Westerplatte

Westerplatte (pronounced "VES-ter-plah-teh") in Gdańsk is where World War II began in Europe. At dawn on September 1, 1939, a German battleship opened fire on a small Polish military depot on this peninsula at the mouth of the port, and its outnumbered garrison held out for seven days. Today the site preserves ruined barracks, guardhouses, a soldiers' cemetery and a towering monument, while a major new museum is under construction. For anyone interested in WWII history, it is an essential stop in Gdańsk.

Why Westerplatte matters

After World War I, Gdańsk (then Danzig) became a Free City under League of Nations protection, and Poland was allowed to keep a Military Transit Depot (Wojskowa Składnica Tranzytowa) on Westerplatte. Its garrison numbered roughly 182–210 soldiers, plus a few dozen civilian workers, under Major Henryk Sucharski and his deputy, Captain Franciszek Dąbrowski.

At about 4:45 am on September 1, 1939, the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein, moored in the harbor canal on a supposed courtesy visit, began shelling the depot. The defenders were expected to resist for only hours; instead they repelled infantry assaults, artillery fire and dive-bomber raids for seven days, surrendering on the morning of September 7. Around 15 defenders were killed (some accounts say more than 20), and dozens were wounded. Westerplatte is widely described as the first battle of World War II, although historians note that German aircraft attacked the bridges at Tczew a few minutes earlier.

What to see

• Monument to the Coast Defenders — a 25-meter (82 ft) granite monument on an artificial mound, unveiled in 1966. It is visible from ships entering the port.
• Guardhouse No. 1 — one of the best-preserved buildings of the depot.
• Ruins of the New Barracks — a powerful reminder of the bombardment.
• Polish Army Soldiers' Cemetery, where fallen defenders are buried, with marked remains of the Officers' Villa and Guardhouse No. 5.
• The Power Station exhibition, "Memory Buried Beneath the Surface: Archaeology of Westerplatte," showing objects uncovered by archaeologists.
• Visitor Centre with information and tickets.

Construction in 2026: plan ahead

The Museum of the Second World War is building a new Westerplatte and 1939 War Museum on the peninsula. Work began in February 2026: the construction zone is fenced off, part of ul. Sucharskiego near the Visitor Centre is closed, and the former parking lots are unavailable. The cornerstone was laid in April 2026, and the project is scheduled for completion by 2030. The museum says the site will stay at least partly accessible, with exhibition elements opening in stages. Check muzeum1939.pl before you go and follow on-site signs.

Opening hours and tickets

As of October 2026:

• Power Station exhibition: Tuesday–Sunday 10:00 am–4:00 pm; closed Mondays.
• Visitor Centre: daily 9:00 am–4:00 pm; Westerplatte ticket desks 10:00 am–3:15 pm.
• Closed: November 1 and December 24, 25, 26 and 31, 2026.

Exhibition tickets can be booked online through the museum or bought on site. Reduced tickets are available to students up to 26 and seniors over 65, among others; children under 7 enter free. Ticket prices are published by the operator on the museum website. On Tuesdays the exhibition in the former Power Station (ul. mjr. Henryka Sucharskiego 84) is free: the free ticket, one per person, is issued only at the exhibition ticket desk on the day of your visit. Holders of the Gdańsk Resident Card also enter free once a year, and organised groups get one free ticket for every 10 bought. The desks accept cash, Visa, Mastercard and BLIK (as of October 2026). Allow 2–3 hours to walk the peninsula and see the exhibition.

How to get to Westerplatte from Gdańsk

Westerplatte is about 10 km (6 miles) from Gdańsk's historic Main Town. Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport is on the other side of the city, so plan on going via the center.

• Bus 106 runs from the Museum of the Second World War stop.
• Bus 138 runs from Gdańsk Main Railway Station (Gdańsk Główny).
• Bus 606 is an extra line in the summer season only.

Timetables are on the ZTM Gdańsk website. By bike, the route is about 10 km and takes up to 40 minutes; the Visitor Centre has bike racks, a repair station and a MEVO city e-bike dock. The only parking lot currently open on the peninsula is next to the Visitor Centre on ul. mjr. Henryka Sucharskiego. In summer, sightseeing boats from central Gdańsk have traditionally sailed to Westerplatte — check current schedules locally.

Is Westerplatte worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you combine it with the excellent Museum of the Second World War in central Gdańsk — bus 106 links the two. Westerplatte is less about exhibits and more about standing where the war began, among trees, ruins and the sea. The museum's website is available in English, and the open, green setting works well for families with school-age children.