Elbląg attractions. See wonderful retroversion-style buildings
Elbląg, founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1237, is today a wonderful city, constituting the northern end of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. But we were enchanted by this city! Fantastically maintained, it makes a truly amazing impression, although war times did not spare it and it was treated cruelly by the Red Army in 1945. As a Hanseatic city, it immediately reminded me of my beloved Gdańsk, except that Elbląg does not carry so many monuments, because it was severely injured.
For this reason, a reasonable reconstruction of the city is taken care of here, which does not pretend to be the old one, but nicely replaces it. It is definitely pleasing to the eye, and does not sting, like the original buildings of many Polish cities. Long after the war, the area around the Old Town was covered with grass. During the war, Elbląg was destroyed in about 65%, but in the Old Town almost all tenement houses (about 90% of the buildings) were destroyed. Reconstruction began only in the 1980s. Of the twentieth century and continues to this day!
Experiences in Elbląg
Despite the great war damage, Elbląg exudes beauty, enchants with its beautiful buildings and offers many attractions. A walk around the Old Town is a great pleasure, during which there is no end to admiration. We'd love to spend a lot more time here, but as we know, it's not made of rubber. I am sure that Elbląg will catch your heart too, so plan your trip here today, and our guide with attractions marked on the map and other interesting facts will certainly help you in your planning. Check out the best attractions in Elbląg!
Church Path in Elbląg
The Church Path is the most atmospheric alley of the city, once connecting 3 gothic churches. These temples are the church and hospital of the Holy Spirit, the church of St. Nicholas and the St. Mary's Church. The initial section of the path, between the Church of the Holy Spirit and the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, has survived to this day and allows for a very pleasant, albeit short walk through a narrow, somewhat mysterious alley between the tenement houses.
St. Nicholas Cathedral with an observation tower in Elbląg
The Gothic church of St. Nicholas is the most important temple in the city, raised to the rank of a cathedral since 1992. The massive and very high tower, reaching almost 100 meters, crowns the massive body! It is the highest tower of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. The Church of St. Nicholas has not been spared during its long history. In 1777, it was from the temple, which was struck by lightning, that the great fire of the city began. The rebuilt church suffered greatly again at the hands of the Red Army. Today, the equipment is modest, but the side altars, saved from other Elbląg temples, are valuable.
It is worth noting that the church tower is open to tourists during the tourist season (a regular ticket is PLN 10). The observation deck is located at an altitude of 68 meters and allows you to see the vast panorama of the city from four sides of the world. The view is amazing, and he likes to blow here, so the experience is guaranteed 🙂
Market Gate in Elbląg
The Market Gate from 1319 is the only preserved element of the medieval fortifications of Elbląg, although it also suffered during the war. This gate played a very important role in its time. Namely, in 1521, during the Prussian War, the Teutonic Knights attacked a sleeping city with a ruse. Surprised residents defended the open gate. Among them was a young baker, who with difficulty with his baking shovel cut the rope supporting the mechanism of the grate. The descending gate crushed the commander of the Teutonic Knights and cut off the way to the city to the attackers. That's how the boy saved the city! Since then, March 8 has been a city holiday, and King Sigismund the Old has rewarded Piekarczyk's heroism. In addition, his shovel hung on the gate for a long time.
Piekarczyk in Elbląg
But this is not the end of the story, because in 2006 a figure of the heroic Piekarczyk stood at the gate. Unfortunately, the boy's name is not known, but Piekarczyk lived in the hearts of the city's residents for good, and tourists are happy to join him. We could not pass by it indifferently and it could not be missing in our guide. It is not often that the gingerbreadman meets such a well-known Piekarczyk 🙂 In 2022, small figurines of Piekarczyk appeared in several places in Elbląg, creating an interesting trail.
Development of the Old Town of Elbląg
As I have already written, about 90% of the buildings of the Old Town were destroyed during the war. For a long time, the area was empty and sad, additionally dug up during archaeological research. Reconstruction began only in the 1980s. Of the twentieth century, but in a very thoughtful, tasteful and worth following.
The new buildings in the old Elbląg area were created in accordance with the retroversion trend, where the historic layout of the streets is preserved, and the contemporary buildings do not look like the original ones, but refer to it through rich decorations and interesting architectural solids. According to this idea, complete frontages of individual streets were rebuilt here, additionally based on the maximum use of the surviving historic substance.
The tenement houses have not preserved their former appearance, but they stand in the same place and are the same height as the pre-war ones. Thanks to this, Elbląg is captivating today. This reconstruction is still ongoing, further rows of tenement houses are still planned.
Old Town Hall
In 2011, a new Old Town Hall was built at Stary Rynek Street, directly opposite the cathedral. It houses a Tourist Information Point and 3 mock-ups. The first one presents Elbląg from the 17th century, with the New Town of Elbląg and the Old Town of Elbląg marked, as well as bastion fortifications from the time of the Swedish occupation of the city. The second model shows the alleged appearance of the Teutonic castle, and the third one shows one of the ramps of the Elbląg Canal.
IT daily 8.00-18.00
Archaeological and Historical Museum in Elbląg
The Teutonic castle in Elbląg was demolished by burghers in 1454. Today, the surviving buildings of the outer ward house a museum. It was opened in 1954, but it was moved to the castle area in the 1970s. It presents several exhibitions, very rich in local monuments, found in the city over the years of archaeological research.
You will see here an interesting exhibition "Goths. From the Baltic Sea to Rome" with numerous authentic exhibits. We were also fascinated by the exhibition "Truso - the legend of the Baltic Sea" about the legendary port and Prussian settlement that existed from the end of the 8th century to the end of the 10th century. Archaeological research showed that it was located a few kilometers south of Elbląg, near the village of Janów, on Lake Druzno.
The most impressive, however, is the exhibition "Elbląg Reconditus", even tearing it out of its shoes. You wander through the ruins of Elbląg, demolished in 1945, among the original finds from the rubble, accompanied by dark sounds. Such interestingly arranged museum exhibitions are rarely seen. I highly recommend this place!
ul. Bulwar Zygmunta Augusta 11. Elbląg
https://muzeum.elblag.pl
Church of the Holy Spirit in Elbląg
The Church of the Holy Spirit is part of the entire hospital team of the Holy Spirit. It was created on the initiative of the papal legate William of Modena in 1242 as the first in Prussia. It is one of the oldest and most valuable objects preserved in Elbląg. Today, the Elbląg Library is located here. The former Church of the Holy Spirit is the main hall, and the former hospital consists of the interconnected buildings of the Great House and the Great Chamber. An interesting fact is that the Library has unique collections - old and valuable, from the 16th to the 18th century. The book collection here is about half a million copies!
El Gallery in Elbląg
The EL Gallery Art Center was established in the former Gothic church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Contemporary art exhibitions are organized here, which gives an amazing effect. Modern art in the old medieval walls. The gallery is open every day.
https://galeria-el.pl/
Elbląg inscription
A large Elbląg inscription with a heart-shaped bench stood between the St. Nicholas Cathedral, or more precisely Wodna Street and the boulevards on the Elbląg River. I do not have to write that this place is eagerly used for photos, not only by tourists, but also by locals. The challenge is to fit the whole inscription in the selfie 😉
Zygmunt August Boulevard in Elbląg
In the past, port life was concentrated on the Elbląg River. Today, the very pleasant Zygmunt August Boulevard leads along its waterfront, which is worth a walk. It is today's heart of Elbląg, also culinary. On the other side of the river there is the Granary Island, to which drawbridges lead.
Drawbridges in Elbląg
It is worth coming to this part of the city, because it is very charming. Water always has a positive effect on the landscape, especially in the city, which does not happen very often. The drawbridges in Elbląg are located close to each other and both lead from Zygmunt August Boulevard to the Granary Island. One is called Upper (Low) and the other Lower (High). They were created quite recently as a modernization of old footbridges, which were an obstacle to free navigation. The Upper Bridge was built along Studzienna Street. There is a roadway 6 meters wide, and on both sides of the street there are pedestrian routes 3 meters wide. The Lower Bridge was built along Mostowa Street as a pedestrian and bicycle route. The bridges provided access for units with a width of 15 meters and a length of up to 100 meters throughout the entire Elbląg Sea Port.
Dolny Bridge, Mostowa Street, Elbląg
New Holland Park in Elbląg
The New Holland Family Amusement Park was established in the southern part of the city. This place offers a lot of attractions, both for toddlers, older children and adults. You can spend a nice family time together and have fun. Inflatables, slides, mini climbing wall and the world's largest, over 28.5 meter pneumatic slide! In addition, there is a rope park, an educational path, an aviary, a Viking island and various other fancy islands😉 It is also possible to take a mini-ride on a water tram, which takes about 20 minutes. Gastronomy and a hotel are also available on site. You don't need anything else😉
https://rpr.nowaholandia.pl/
Elbląg Canal
The channel, which is 150 years old, is unique on the scale of Poland and the whole world, because it is currently the only such channel operating all over the world. The longest navigable canal in Poland reaches from Elbląg to Ostróda, and its branches also toIława or Zalewo. Take a unique cruise on water and grass from Elbląg to Buczyniec. On the way, you will pass Lake Druzno, which is an ornithological reserve, and 5 unique ramps. They allow ships to overcome the difference in water levels of about 100 meters. As much as the tower of the Elbląg cathedral measures. Who has seen, knows! 😉
https://zegluga.com.pl/
Beach in Suchacz
To see the sea, and more precisely the Vistula Lagoon, it is enough to jump a little north of Elbląg, to the town of Suchacz, where the beach is waiting, as well as the Cyclists' Service Point on the Green Velo trail.
Map of the attraction and a walk around Elbląg
Here you have a map of Elbląg with its attractions marked. We also marked a free car park near the Elbląg museum, where we were standing.
Below you will find a map with a walk around Elbląg. The whole is about 3 km and an hour of unhurried walking. The car can be left in the free parking lot at the Museum, in the former castle grounds. You can visit the local museum, which is very interesting - it can take you up to 90 minutes.
From the museum, we follow the charming Church Path to the cathedral. If you have the courage, you can climb the tower (after buying a ticket). Behind the cathedral, there is the Old Market Square, the local pedestrian street. On it you will find many beautiful houses and the Old Town Hall with a model of the former Elbląg in the middle. At the end of the Old Market Square you will find the Market Gate with Piekarczyk. At the top there is a free viewpoint. Garbary Street houses an impressive building that was once the house of Mennonite prayer. Crossing the Old Market Square, along Studzienna Street, we will reach the boulevards of Elbląg, which will take us back to the castle and the parking lot.
Where to eat in Elbląg
Elbląg already in the very center offers a very wide range of restaurants where you can eat well. At the very gate, the Italian Restaurant Amore Mio invites you, and opposite you is worth a look at the Santrorini Greek Tavern, where delicious and already famous snails from Grzegorz Skalmowski are waiting. In the vicinity, you will also find the Przy Bramie Restaurant, which is well rated by tourists. Vegans will find something for themselves near the cathedral, almost opposite the Town Hall, in the Vegan Spot restaurant.
Accommodation in Elbląg
While visiting Elbląg, we slept in the beautiful HotelMłyn Aqua Spain Elbląg. Located a 15-minute walk from the city centre, it is housed in an old, historic mill. Beautifully restored for the needs of the complex. In addition to hotel rooms, there is a swimming pool with jacuzzi and spa area, a tasty and elegant restaurant and a bowling alley.
Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.
Elbląg - Saturday with PTTK guide
Every year, during holidays in Elbląg, the PTTK Branch of the Elbląg Region organizes free guided walks under the slogan "Saturday with a PTTK guide". Guides from the R. Gierzyński Circle of Tourist Guides and Pilots at the PTTK Branch of the Elbląg Region invite all tourists for Saturday walks around the city, completely free of charge and regardless of the weather. The campaign is financed by the city of Elbląg.
During guided walks, you visit the most interesting places in Elbląg, and each of the meetings is thematically related to the monuments and history of the city. Not only will you see these objects, but you will learn many trivia and secrets. In addition, you will enter places that are rarely accessible to tourists.
More about these walks can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/elblagwformie
History of Elbląg
The history of Elbląg is long and colourful. As the oldest city of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, attached here a little by force, it retained its separateness. Elbląg was founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1237. The centre received city rights in 1246 and at that time it played an important role in the structure of the religious state. Not everyone knows, but until the construction of Malbork, it was even the most important city of the religious state. It was the seat not only of the great hospitalist - one of the most important Teutonic officials, but also of the Prussian national master until 1309.
And did you know that near the village of Suchacz near Elbląg, on September 15, 1463, the Polish naval fleet was the most successful in history? Then, during the 13-year war, there was a great battle on the Vistula Lagoon. The Polish fleet, consisting of 25 ships issued by Elbląg and Gdańsk, defeated the Teutonic fleet. Of the 44 monastic ships, only one escaped, on board of which was Grand Master Ludwig von Erlichshausen.
In the years 1466-1772, Elbląg belonged to Poland and at the same time was one of the largest cities of the kingdom. In the 16th century, it was under Swedish occupation. The greatest prosperity of Elbląg occurred at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, when it competed as a trading port with Gdańsk. In February 1945, the city was severely destroyed by the Red Army. Its recovery from the ruins continues to this day.
Elbląg - interesting facts
- Elbląg is the oldest city in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship
- Elbląg is the lowest city in Poland!
- The Cathedral in Elbląg is one of the highest temples in Poland, the tower is nearly 100 meters high
- Nicolaus Copernicus visited Elbląg many times, as reported by a plaque in the former gymnasium, and today the building of the Archaeological and Historical Museum, in the castle area
- Before World War II, the honorary citizen of Elbląg was Adolf Hitler
- Not everyone knows that Elbląg is one of the best archaeologically researched cities in Poland! Many valuable monuments have been found here, which are currently exhibited in the museum
- It is Elbląg that is the starting point of the Green Velo trail, which is over 2000 km long. It starts at the Yacht Club Elbląg yacht port.
- This is also where the famous Elbląg Canal begins, from where you can take a cruise on water and grass to Buczyniec. In 2007, the Canal was hailed as one of the 7 Wonders of Poland!
The guide was created in cooperation with the Warmia and Mazury Regional Tourist Organization, at whose invitation we visited this beautiful region.
A film about Elbląg
We encourage you to watch our film about this unusual city. We walked the streets of Elbląg and we want to share it with you.
Rent a car
Exploring becomes much easier when you have your own means of transport. You don’t have to worry about buses or taxis, and you can plan each day your way. The search box below will help you find the right car – right where your journey begins.
What's worth seeing in the area?
You don't have to travel far to find more interesting places. Within a radius of 100 kilometers, there are many attractions waiting for you that will certainly enrich your stay Your trip with additional memories.
- Malbork Castle, distance: 27.4 km
- Gdansk, distance: 52.5 km
- Ostróda, distance: 62.7 km
- Iława, distance: 63.5 km
- Puck Bay, distance: 77.9 km
- Rewa, distance: 77.9 km
- Rzucewo Castle, distance: 84.2 km
- Grudziądz, distance: 85.4 km
- Puck, distance: 89.2 km
- Władysławowo, distance: 95.2 km
Hi! My name is Anna Piernikarczyk. We have been blogging and wandering around Poland since 2005. We bring back a lot of wonderful memories and experiences from family trips, which I am happy to share with you. Today it is more than just a passion, Our mission is to debunk the myth "You praise other people's things, but you don't know your own"!