Swinemünde: Beaches, Coastal Paths and History

Swinemünde can be explored through a variety of themes: beaches and coastal scenery, routes on foot or by bike, water sports and maritime history. Buildings from different eras are also part of the picture. Which of these sides you choose to explore can give your trip its own focus.

Beach, breakwaters and parkland

The beach stretches across Uznam and Wolin and is 10 kilometers long in total: 3.7 kilometers lie on Uznam and 6 kilometers on Wolin. The breakwaters dating from the early 19th century are among the coast’s distinctive structures. The western one features the windmill-shaped beacon “Młyny”; the central breakwater extends more than 1,400 meters out into the sea. The two structures are distinguished both by their individual features and by their locations.

Park Zdrojowy offers a different kind of landscape. It dates from the 19th century and was laid out according to a design by garden architect Peter Josef Lenné. Mediterranean vegetation and a tree population around 150 years old are among its defining features. Alongside the open coastal landscape, the landscaped park offers its own natural and scenic focus.

Routes and activities

Promenada Zdrowia is designed as a 950-meter-long pedestrian path, with a track for roller skaters and inline skaters as well as a bike path. A row of dunes separates it from the sea. Separate paths for pedestrians, cyclists and roller skaters, along with landscape architecture, outdoor fitness equipment, drinking fountains, a fountain, bike racks, playgrounds and a recreation park, complete the development.

For longer bike rides, other route features take center stage. The 12.5-kilometer cross-border promenade runs through the green spaces of Świnoujście as well as Ahlbeck, Heringsdorf and Bansin, offering sea views at many points. By contrast, the approximately 21-kilometer ROUND KARSIBÓR route passes through reed beds, meadows and forests on Karsibór Island, following the Piast Canal to the new eastern breakwater. This extends 430 meters into the Szczecin Lagoon. These distances and landscapes provide different points of reference for planning your ride.

There is a pump track for acrobatic cycling on Grunwaldzka Street. The closed circuit features fast turns and bumps. If you prefer to get around on foot, Swinemünde has numerous hiking trails between 4 and 20 kilometers long, suitable for walks and Nordic walking. Conditions on individual trails may change, so check them before setting out on a specific hike.

There are also several ways to enjoy the water: Swinemünde offers good conditions for windsurfing, kitesurfing and skimboarding. Sailing events and regattas take place in the surrounding waters, including the Sea Days Regatta, the Tourist Regatta, the Unity Line Regatta and Sail Świnoujście. Sailing boats can be seen at Sail Świnoujście. If a particular regatta is the reason for your trip, it is advisable to check the event dates in advance.

Maritime history and historic buildings

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 old navigational instruments and exhibits on marine life. Numerous exhibitions complement the museum’s collection. The maritime perspective thus connects with the history of the city and region.

Several historic sites tell the story of the town’s military past. Fort Anioła was built from 1854 to 1858, modeled on the Mausoleum of Hadrian in Rome. The Świnoujście lighthouse also dates from 1858 and houses an exhibition on lighthouses and sea rescue. Fort Wschodni (Gerharda) is one of three surviving 19th-century fortifications in the Świnoujście Fortress. The fort features an exhibition on the fortifications of Świnoujście and objects found there.

Podziemne Miasto is another part of the fortress’s history: the complex consists of shelters connected by one kilometer of tunnels. During the Second World War, the facility served as a coastal defense battery; after the war, it was the command post of the Polish military. On Karsibór Island, by contrast, there is a Gothic church dating from the 15th century. Its furnishings include, among other things, a 15th-century altar and a 17th-century pulpit.

Cultural events are also linked to the city’s history. The FAMA Festival has been held in Świnoujście since 1966 and prompted the expansion of the amphitheater. If a festival visit determines your travel dates, check the event dates in advance. This allows you to tailor the balance of historic sites, coastal routes and cultural themes to your own reason for traveling.

Discover more destinations: Rabiąż, Stuchowo, Wicko, Wrzosowo, Miedzywodzie, Cammin In Pommern, Będzieszewo, Piaski Wielkie.

Go to the main travel overview: Cammin.