The Sopot Górny district is commonly identified with the part of the city located above the railway line. Meanwhile, the so-called Sopot escarpment, with a height of several meters in some places, extends below the tracks in the north-south direction and forms the border between Sopot Dolny and Sopot Górny. About 5-7 thousand years ago, the scarp was the shore of the Litoryne Sea (it was the source of the Baltic Sea), which means that today’s Sopot Dolny…did not exist.

The settlement, which is the foundation of today’s Sopot Górny, was established in the late Middle Ages at the intersection of today’s 1 Maja street and Niepodległości Lane (the historic route from Gdańsk to Szczecin), at the exit of the tunnel along Bohaterów Monte Cassino street. The peasants who used to live here were obliged to pay tribute to the Cistercians who owned these lands. In the mid-fifteenth century, wealthy Gdańsk patricians began to lease land from monks and built their courts on it. At the beginning of the 19th century, representative mansions were built above the Sopot escarpment, while plebs lived in the lower part of the city. As the city expanded, the escarpment began to partially disappear, and the residents and patients lost sight of the previously legible border.

The axis of the intimate part of Sopot Górny is Armii Krajowej Street, two kilometers long, parallel to the thoroughfare Gdańsk – Gdynia. At the beginning of the 20th century, these were streets full of villas: Królewska (Konigsstrasse) and Książęca (Kronprinzenstrasse), which have not lost much of their charm to this day. The picturesque streets diverging from it lead to the Oliwa Forests and the Tri-City Landscape Park, where the Forest Opera was established in 1909, and a dozen or so years later a unique athletics stadium. The forest amphitheater, with a capacity of almost 5,000 spectators, is one of the best in Europe. A few years ago, it was modernized, and as part of the works covered with a year-round sailing roof weighing 4 tons, allowing it to be used for modern forms of art, such as mapping.

Today, intimate Sopot Górny is a perfect place to live. The city cares about preserving the residential character of the district, although the communist era left its mark in places with ten-story skyscrapers. After many years, however, these grew into the surroundings, became overgrown with greenery and ceased to prick the sensitive eyes of the inhabitants.

Located on the edge of the Tri-City Landscape Park, part of Sopot Górny is like a fairy-tale town, created for relaxation. There are no shopping centers or shopping streets here, and for the everyday convenience of the residents, only small local shops have been created. There are no crowds of tourists here, there is no problem with parking your car, or with the air that endangers your health. At the same time, the proximity of the thoroughfare Niepodległości street and Sopot Dolny with all its commercial and service facilities, allows for a comfortable life. Larger purchases can be made on the outskirts of Sopot Górny in well-known large-area chain stores, florists, pharmacies, private doctor’s offices or the Private Healthcare Center in Sopot Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Center are also within walking distance. For the convenience of animal lovers, a dog shearing facility and a veterinary office were also established in the district.

Communication in Sopot Górny

Sopot Górny is crossed along the north-south line by the artery connecting Gdańsk and Sopot (on which there are trolleybuses) and long-distance railway and SKM tracks, and the perpendicular directions are served by numerous bus lines.
Parallel to the Gdańsk – Gdynia route, along Armii Krajowej street, there is a bicycle path that is particularly popular with students of the University of Gdańsk studying in Sopot.

Education in Sopot
Sopot Górny is an educationally friendly district. There are public and private kindergartens, primary schools (also with sports departments), private Autonomous Schools in Sopot (primary school and high school), renowned Secondary School No.1, Technical School Complex No.1, Continuing Education Center and two faculties of the University of Gdańsk – Faculty of Economics and the Faculty of Management.

Culture of Sopot Górny

The cultural life of Sopot Górny has been closely related to the Forest Opera for many years. At the turn of May and June, Polish artists who were lucky enough to sell the most albums appear on its stage. During the SuperHit Festival, music concerts are held, and the whole event ends with the Sopot Cabaret Hit.
Every year in August, since 1961, the Sopot Festival takes place, initially called the International Song Festival. For lovers of high culture, the International Sopot Classic Festival has been organized since 2011, attracting crowds of classical music lovers.
The Opera Leśna also hosts the Sopot Jazz Festival – one of the oldest jazz festivals in Poland.
Sopot is also the movie capital. As part of the Sopot Film Festival, a Film Music Concert is organized on the stage of the forest amphitheater.
There are also smaller concerts and fashion shows, and in the car park in front of the Forest Opera, surrounded by Sopot forests, an open-air and car cinema are organized.

Catering

Sopot Górny – when it comes to food, it has a lot to offer. You can eat an exquisite dinner in the “L’Entre Villes Restaurant”, located in a renovated over 100-year-old villa, or eat a filling meal in the “Kefirek Milk Bar”, in “Pierogarnia Jedynka”, in “Naleśnikarnia Fanaberia” and “Cuda Wianki” or in the “Bar na Komendzie Policji”.
Lovers of Italian pizza will love: “Amici”, “Tesoro Express”, “Małe Piwko Beer & Pizza House Sopot”, and for sushi you should go to: Hashi Sushi and Yatta Sushi.

The real restaurant area is the area of the railway station in Sopot (contrary to popular opinion, this is also within Górny Sopot district). Seafood Station Restaurant, Bar & Grill tempts guests with seafood, fish, oysters and meats served with seasonal vegetables. “Cały Gaweł” focuses on regional products from Kashubia. For a change, Mediterranean specialties are served in the Dolce Vita Restaurant. Good beer and “beer snacks” are offered by “Avangarda Beers & More”.

Kawiarnia Pellowski invites you for a coffee with often hot pastries. The café is open from 6 am. In the summer season, “Kulki Anulki” ice cream shop delights with its original ice cream flavors.

On the way to the Forest Opera, there is very popular “Chata Góralska Harnaś”, specializing in Polish and Central European cuisine. Right next to it, you can also taste Polish cuisine in the Symfonia Smaków Restaurant.