The overlooked Eastern European riviera with white sandy beaches & cheap booze – under 3 hours from UK

IF YOU WANT A EUROPEAN BEACH HOLIDAY WITH SANDY BEACHES AND CHEAP booze then we have found the pocket friendly holiday destination just a few hours from the UK.

And with cheap flights and hotels, that won’t break the bank either Summer either.

Located in northern Poland, Sopot is home to white sandy beaches and blue waters

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Located in northern Poland, Sopot is home to white sandy beaches and blue watersCredit: Alamy
Sopot is nicknamed "Polish Riviera" in the past few years

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Sopot has also been called the “Polish Riviera” in recent yearsCredit: Alamy
British holidaymakers wishing to visit Sopot should fly into the nearby Gdansk Airport

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British holidaymakers wishing to visit Sopot should fly into the nearby Gdansk AirportPhoto credit: Getty

Why Sopot?

While most Brits flock to the French or Italian Riviera, a city in Eastern Europe offers a much cheaper alternative.

The coastal city of Sopot It is also called the “Polish Riviera” because of its white sandy beach and blue coast.

Located on the Baltic Sea in northern Poland, Sopot is home to a white sandy beach, blue waters and the longest wooden pier in Europe.

Since the country does not know the euro either, you get a lot more for your money when booking trips and on vacation.

Food and drink are also cheap: a bottle of beer is just £1, while a meal in a mid-range restaurant costs around £12 per person.

If you book a trip, summer is the best time to travel, with maximum temperatures of 22°C.

Hotels are also extremely affordable: a night at the Haffner Hotel & SPA Sopot, a five-star hotel and spa, costs just £86 per person per night.

Despite this cheap luxury stay, holidaymakers can also book a stay at a variety of three-star hotels, including the Anchor House Sopot, which opens for as little as £34 per night per person.

How do I get there?

The easiest way to reach Sopot is to fly to the nearby Gdansk Airport.

Both Ryanair and Wizzair have direct flights from a number of UK airports including London Stansted, leedsEdinburgh, Liverpool and Bristol.

Sun Online Travel has found one-way tickets from £13 during the school summer holidays, and the flight takes just over two hours from the UK.

From Gdansk Airport, it’s a 25-minute drive to the Polish city of Sopot.

For holidaymakers not wishing to hire a car, taxi services are also available from the airport at £10 one way.


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What is there to do in Sopot?

There is also a lot to do on the “Polish Riviera”.

Sopot stretches along the Baltic Sea and has over 500m of coastline, including Sopot Beach.

The white-sand beach is a vacationer’s paradise and offers plenty of amenities, including beachfront restaurants like Bulaj and Koliba.

Beachgoers can rent sun loungers and parasols, but most beachgoers only bring their towels.

While vacationers can swim in the sea, there will be a refreshing dip in the waters of the Baltic Sea.

The beach also offers other activities, including boat tours and water sports like flyboarding.

Another popular tourist attraction is Sopot Pier.

At 511 m, it is the longest wooden pier in Europe overlooking the Baltic Sea and the Polish coast. Entry costs 8 zlotys (£1.55).

There are now other attractions in the heart of the old town, including the Sopot Lighthouse.

Originally built as part of a spa, the lighthouse has now become a lookout point for vacationers. Entry costs 9 zloty (£1.75).

There is also Monte Cassino Street, the city’s main shopping street.

Along the street there are not only a number of shops and restaurants but also a handful of tourist attractions.

There is the crooked house, also called Krzywy Domek, built in 2004 by Polish architects Szotyncsy & Zaleski.

Inside the unusually shaped building are a number of shops and restaurants.

In addition, there are numerous religious buildings throughout the city, including the Garrison Church of St. George, also located on Monte Cassino Street.

Other things to do in Sopot include a visit to the Sopot Museum, which displays a collection of 19th-century furniture.

What else is there to do in Poland?

As well as visiting the Polish Riviera, British holidaymakers chasing the sun can also visit the Hel Peninsula, dubbed “Paradise on the Island”. Earth” by some enthusiastic beach goers.

Lying on the Baltic coast and stretching 21 miles, the Hel Peninsula is becoming increasingly popular with beachgoers looking for a budget vacation.

Hel is also known for its majestic lighthouse, which as the island’s highest point offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the peninsula.

British tourists looking for a city break will be delighted with this Poland is also home to many of them.

First there is Karakau with its well-preserved medieval market town.

Meanwhile, the state capital of Warsaw has more modern attractions, including the Palace of Culture and Sciencewhich offers a great view of the city.

What else do I need to know about Sopot?

The national language is Polish, but English is also spoken in some hotels and restaurants.

There is a time difference of one hour, with the UK lagging behind by one hour.

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The currency is the Polish zloty, with £10 currently worth about 52 zlotys.

Brits can stay in Poland for up to 90 days without a visa.

Sopot also has a main shopping street called Monte Cassino Street with shops and restaurants

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Sopot also has a main shopping street called Monte Cassino Street with shops and restaurantsPhoto credit: Getty
Vacationers can rent sun loungers on the beach

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Vacationers can rent sun loungers on the beachCredit: Alamy
The Polish city is also home to the longest wooden pier in Europe

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The Polish city is also home to the longest wooden pier in EuropeCredit: Alamy

Emma James

Emma James is a USTimesPost U.S. News Reporter based in London. His focus is on U.S. politics and the environment. He has covered climate change extensively, as well as healthcare and crime. Emma James joined USTimesPost in 2023 from the Daily Express and previously worked for Chemist and Druggist and the Jewish Chronicle. He is a graduate of Cambridge University. Languages: English. You can get in touch with me by emailing emmajames@ustimespost.com.

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