Hotel Gdynia and Other Historic Hotels

Dom Kuracyjny, Dom Zdrojowy, Hotel Gdynia, Hotel Centralny, and Hotel Kaszubski – a century ago, tourists came to Gdynia to enjoy the fresh sea air. What is the history of these hotels in Gdynia?

Gdynia is a multi-layered and not immediately obvious city. Modernist architecture, a seaport, charming beaches, and nature create perfect conditions for relaxation. Amidst the bustling streets, near the murmuring waves of the Baltic Sea, extraordinary hotels and guesthouses have been operating in Gdynia for over a hundred years. Many of them have a long history and significant experience in hosting guests, although some are now only beautiful memories.

A hundred years ago, Gdynia was a small fishing village – charming but relatively unknown by today’s standards. It was located not far from Gdansk, but over a century ago, this distance and lack of infrastructure did not encourage visits. The first tourists, or rather vacationers, began to appear around 1894 when a railway station was built not far from the village center. This was a game-changer, and the number of visitors started to grow.

The First Hotels in Gdynia: Dom Kuracyjny and Zdrojowy

The first vacationers rented rooms from local hosts and spent their summer days with the host’s family. It was only in the early 20th century that the Gdynia Sea Bathing Society built the first Sanatorium – Kurhaus, in the center of today’s Kościuszki Square. It included a bathing area with wooden bathhouses, a pier, a small garden, and a restaurant. All designed to provide maximum comfort to visitors. Unfortunately, this building did not survive to the present day.

The Curative House in Gdynia Orłowo from 1904 and the “Słońce” Guesthouse from 1910, which introduced a new quality to the young resort, are still admired today.

Visitors to Gdynia at the time were people looking for tranquility and respite from prying eyes. The number of vacationers remained relatively stable for over two decades. However, Poland’s access to the sea, city rights for Gdynia, and the decision to expand the port changed the city forever. The city developed rapidly, and with it, the network of hotels and guesthouses.

At the end of the 1920s, the Sea Bathing Society built the Sanatorium House. It was designed in the then-fashionable modernist style, with the building’s shape resembling a ship, as indicated by its cylindrical, rounded corners, among other features. Luxurious interiors, a beautiful terrace, good food, dances, and billiards attracted elegant guests. The Sanatorium House could be likened to a modern-day spa hotel. It offered therapeutic warm and cold baths in seawater. During the war, the Germans converted it into the Beach Hotel, and in the 1950s, it became the Sailor’s House. During the People’s Republic of Poland era, the hotel primarily accommodated sailors, but today, it is open to everyone.

Gdynia’s Polska Riwiera Hotel and Hotel Kaszubski

In 1924, at the foot of Kamienienna Góra, Gdynia’s Hotel Polska Riwiera was constructed. From the very beginning of its operation, the place garnered immense interest, even though Gdynia was still a village at the time. Reservations had to be made several months in advance. President Mościcki painfully experienced this when he announced his visit in August 1927, only a few days prior to his arrival, and was unable to secure a room. It’s no wonder that everyone wanted to spend at least one night at the Riwiera. As Alina Tarkowska wrote in the book “Gdynia Between the Wars: A Story of the Birth and Life of the City 1918-1939,” the famous “five o’clock” afternoon gatherings and evening dances with renowned Warsaw bands took place at the Riwiera. The summer dance floors were ruled by the “five step,” paso doble, and Argentine tango. Gdynia was flourishing, and soon the terrace of the elegant “Cassino” restaurant became the city’s largest dance floor. During the People’s Republic of Poland era, the military took over the hotel, and they continue to manage it to this day.

Not far from the Polish Riviera, the Bathing Society constructed another beautiful building, Hotel Kaszubski. The edifice towered above the seaside promenade. Wealthy guests frequented it, enjoying the dances, excellent cuisine, and the charm of concerts organized in the nearby concert shell. Its post-war history is quite complicated. In the 1960s, it was demolished, and approximately three decades later, a new building was erected on the existing foundations. The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management’s Instrumentation Division found its home in the new building. At the beginning of the 21st century, the Instrumentation Division vacated the premises, and its future looked bleak. Fortunately, the situation made a complete turnaround. Currently, modernization works are in progress, and the hotel on Sędzickiego Street is being expanded. According to plans, it will be a city hotel in the Art Deco style.

Hotel Gdynia

In 1924, at the foot of Kamienienna Góra, the Polska Riwiera Hotel was built. From the very beginning, it was in high demand, even though Gdynia was still a village at that time. Reservations had to be made several months in advance. President Mościcki painfully experienced this when he announced his visit in August 1927, just a few days before his arrival, and couldn’t secure a room. It’s not surprising that everyone wanted to spend at least one night in Riwiera. As Alina Tarkowska wrote in the book “Gdynia between the Wars: The Story of the Birth and Life of the City 1918-1939,” Riwiera hosted famous afternoon “five o’clocks” and evening dances, with well-known Warsaw bands providing the music. The dance floors were dominated by the five-step, paso doble, and Argentine tango. Gdynia was developing, and soon, the largest dance floor in the city became the terrace of the elegant “Cassino” restaurant. During the day, whole families visited, and when the sun set, it turned into the center of nightlife, not always legal. During the Gdynia Film Festival, famous actors and actresses partied there. Some employees still recall the auditions for the “Radka w ciemno” program. The modernization of the hotel began in 2014.

Formerly the Central Hotel, Today Hola Gdynia

Gdynia’s hotels also include charming places in beautiful tenements and villas. The Central Hotel is worth mentioning. In 1928, an elegant tenement house was built on Starowiejska Street to serve as the Central Hotel. It was advertised as a “first-rate house, rooms continuously supplied with hot water and central heating. On the ground floor, there was a restaurant and a wine bar, a large hall for balls or theatrical performances, as well as a garden with tables for guests hidden under umbrellas or wooden canopies.” The building hosted theatrical performances, dance parties, or even self-government meetings. Today, the former Central Hotel houses HOLA Gdynia.

Summary: Hotels in Gdynia

Hotels in Gdynia are a fascinating subject that allows you to explore the colorful history of the city. So, when visiting Gdynia, take a moment to stroll along the paths that tourists walked 100 or 50 years ago.