Westerplatte
Westerplatte things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Being a history buff or not, the sole fact the world's bloodiest conflict ever began here, deserves your attention and imo your need to come here and visit it, as in some way everyone of us was affected by the horror of WWII. Westerplatte is located north from Gdansk, some 15 min drive from downtown on a small flat peninsula stretching out into the Baltic sea. By the bus stop is a carpark (they told me it was free, maybe because it was Sunday, but double check), which was close to monuments and attractions. You can also come by bus, but we had our rented car which was cheap and convenient for us as we explored north Poland, driving as far as Wolf's Lair which is 3 hrs one way. From the historic point of view main attractions are the ruined former barracks, the Polish defenders Memorial grave site with a Cross, and of course, the huge vertical monument to the defenders, which is on top a small hill reachable via circular pathway. Besides these, there's a kind of a scattered open air museum with info panels here and there, in both, Polish and English, explaining the history. I must admit I was disappointed with that, as imo such a place deserves a proper covered small museum dedicated to this site, and therefore I deduct one star. Apart from the historic background Westerplatte is a nice nature area, as it stretches along the coast with a pleasant walkway by the sea and right across the Monument is a busy port with ferries to Sweden
Dejan BrakiDejan Braki
30
It is an interesting monument, and I do like the topic of historical value and meaning behind the work, an appreciation for what Poland had to go through during WW2. However, personally, I am not a fan of this cubist style sculpture (just a peference), so I give 4 stars. The surroundings have a lot of information you can read and get a good sense of what it must have been like when Nazi's attacked Gdansk and started the WW2 here. Falling heroes and captured soldiers and civilians. The boardwalk was nice, and the great view of the Baltic Sea The Westerplatte Monument, also known as the Monument to the Defenders of the Coast (Polish: Pomnik Obrońców Wybrzeża) is a war memorial located in Gdańsk, Poland, on the Westerplatte Peninsula in the Gdańsk harbour channel constructed between 1964–1966 to commemorate the Polish defenders of the Military Transit Depot (Wojskowa Składnica Tranzytowa, or WST) in the Battle of Westerplatte, one of the first battles in Germany's invasion of Poland, which marked the outbreak of World War II in Europe.
Buster Got itBuster Got it
00
It takes a long time to get there from the bus stop and boat drop off. You can pay to use a shuttle but even then the memorial is on the top of a hill which you still have to circle reach the top, and on a hot day its not very pleasant. If you have mobility issues you may struggle. It is a nice memorial and an important one which people should visit. Given the purpose is for it to be seen, they could do more to make it more attractive for people to visit and accesible for torists. However, there are some nice bits on the way. Including a museum(which i didn't get to see) and a ruined barracks, and a pump car (which was the best bit). For 6zl you get to ride it and if you are a man then consider yourself the operators (it was exhausting but worth every penny for the laugh). If you have time you can also walk to the sea and see the outside of a bunker. Make sure you allow yourself atleast 2 hours. We had an hour because of the boat and due to the distance between things we had to power walk just to make it to the monument and back. (and we are young and fit), and even then we didnt have time to appreciate it really. ALLOW YOURSELF LOTS OF TIME!
Marc WalfordMarc Walford
30
Great open-air museum. No entrance fee, you just have to get there (by boat or bus). We hired a guide to give us a tour. Worth it. If you're interested, check out the tourist information points in Gdańsk Długi Targ (Long Market). They'll get you in touch with whoever is available. We asked a bit last minute, but we were lucky and got someone for the next day. If you don't want to take chances, you might want to book it in advance. Without a guide, you can still go on a stroll through Westerplatte. There are ruins of shelled barracks you can enter and a few information boards to give you the context of the place but you'll have to do your own research to get the most out of this trip. Otherwise, it's a nice park with a boardwalk along the coast. It gets windy by the water so you might want to bring a jacket.
Maria ConcepcionMaria Concepcion
00
Afterwards you can make the brief trip to the peninsula that curves around the final bend of the Dead Vistula. Here you’ll set foot on ground zero for the Second World War. A Polish military transit depot was installed here in the 1920s by permission from the League of Nations, and was seen by the Germans as a vital first domino for their invasion. With dwindling supplies and no effective way of responding to the attack, the depot withstood bombardment from the sea and for seven days before surrendering on 7 September. After the war one of the guardhouses was restored and turned into a museum, while the others have been left in ruins. At the highest point of Westerplatte there’s also a memorial to the “Coast Defenders”, erected in 1966 and made of 236 granite blocks rising to 25 metres.
sumiethraa seenivasansumiethraa seenivasan
10
This is an amazing place with a fascinating history! It has a strong connection to the Second World War, and it's the perfect spot to reflect, pray for peace, and connect with your spirituality. As you walk up the gently sloping spiral pavement to the monument, you'll find plenty of benches to rest and enjoy the beautiful, well-maintained greenery on either side. While there aren't any benches up there, I think that would be a great addition! It would be wonderful to have a place to sit and meditate. In fact, I think it would be a great idea to have more seating areas like there is at the museum of the Second World War, where there are many places to sit in front of the building.
Ingrid KacaniovaIngrid Kacaniova
00
Nearby Attractions Of Westerplatte
Westerplatte Museum
North Harbor Lighthouse
New Barracks - Westerplatte Walkable Ruins
Parking Westerplatte
Wartownia 1
Placówka "Fort"
Plaques Commemorating the Defenders of Westerplatte
"Never More War" Sign
Promenada Westerplatte
Peace Wharf
Westerplatte Museum
4.7
(4.2K)Click for details
North Harbor Lighthouse
4.6
(1.6K)Click for details
New Barracks - Westerplatte Walkable Ruins
4.7
(570)Click for details
Parking Westerplatte
4.5
(504)Click for details
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Address
80-001 Gdańsk, Poland
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Overview
4.7
(8.5K reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
outdoor
family friendly
Description
Westerplatte is a peninsula in Gdańsk, Poland, located on the Baltic Sea coast mouth of the Dead Vistula, in the Gdańsk harbour channel. From 1926 to 1939, it was the location of a Polish Military Transit Depot, sanctioned within the territory of the Free City of Danzig.
attractions: Westerplatte Museum, North Harbor Lighthouse, New Barracks - Westerplatte Walkable Ruins, Parking Westerplatte, Wartownia 1, Placówka "Fort", Plaques Commemorating the Defenders of Westerplatte, "Never More War" Sign, Promenada Westerplatte, Peace Wharf, restaurants:
