Sea Fishing Museum in Świnoujście

The Sea Fishing Museum (Muzeum Rybołówstwa Morskiego) in Świnoujście occupies the town's oldest building, the former town hall from the early 1800s on Plac Rybaka (Fisherman's Square), right by the Świna River waterfront. It is a compact museum where in one afternoon you can see living coral-reef aquariums, marine wildlife, Baltic amber, fishing-boat and sailing-ship models and relics of local history. It is a good choice for a rainy day or with kids, and it stays open all year.

Where it is

Świnoujście (roughly "shvee-no-OOY-shcheh"; German: Swinemünde) is Poland's westernmost seaside town, on the German border about 100 km north of Szczecin and around three hours by car from Berlin. The museum is in the town center on the western bank of the Świna (Usedom Island), on the Wybrzeże Władysława IV waterfront a few minutes' walk from the pedestrian streets and the tour-boat piers.

The building

Plans for a town hall were rejected for decades; master builder Meyer's design was approved in 1792, but construction only took place from spring 1805 to summer 1806. The building housed the town council, the court, customs and tax offices and a savings bank. The openwork clock tower was added in 1839. A regional museum moved in upstairs in 1911, and a 1922 savings-bank safe still survives on the ground floor. Big anchors stand outside, making a nice photo spot.

What to see

• Living coral reef – aquariums with corals and fish from waters off Australia, Sri Lanka, Hawaii and Malaysia, among others.
• Fauna of the seas and oceans – a three-part natural history display.
• Baltic Gold – amber in nuggets, drops and polished pieces, including inclusions.
• Polish deep-sea fishing – models of fishing vessels and other items from the history of Poland's long-distance fishing fleet.
• Sailing-ship models and ceramics decorated with the town's coat of arms and views.
• Temporary exhibitions of art and photography.

The museum also runs a cross-border project with the German town of Wolgast and offers a virtual tour on its website.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

• September–June: closed Monday; Tuesday–Saturday 9 am–5 pm; Sunday 10 am–3 pm.
• July–August: Monday 10 am–3 pm; Tuesday–Sunday 10 am–6 pm.
• Last entry 45 minutes before closing.
• Tickets: PLN 25 adults, PLN 20 reduced (Polish złoty).
• Free entry on Sundays from September to June and on Mondays in July and August.
• Phone: +48 91 321 24 26.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you have an hour or two in the center, especially with children, who usually love the reef aquariums and the natural history displays. Allow 60–90 minutes. For a free visit, come on a Sunday off-season, just remember it closes at 3 pm.

Nearby

Boats to the Świnoujście Lighthouse and Fort Gerhard leave from the nearby waterfront in season. A walk takes you to the spa park, the promenade and the beach, and on to Fort Anioła, Fort Zachodni and the Stawa Młyny windmill beacon.