Poland - Eastern Europe - page 451

lifetime of this topic. Once you arrive in the city, brace yourself for hour-long jams
during the morning and evening rush hours. The drive from Warsaw, with traffic, may
take as long 5 to 6 hours.
BY BOAT It is possible to arrive in Gda ^ sk by ferry from Sweden. Polferries
(www.polferries.pl) offers regular service between the Swedish port of Nynaeshamm
(60km/36 miles south of Stockholm) and Gda ^ sk's Nowy Port (Przemyslowa 1; 7km
north of the center; & 058/343-00-78 ). The ferries depart every second or third day
at 6pm and arrive at noon. Returns from Gda ^ sk follow the same schedule. Tickets
(one adult without car) run about $80 each way. Sleeping berths are extra and start at
$10 for a modest bunk to $150 for luxury cabin for two. Stena Line
(www.stenaline.pl) runs a similar service from the southern Swedish city of Karlskrona
(500km/300 miles south of Stockholm) to Gdynia's passenger ferry port. In summer,
the ferries make the 10-hour journey twice daily at 9am and 9pm. Tickets (without
car) run about $80 each way.
CITY LAYOUT
Confusingly, unlike other Polish cities, the heart of Gda ^ sk is technically not called
the “Old Town,” or Stare Miasto. There is a Stare Miasto, but it lies just to the north
of the main center, the G l ówne Miasto. The G l ówne Miasto is where you'll find the
main pedestrian walk, ul. D l uga (Long St.), its extension, the D l ugi Targ (the Long
Market), as well as the most interesting side streets, and the main pedestrian walk
along the Mot l awa Canal. Stare Miasto is about a 15-minute walk north, and it's here
where you'll find the Gda ^ sk shipyards, the Solidarity memorial, and the Road to
Freedom exhibit. Farther to the north, in the direction of Sopot, lies the still-skuzzy
Nowy Port, as well as the far-nicer suburbs of Wrzeszcz and Oliwa. The former is
home to many of the city's more affordable hotels and pensions. The heart of Sopot
is about 6km (4 miles) to the north of Gda ^ sk's city center. Gdynia is about 15km
(10 miles) to the north.
GETTING AROUND
ON FOOT Much of central Gda ^ sk, including ul. D l uga and the walkway along
the canal, is closed to motor vehicles, so walking is the best option. The center is com-
pact and easily walkable. To get to Sopot or Gdynia or places farther afield, however,
you'll need to use public transportation.
BY TRAM Gda ^ sk has an efficient network of trams that whisk you from the cen-
ter of the city to the suburbs of Wrzeszcz and Oliwa in a few minutes. Note that trams
do not run to Sopot and Gdynia. Tickets cost 1.40 z l (50¢/30p) for a short 10-minute
ride. Buy and validate three tickets (4.20 zl/$1.40/75p) for longer rides of up to 30
minutes. You can buy tickets at Ruch kiosks, magazine counters, and from special
vending machines.
BY BUS City buses are useful for getting to some of the pensions on Beethovena
ul., but otherwise walking, trams, trains, and taxis should be sufficient. Ticketing is
the same as for trams, with a single short journey of 10 minutes costing 1.40 z l
(50¢/30p).
BY TRAIN A quick and reliable local train service, the SKM (Szybka Kolej
Miejska), links the main cities of the Tri-Cities, Gda ^ sk, Sopot, and Gdynia. Several