Backpacking in Poland: My Wonderful Stay at the Green House Hostel in Gdynia

I first backpacked to the port city of Gdynia in July 2016 for a food tour with Eat Polska and I was based in nearby Gdansk at the Hostel Cycle On. My reason for staying in Gdańsk was to meet some friends, tour the city and visit the Pomorskie region. That day, I had no idea I would end up living in Poland, nor how much I would fall in love with Poland’s “City Hat-trick” (Tri-city / Trojmiasto) of Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia. While I went mainstream on that trip by basing myself in Gdańsk, it was great to see Gdynia (on my first full day in the City Hat-trick!) and really I should have slept in Gdynia. I finally made amends and I really recommend backpacking in Gdynia and staying at the city’s coolest hostel – The Green House Hostel!! You can avoid the tourist flocks of Gdańsk by basing yourself here in Gdynia. Here is my review of this wonderfully clean and cosy hostel. You’ll love it!

I have been to gorgeous Gdynia a host of times, I was covering it for Culture Trip. I fell in love again with this city visiting the city’s many bars and sights, plus the Cat Cafe Gdynia which I totally loved. I also loved the beach and the football stadium, Arka Gdynia play there and I watched a match.

By the beautiful harbour, a boat called “Smile” welcomed this aimless backpacker to the seaside resort’s pier at night. Here I was years on, bereft of any dreams, out of love, without fashion sense, piwo in hand (oczywiscie), lacking only wanderlust.

So when I realised I was returning to Gdynia in August 2019, I made sure I’d spend at least two nights in Gdynia this time. It had to be the best hostel in the city – the Gdynia Green House Hostel. I loved my time here in the Green House Hostel – the best and only place to stay in Gdynia for me!! Here are some reasons why I loved it!

1.Friendly Weclome
On arrival, after a climb up the hill via Gdynia’s iconic Kamienna Gora (one of the must sees in the city), I found a true home here at Green House Hostel. I was welcomed with a brace of smiles. Local lady and biology student Ada welcomed me to the compound and I then met Natalja, owner and organiser of a hostel that was right up my street. On my second visit, I arrived late at night and the staff had prepared a key collection for me and my bed was ready and waiting.

2.Green/Zielona Colour
Of course I love anything green so this was also perfect colour coding for me! I love green, I am a zielona (Polish for green, clearly) type of guy. In days gone by, I slept in the Lime Hostel in Buenos Aires, the Green Hostel in Santa Ana, I visited Zielona Street in Kokoszkowy, I dressed in green for St. Patrick’s Day and I became infatuated with the colour green. Being from Northern Ireland accelerated this love of course. I even often wore green during my stay in the hostel.

When a hostel is green and white and holds a name of that, imagine a flirtatious Ulster teenager chatting up a girl on the bus for the first time. I was once that Ulster teenager. I was forever that Ulster adult. The place is green. It was cosy and exactly what I needed.

3.Relaxation and Tranquility
While nearby Sopot is a party capital by night, and Gdansk has a similar vibe at night, Gdynia is the more cool and calm youngest sister. You can really relax here at the Green House Hostel.

4.WiFi in my Room
I Facebooked a photo from my bed, as you do. I Instagrammed my night out in Gdynia live at breakfast, WiFi works here, and good. You have to love Poland for its quirky, clean hostels with fast WiFi. I have stayed here twice, in two different rooms.

5.Great location – Kamienna Gora is 1 minute Walk!
What is Kamienna Gora? This is Gdynia’s iconic tourist sight. A pretty garden area with a huge cross, overlooking the city. Here at Green House Hostel, it was one minute walk!! It is beautiful for sunset, has a huge cross and a kind of cable car/train taking you up and down to the city – I walked it though.

Green House Hostel is also only a 15 minute walk from the seafront and beach.

As an added bonus, the beach and the pier are a mere 8 minute walk, as are most of Gdynia’s museums. Location is perfect!

As you can tell, I loved my return here, a special thanks to Natalia for organising it, I had so much fun and I hope to go back to Gdynia again someday. The city itself is home to Arka Gdynia, in this season’s Europa League and double winners in 2017 (Polish Cup and Polish Super Cup). The hostel is also located on a quiet residential street and has a delightful garden!

Location of the Green House Hostel, Gdynia:
Gdynia, Kamienna Gora (Stone Mountain) – located close to the sea, the city’s green oasis. Green House Hostel is located in the summer holiday spot of Gdynia: the Stone Mountain district, at Henryk Siemiradzki Street. This is an excellent vantage point on the Gulf of Gdansk, the yacht harbor, the shipyard and the city center. The hostel’s surounding is a green oasis in the heart of a dynamic and modern Gdynia.

Lech and Maria Kaczynski’s park, located in the direct neighbourhood of our hostel, is a charming and peaceful place created for walks. Old trees shield from the wind and blend beautifully with many squares and flower beds. There is also a lot of lawns and paths, alleys, benches and a playground for children. Every year, in July and August, the park held a summer concerts of promenade music.

Parkways lead to the platform, the observation deck, at the top Stone Mountain. Beautiful view of the marina, waterfront  with moored ship Dar Pomorza and ORP Błyskawica, attracts not only tourists but also locals. There is a 25 meter high metal cross made by Gdynia Repair Shipyard-Nauta.Illuminated at night, when the weather is favorable, it is visible from Gdańsk and the Hel Peninsula. It is also a landmark for sailors returning from the sea.

There is an electric train which can take tourists directly from the top of the hill to the Musical Theatre, Film Centre and Naval Museum. Stone Mountain is also few steps to the Marina Gdynia and Gdynia Aquarium. At the foot of the hill runs Seaside Boulevard – the most popular walking path in Gdynia-the hallmark of our city.

Here are the details for booking a stay at Green House Hostel in Gdynia

Green House Hostel
+48 534 875 564 (recepcja)
ul. Siemiradzkiego 5
Gdynia
[email protected]

Green House Hostel Website
Green House Hostel Facebook

Here are some videos of my time at the Green House Hostel in Gdynia: