Holiday booked, but no idea where to go? Check out the interesting places by the sea that the Baltic offers!
If you think the Baltic Sea has no secrets from you – you might be mistaken. Within the borders of Poland, there is as much as 843 km of coastline with the Baltic Sea. Moreover, it is very diverse, due to a large number of lagoons, bays, peninsulas, and islands. Although in the autumn and winter seasons our Polish sea sees fewer tourists – even during this period, it’s hard to get bored here.
Starting with the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship
Interesting places by the sea can first be found in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. If you’re a fan of beautiful long beaches, then this certainly isn’t the destination for you. However, there are a few places here that are definitely worth visiting.
Frombork is a town located on the Vistula Lagoon, home to a seaport. In 2015, Frombork gained the status of a spa protection area, confirming that its chloride-sodium waters can be used for prophylactic, therapeutic, and rehabilitation treatments. Since we’ve established that you don’t come here for beach lounging, what attracts tourists? Frombork is famous for its monuments. The most popular is the cathedral complex including the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Andrew, and the cathedral fortifications, Radziejowski Tower (where you can find Foucault’s pendulum), Copernicus Tower, and the Nicolaus Copernicus Museum, as well as 6 historic canons serving as residences for priests.
Nature lovers, on the other hand, are encouraged to visit the Elbląg Bay Nature Reserve. Its creation aimed to preserve the varied fauna of water and marsh birds and their habitats. Here you can find over 200 bird species, including the grey heron, river tern, cormorant, and white-tailed eagle.
Interesting Places by the Sea: Pomeranian Voivodeship
According to GUS data from 2020, during domestic trips with at least one overnight stay, the Pomeranian Voivodeship was the most popular among tourists. It was the most frequently visited region in Poland by tourists. 5.8 million people came here. Second place went to Lesser Poland with 5.4 million visitors. Next, the West Pomeranian and Masovian voivodeships attracted 4.6 million and 4.3 million tourists, respectively.
What interesting places by the sea attract tourists to the Pomeranian Voivodeship? Undoubtedly, a large chunk of the cake is taken by the Tri-City. The Old Town in Gdańsk, Long Market, and the Crane; Gdynia’s attractions (the Emigration Museum, Poland’s largest Musical Theatre named after Danuta Baduszkowa) or the resort-like Sopot – regardless of the season, are cities frequently visited.
However, the Pomeranian Voivodeship is known primarily for its beautiful beaches, which stretch from Krynica Morska to Ustka. So, it’s definitely a destination for people who like to lounge on the beach. One of the most beautiful beaches is in Dębki. The beach fascinates tourists with its wide, white sand and calm atmosphere. Although it has also been a backdrop in various film productions. Dębki is a former fishing settlement, where you can still see colorful fishing boats and old cottages. An intriguing feature of the beach is the ‘singing’ sand, which makes sounds when walked upon. Dębki also offers a nudist beach and various attractions, including kayak trips on the Piaśnica. Being here, you can not only enjoy the seaside landscape but also relax floating down the green riverbed. Dębki, due to its touristy nature, has a developed base of restaurants and accommodations, for example, seaside cottages with a swimming pool.
Interesting Places by the Sea: West Pomeranian Voivodeship
The coastline in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship also presents itself nicely.
Places like Darłowo, Mielno, Ustronie Morskie, Kołobrzeg, Rewal, Międzyzdroje, and finally Świnoujście attract those eager for a tan and a view of the sea.
However, Western Pomerania is also a good idea for a camper trip. Choosing this mode of transportation, you can see even more. The Lighthouse Trail along the coast, which includes 15 lighthouses, including the tallest in Świnoujście (67.7 m tall) and the oldest in Rozewie, dating back to 1822, is worth recommending.
Near Rewal is the village of Trzęsacz. Perhaps the name says little, but the unique photo of the church ruins in Trzęsacz is evidence of the erosion of
the Baltic coast. When the church was built in the 15th century, it stood almost 2 km from the shore! Over the centuries, the sea approached the church, leading to its partial destruction and the eventual demolition of the tower after a storm in 1818.
A place definitely worth visiting is Stawa Młyny in Świnoujście. Stawa Młyny, the iconic symbol of Świnoujście standing at 10 meters tall, is a popular photographic subject. Tourists often wait for the perfect moment to capture the mill in all its glory. Stawa is a navigational sign placed on land or in the sea, in this case at the end of the breakwater. The stawa in Świnoujście was built in 1873-1874 and resembles a mill in appearance. In 1976, the building gained even more fame through the film “Latarnik” directed by Zygmunt Skonieczny. For the film, a small building and balcony were added to it, which were dismantled after filming.
Interesting Places by the Sea for Children
If you are looking for interesting places by the sea, it’s worth visiting the locations mentioned here. You can also consider traveling by camper or changing accommodations every few days, then you will surely see more and not get bored. But what if you are parents and looking for interesting places for children?
You can spend your holiday in the Tri-City. Staying there guarantees that the child will not get bored. City beaches have attractions in the form of playgrounds, and in bad weather, you can hide in Gdańsk’s Hevelianum, take a cruise to Westerplatte, visit the European Solidarity Centre and the Department of Fun or Miniature Theatre. In Gdynia, on the other hand, such attractions await you as the Gdynia Aquarium, Experyment Science Centre, and the Emigration Museum.
When at the seaside, you must also visit Aquapark Reda – the largest water park on the Polish coast. It is one of the most modern aquaparks in Poland, which will provide many attractions not only for children.
We realize, however, that many people planning a vacation want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. What then? Cottages with a swimming pool for children in Dębki will be an interesting alternative. On-site you have everything you need to spend time comfortably, and you are only a few dozen kilometers from the Tri-City and Reda.
Summary
The Polish coast has many attractions and interesting places to offer. Even in towns that seem well known to us, one can discover something new, having fun and relaxing in the process of searching.”
