Gdynia Seaside Boulevard

The Seaside Boulevard (Bulwar Nadmorski) in Gdynia is a promenade of about 1.5 km (1 mile) along the Bay of Gdańsk, running from the city-center beach to the beach at Redłowo beneath the wooded slopes of Kamienna Góra hill. It is one of the classic things to do in Gdynia: sea and port on one side, greenery, museums and steps up the hill on the other. It is named after the composer Feliks Nowowiejski and also works as a sea wall protecting the steep shore.

History

The first promenade appeared in the 1920s as a sandy path on a low embankment next to a bathhouse. In the early 1930s the slope of Kamienna Góra was stabilized, trees were planted and stairs were built; by the mid-1930s a concrete wall only about 80 cm (2.6 ft) high protected a gravel path.

The boulevard survived World War II but was wrecked by a storm in 1949. A citizens' committee pushed for its reconstruction from 1958, and the new boulevard opened in 1969 during the Sea Days festival – essentially the promenade you walk today. In the early 2000s the central beach was widened and stairs down to the sand were added; the Barracuda restaurant was built during a 2005 makeover. Older locals still remember the full-size outdoor pool with a diving board that operated at Polanka Redłowska, at the southern end, until the early 1990s.

What to see

• "Gdynia Fish" ("Gdyńskie Rybki"), a metal sculpture by Adam Smolana near the entrance to the city beach;
• "To Those Who Left for the Eternal Watch", a stone figure of a woman walking into the sea, honoring people lost at sea;
• "Homecoming", two salmon returning to their river – a gift from Seattle by Louise McDowell, at the Redłowo end;
• the outdoor exhibition of naval guns belonging to the Naval Museum, right beside the path, with the Naval Museum and Gdynia City Museum buildings next to it;
• views of the port, the South Pier and the tall ship Dar Pomorza – best at sunset.

Visiting tips

Walking the whole boulevard one way takes 20–30 minutes; with beach stops and a museum visit, plan half a day. The path is flat and wide, easy with strollers and wheelchairs, with benches all along. The boulevard doubles as a sea wall, so in stormy weather keep back from the edge. Early morning and sunset are the prettiest times, when the light falls across the port. Is it worth it? Yes – it is free, scenic and links Gdynia's main sights.

As of October 2026: the boulevard is public space, open 24/7 and free. The museums along it have their own hours and ticket prices (in PLN).

How to get there

The boulevard starts a few minutes' walk from Kościuszko Square (bus stop Skwer Kościuszki – InfoBox) and about 20–25 minutes on foot from Gdynia Główna station. Gdańsk is about 30 minutes away by SKM commuter train, and Gdańsk airport (around 23 km) has PKM trains to Gdynia Główna. There is parking on Sędzickiego Street by the Musical Theater. Above the boulevard, a small funicular from Grunwaldzki Square climbs Kamienna Góra to a viewpoint.