Sopot's beach is wide, sandy, and well-maintained — the best urban beach in Poland, by some distance. It stretches for about 4 km along the Gulf of Gdańsk, and the main section below the pier is the most popular. Stalls along the shore sell fresh smoked fish; the Baltic is clear enough for swimming from June to August, though never warm by Mediterranean standards (water temperatures reach about 18–20°C in peak summer).
The beach is free to access, though some sections have fee-paying areas with sunbeds and umbrellas. The northern end, toward Gdynia, is quieter than the central section below Monte Cassino Street.
Water sports — kitesurfing, windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding — are available for hire from vendors along the beach in summer. The conditions in the Gulf of Gdańsk are reliable enough for beginners; the water is shallow for a considerable distance from shore.