, entry to 1–2 attractions.

Mid-range – three-star hotel in the centre, meals at restaurants near Kościuszko Square, ZKM day ticket, Gdynia Aquarium and museum ships.

Comfortable – four-star hotel with sea views, fish restaurants and dinner by the waterfront, taxi or Mevo, full attractions package.