Świnoujście is a port town and seaside spa on the western Baltic coast of Poland, near the German border. It is situated at the north coast of the islands Wolin and Usedom (Uznam) at a wide sandy beach. It is known historically by its German name, Swinemünde. It is directly bordering the German Ostseebad Heringsdorf.
Understand
[edit]- 1 Tourist information, Plac Słowiański 6/1, ☏ +48 91 322 49 99, cit@um.swinoujscie.pl. M-F: 9:00—17:00. Sa-Su: 10:00—14:00. The people from the tourist office can help you with your questions about Świnoujście and the region and book accommodation for you.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]- Solidarity Szczecin–Goleniów Airport (SZZ IATA). 70km southeast from Świnoujście.
Another option may be to fly to Berlin and take a transfer to Szczecin from there. From Szczecin there are a lot of connections to Świnoujście.
By car
[edit]By train
[edit]1 Świnoujście Station is located on the right side of the river. Polish national railway company PKP operates to Świnoujście totally 7 long-distance trains and many regional trains. For example, the train ride from regional capital Szczecin takes 1h30min-1h45min.
- IC PKP operates to Świnoujście 5 InterCity trains: Przemyślanin (Przemyśl - Kraków - Katowice - Poznań - Szczecin - Świnoujście), Barnim (Katowice - Wrocław - Poznań - Szczecin - Świnoujście), Światowid (Katowice - Wrocław - Zielona Góra - Szczecin - Świnoujście), Matejko (Przemyśl - Kraków - Częstochowa - Wrocław - Zielona Góra - Szczecin - Świnoujście) and Latarnik (Warsaw - Poznań - Szczecin - Świnoujście).
- TLK PKP operates to Świnoujście 2 Tanie Linie Kolejowe trains: Wolin (Kraków - Katowice - Wrocław - Zielona Góra - Szczecin - Świnoujście) and Uznam (Warsaw - Poznań - Szczecin - Świnoujście).
- REG PKP operates from Szczecin to Świnoujście 8 regional trains, 4 of them start in Poznań.
If travelling from Germany, then UBB/DB is the option to go with. Notice that these trains leave from a different station, the 2 Świnoujście Centrum Station on the left side of the river.
- UBB operates to Świnoujście Centrum 28 RegioBahn trains on line RB23 (Stralsund - Greifswald - Züssow - Wolgast - Zinnowitz - Heringsdorf - Świnoujście).
By bus
[edit]Świnoujście bus station is next to the train station.
By boat and ferry
[edit]- 3 International Ferry Terminal
From a ferry crossing Świnoujście Warszów (“Bielik” ferries only for inhabitants) may use passenger cars and lorries with maximum weight up to 2.2 tons. In hours from 4:00 to 22:00 may use only vehicles having letters beginning with ZSW on licence plates or ID stickers on front windows. On weekdays from 22:00 to 4:00 and on weekends i.e. Friday from 17:00 to 4:00 Monday may use all passenger cars and lorries with maximum weight up to 2.2 tons.
- Polferries connects to Ystad, Sweden daily, about an hours drive from Copenhagen over the Øresund bridge (The company will pay for the bridge toll or a bus connection between Ystad and Copenhagen. You need to ask in advance).
Get around
[edit]See
[edit]- 1 Former Town Hall, Plac Rybaka 1.
- 2 Western Fort, Jachtowa 8, ☏ +48 508 738 118.
- 3 Fort Anioła, ☏ +48 91 321 35 71.
- 4 Fort Gerhard, Bunkrowa 2, ☏ +48 91 321 86 26.
- 5 King's Christ Church (Kościół pw. Chrystusa Króla), Plac Kościelny 1, ☏ +48 91 321 20 32.
Do
[edit]- 1 Beach. The beach here in Świnoujście is the widest of the whole Polish Baltic sea coast.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]There are several lively clubs and bars in Świnoujście that provide a bustling nightlife, especially during the summer season. Jazz Bars, rock clubs, pubs are all there - not to mention the lively seaside promenade. Right on the beach, there are several beach bars and a dance club.
Bars in Świnoujście:
- Akwarium, Mazowiecka 77A
- Boss Pub, Wybrzeże Władysława IV 22
- Hoangson Bar, Konstytucji 3 Maja 4
- Osada, Wybrzeże Władysława IV 30
- Pasztecik Bar, Generała Józefa Bema 13
- Promway Bar, Wybrzeże Władysława IV 3
- Royal Joker Billard Club & Drink Bar, Uzdrowiskowa 11
- Sfinks Pub, Wojska Polskiego 1/19
Clubs/discos in Swinoujscie:
- Piwnica Bar, Mazowiecka 72b
Sleep
[edit]Budget
[edit]- 1 Youth Hostel (Szkolne Schronisko w Świnoujściu), Gdyńska 26, ☏ +48 91 327 06 13, recepcja@schronisko.swinoujscie.pl. Mainly a school hostel but they accept tourists as well. There is a 20% discount for IYHF card-holders during the first three nights of their stay. 26-110 zł depending on room size.
- 2 Camping nr 44 "Relax", Juliusza Słowackiego 1, ☏ +48 91 321 39 12, relax@osir.swinoujscie.pl. Inexpensive campground one block from the main promenade.
Mid-range
[edit]- 3 Hotel Cesarskie Ogrody, Stanisława Wyspiańskiego 34, ☏ +48 91 888 85 00, info@cesarskieogrody.pl. Comfortable hotel in a beautifully restored building. There are spa and wellness facilities.
- 4 Villa Herkules, Juliusza Słowackiego 29, ☏ +48 91 321 35 28. Quality hotel located in proximity of the beach.
Splurge
[edit]Stay safe
[edit]If you happen to wander on the beach going west you may reach German side (there is no sign on beach that will inform you about border) with town of Heringsdorf where climate fee has to be paid. It is controlled quite diligently so you should pay before you cross. No hotel on Polish side will cover this fee, guards may not know English too.
Go next
[edit]On the island Wolin:
- Wolin National Park - with game reserve of wisents.
- Sea resort Międzyzdroje with the Kawcza Góra hill and 93 meter high cliff of Gosań nearby.
- Sea resort Dziwnów.
- Ancient town of Wolin (town).
On the mainland:
- Pomeranian city of Szczecin.
- Sea resort and medieval town of Kamień Pomorski.
- Sea resort and spa of Kołobrzeg.
- Medieval town of Stargard Szczeciński with an over hundred meter high cathedral.
In Germany:
- Heringsdorf - going west by beach (remember about climate fee).
- The island Usedom and Peenemünde.