Even though the northern Polish city of Gdynia on the Baltic Sea was founded relatively recently, its unique sights quickly turned it into a popular tourist destination and a coveted family holiday spot. You will want to take your time here to roam along the quay, have a peep at the giant ships and snow-white liners in its new port, and have a break in Kosciuszki Square, enjoying hot chocolate. All the main sights of Gdynia, one way or another, relate to the endless northern sea, be it the cute inhabitants of the depths of the Aquarium or the exhibits of the Naval Museum, or the one-of-a-kind ship museums “Blyskawica” and “The Dar Pomorza.”
This navigators’ and adventure lovers’ dream come true, the legendary frigate “The Dar Pomorza,” is moored at the southern pier by Kosciuszki Square. Today the ship museum reminds us of the onset and might of the Polish fleet. Its story began way back at the shipyard of Hamburg. Back then, the great white sailing-ship was named after the bride of the German Emperor Wilhelm II “Prinzess Eitel Friedrich.” For more than ten years, the German flag had risen above it until the ship was captured and sold by sea pirates. So the famous ship ended up under the Polish flag and got a new name, “The Dar Pomorza” (Gift of Pomerania).
In 1930, the frigate entered a new service: it embarked on its first training voyage with the Naval Academy students. Thousands of them marched on its deck, and the majestic sailing-ship made more than a hundred voyages. It left for a well-deserved rest after more than 50 years of loyal service to Poland. Today, the frigate “The Dar Pomorza” is a naval museum and one of the world's best-preserved sailing ships, and a real landmark of Gdynia. Not a single tourist tour will be complete without it, and the number of those wishing to board it increases annually.