Things to Do in Świnoujście: Lighthouse, Forts and Beach
Świnoujście is a Baltic port and spa town spread over 44 islands at the mouth of the Świna, right on the German border. Only three islands are inhabited: Usedom, with the town centre, the spa district and the beach; Wolin, with the main railway station, the ferry terminal and the lighthouse; and tiny Karsibór. Until 1945 the town was the Prussian resort of Swinemünde, declared a sea-bathing spot in 1824 and guarded by a 19th-century fortress whose forts you can still walk through.
This page gives our ten picks for a first visit, one- and two-day itineraries (the second with a trip to Międzyzdroje and Wolin National Park), transport tips and the full list of Świnoujście attractions on tripto.pl. One thing to plan around: since 2023 the lighthouse and Fort Gerharda can only be reached by boat, and in 2026 the boats run until 31 October. Opening hours and prices are on each attraction page.
Why visit
- Climb the tallest lighthouse on the Polish coast — 67.7 m and 308 steps — for views over the river mouth, the port and the forests of Wolin.
- Walk across the border: the seafront promenade continues for almost 12 km to Ahlbeck, Heringsdorf and Bansin on the German side of Usedom.
- Explore three surviving Prussian forts and a Cold War bunker complex, several of them open all year.
- Stroll one of the widest beaches in Poland — up to about 200 m of sand between the dunes and the water.
- Combine the town with Wolin island: European bison, the Turquoise Lake and the pier at Międzyzdroje are 15–20 km away.
Top 10: what to see first
Our picks for a first visit — each with a short reason why.
Technical monuments
Świnoujście Lighthouse
Świnoujście
The Świnoujście Lighthouse (roughly "shvee-no-OOY-shcheh") is the tallest lighthouse on the Polish coast and a striking piece of 19th-century engineering. Its brick tower rises 67.7 m (222 ft) above the mouth of the Świna River, on Wolin I…
1. Brick tower lit in 1857, 67.7 m high with 308 steps. Boat-only since 2023: in 2026 boats from the centre run until 31 Oct, combo ticket with Fort Gerharda PLN 90. Ask about winter sailings.
Coast
Świnoujście Seaside Promenade
Świnoujście
The Świnoujście promenade (say "shvee-no-OOYSH-cheh") is the seafront walkway of this Polish spa town on the island of Usedom, running parallel to the beach from the harbor breakwater to the German border. Its big selling point: it continu…
2. The spa-district boardwalk is the start of a shared Polish-German route to Bansin. Ahlbeck pier, regarded as the oldest in Germany, is about 4–5 km away — allow 2.5–3 hours there and back on foot.
Technical monuments
Stawa Młyny (Windmill Beacon)
Świnoujście
Stawa Młyny (roughly "STAH-vah MWIH-nih", "the Mills beacon") is a white, 10-meter navigation mark shaped like a windmill at the tip of the western breakwater in Świnoujście, where the Świna River meets the Baltic Sea. It is the town's bes…
3. The white windmill-shaped navigation mark at the end of the western breakwater is the town's emblem. Free to visit at any time; in a storm, admire it from the beach rather than the pier.
Coast
Świnoujście Beach
Świnoujście
The beach in Świnoujście (roughly "shvee-no-OOYSH-cheh") is one of the best reasons to visit Poland's westernmost seaside town. This broad strip of pale sand on the island of Usedom (Uznam in Polish) runs from the harbor breakwater to the…
4. Sandy beach on Usedom, up to about 200 m wide, running roughly 3.5 km from the breakwater to the German border. Lifeguards only in summer; off-season it is a fine long walk.
Fortifications
Fort Gerhard (East Fort)
Świnoujście
Fort Gerhard (Fort Gerharda) in Świnoujście is one of Europe's best-preserved 19th-century Prussian coastal forts, and a rare "living museum" where history is acted out rather than just displayed. It guards the mouth of the Świna River on…
5. Prussian coastal fort built 1848–1859, toured as a 75-minute 'recruit training' led by a guide in uniform. Same boat and ticket as the lighthouse; weekends only from 3 Nov to 1 Jan, closed in January.
Fortifications
Fort Zachodni (West Fort)
Świnoujście
Fort Zachodni (West Fort) in Świnoujście is a 19th-century Prussian coastal battery at the mouth of the Świna River, now home to the Fortress History Museum. Ringed by a water-filled moat and overgrown with grass, it sits on the western ba…
6. Moated coastal battery with a fortress museum, explored on a self-guided route signposted in English. Open daily all year — 10:00–16:00 from November to March, weather permitting.
Museums
Sea Fishing Museum in Świnoujście
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 m…
7. Sea fishing museum in the old town hall of 1806, with coral reef aquariums, Baltic amber and model trawlers. A good rainy-day pick; free on Sundays from September to June.
Fortifications
Underground City on Wolin Island
Świnoujście
The Underground City on Wolin Island (Podziemne Miasto, roughly "pod-ZHEM-neh MYAS-toh") in Świnoujście is a bunker complex where World War II and the Cold War meet. Hidden under the dunes of the Przytór district, a German coastal artiller…
8. A 1930s German coastal battery turned into a Polish Cold War command post, its bunkers linked by about 1 km of tunnels. Guided 2-hour tours at fixed times; pay in cash (PLN or EUR).
Gardens
Spa Park (Park Zdrojowy), Świnoujście
Świnoujście
The Spa Park in Świnoujście (Park Zdrojowy; say "shvee-no-OOYSH-cheh") is a historic landscaped park between the port town center and the seaside spa district on the island of Usedom. In the 1820s Peter Joseph Lenné, the celebrated royal g…
9. Historic 58-hectare spa park between the centre and the beach, laid out to a plan by Peter Joseph Lenné with saplings sent from Sanssouci in 1827. Free, flat paths, good with a buggy.
Other
Władysław IV Waterfront in Świnoujście
Świnoujście
Wybrzeże Władysława IV (Władysław IV Waterfront) is a quayside street and promenade along the Świna river in central Świnoujście, on the island of Usedom (Uznam) – the place where it is clearest that this is first and foremost a port town.…
10. Riverside quay in the centre where ferries, tugs and warships pass close by. In season the lighthouse boats leave from here; the fishing museum stands at its western end.
Top sights on the map
Open the full map1-day itinerary
Morning: boat to the lighthouse
Until 31 October 2026 boats leave the Władysław IV quay every hour from 9:30. The boat trip, the climb and the fort tour take 3–4 hours. Out of season, swap this for the quay and Fort Zachodni.
Places: Władysław IV Waterfront in Świnoujście Świnoujście Lighthouse Fort Gerhard (East Fort)
Early afternoon: fishing museum
Back in the centre, the museum on Plac Rybaka needs 1–1.5 hours. It is closed on Mondays and closes at 15:00 on Sundays.
Afternoon: spa park and Fort Zachodni
Cross the spa park to Fort Zachodni on its eastern edge. In winter the fort closes at 16:00, so do it before sunset.
Places: Spa Park (Park Zdrojowy), Świnoujście Fort Zachodni (West Fort)
Sunset: breakwater and promenade
Walk out to the windmill on the breakwater for sunset, then follow the promenade west towards the border.
Places: Stawa Młyny (Windmill Beacon) Świnoujście Beach Świnoujście Seaside Promenade
2-day itinerary
Day 1: Usedom — port, forts and beach
Lighthouse and Fort Gerharda by boat
During the sailing season, start with the boat to the lighthouse. After 31 October, phone ahead to check whether any boats run; if not, skip to the next stop.
Places: Władysław IV Waterfront in Świnoujście Świnoujście Lighthouse Fort Gerhard (East Fort)
Museum and spa park
Coral reefs and amber in the old town hall, then a walk through the spa park.
Places: Sea Fishing Museum in Świnoujście Spa Park (Park Zdrojowy), Świnoujście
The fortress
Fort Zachodni and, about 450 m away, the round Fort Anioła with its rooftop rose garden. Fort Anioła has no fixed off-season hours, so call before you go.
Places: Fort Zachodni (West Fort) Fort Angel (Engelsburg) in Świnoujście
Beach walk into Germany
Sunset at the breakwater, then the promenade. With energy to spare, walk on to Ahlbeck pier, about 4–5 km each way.
Places: Stawa Młyny (Windmill Beacon) Świnoujście Beach Świnoujście Seaside Promenade
Day 2: Wolin island — bunkers, bison and the Turquoise Lake
Underground City
The guided bunker tour lasts about 2 hours and runs only at fixed times (in winter on Wednesdays and weekends). Drive through the free tunnel, or cross on the Bielik ferry on foot or by bike.
Places: Underground City on Wolin Island
European bison enclosure
Wolin National Park's bison enclosure on the edge of Międzyzdroje. From October to April it opens Tuesday–Saturday 8:00–16:00, so pair it with the bunkers on a Wednesday or Saturday.
Turquoise Lake and Międzyzdroje pier
The lake fills a former chalk quarry at Wapnica; a loop with the Piaskowa Góra viewpoint takes 1–1.5 hours. Finish on the pier in Międzyzdroje.
Places: Turquoise Lake (Jezioro Turkusowe), Wolin Piaskowa Góra viewpoint near Wapnica Międzyzdroje Pier
Getting there
By plane: Szczecin-Goleniów Airport is about 70 km away. Heringsdorf Airport on the German side is only about 13 km from the centre but has mostly seasonal flights.
By train: The main station, Świnoujście, is on Wolin island, with regional trains to Szczecin and InterCity trains to Warsaw, Kraków, Poznań and Wrocław, among others. To reach the centre on Usedom, take the Bielik ferry, which runs around the clock and carries foot passengers and cyclists. From Germany, the UBB island railway runs to Świnoujście Centrum station from Heringsdorf, Wolgast, Züssow and Stralsund.
By car: Take the S3 expressway from Szczecin. Since 30 June 2023 a free tunnel under the Świna links Wolin and Usedom, so drivers no longer need the ferry. In summer, parking near the seafront is busy and usually paid.
By sea: Ferries sail from the town's ferry terminal to Ystad and Trelleborg in Sweden.
Getting around: The centre, the spa park, the forts on Usedom, the beach and the promenade are all walkable. The lighthouse and Fort Gerharda can only be reached by boat, because the road to them has been inside the LNG terminal's security zone since 2023. Heading to the regional capital too? See our Szczecin guide.
When to go
Summer: July and August bring lifeguarded beaches, longer opening hours and daily bunker tours at the Underground City — along with the biggest crowds and full car parks.
Until 31 October 2026 boats to the lighthouse and Fort Gerharda leave the centre every hour from 9:30 to 17:30, returning from 10:00 to 18:00. No timetable has been published for November 2026 to March 2027, so a winter visit to the lighthouse may not be possible — call before you travel.
Winter 2026/27: the fishing museum opens Tuesday–Saturday 9:00–17:00 and Sunday 10:00–15:00 (free on Sundays) and is closed on Mondays. Fort Zachodni opens daily 10:00–16:00 from November to March, weather permitting. The Underground City runs tours until 30 April on Wednesdays at 12:30 and on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30, 12:30 and 15:00. Fort Gerharda opens only at weekends from 3 November to 1 January and is closed in January. The bison enclosure in Międzyzdroje opens Tuesday–Saturday 8:00–16:00 from October to April.
Weather: in a storm, waves wash over the breakwater and the sea can eat into the beach — stick to the promenade. Many seasonal cafés close for the winter.
FAQ
How many days do you need in Świnoujście?
One day covers the lighthouse boat trip with Fort Gerharda, the fishing museum, Fort Zachodni, the windmill on the breakwater and the promenade. Add a second day for the Underground City and Wolin island, or for a walk along the coast to the German resorts of Ahlbeck and Heringsdorf.
How do you get to the Świnoujście lighthouse?
Since April 2023 only by Adler Schiffe boat from the Władysław IV quay in the centre, because the road lies inside the LNG terminal's security zone. In 2026 boats run from 1 April to 31 October and the boat, lighthouse and Fort Gerharda package costs PLN 90 for adults and PLN 64 for children aged 6 to 14. No winter timetable has been published.
Can you walk from Świnoujście to Germany?
Yes. The promenade runs straight into a shared Polish-German route of almost 12 km to Ahlbeck, Heringsdorf and Bansin. Both countries are in the Schengen area, and Ahlbeck pier is about 4 to 5 km from the middle of the Świnoujście promenade.
Is the tunnel under the Świna free, and can pedestrians use it?
The tunnel opened on 30 June 2023 and is free, but it is for cars only. Pedestrians and cyclists cross between Usedom and Wolin on the Bielik ferry, which runs around the clock.
What is open in Świnoujście in winter?
The fishing museum, Fort Zachodni and the Underground City (Wednesdays and weekends) stay open all year. The beach, promenade, spa park and breakwater are free to visit at any time. In 2026 the lighthouse boats stop after 31 October.
What can you do in Świnoujście with kids?
Children usually enjoy the coral reef aquariums in the fishing museum, the 'recruit training' tour at Fort Gerharda, the guns at Fort Zachodni, the wide beach with shallow water near the shore and the playgrounds in the spa park. The bison enclosure in Międzyzdroje is about 15 km away.
All attractions (11)
Fortifications
Fort Angel (Engelsburg) in Świnoujście
Świnoujście
The fort's German name – Engelsburg, the Angel's Castle – is no accident. Its round, stepped brick tower reminded the builders of Rome's Castel Sant'Angelo, the papal fortress on the Tiber. Fort Angel was built in the mid-19th century as a…
Fortifications
Fort Gerhard (East Fort)
Świnoujście
Fort Gerhard (Fort Gerharda) in Świnoujście is one of Europe's best-preserved 19th-century Prussian coastal forts, and a rare "living museum" where history is acted out rather than just displayed. It guards the mouth of the Świna River on…
Fortifications
Fort Zachodni (West Fort)
Świnoujście
Fort Zachodni (West Fort) in Świnoujście is a 19th-century Prussian coastal battery at the mouth of the Świna River, now home to the Fortress History Museum. Ringed by a water-filled moat and overgrown with grass, it sits on the western ba…
Technical monuments
Świnoujście Lighthouse
Świnoujście
The Świnoujście Lighthouse (roughly "shvee-no-OOY-shcheh") is the tallest lighthouse on the Polish coast and a striking piece of 19th-century engineering. Its brick tower rises 67.7 m (222 ft) above the mouth of the Świna River, on Wolin I…
Museums
Sea Fishing Museum in Świnoujście
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 m…
Gardens
Spa Park (Park Zdrojowy), Świnoujście
Świnoujście
The Spa Park in Świnoujście (Park Zdrojowy; say "shvee-no-OOYSH-cheh") is a historic landscaped park between the port town center and the seaside spa district on the island of Usedom. In the 1820s Peter Joseph Lenné, the celebrated royal g…
Coast
Świnoujście Beach
Świnoujście
The beach in Świnoujście (roughly "shvee-no-OOYSH-cheh") is one of the best reasons to visit Poland's westernmost seaside town. This broad strip of pale sand on the island of Usedom (Uznam in Polish) runs from the harbor breakwater to the…
Fortifications
Underground City on Wolin Island
Świnoujście
The Underground City on Wolin Island (Podziemne Miasto, roughly "pod-ZHEM-neh MYAS-toh") in Świnoujście is a bunker complex where World War II and the Cold War meet. Hidden under the dunes of the Przytór district, a German coastal artiller…
Coast
Świnoujście Seaside Promenade
Świnoujście
The Świnoujście promenade (say "shvee-no-OOYSH-cheh") is the seafront walkway of this Polish spa town on the island of Usedom, running parallel to the beach from the harbor breakwater to the German border. Its big selling point: it continu…
Technical monuments
Stawa Młyny (Windmill Beacon)
Świnoujście
Stawa Młyny (roughly "STAH-vah MWIH-nih", "the Mills beacon") is a white, 10-meter navigation mark shaped like a windmill at the tip of the western breakwater in Świnoujście, where the Świna River meets the Baltic Sea. It is the town's bes…
Other
Władysław IV Waterfront in Świnoujście
Świnoujście
Wybrzeże Władysława IV (Władysław IV Waterfront) is a quayside street and promenade along the Świna river in central Świnoujście, on the island of Usedom (Uznam) – the place where it is clearest that this is first and foremost a port town.…