Seal Sanctuary in Hel

The Hel Seal Sanctuary (Fokarium, roughly "foh-KAH-ryoom") is a small seal center at the tip of the Hel Peninsula on Poland's Baltic coast, run by the University of Gdańsk Marine Station. Here you can watch Baltic grey seals up close and learn how scientists rescue and release them into the wild. It's one of the top things to do in Hel, an easy add-on to a day trip from Gdańsk, and a favorite with families.

Where is Hel and how to get there?

Hel is a fishing town at the end of a long, narrow sandspit that curves out into the Bay of Gdańsk, north of the Tricity (Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia). Regional trains run from Gdynia to Hel, and the station is just a few minutes' walk from the sanctuary. You can also drive along road 216, which gets very congested in summer, or take a seasonal water tram across the bay from the Tricity. Gdańsk has the nearest international airport.

The sanctuary is at Morska 2, with the entrance on Portowa Street near the harbor.

Why it matters

The story began on March 31, 1992, when a young seal named Balbin was found on the beach at Jurata, a few miles up the peninsula. His successful rehabilitation inspired researchers, and the sanctuary has operated since 1999. Its main purpose isn't display but conservation: rebuilding the grey seal population in the southern Baltic, where the species had nearly vanished from the Polish coast in the 20th century. Rescued pups and seals born here are released back into the sea, often fitted with satellite tags so scientists can follow their journeys. Three seal species live in the Baltic – grey, harbor and ringed – and the grey seal is the star here.

Seal feeding times

The highlight is the feeding session with a short educational talk, included in the ticket:

• September–June: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• July–August: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Arrive 10–15 minutes early for a spot at the railing. Depending on which pools are open, 200, 350 or 450 people can be inside at once, and up to 50 in the exhibition building.

Opening hours and tickets

According to the sanctuary's website (as of October 2026), it's open daily all year:

• October–April: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
• May, June and September: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
• July and August: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Ticket machines close 20 minutes before closing time. An older notice on the Marine Station's site from September 2025 still mentions weekend-only opening during pool renovation, so if you're visiting off-season, call ahead (+48 58 523 35 70) to confirm.

Tickets cost PLN 30 standard and PLN 25 reduced. There are no reservations: buy online or at the machines by the entrance (cash or card). Each ticket is valid for 30 minutes from purchase and has a barcode for the turnstile. A visit usually takes 30–60 minutes.

Rules and tips

• No eating, drinking, smoking or pets on site.
• Never throw anything into the pools: in 2001 a seal here died after swallowing almost 700 coins tossed in by visitors.
• If you spot a seal resting on a beach anywhere on the Polish coast, keep your distance and report it to the Marine Station.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially with kids or if you care about wildlife. It's affordable, quick to see and genuinely connected to conservation work. Combine it with the nearby Fishing Museum in a former Gothic church, the Hel lighthouse and a walk to the very tip of the peninsula.