Słowiński National Park: The Perfect Day Trip From Gdańsk

What comes to mind when you think of travelling to Poland? Historic cities? Good beer? Pierogi? Sand dunes?

I'm guessing you were nodding along until that last one, but believe it or not, Poland is home to Europe's largest stretch of shifting sand dunes, and you can visit this natural spectacle as a day trip from Gdańsk.

I love visiting landscapes that surprise you. It's humbling to realise that we don't know as much about the world as we think we do, and it's frustrating to think that our images of countries are often shaped by what guidebooks and big travel sites decide are the "best" places to visit.  

About Słowiński National Park

Słowiński National Park, located on the Baltic Sea coast, is one of ten UNESCO biosphere reserves in Poland. The park is most famous for its shifting sand dunes which move east by up to ten metres each year and can reach heights of more than 40 metres above sea level. Thanks to the nearby wetlands, Słowiński National Park is also home to unique plants and lots of rare bird species. We didn't spot any rare birds when we visited in October 2019, but we did see some amazing mushrooms that reminded me of something out of Stranger Things. 

how to get to the sand dunes

We hired a car to visit Słowiński National Park, but it's also possible to get there by public transport or as a day tour. The drive took about two hours and once we were out of the tri-city area (Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot), there was very little traffic to contend with.  

The main car park is located in Rąbka, and from here it's a 5.5km/3.4 mile walk to the dunes. The walk is completely flat and follows a trail through some enchanting woods. 

About three-quarters of the way into the walk, we came to some stairs that took us up to a viewing platform and our first glimpse of the dunes. I'd been enjoying our walk through the woods so much that I'd almost forgotten that we were there to see sand dunes, but there they were; gently rolling hills of soft sand stretching all the way to the edge of the trees. 

You'll know when you've reached the main area of dunes as the track comes to an end and you're faced with a steep sand dune to climb. At the top, the woodland view is replaced by an expanse of golden sand. I challenge you not to turn into a 10-year-old when you see it! We scrambled, ran and skipped our way across the dunes before following a path to the beach and the steely grey Baltic Sea.

If you're short on time, there are electric shuttle buggies located before the start of the trail. You can also hop on a buggy on the way back and we were certainly tempted after a long walk on the soft sand dunes (I forgot how hard it is to walk on sand!). In the end, I was glad that we resisted the buggies as it was such a beautiful afternoon. You just can't beat the soft golden glow of a late afternoon in autumn. 

other tips

I recommend dedicating a full day to Słowiński National Park, especially if you plan to walk to and from the dunes. You could set yourself up for the day trip like we did by having breakfast or tea and cake in one of Gdańsk's many cosy cafes. Be sure to take some snacks as well - we didn't see anywhere to buy food, although this may be different in the summer. 

Back in Gdańsk, we indulged in some much-needed carbs at Mono Kitchen (lots of gluten-free options available) and let that pleasant kind of fatigue that follows a long walk and ample fresh air sink in. 

This day trip from Gdańsk was one of the highlights of the three months we spent in Poland. I highly recommend it for anyone that's looking to add some time in nature to their Gdańsk itinerary. 

Practical Info

We hired a car from Hertz's Hotel Mercure location in central Gdańsk and paid £128 for the weekend (Friday to Monday)

Słowiński National Park entrance fee: 6 zł for one day (1st May to 30th September)

Rąbka car park fee: 5 zł per hour

Electric buggy fee: 15 zł per person

Toilets: there are several porta-loo style toilets along the trail to the dunes.

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