Things to do in Kołobrzeg: beach, lighthouse and old fortress town
Kołobrzeg (German: Kolberg) is a spa town on Poland's Baltic coast with a wide sandy beach, a pier and a working harbour at the mouth of the Parsęta river. Its wealth once came from salt and Hanseatic trade; from 1653 to 1872 it was a fortress, and from the 19th century a seaside resort with a spa park and promenade. In March 1945 about 90 percent of the old town was destroyed in two weeks of fighting, but the Gothic co-cathedral, Karl Friedrich Schinkel's town hall and several harbour forts survived. Many of the sanatoriums in the spa district use brine and peat treatments and stay open all year.
On this page you will find our ten picks for a first visit, itineraries for one and two days, practical notes on getting there, the spa fee and paying, and the full list of Kołobrzeg attractions in the tripto.pl catalogue. Opening hours and prices are on each attraction's page — outside the summer most museums close in the afternoon.
Why visit
- A wide, sandy beach runs for kilometres from the lighthouse past the pier to Podczele, free to use all year.
- Its Gothic co-cathedral from the 14th century, Schinkel's castle-like town hall and the Three Forts Trail by the harbour tell the story of a Hanseatic and fortress town.
- The harbour is a destination in itself: the 308 m east breakwater, fish shops in the fishing port, Salt Island marina and warships on dry land.
- A year-round spa town — in winter the promenades are quiet and the sanatoriums keep working.
- The flat Velo Baltica cycle route (EuroVelo 10) runs along the dunes through the Eastern Ecopark to Ustronie Morskie.
Top 10: what to see first
Our picks for a first visit — each with a short reason why.
Coast
Beach in Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg Beach (roughly "ko-WOB-zheg") is a broad strip of fine, pale sand that runs for several kilometers east from the harbor and lighthouse, past the pier and the leafy spa parks, toward the suburb of Podczele. It is the main reason c…
Free entry1. One of the wider beaches on the Baltic, stretching from the lighthouse to Podczele. Lifeguarded swimming areas in summer, walks and winter swimming in the cold months; free all year.
Coast
Kołobrzeg Pier
Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg Pier (say "koh-WOB-zheg") is a 220-meter (720-foot) concrete walkway reaching into the Baltic Sea from the heart of the town's spa district, and the single most popular thing to do in this Polish seaside resort. Walk to the end f…
2. A 220 m concrete pier opened in 1971 and renovated in 2014, with a café at the end. There is an entry fee in season; outside it the pier is free.
Hidden gemTechnical monuments
Kołobrzeg Lighthouse
Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg Lighthouse (roughly "ko-WOB-zheg") is a 26-meter red-brick tower built on top of an 18th-century fort right at the harbor entrance of this Baltic spa town. It is one of the easiest things to do in Kołobrzeg: you walk straight off…
3. The brick lighthouse stands on the 18th-century Mouth Fort at the harbour entrance. Climb 108 steps to a terrace overlooking the port, beach and pier; open all year.
Churches & monasteries
Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg
The Co-Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Kołobrzeg (say "koh-WOH-bzheg") is the Baltic resort town's greatest monument: a five-aisled Gothic brick church whose massive tower block rises over the old town. Inside are rare medieval tre…
Free entry4. A five-aisled Gothic co-cathedral with a seven-branched candelabrum from 1327, a font from 1355 and visibly leaning pillars. Free to enter; the tower terrace is ticketed.
Landmarks
Kołobrzeg Town Hall
Kołobrzeg
With its battlements, corner towers and red-brick walls it looks like a small castle, yet it was built from the start as the seat of the town council. Kołobrzeg Town Hall was designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, the most celebrated archite…
5. Neo-Gothic town hall designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel (1829–1832), built like a small castle. Inside, a contemporary art gallery open Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00–17:00.
Hidden gemMuseums
Museum of Polish Arms
Kołobrzeg
The Museum of Polish Arms in Kołobrzeg (pronounced roughly “koh-WOB-zhek”) is one of Poland's leading military history museums and one of the top things to do in this Baltic spa town. Its main branch in the town center combines a chronolog…
6. One of Poland's main military museums: uniforms, an Enigma machine and over 70 vehicles, guns and aircraft outdoors. Audio guides in English; a good rainy-day option.
Museums
Kołobrzeg Maritime Open-Air Museum
Kołobrzeg
The Kołobrzeg Maritime Open-Air Museum (Kołobrzeski Skansen Morski) is an outdoor branch of the Museum of Polish Arms in the town's fishing port. Its stars are two Polish Navy warships standing on dry land that you can climb aboard, along…
7. Open-air naval museum in the harbour with two warships on land you can climb aboard, plus the mast of the destroyer ORP Burza, mines and torpedoes. Popular with kids.
Coast
Kołobrzeg Harbor
Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg Harbor (roughly "ko-WOB-zheg") is the lively heart of this Baltic spa town: at the mouth of the Parsęta River, fishing boats, excursion ships and yachts share the quays, while a lighthouse on an 18th-century fort watches over the…
Free entry8. Walk the 308 m east breakwater, buy fresh fish in the fishing port and see the Morast Redoubt in the marina. Summer cruises leave from the passenger quay.
Fortifications
Kołobrzeg Fortress
Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg Fortress is not a single castle but a scattered set of forts, redoubts and earthworks around the harbor and town of Kołobrzeg (roughly "ko-WOB-zheg"), on Poland's Baltic coast. For more than two centuries, from 1653 to 1872, this…
9. Remains of the fortress that withstood Napoleon's siege of 1807. The Three Forts Trail around the harbour takes about an hour, and the outer works are free to see.
Nature
Eastern Ecopark and Solne Bagno Salt Marsh (Kołobrzeg)
Kołobrzeg
The Eastern Ecopark (Ekopark Wschodni) in Kołobrzeg is a protected stretch of coastal peat bogs between the town's spa district and the suburb of Podczele, crossed by one of the prettiest cycle paths on the Polish Baltic coast. At its hear…
Free entry10. Protected brackish peat bogs east of town with around 80 bird species. A cycle path with boardwalks and viewpoints runs along the dune ridge beside the sea.
Top sights on the map
Open the full map1-day itinerary
Morning: co-cathedral and town hall
Start in the centre at the co-cathedral (open to visitors Monday to Saturday from 9:00, not during services), then the Schinkel town hall right next door.
Places: Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kołobrzeg Kołobrzeg Town Hall
Late morning: Polish Arms Museum
The main exhibition and the outdoor display of tanks and guns on Gierczak Street — allow 1.5–2 hours. The Lontowa Tower with the tourist information office is a few minutes away.
Afternoon: harbour and naval museum
Follow the Parsęta river to the fishing port and the warships of the open-air naval museum. In winter the museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Late afternoon: lighthouse and breakwater
Cross the harbour bridge to the lighthouse, climb to the terrace and walk out along the east breakwater. Nearby stands the monument to Poland's 1945 Wedding to the Sea.
Places: Kołobrzeg Lighthouse Poland's Wedding to the Sea Monument
Evening: beach and pier
Walk along the beach to the pier for sunset and return through the spa park.
Places: Beach in Kołobrzeg Kołobrzeg Pier Stefan Żeromski Park in Kołobrzeg
2-day itinerary
Day 1: town centre, museums and the pier
Co-cathedral, town hall and City Museum
Medieval furnishings in the co-cathedral, the town hall gallery and the City Museum in the Braunschweig Palace, with its paper ceiling painting of the goddess Flora.
Places: Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kołobrzeg Kołobrzeg Town Hall Kołobrzeg City Museum (Braunschweig Palace)
Polish Arms Museum
The main exhibition and the outdoor collection. If you plan to see the naval museum too, the three-branch ticket is better value.
Places: Museum of Polish Arms
Beach and pier at sunset
Through the spa district to the beach and out on the pier.
Places: Beach in Kołobrzeg Kołobrzeg Pier
Day 2: fortress, harbour and nature
Three Forts Trail
Mouth Fort with the lighthouse, the five-sided Morast Redoubt in the Salt Island marina and the Salt Redoubt beside the naval museum — about an hour on foot, plus museum time.
Places: Kołobrzeg Fortress Kołobrzeg Lighthouse Morast Redoubt, Kołobrzeg Kołobrzeg Maritime Open-Air Museum
Spa park and Stone Redoubt
East along the seaside promenade and through the spa park to the Stone Redoubt, a fortification from 1832–1836 that has served as a place of entertainment since 1887.
Places: Stefan Żeromski Park in Kołobrzeg Stone Redoubt in Kołobrzeg
Cycle through the Eastern Ecopark
Ride the flat Velo Baltica route along the dunes through the Ecopark, and on to Podczele or Ustronie Morskie if you have the energy.
Places: Eastern Ecopark and Solne Bagno Salt Marsh (Kołobrzeg) Velo Baltica Cycle Route (EuroVelo 10): Kołobrzeg – Ustronie Morskie
Getting there
By train: Kołobrzeg has direct trains from Szczecin, Poznań and Warsaw, among others. From Berlin, take a regional train to Szczecin and change there. The station is a 10–15 minute walk from the town hall and about 20 minutes from the pier.
By bus: FlixBus runs several times a day from Berlin to Kołobrzeg; buses stop at the bus station on ul. Kolejowa next to the train station.
By car: From Szczecin take the S3 to Goleniów and then the S6 expressway, which bypasses Kołobrzeg to the south. The centre and the spa district are a paid parking zone, and in summer spaces near the pier are hard to find.
Getting around: The centre, spa district, beach and harbour are close together and easy to explore on foot or by bike on the R10 route.
Paying: Poland uses the złoty (PLN), not the euro. Cards are generally accepted in museums, restaurants and shops; keep some cash in złoty for kiosks and snack stands.
When to go
Summer (July–August): the swimming season, with lifeguarded beaches, cruises from the passenger port and a water tram on the Parsęta. The Sunrise electronic music festival takes place at the former airfield in Podczele — in 2026 from 31 July to 2 August.
Spa fee: Kołobrzeg charges a spa fee (opłata uzdrowiskowa) to visitors staying longer than a day. In 2026 it is 6.67 zł for each day or part of a day, collected by your accommodation.
Autumn and winter: the pier and the east breakwater are free, and the beach belongs to walkers, winter swimmers and spa guests. After storms from late autumn to spring, amber is occasionally washed up on Kołobrzeg's beaches. The pier is closed in strong winds.
Winter hours 2026/27: the lighthouse is open daily 10:00–16:00 from 1 November to 31 January. The Polish Arms Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday 9:00–16:00 from October to April (on Mondays only the outdoor display), and the naval museum Tuesday to Saturday 10:00–15:00 from 2 November to 30 April; it may close in bad weather.
FAQ
How many days do you need in Kołobrzeg?
One day covers the co-cathedral, town hall, Polish Arms Museum, harbour, lighthouse and pier. With two days you can add the Three Forts Trail, the spa park and a bike ride through the Eastern Ecopark.
How much is the spa fee in Kołobrzeg in 2026?
6.67 zł for each day or part of a day, for visitors staying longer than a day, under city council resolution XVIII/284/25. Your accommodation collects it.
Is Kołobrzeg worth visiting in winter?
Yes, for long beach and park walks, the lighthouse and the museums. Many sanatoriums are open all year, and the pier and breakwater are free outside the season. Most museums close in the afternoon.
What can you do in Kołobrzeg with kids?
Climb aboard the warships at the naval museum, see the tanks at the Polish Arms Museum, climb the lighthouse and cycle the flat path through the Eastern Ecopark. In summer add the lifeguarded beaches and harbour cruises.
How do I get to Kołobrzeg from Berlin?
By FlixBus, which runs several times a day, by car via Szczecin and the S3 and S6 expressways, or by train with a change in Szczecin. We could not confirm a direct Berlin–Kołobrzeg train for 2026.
All attractions (17)
Hidden gemTechnical monuments
Kołobrzeg Lighthouse
Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg Lighthouse (roughly "ko-WOB-zheg") is a 26-meter red-brick tower built on top of an 18th-century fort right at the harbor entrance of this Baltic spa town. It is one of the easiest things to do in Kołobrzeg: you walk straight off…
Hidden gemMuseums
Museum of Polish Arms
Kołobrzeg
The Museum of Polish Arms in Kołobrzeg (pronounced roughly “koh-WOB-zhek”) is one of Poland's leading military history museums and one of the top things to do in this Baltic spa town. Its main branch in the town center combines a chronolog…
Landmarks
Kołobrzeg Town Hall
Kołobrzeg
With its battlements, corner towers and red-brick walls it looks like a small castle, yet it was built from the start as the seat of the town council. Kołobrzeg Town Hall was designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, the most celebrated archite…
Landmarks
Lontowa Tower in Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg
Lontowa Tower on ul. Dubois is the only part of Kołobrzeg's medieval fortifications to survive intact. The Gothic brick tower is almost 18 metres high and stands in the town centre, by the former Prussian Square (today Słowiański Square).…
Churches & monasteries
Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg
The Co-Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Kołobrzeg (say "koh-WOH-bzheg") is the Baltic resort town's greatest monument: a five-aisled Gothic brick church whose massive tower block rises over the old town. Inside are rare medieval tre…
Free entry
Nature
Eastern Ecopark and Solne Bagno Salt Marsh (Kołobrzeg)
Kołobrzeg
The Eastern Ecopark (Ekopark Wschodni) in Kołobrzeg is a protected stretch of coastal peat bogs between the town's spa district and the suburb of Podczele, crossed by one of the prettiest cycle paths on the Polish Baltic coast. At its hear…
Free entry
Fortifications
Stone Redoubt in Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg
The Stone Redoubt (Kamienny Szaniec) is a relic of the eastern defences of the former Kołobrzeg Fortress, tucked into the dunes right above the beach at the eastern end of Stefan Żeromski Park. Built in 1832–1836 to fight off warships, wit…
Museums
Kołobrzeg Maritime Open-Air Museum
Kołobrzeg
The Kołobrzeg Maritime Open-Air Museum (Kołobrzeski Skansen Morski) is an outdoor branch of the Museum of Polish Arms in the town's fishing port. Its stars are two Polish Navy warships standing on dry land that you can climb aboard, along…
Coast
Kołobrzeg Pier
Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg Pier (say "koh-WOB-zheg") is a 220-meter (720-foot) concrete walkway reaching into the Baltic Sea from the heart of the town's spa district, and the single most popular thing to do in this Polish seaside resort. Walk to the end f…
Museums
Kołobrzeg City Museum (Braunschweig Palace)
Kołobrzeg
The Kołobrzeg City Museum occupies the elegant Braunschweig Palace on Armii Krajowej Street, steps from St. Mary's Basilica and the town hall. If you want to understand how this Baltic resort came to be – from an early medieval stronghold,…
Gardens
Stefan Żeromski Park in Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg
Beneath the paths of this park above Kołobrzeg's beach there was once a military cemetery for the town's defenders of 1807, where columns from the medieval town hall served as gravestones for Joachim Nettelbeck and Ernst von Waldenfels. St…
Free entry
Coast
Beach in Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg Beach (roughly "ko-WOB-zheg") is a broad strip of fine, pale sand that runs for several kilometers east from the harbor and lighthouse, past the pier and the leafy spa parks, toward the suburb of Podczele. It is the main reason c…
Free entry
Monuments & mounds
Poland's Wedding to the Sea Monument
Kołobrzeg
The Poland's Wedding to the Sea Monument in Kołobrzeg (roughly "ko-WOB-zheg") is a bold modernist landmark in the seaside park between the lighthouse and the pier. Unveiled in 1963, it commemorates the symbolic "wedding" of Poland and the…
Free entry
Coast
Kołobrzeg Harbor
Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg Harbor (roughly "ko-WOB-zheg") is the lively heart of this Baltic spa town: at the mouth of the Parsęta River, fishing boats, excursion ships and yachts share the quays, while a lighthouse on an 18th-century fort watches over the…
Free entry
Fortifications
Morast Redoubt, Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg
Among the yachts of the Solna Marina in Kołobrzeg hides an 18th-century five-sided earthwork – one of the best-preserved parts of the town's former fortress. The Morast Redoubt, or Marsh Redoubt, defended the harbour and the mouth of the P…
Fortifications
Kołobrzeg Fortress
Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg Fortress is not a single castle but a scattered set of forts, redoubts and earthworks around the harbor and town of Kołobrzeg (roughly "ko-WOB-zheg"), on Poland's Baltic coast. For more than two centuries, from 1653 to 1872, this…
Hiking & tourist trails
Velo Baltica Cycle Route (EuroVelo 10): Kołobrzeg – Ustronie Morskie
Kołobrzeg
The Velo Baltica between Kołobrzeg and Ustronie Morskie is a short, flat stretch of EuroVelo 10, the long-distance cycle route around the Baltic Sea. From Kołobrzeg's port and parks it follows the seafront and then runs along a dune embank…