Poland by the sea is an often underestimated destination, but we fell in love with it so much that we have been returning for several years. It is an ideal option for a couple or family who want to combine beaches, nature, cities, and activities, and also have everything easily accessible by car.
When we drive to Poland by the sea, we plan exactly what we want to see. And the result is that we have memories from each trip that cannot be described by a single larger resort name – that’s why this article contains 20 tips for places and activities that are worth it.
Świnoujście is the gateway to the Baltic Sea that we fell in love with right from our first visit. The beaches here are incredibly wide and sandy – over a kilometre from the water to the promenade, so you have more than enough space even in the high season.
What not to miss there:
For couples, it’s an ideal start to the trip, as the combination of the sea and the promenade works great in the evening when you don’t want to move the car.
Booking.com – hotels in Świnoujście – We recommend looking for options with parking and breakfast included, suitable for couples and families.
When you park your car and want to enjoy the evening atmosphere without worries, the promenade in Świnoujście is the place where you’ll happily spend two hours instead of twenty minutes. The restaurants here offer various cuisines, from traditional Polish to seafood specialties.
It’s worth coming here:
Międzyzdroje is a small but pleasant stop between larger destinations. It’s not just “another beach” – there’s a beautiful pier, cafes right by the water, and a peaceful promenade.
What you can find here:
If you arrive by car, you can combine this stop with plans for other beaches along the coast.
Booking.com – hotels in Międzyzdroje – Ideal for a short stay or a day trip.
Wolin National Park is exactly the place where you’ll realise that the Polish coast is more than just beaches. Here you can walk among pine forests, hike along cliff trails, and enjoy views of the sea and the bay from viewpoints.
It’s really worth it because:
Kołobrzeg is a bit more than just a resort town. It has a historic centre, a harbor promenade, and a lighthouse, which is a great spot for a short stop with a view.
What’s perfect here:
Parking is better at the hotel, so if you arrive by car, we recommend booking something with a garage or parking space.
Booking.com – hotels Kołobrzeg – Ideal for families and couples, hotels usually with parking and breakfast.
Kołobrzeg has some of the most pleasant bike paths right by the coast. If you bring bikes, you can have a great afternoon cycling several kilometres with sea views and stopping wherever you feel like it.
The paths are:
Ustka is an ideal choice if you want a slightly smaller town than Kołobrzeg or Świnoujście, but still with good infrastructure.
What to do in Ustka:
This is the Baltic Sea in its most natural form. Just drive a few kilometres by car and you’ll find yourself on beaches where you’ll only encounter a few families or couples. There’s no promenade, no hustle and bustle – just the sea, the sand, and the wind.
For us, this part of the trip was the most pleasant contrast to the busier resorts.
Łeba is one of the most famous resorts on the Polish coast due to its amazing combination of nature, activities, and beaches. It has wide sandy beaches that are ideal for both relaxation and water sports or windsurfing. (Leba.pl)
What not to miss here:
When we were there, we spent the day climbing the dunes in the morning, having fish by the marina in the afternoon, and enjoying ice cream by the pier in the evening – a perfectly spent time in Poland by the sea.
Booking.com – hotels Łeba – Hotels usually have sea views, convenient parking, and breakfast.
I already mentioned Słowiński National Park in the point above, as it is located between Łeba and Rowy and is absolutely unique and, in our opinion, one of the most interesting places to visit. You will find huge dunes here that shift several metres each year due to the wind, which is why they are also called “moving dunes.”
What to do there:
The standard entrance fee to the national park is 10 PLN. There is also a possibility of a reduced entrance fee if you meet the conditions (e.g., seniors or children).
This part of the coast is ideal for a full day of adventure away from the beach crowds.
Rowy is ideal for those who want a quieter alternative to Łeba. The beaches here are wide and almost empty, and the surrounding forests offer shady paths for walks or bike rides.
What we recommend:
For us, Rowy was a great combination of relaxation and nature when we just wanted to “switch off” from the busy promenades.
Jastrzębia Góra is known for its rocky cliffs and its viewpoints over the Baltic. The beach here is not as wide as in Łeba, but the views of the sea and the coast are phenomenal.
What not to miss:
We arrived here in the afternoon and spent about two hours taking photos and admiring the view – exactly the kind of place where you really appreciate having a car.
Hel is a classic for anyone who wants to combine the sea and water sports. The peninsula is about 30 km long, so a car is essential if you want to cover its entire width and length.
Tips:
You’ll enjoy Hel mainly for an active day, where you can alternate between bike paths and water sports – ideal if you don’t just want to lie on the beach.
Władysławowo is a larger coastal town, known mainly for its promenade and family-friendly beaches.
What to do:
Booking.com – hotels Władysławowo – Ideal for families with children.
Chałupy is more known among active visitors. The beaches are wide and flat, ideal for kitesurfing and windsurfing.
Tips:
Puck is a picturesque historic town with a small harbor and an old centre where you’ll find quieter beaches.
What we recommend:
We included Puck mainly for the combination of history and beach.
Gdynia is part of the Tricity (Gdańsk – Sopot – Gdynia) and offers a modern waterfront and harbor atmosphere.
Tips:
Sopot is mainly known for the longest wooden pier in Europe and its lively centre with cafes and restaurants.
What not to miss:
You’ll love Sopot especially in the evening, strolling down the lively street, tasting local specialties, and finishing by watching the sunset over the pier.
Gdańsk is a bit further from the beaches, but its historic centre is one of the most beautiful in Central Europe.
Tips:
For us, Gdańsk was an ideal combination of history and culinary experience, where we explored the city in the morning and moved back to the sea in the afternoon.
Jurata is an elegant resort with a promenade, beaches, and opportunities for paddleboarding or kayaking.
Booking.com – hotels Jurata – Luxurious stay, ideal for couples.
If you want to truly enjoy your holiday by the Polish sea, we recommend planning your car route to move between quiet beaches, national parks, and city atmosphere. We always started in the west – Świnoujście, Międzyzdroje – continued through Kołobrzeg and Łeba, and finished in Hel or Jurata.
This way, you’ll get an ideal combination of relaxation, adventure, and city atmosphere without having to change accommodation every day. A car will allow you to stop wherever you want and discover places off the main tourist routes.
For us, such a trip is a perfect mix of the Baltic Sea, Polish culture, and car comfort – exactly what we look for when we don’t just want to lie on the beach, but want to experience the whole area.
We enjoy travelling across Europe by car with Veronika because it gives us freedom of movement and flexibility to travel whenever we need to. Our favourite destination is Italy, and for that, we have compiled tips for accommodation in individual Italian cities here.
From Prague to Świnoujście, expect about 7-8 hours. From Brno, 6-7 hours. It’s best to leave early in the morning.
Poland does not have motorway vignettes for passenger cars. Tolls are charged only on selected sections of A1, A2, A4 – cash, card, or e-TOLL for heavy vehicles.
Prices are similar to those in the Czech Republic.
Rowy, Łeba (thanks to the dunes and wide beaches), and the western part of Ustka offer the most tranquility.
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