Long been associated with the former Soviet-Bloc stereotype of a grey and miserable country where people have to stand in long queues for basic goods, Polish consumer culture and commercial options have changed beyond recognition in recent decades. Today the Tri-city is a bona fide shopping destination, full of modern shopping malls that have western consumers flocking in.

When the Tri-city's original 'western' mall, Klif, opened in Gdynia in 1996, Poles would more often visit to view than to buy – a reflection of the general lack of disposable income available at the time and the novelty value of huge shopping malls or superstores like IKEA or Carrefour. Like the rest of Poland, healing since the collapse of Communism in 1989 and embracing the EU in 2004, Klif has now evolved into the most upmarket shopping centre in the whole of Northern Poland! Over the last 30 years, countless international brands have made their way into the Polish technology, food and fashion market and their outlets can be found in all the major centres, including the Tri-city. As tourism increases in the Baltic region of Europe, so too does the interest in amber, a material of which Gdańsk is, by far, the biggest trading centre.

Poland's Sunday Shopping Ban

Shops have traditionally had more limited hours on weekends, but since 2018 government regulations have increasingly restricted Sunday trading in Poland to the point that there are now only 7 Sundays in the entire year when shops are allowed to be open. There are some exemptions from the ban, namely pharmacies, gas stations, kiosks, bakeries, open-air markets, Żabka convenience stores (most of which close at 23:00) and souvenir shops (oh thank god). Note that the Sunday hours we list for venues are the hours they keep only on those Sundays when trade is allowed.

2024 Shopping Sundays: Jan 28 | March 24 | June 30 | Aug 25 | Dec 15, 22

Shopping in Gdańsk

If you're staying in the Old Town, your closest shopping centre is Galeria Madison, which you probably saw if you arrived via Gdańsk Główny train station. While this is the most central in Gdańsk and certainly has a huge amount of variety, by far the biggest in Tr-city is Galeria Bałtycka 4km north in Wrzeszcz. We would be hugely surprised if you couldn't find what you need there! If you're looking for local produce and items that have a higher function than just a souvenir, there are a few great options. Gdańsk born-and-raised BATYCKI boasts a stunning range of the local brand's unique leather handbags and accessories, each masterfully crafted onsite, and some even with amber ornamentation!

Shopping in Sopot

While Sopot's commercial scope does not reach the same heights as its neighbours do, Sopot Centrum is a decent little commercial centre with enough outlets to cover the bases. By now, we would've expected Sopot to have caved in to the pressures of its tourism market! On Plac Zdrojowy, however, you will find a sample of commercialism from a bygone era: a 3-storey, art-deco, mini department store called Walter. A tour around the Obwodnica (Tri-city Ring Road) will bring in the huge discount park which is Fashion House Outlet Centre as well as the huge hypermarkets of Carrefour, Auchan and Real.

Shopping in Gdynia

Souvenirs & Gifts

While you can find more information on them and how to get to them in our shopping section, we have put together a list of gift and souvenir suggestions, which might take a little more searching in order to find. Generally-speaking, however, shopping chains like Folkstar and Gdańsk's Galeria Sztuki Kaszubskiej are great for finding souvenir items with traditional Polish and Kashubian patterns.

Gdańsk is synonymous with Amber (also known as 'Baltic Gold') and, whilst you can find stalls all over Tri-city, your best bet is to head to ul. Mariacka in Gdańsk Old Town. Make sure you read up on how to make the best purchase!