In its profile of the Tricity, described as "a trio of coastal cities on the rise," the National Geographic writes that they “combine centuries of maritime history with one of Poland’s most dynamic cultural and culinary scenes, each representing a different chapter in the country’s relationship with the Baltic: Gdańsk grew wealthy in the 16th and early 17th centuries as a major Hanseatic trading port; elegant Sopot developed into a fashionable seaside resort; and modernist Gdynia was built almost from scratch during the interwar period, a symbol of Poland’s renewed independence and maritime ambition.”
The National Geographic stresses that this year the modernist city centre of Gdynia was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, in recognition of “its exceptionally coherent urban plan and architecture as a landmark example of 20th-century modernism.”
As the list features must-visit destinations for 2027, the National Geographic highlights some of the year’s attractions such as the World Sailing Championships in Gdynia, St. Dominic’s Fair in Gdańsk, which “fills the historic center with artisans, food, concerts, and performances”, the city’s Shakespeare Festival which brings international companies to the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre, built on the site of a 17th-century playhouse, the Literacki book festival in Sopot, as well as the Kolosy in Gdynia, “Poland’s annual gathering of travelers, sailors, and mountaineers, featuring presentations, films, and exhibitions.”
The National Geographic adds: “These cities’ historical legacies aren’t static, of course. In Gdańsk, former shipyard buildings, warehouses, and waterfront spaces have been transformed into galleries, restaurants, craft breweries, and music venues. The historic Gdańsk Shipyard, the birthplace of the Solidarity movement, remains a powerful site of political memory even as parts of the surrounding area evolve into an energetic postindustrial cultural district.”
The 25 recommended destinations for 2027 include Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland, Santander in Spain, Normandy in France, Vestland in Norway and Leipzig in Germany, and beyond Europe - Halifax in Canada, Grenada and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean, Luxor in Egypt, and the Pacific Coast Highway in California.
(mk)