Sopot, a small seaside city and spa resort, is a tourist destination, which together with the neighbouring Gdansk and Gdynia, forms the Tri-City conurbation with a population of over one million. Along the coast, the town is flanked by wooded hills, while the Bay of Gdansk is sheltered from the open sea by the Hel Peninsula, thanks to which the sea off the beaches of Sopot are warmer than at other locations on the Baltic coast. The town's unique character stems from the Art Nouveau townhouses and villas, surrounded by trees, historic parks and beautifully cultivated gardens, with greenery covering 60% of the town area. The enchanting scenery of the town, with the natural beauty of its landscape and attractive tourist facilities, as well as many cultural and entertainment events and convenient access by many modes of transport, make Sopot a tourist destination visited each year by over two million tourists and holidaymakers.

The longest wooden pier in Europe (511.5 m), stretching into the sea from the middle of Sopot beach is a popular venue for recreational and health walks (the concentration of iodine in the air at the sea end is twice as high as on land) or public entertainment events, and it also serves as a mooring point for cruise boats and water taxis. Tickets for cruises to Gdansk , Gdynia and Hel can be purchased at ticket desks located at the pier entrance. From the pier head one can view the town's panorama through binoculars. The pier also provides an ideal spot to watch sporting events taking place in the Bay, such as the World Sailing Championship, the Wind-surfing Baltic Cup or the Sopot Triathlon. Also, from October through March there is a skating rink set up at the pier entrance. The pier is managed under lease by the Sopot Beach Resort. Numerous life guards with state of the art equipment are always on standby in case of emergency.

Clean, sandy beaches stretch along the whole 4.5 km of the Sopot coast, with water chutes, water and beach equipment rental facilities, showers, and charming little pubs and cafes. For a number of years, Sopot has been considered the best organised and the safest beach resort in the North. Safety on the beach is ensured by lifeguards equipped with state-of-the-art life-saving equipment and speedboats. Many outdoor sporting and recreation events are organised by the City Sports and Recreation Centre, such as beach volleyball and beach soccer tournaments, art performances, on-stage entertainment, or cross-country runs.

Bohaterów Monte Cassino Street , which is the street leading down to the pier, is the most famous pedestrian precinct in the country, is lined with numerous pubs and galleries. During the summer it becomes a venue for itinerant street theatres, musicians and artists who exhibit their work. There are also cinemas on this lively street.