Świnoujście: Beach, Islands and Culture

The beach stretches across Uznam and Wolin and is 10 kilometres long in total: 3.7 kilometres are on Uznam and 6 kilometres on Wolin. The central breakwater extends more than 1,400 metres out to sea. The west breakwater is topped by the windmill-shaped navigational marker “Młyny”.

Promenada Zdrowia, the cross-border beach promenade and the ROUND KARSIBÓR cycling route vary in length and landscape. The city’s cultural history includes a museum in the former town hall, 19th-century fortifications and sites with a military past.

The breakwaters date back to the early 19th century. Their construction history and the Młyny navigational marker add the city’s maritime infrastructure to the view of the beach. The central breakwater extends more than 1,400 metres out to sea; this connection with the sea sets it apart from the west breakwater and its distinctive marker.

The beach’s spread across Uznam and Wolin also shapes the coastline. Its total length is given as 10 kilometres, including 3.7 kilometres on Uznam and 6 kilometres on Wolin. The island figures provide a guide to the area’s extent without combining the two sections into a single stretch on one island.

The Muzeum Rybołówstwa Morskiego is located in the former town hall. Its collections cover the history of fishing, the city and the region, as well as historic navigational instruments and exhibits on marine fauna. The museum hosts numerous exhibitions. Together, these themes link the history of the city and region with their relationship to the sea.

Several surviving sites tell the story of the city’s fortifications. Fort Anioła was built between 1854 and 1858, modelled on the Mausoleum of Hadrian in Rome. Fort Wschodni (Gerharda) is one of three surviving 19th-century fortifications in the Świnoujście Fortress. Its exhibition covers the fortifications of Świnoujście and artefacts found there.

The lighthouse also adds a historical dimension: Latarnia Morska dates from 1858 and houses an exhibition on lighthouses and sea rescue. Podziemne Miasto, meanwhile, consists of shelters linked by a kilometre of tunnels. During the Second World War, the site served as a coastal defence battery; after the war, it was a command post for the Polish military. Maritime navigation, coastal defence and military use thus feature as distinct themes.

On the island of Karsibór stands a Gothic church dating from the 15th century. Its furnishings include a 15th-century altar and a 17th-century pulpit. The FAMA Festival offers a different cultural connection: it has been held in Świnoujście since 1966 and prompted the construction of the amphitheatre.

Promenada Zdrowia is designed as a 950-metre-long pedestrian path, alongside a track for roller skaters and inline skaters and a cycle path. A dune ridge separates it from the sea. There are separate paths for pedestrians, cyclists and roller skaters; facilities include landscaped features, outdoor fitness equipment, drinking fountains, a fountain, bicycle stands, playgrounds and a leisure park.

The 12.5-kilometre beach promenade crosses the border and runs through green spaces in Świnoujście and Ahlbeck, Heringsdorf and Bansin. It offers sea views in many places, so the entire route is not within Świnoujście alone. The ROUND KARSIBÓR cycling route offers a different landscape: about 21 kilometres long, it runs across Karsibór through reed beds, meadows and forests along the Piast Canal to the new eastern breakwater. This extends 430 metres into the Szczecin Lagoon.

Those who prefer to walk will find numerous trails ranging from 4 to 20 kilometres, suitable for walks and Nordic walking. If you have a specific route in mind, it is advisable to check the conditions on the relevant trails in advance. For acrobatic cycling, there is a pump track on Grunwaldzka Street: the closed circuit features fast turns and rollers.

Świnoujście offers good conditions for windsurfing, kitesurfing and skimboarding. The waters around the city also host numerous sailing events and regattas. These include the Sea Days Regatta, the Tourist Regatta, the Unity Line Regatta and Sail Świnoujście, where sailing boats can be seen. If a particular event is important to your plans, check the dates before travelling.

Green spaces also provide a contrast to the coast. Park Zdrojowy dates from the 19th century and was laid out to a design by landscape architect Peter Josef Lenné. Its features include Mediterranean vegetation and a collection of trees about 150 years old. The landscaped park therefore complements trails through dunes, reed beds, meadows and forests.

Discover more destinations: Wicko, Będzieszewo, Kamień Pomorski, Ładzin, Stuchowo, Sierosław, Rabiąż.

How is the beach divided between the islands?

The beach is 10 kilometres long in total and stretches across Uznam and Wolin. It measures 3.7 kilometres on Uznam and 6 kilometres on Wolin.

How do the trails differ in length and landscape?

The cross-border beach promenade is 12.5 kilometres long and runs through green spaces in several named places. ROUND KARSIBÓR is about 21 kilometres long and passes through reed beds, meadows and forests on Karsibór. The hiking trails range from 4 to 20 kilometres.

What different historical themes do the sites represent?

The museum covers topics including fishing, city and regional history, and marine fauna. The lighthouse and forts represent maritime navigation and the history of fortifications. Podziemne Miasto recalls the site’s use as a coastal defence battery and, later, as a command post for the Polish military.

For the broader travel overview: Kamień Pomorski.