Discover Gdansk and Sopot in Poland - Things to do & Where to eat

Nestled on the picturesque Baltic coastline of Poland, the twin cities of Gdansk and Sopot are a delightful blend of rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant culture. If you’re looking for a super unique and immersive experience, keep on reading. In this blog post, I’ll share some of the best things to do in Gdansk and Sopot, ensuring you make the most of your visit to this alluring and still hidden corner of Europe.

How to get there and how much time do I need?

If you’re coming from London, I’d absolutely recommend to fly directly into Gdansk, spend 2 nights there and then take a taxi to Sopot for an additional 2 nights

Where to stay in Gdansk?

🏨 For a chic stay in Gdansk: PURO
🏨 For the best central location in Gdansk: Hotel Hanza
🏨 For a unique stay in Gdansk: Gotyk House

Things to do in Gdansk:

Strolling through the picturesque Mariacka Street

• Visit 100cznia for sunset beach vibes, street food, vintage shops & more - It was hands down my favourite spot in the whole city

• Stroll through the stunning and colourful old town of Gdańsk and don’t miss: Neptunes Fountain, Mariacka Street for Amber shopping and The Green Gate

• Have coffee, matcha tea and pastries at Drukarnia cafe - The most instagrammable cafe in Gdansk

• Eat a fine dining dinner or lunch at Canis - Trust the waiter with their wine selection, it will be delicious!

• Eat delicious vegan food at Manna 68

• Have the most fun pierogi at Pierogarnia Mandu

• Try Polish craft beer at Browar PG4

• Have fun cocktails at Mala Sztuka - Definitely one of the best cocktail bars in Gdansk

• Climb the 400 steps of St. Mary’s Church for the best views of the city

• Take a boat tour and learn about the history of the city and it’s harbour

• Visit the European Solidarity Centre to learn about an important part of Polish history

• Visit the Amber museum (free entry on Mondays)

Watch my Instagram guide on the best things to do in Gdansk here

Things to do in Sopot:

To me, Sopot is a spa destination. It will invigorate you and leave you saying: ‘Why did I not know about this place before?’ So after you’ve spent 2-3 days in Gdansk, here are the best things to do in Sopot - Poland’s unexpected spa break!

Where to stay in Sopot?

🏨 For a luxury stay in Sopot: Sheraton Sopot
🏨 For a stay close to the beach in Sopot: Radisson Blu
🏨 For the best spa hotel in Sopot: Mariott Sopot

Bedroom at the Sheraton Sopot

Sopot Sunset Cruise

Mera Spa at the Mariott Sopot

Breakfast at the Sheraton Sopot

Lunch at Fisherman Sopot

• Stroll Along the Iconic Sopot Pier - Fun fact, it’s the longest pier in Europe

• Take a sunset cruise in Sopot - it’s only £29 per person!

• Relax on Sopot Beach

• Explore Bohaterów Monte Cassino Street

• Visit the Crooked House (Krzywy Domek) - It’s a famous sight and Instagram spot, though be aware that trees may cover it in summer

• Pamper Yourself at any of the Sopot Spas - Sopot is renowned for its spa culture and wellness retreats, making it an ideal destination for indulging in relaxation and rejuvenation. My favourite spas include: Mera Spa at the Mariott Sopot and the Spa at the Sheraton Sopot

• Inhale the healing brine water at the inhalation mushrooms dotted around the city

• Taste the brine water for free at Mamma Mia Sopot

• Eat a delicious fine dining lunch at Fisherman - Expect locally sourced ingredients, amazing service and excellent presentation. Take someone special

• Eat at any of the seafood shacks along the beach - you can’t go wrong here and Polish seafood, freshly caught from the Baltic sea, is an absolute must try

Watch my Instagram guide on the best things to do in Sopot here

Gdansk and Sopot are two alluring destinations that blend history, culture, and natural beauty to create an unforgettable and extremely relaxing experience. From strolling through the historic streets of Gdansk to relaxing on the sandy beaches of Sopot, these cities offer a diverse range of activities to cater to every traveler's interests. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a beach lover or just on the hunt for some of the best cocktails in Poland Gdansk and Sopot are a must visit so add them to your Europe itinerary this summer!

Things to do in Riga for a first time Visit

Are you planning to visit Riga this summer? I’ve just spent 3 days in one of Europe’s true hidden gems, so here are some of the best places to see, visit and eat at in beautiful Riga.

Where to stay in Riga?

There are plenty of good hotels in Riga, but we absolutely loved:

🏨 Dome Hotel Riga - They have a beautiful rooftop terrace and an overall modern design
🏨 Hotel Gutenbergs Riga - Complete with another stunning rooftop, just slightly more affordable

Best things to do in Riga:

• Take a stroll through the UNESCO World Heritage historic city centre of Riga and admire buildings such as Three Brothers or House of the Blackheads

• Climb St. Peter’s Church for the best view of Riga Old Town (9€ per ticket)

• Visit Agenskalna Tirgus for a fun flea market, street food market, flower market and vintage shop all in one place

• Head over to Alberta iela and admire the Jugendstil architecture in Riga

• Spend an evening at Tallinas Ielas Kvartals great place for concerts, drinks, street food, street art and music

• See the architecturally interesting National Library of Latvia

• Admire the beautiful pink Holy Trinity Church

• Take an electrical scooter or walk everywhere. It’s a fun, affordable and cheap way to see the city

Best for shopping:

• Humana Vintage for vintage clothes in Riga

• Conceptstore Riija for clothes, gifts, crockery, souvenirs and more all made by local artists

• Galerija Istaba for jewellery, prints, music and postcards (it’s a super cool coffeeshop, too)

Best for vegan food:

• Mazā Terapija, Kozy Eats, Nirvana Raw, Kozy Eats are all great places for vegan food in Riga

Best for drinks:

• Multiple bars can be found in the fun and vibrant Andrejostas Kvartals

• Herbary in the city centre
  

I’d say 3 nights is the perfect length for an extended weekend city break in Riga, and to be honest with you, I totally underestimated this city! It surprised me in every way and I would absolutely love to come back one day and explore more! For visual inspiration, have a look at the reel below :)

x Sandy

How to have a good time in Belgrade - Serbia

People asked me ‘Why are you going there? - The only things to to in Belgrade is drinking Rakija!’ Well, they were right about the Rakjia but they weren’t right about it being the only thing to do in this vibrant city. Serbia’s capital is full of unique experiences, beautiful sunset viewing platforms and the most scrumptious food. Here is a short list of how to have a good time in Belgrade - watch the vlog after to get the full experience.

1. Go with friends - I know this is against what every solo traveller would tell you, but honestly, Belgrade demands a group visit. All suggestions I’m making below are so much more fun with friends. Trust me you will make memories that last a lifetime. Sure you can make friends in Belgrade, but I am talking friends that you have known since you were just about old enough to imagine your first trip abroad. I’m still printing some of our photos from our Belgrade trip and am running out of space on my shelf soon!

My best friends and I in front of the Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade

2. Drink Rakija! - I was introduced to it by my friend saying: ‘In my village they make it in their back garden!’ :D Really? Maybe.. maybe not! Either way it is a strong Serbian alcoholic drink that will blow your socks off and will keep you partying all night without a headache - I’m a fan! And of course: Drink responsibly! :)

3. Spend time in local restaurants! - It might seem obvious to some of you but it’s too easy to be lead by shiny new clubs and newly built restaurants. The real gems of Belgrade are old, traditional and local restaurants. Honestly I never had a better time in any restaurant abroad than the night we went to visit Zlatni Bokal! We danced on the tables, we sang, we danced a little more, we ate amazing local food and we had Rakija! It was an evening I will never forget.

4. Visit Kalemegdan - Kalemegdan is is a park which is particularly beautiful during sunset. It’s huge, it offers you amazing view points of Belgrade and it is simply perfect for a long relaxed walk after partying the whole night in a local restaurant. This is exactly what we did and it was just perfect.

For more details, here is my vlog - enjoy:

The best Things to do in Murcia - Spain

The Region of Murcia is in south east Spain, it has 323 days of sunshine a year and it’s coastline Costa Cálida has 250 kilometres of beaches! What to do when visiting Murcia? Here are my top 7 tips of how to best explore this beautiful hidden gem. Oh and before I forget…Murcia is best explored active! :) You’ll see what I mean…

1. Go snorkelling - The area is known for it’s super rich marine life and interesting lesser seen species such as the moon fish, and if you’re lucky you might get so see some seahorses too! It is also a paradise for divers. When we went, we saw so many diving schools and diving boats out at sea exploring and because snorkelling was already so fun, it really inspired me to maybe look into learning to dive soon :)

2. Go Cycling - The coastline is too beautiful not to be explored intensively and therefore cycling along it is the best was to see as much of it as possible if you ask me. I love cycling and I love an activity holiday so when we got introduced to the guys from Ecoadventure who offer exciting cycling trips with electric or non electric bikes I was excited. It was hard, it was 35 degrees, it was gritty, it was off road and it was so much fun! Half way we found a little hidden beach to cool down and once we reached our final destination we were rewarded with Spanish ham & ice cold beer!

3. Go Hiking or Trekking - Another active way to explore Murcia? Yes! I understand cycling isn’t for everyone and it is exercise. So trekking along the coastline might be for you. More time to stop and take epic pictures of the incredibly beautiful scenery, more time to explore the vegetation and just as rewarding when you reach viewing points like the one in the thumbnail of my vlog:

5. Visit the Lighthouse of Cabo de Palos - There is a legend that says it was once owned by a family who then got swept away by the ocean and not it is electric. Nobody know if this is true, but what is true is that the views from the top of the Lighthouse are insane! I almost felt like I was filming with a drone, this is how far you can see :) More in the video

6. Eat the food - I mean for any trip to Spain this should be a must do, right? But with all these holiday activities I tell you, you will get hungry. And the food in Murcia is best described by wholesome seafood with a sweet twist. Arroz Caldero was my favourite, but they also make an amazing honey and walnut salad, too! Yum yum!

7. Visit the cities - Lorca, Águilas and Murcia city itself are 3 tips from me to you. On our trip we went to Lorca which is a beautiful and calm city so full of history I wouldn’t know where to begin. And Águilas is a seaside town in love with Carnival and crazy fun traditions. We went on a boat trip with Don Pancho there which took us a long the coastline, showed us some hidden beaches, and turned out to be much more entertaining than I had anticipated! :)

How to do King's Day Amsterdam right!

A man, dressed in orange from head to toe, pushed a wheelbarrow full of Heineken past me and I knew, I’m the middle of the Dutch National Holiday: King’s Day or Koningsdag!

King’s Day is quite simply the day that the Dutch King celebrates his birthday, and the entire country celebrates with him! What a birthday, hey?

I spent 48 hours in Amsterdam with Clink Hostels, I saw everything orange, tulips and had many cocktails! :) Here is a quick guide on how to get the best out of King’s Day. For more info and details you can watch my vlog below.

1. Book accommodation early! - Clink Hostels is a good option, it’s cheap, it’s central and they even have a super fun King’s Night party the day before. I attended it and I played a lot of fun Dutch games which made no sense but won me a shot or two! :D King’s Day is super popular and people come from all over the world so make sure accommodation is the first thing you look into. I know you want to plan your outfits first, but trust me this is more important ;)

2. Wear orange! - You might think, that this is obvious, but let me tell you I was dressed in orange from head to toe (see video below) and I got so many people coming up to me, complimenting me about my outfit, including me in their group, offering me drinks or a boogie and I felt almost Dutch! :D I was travelling alone after all, so this helped - a lot!

3. Bring something rain proof - An umbrella, boots and, or a rain coat will do! When I went it rained a lot - King’s Day, at the moment, is in April so you never know! I was grateful for my umbrella.

4. Book your space on a party boat, if you want to go all the way - I didn’t, but seeing the boats on the various canals, playing the absolute best European Dance tracks (don’t judge), I felt that this would have been the cherry on top!

5. Drink responsibly - I really mean it! King’s Day is so much fun and everyone is dancing outside on the streets. You will be offered drinks, shots, drinks and shots on every corner. Pubs offer you their very best orange cocktail, which will be super sweet and super delicious so it’s very easy to say yes to all of them :) Just make sure you pace yourself because the party goes on until the next morning, if you want, and you don’t want to be back in your hostel bed by 10:00pm - although it was very comfortable, I have to say :)

Things to do in Malmö, Sweden

Malmö is a coastal city in Sweden, only 30 minutes away from Copenhagen, Denmark! We rented a bike and off we went. It’s small enough so that you can explore the majority of the city in just one or two days. If I had to summarise my trip in one word I would say calm. I left this city feeling relaxed and excited to come back - Malmö has stolen my heart.

1. Rent a bike in Malmö - Hands down the best way to get around the city!

2. Take an ice cold bath - At Ribersborgs Kallbadhus you will be able to swim in the open sea, no matter the weather. It’s good for your immune system and your soul. Sit in the sauna afterwards and think to yourself: ‘ I did this! ‘

3. Eat at the Malmö Street Food Market - Malmö Saluhall - Exciting, vibrant and full of amazing food! We went for vegan Ramen, but the choice wasn’t easy. Overall Malmö offers amazing food options for every dietary requirement all over the city - which I loved :)

4. Visit the Disgusting Food Museum - You are now warned! Watch the vlog below for more!

5. Play Boule - I had never played Boule before but mixed with Swedish friendliness, Swedish beer and some competitive spirit this might have been my favourite activity of the day!

Why Edinburgh was my favourite Travel Destination 2018

We sat on the tram on our way to Edinburgh city central. The moment we saw Edinburgh Castle for the first time we literally jumped up from our seats like children when discovering Disneyland for the first time!

Let me try to put in words, why Edinburgh was my Disneyland 2018!

1. Pictures of Edinburgh Castle don’t do it justice! - They really don’t. Imagine a castle, on top of a green hill, surrounded by a green park and accompanied by medieval gothic and renaissance architecture. Imagine this hill is in fact in the middle of a somewhat modern city, yet no building reaches it’s hight even remotely. It’s like a throne and it’s also a little bit like the rock in The Lion King. This is what made us jump up from our seats. You have to see it for yourself.

2. Harry Potter and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde live in Edinburgh - Well, not quite, but we did a tour with Rabbie’s Tours around the city, and discovered that many stories like Harry Potter have their routes in Edinburgh. I could feel it. Magic.

3. You can actually breathe in Edinburgh - With it being so close to the seaside and fairly high up north, the air in Edinburgh is NOT breathtaking! See what I did there? ;) The moment we left the airport and took a breath we realised two things: 1. London air really is very polluted, and 2. THIS is what actual fresh air feels like. It feels clean and full of goodness. Every Yoga teacher would say: ‘Take not one but two deep breaths in!’

4. Whisky - A local said to me: ‘Only old men drink whisky!’ And I’m going to be honest with you guys, it felt a little bit like someone had just told me that Father Christmas doesn’t exists! So I decided to do what I did when my mum told me this when I was 5: Ignore it and fully live my Whisky excitement by visiting the two most amazing places to try it in Edinburgh: The Whiski Rooms & The Devil’s Advocate. Flicking through menus of over 200 Whisky types, we felt like Children having to choose at a Pick ‘n’ Mix station, probably in Disneyland.

5. Dean Village - It’s what it says on the tin, a village in the middle of Scotland’s capital. Tranquil, picturesque and somewhat of a little Scottish oasis really. Streams of crystal clear water float through colourful 19th century buildings and I forgot the world around me. It is my number one must see place in Edinburgh and it absolutely and without a doubt needs to be on any travel itinerary ever when visiting.

Things to do in Edinburgh? Yes, you need to visit Edinburgh Castle, but there is so much more to see! Follow me around for a 48 hour guide on what to do in Edinburgh - Food, amazing tourist attractions and more!