Route Overview
The Szlak Nadmorski (Coastal Trail) is the primary long-distance walking route along the Polish Baltic coast. It forms the Polish section of the European E9 path, which stretches from Portugal to Finland. Within Poland, the route is marked with red trail blazes — the colour assigned by the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society (PTTK) to main long-distance routes.
The trail's official course runs northeast along the coastline, with occasional inland detours to bypass military zones, protected wetlands, and private land. Walkers typically divide the route into 20–22 stages of 15–25 km each, though the stages are not fixed — the trail passes through enough towns with accommodation and transport links that walkers can design their own itineraries.
Terrain and Surface
Surface conditions vary significantly along the 380 km route. The western sections, from Świnoujście through Wolin Island and along the Szczecin Bay coast, alternate between compact gravel paths and forest tracks through coastal pine and beech woodland. Near Kołobrzeg and Darłowo, the trail follows promenades and paved seafront paths through resort towns before returning to beach or dune terrain.
The central section — from Rowy to Łeba — crosses the buffer zone of Słowiński National Park and includes several kilometres on sandy ground beside the active dune system. This section is the most physically demanding: soft sand underfoot, no shade, and exposed to prevailing westerly winds. Waterproof footwear is advised even in summer.
East of Łeba, the surface improves as the route moves through the Trójmiejski Landscape Park (Tricity) and suburban areas. The final stages approach the Hel Peninsula, where the trail meets the Gulf of Gdańsk shoreline.
National Park Sections
The trail passes through two national parks, each with specific walking rules:
- Woliński National Park (near Międzyzdroje): The trail follows the cliff path above the Baltic. Walkers must stay on the marked route. The park charges an entry fee, collected at the main gate near the town centre. The cliff walk covers roughly 4.5 km within park boundaries.
- Słowiński National Park (between Rowy and Łeba): The trail skirts the southern boundary of the active dune zone. Walking onto the dunes themselves requires following the designated dune path, which is a separate marked route within the park. The Szlak Nadmorski does not cross the dunes directly.
- Total length
- ~380 km
- Trail marker
- Red blaze (PTTK)
- Start point
- Świnoujście
- End point
- Żarnowiec
- European path
- E9 (Portugal–Finland)
- Typical stage count
- 20–22 stages
Stage Breakdown
The following stages represent a practical division of the route based on transport access and accommodation availability. Distances are approximate and reflect the marked trail, not a straight-line measurement.
| # | Stage | Distance | Terrain | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Świnoujście → Międzyzdroje | ~22 km | Beach, promenade | Ferry crossing at Świna; Woliński NP entry |
| 2 | Międzyzdroje → Dziwnówek | ~18 km | Forest, beach | Cliff section through Woliński NP |
| 3–5 | Dziwnówek → Kołobrzeg | ~60 km | Mixed: beach, promenade, forest | Longest beach sections; flat terrain |
| 6–8 | Kołobrzeg → Darłowo | ~55 km | Beach, dune, pine forest | Several river crossings; footbridges in place |
| 9–11 | Darłowo → Łeba via Rowy | ~70 km | Sandy, exposed dune fringe | Słowiński NP buffer zone; most demanding section |
| 12–15 | Łeba → Gdynia | ~90 km | Mixed: beach, forest, urban | Enters Trójmiejski Landscape Park; good transport |
| 16–18 | Gdynia → Hel town → Żarnowiec | ~65 km | Sand spit, dual beach | Hel Peninsula spit section; ferry option available |
Access and Transport
The trail's start and end points, as well as most intermediate towns, are accessible by PKP (Polish State Railways) regional train services. The main Szczecin–Gdańsk rail corridor runs inland, requiring short bus or taxi connections to reach the coast. Key access towns with direct or near-direct rail service include: Świnoujście, Międzyzdroje, Kołobrzeg, Darłowo, Słupsk (for Łeba by bus), Gdynia, and Gdańsk.
Intercity bus routes (FlixBus, PolskiBus, and regional carriers) cover the coast during summer months, often with stops in smaller seaside resorts not served by trains.
Seasonal Conditions
The trail is walkable year-round but conditions in November through March include frequent storms, flooded beach sections, and reduced services in most resort towns. The peak season runs from late May to late September, when all facilities along the route are operational. Water temperature in the Baltic is typically 18–22°C in July and August, allowing swimming from designated beach areas adjacent to the trail.
Trail Marking and Navigation
The route is marked with the standard PTTK blaze system: a white horizontal band above and below a coloured (red) central stripe, painted on trees, posts, and stones at intervals of roughly 100–300 m. In areas with fresh vegetation, spacing can increase. The official PTTK trail maps (1:75 000 scale) for the West Pomeranian and Pomeranian sections are the most reliable navigation reference. The route is also tracked on OpenStreetMap and available on several offline hiking apps.
Reference: Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society (PTTK): pttk.pl