Władysław IV Waterfront in 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. Excursion boats leave from here, including those to the lighthouse and Fort Gerhard, which from the town side are easiest to reach by water. A short walk along the quay combines well with a visit to the Museum of Sea Fishing on Plac Rybaka.

History of the waterfront

The street is named after King Władysław IV and runs along the town's old port quays. On today's Wybrzeże Władysława IV stood the Świnoujście Port railway station, closed in the late 1940s – no trace of its platforms remains, and the quay has become a place for strolling. The former town hall on nearby Plac Rybaka now houses the Museum of Sea Fishing, with collections on the history of fishing and of the town, old navigation instruments and specimens of marine life.

What to see

• Traffic on the Świna – excursion boats moored at the quay and vessels passing along the river; best in the early morning and evening.
• The excursion boat pier – the operator Adler-Schiffe sails from the port by the promenade on Wybrzeże Władysława IV; its ticket office is at No. 35.
• Plac Rybaka with the Museum of Sea Fishing (Plac Rybaka 1) in the old town hall.

Boat trips to the lighthouse and Fort Gerhard

Świnoujście lighthouse, built in 1858, is the tallest on the Baltic coast – 68 m high, with 308 steps up to the viewing terrace. Together with Fort Gerhard, one of three surviving 19th-century forts of the Świnoujście Fortress, it can only be visited as part of a boat trip from the port in the town centre. In the season from 1 April to 31 October 2026 boats leave daily every hour from 9:30 to 17:30, returning from 10:00 to 18:00. A combined ticket – return trip, lighthouse entry and a guided tour of Fort Gerhard – costs PLN 90 (PLN 64 reduced, children under 5 free); booking online saves 10%. Outside the season, Fort Gerhard opens from November to April at weekends only, so check the winter timetable directly with the boat operator.

Tripto tip

Walking the quay is free and possible at any time, and the ground is flat. If you plan the lighthouse trip in high season, buy tickets in advance – the hourly sailings fill up quickly – and allow about 2.5–3 hours for the whole excursion. The waterfront combines easily with the 19th-century Spa Park and the seaside promenade.