The Pomeranian Voivodeship (Pomorskie) is Poland's Baltic coast region, centred on the Tricity of Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia. It combines Gdańsk's rebuilt Hanseatic Main Town, the Teutonic fortress of Malbork, the sandy Hel Peninsula, the moving dunes of Słowiński National Park and the lake-studded villages of Kashubia and Kociewie.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
Greet shopkeepers, hotel staff and waiters with 'Dzień dobry' (good day); in Kashubia a visitor who tries 'Witéj' or 'Dzén dobri' is met with visible warmth
Pomerania is formal with elders and in business: 'Pan' (Mr) and 'Pani' (Mrs) are used until a first-name invitation is made
The Gdańsk Shipyard and the 1980 strikes are central to local pride; the European Solidarity Centre and the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers are treated as solemn places
Kashubians are a distinct ethnic and linguistic group with their own language, flag (black griffin on a gold field) and embroidery tradition
Dress modestly in churches such as St Mary's Basilica in Gdańsk, Oliwa Cathedral and the shrine at Swarzewo, with shoulders and knees covered
Tip about 10 percent in restaurants when service is good, as the bill rarely includes a service charge
Shoes are removed when entering a Polish home; hosts usually offer slippers (kapcie)
Visitors invited to a home bring an odd number of flowers; even numbers are for funerals
On the Baltic beaches of Sopot, Gdynia and Hel, windbreaks (parawany) mark private patches of sand, so a courteous distance is kept when placing a towel
Most shops are closed on Sundays under Poland's trading restrictions, though souvenir shops, bakeries, pharmacies, petrol stations and Żabka stores are exempt
Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Say 'Dzień dobry', 'Dziękuję' (thank you) and 'Proszę' (please)
- Remove shoes in a private home
- Wait for the host to say 'Smacznego' before starting a meal
- Learn a few Kashubian words such as 'Witéj' and 'Do ùzdrzeni' when visiting Kashubia
- Cover shoulders and knees in churches and keep voices low during services
- Ask amber sellers for a certificate of authenticity, available at established Mariacka Street galleries
- Use the SKM commuter train for late-evening travel between Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia
- Carry a photo ID or a copy of the passport, as clubs and some shops ask for it
Don't
- Don't call Poland 'Eastern European'; most Poles identify as Central European
- Don't refer to Nazi German camps as 'Polish death camps'
- Don't toast with water; Poles consider it bad luck
- Don't leave litter or walk off marked paths on the dunes of the Hel Peninsula and Słowiński National Park, where protected habitats are fined
- Don't jaywalk against red lights in Gdańsk and Gdynia
- Don't take photos during Mass or of worshippers without asking
- Don't assume every 'amber' stall sells genuine Baltic amber; pressed and plastic imitations are common
- Don't discuss politics heatedly in public places
Local customs
Traditions and practices you'll encounter.
Imieniny (Name Days)
Name days are celebrated alongside birthdays, with colleagues and friends bringing flowers or cake.
Wigilia (Christmas Eve)
The 24 December supper begins at the first star with twelve meatless dishes, and an extra place is set for an unexpected guest.
Dominican Fair (Jarmark Dominikański)
Gdańsk's Dominican Fair is a multi-week street market held each summer around the Old Town and Hala Targowa, with roots in a medieval fair linked to the Feast of St Dominic.
Kashubian Unity Day (Dzéń Jednotë Kaszëbów)
Observed on 19 March, the day celebrates Kashubian cultural identity with regional events, folk costume and use of the Kashubian language.
Kashubian embroidery (haft kaszubski)
Colourful floral embroidery in blue, green, red and yellow decorates tablecloths, costumes and souvenirs and is a recognised symbol of Kashubia.
Solidarity heritage
The August 1980 shipyard strikes in Gdańsk gave rise to the Solidarity movement; the anniversary is marked each August around the Shipyard and the European Solidarity Centre.
Marian pilgrimage to Swarzewo
The Marian shrine at Swarzewo on the Hel Peninsula's base draws pilgrims each year, and fishing communities on the coast hold church blessings of boats.
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
- Greetings
- A firm handshake is standard and eye contact is expected. 'Pan'/'Pani' plus the surname is used until a first-name invitation is made.
- Dining
- The host says 'Smacznego' before eating. Finishing the plate is read as appreciation, and splitting the bill is common among friends.
- Dress
- Smart casual in Gdańsk and Sopot restaurants, beachwear only on the beach and promenade, modest dress in churches.
- Tipping
- About 10 percent in restaurants when service is good; round up taxi fares; hotel porters 5-10 PLN ($1.30-2.60).
- Gifts
- Flowers (odd number), chocolate or wine suit a host. Chrysanthemums are for graves and are not given as gifts.
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
Dzień dobry
Hello / Good day
jen DOH-brih
Do widzenia
Goodbye
doh vee-DZEN-ya
Dziękuję
Thank you
jen-KOO-yeh
Proszę
Please / You're welcome
PROH-sheh
Przepraszam
Excuse me / Sorry
psheh-PRAH-shahm
Tak / Nie
Yes / No
tahk / nyeh
Czy mówi pan/pani po angielsku?
Do you speak English?
chih MOO-vee pahn/PAH-nee poh ahn-GYEL-skoo
Nie rozumiem
I don't understand
nyeh roh-ZOO-myem
Ile to kosztuje?
How much is it?
EE-leh toh kosh-TOO-yeh
Poproszę rachunek
The bill, please
poh-PROH-sheh rah-HOO-nek
Na zdrowie!
Cheers!
nah ZDROH-vyeh
Pomocy!
Help!
poh-MOH-tsih
Pyszne!
Delicious!
PISH-neh
Witéj
Hello (Kashubian)
Dzén dobri
Good day (Kashubian)
Dobri wieczór
Good evening (Kashubian)
Do ùzdrzeni
Goodbye (Kashubian)
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Pomeranian.
Main: Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in Pomerania, and Marian devotion is central to Kashubian identity. Gdańsk also has Lutheran, Orthodox and small Jewish communities.
Sites: St Mary's Basilica (Gdańsk, among the largest brick churches in the world), Oliwa Cathedral (Gdańsk-Oliwa, known for its Baroque organ), the Marian shrine at Swarzewo and the Calvary of Wejherowo (Kalwaria Wejherowska).
Etiquette: Dress modestly and stay quiet during services. Photography is generally not allowed during Mass, and tourists may be asked to visit outside service times.
Holidays: Christmas (24-26 December), Easter, Corpus Christi (June), the Assumption (15 August, with major pilgrimages) and All Saints' Day (1 November, when candles are lit on graves).