Visiting Westerplatte

Westerplatte is one of the most important places in Polish history. It's worth visiting with the whole family: take a peek into the preserved Guardhouse No. 1 (a branch of the Gdańsk Museum), and take a walk in the forest that remembers the tragic events of September 1939.

Westerplatte - what to see with kids?

Unfortunately, not much remains of the legendary Military Transit Depot, which became a symbolic place for the outbreak of World War II. The buildings that have survived are located in an inaccessible military unit area (e.g., the Power Plant). We can see the miraculously preserved (relocated) Guardhouse No. 1 and the ruins of the barracks - note: they were blown up only after 1945!

Today: enter at your own risk.

Westerplatte - Guardhouse No. 1

The only place we can safely and legally visit is Guardhouse No. 1. The Gdańsk Museum has set up a small exhibition in this building.

Here you can see, among other things, a model of the battleship Schleswig-Holstein and a scale model of the gun used by the defenders. The comparison is impressive...

In addition, you will see a reconstruction of the soldiers' room, weapons, a few souvenirs, including the most valuable: the uniform and sabre of the unit commander, Major Henryk Sucharski:

Monument at Westerplatte

The goal of most tourists and tours visiting Westerplatte is to climb the mound and take a photo at the famous monument. Please note: this is not a monument to the defenders of Westerplatte! The official name is "Monument of the Coast Defenders", but do Lenino and Studzianki lie by the sea? Does the Soviet soldier with a submachine gun have anything to do with Westerplatte?

Maybe instead of taking a photo with the Soviet monument, it's worth paying more attention to this slogan?

The views from under the monument are mostly obscured by trees. Instead, you will see ferries to Sweden (from which disco music is playing...), the port and the lighthouse (from where Westerplatte was also shelled).

For a "scenic" walk, it's worth taking a stroll along the comfortable promenade on the eastern bank:

Construction and archaeological works at Westerplatte

Part of the Westerplatte area is currently fenced off. The first archaeological works are underway, including exhumations. Soon there will be a cemetery for the soldiers of Westerplatte here. Better late than never...

What's worth knowing about Westerplatte?

Once the "Western Island", today a cape, once a suburban seaside resort, today a place of memory within the city limits of Gdańsk, has a remarkable history. We've all heard about the tragic days of 1-7 September multiple times at school, but that's not all! Westerplatte is associated with many stories from the interwar period (do you know, for example, how this piece of land was bought "by deception"?) and post-war period (did you know that many of the building damages date back to the times of the Polish People's Republic?). It's worth reminding or learning about them right here - for example by using rich online sources, including documentary films.

Westerplatte - sightseeing with a guide

We explore the Westerplatte area on our own, we can read about individual places on information boards, but these will be so-called "dry facts". We will learn much more during a walk with a competent guide. Honestly: we thought we knew everything... and then we accidentally met Mr. Piotr Dąbrowski, an expert, who agreed to share his knowledge and passion with us. You can find him here Westerplatte guide >>> We recommend!

Westerplatte - access, tickets, practical information

• entry to Westerplatte is free
• you need to buy tickets if you want to enter the exhibition in the Guardhouse No. 1 building
• Guardhouse No. 1 is a branch of the Gdańsk Museum open seasonally: every day from the beginning of May to the end of September
• toilets in the pavilion at the entrance, paid
• several seasonal gastronomic points (fast-food), souvenir shops on the site
• the entire area is accessible for wheelchairs and disabled people, except for the stairs to the mound with the monument.
• the area is mostly shaded, plenty of benches to rest, and tables next to the guardhouse

And how to get to Westerplatte?

From the center of Gdańsk, you can get here by car (free parking), city bus (express line from the PKP station, approx. 20 min.), bike or water tram to Nowy Port, timetable of cruises >>>

P.S. We also recommend a walk following the Gdańsk legends and stories:

Easy

directions_walk child_friendly

Visiting Gdańsk with children - a walk with legends

straighten 1.7km

timer 28min

north_east 22m

south_east 19m

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Author: Marfusza
Publish Date: 2022-08-30
Last Updated: 2022-08-31