Hel attractions. Interesting places to see in Hel, the beginning of Poland!

• Helium symbolizes the beginning of Poland
• The most popular attraction here is the Fokarium, which is a scientific center
• It is also worth visiting the Fisheries Museum in the old church, from whose tower you can see the beach beautifully
• In the forest near the beach there is a lighthouse available for a fee
• For military enthusiasts, the Helium Defense Museum with several separate facilities is recommended
• Paid parking is waiting at the railway station, you can walk to the center in a few minutes
• The train is an alternative to a car, because in summer traffic jams can form on the access road, especially when you come back in the evening
• There is also a bicycle route leading all the way to Hel

Is this the most beautiful part of Poland? Absolutely amazing!

Hel is a very popular and well-liked tourist resort on the Baltic Sea. It lies in the very north of Poland, in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, on the picturesque and amazing Hel Spit. At the very end of it. That is why Hel is sometimes called the beginning of Poland!

Hel's location on the tip of the Hel Peninsula is truly unique. The waters of the Baltic Sea surround it from three sides, thus giving an amazing impression. In addition, favourable climatic and natural conditions made Hel a well-known holiday resort, attracting numerous holidaymakers.

Attractions in Hel, what is worth seeing at the end of the Hel Peninsula?

The beginning of Poland, or Hel, is very attractive. You will find something interesting here at almost every step, and the location makes the place unique. Besides, the entire Hel Spit is extremely interesting in terms of nature and landscape. In the past, Hel was also of great strategic importance, it was a naval base of the war fleet, with an extensive system of artillery defense posts. To this day, fragments of the Hel Fortified Region have survived, and the oldest surviving Polish ship, the famous "Batory", stands on the waterfront. We will tell you what is especially worth seeing here, here are the best attractions of Hel!

Sealarium in Helium

The seal farm in Hel is the most popular attraction in the city. That is why there is usually a long queue in front of him during the season. And we encountered one, but it has to be admitted that it moves quickly and we did not have to wait too long. Tickets are purchased on site, at the ticket machine, by paying with a card.

The sealarium is part of the Marine Station of the Institute of Oceanography of the University of Gdańsk. It is a scientific facility, not an entertainment facility, but there are several hours of demonstration feeding. Then you will see how the seals play by following the instructions of their caregivers. In return, they receive a prize in the form of fish. This is a good opportunity for a medical examination of the animal.

The main purpose of the centre is to care for and help grey seals. A species that once existed in great numbers in the waters of the Baltic Sea, but the hunt has quite drained it. Even in a seal farm, we can threaten them. When the 3-year-old seal Krysia died, it turned out that she had 697 coins in her stomach, which people threw into the pools!!! You have to take into account that there are a lot of tourists in the season. It is an interesting tourist attraction for children and adults. If you expect a more attractive and fun form, we recommend Sea Park in Sarbsko, where sea lions also live.
Address: ul. Morska 2

Museum of Fisheries in Hel in the former church

The Fisheries Museum invites you to the old Evangelical church of Saints Peter and Paul, right next to the port. It is a branch of the National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk. The body of the temple was divided into 3 floors, and on them the life of the Slavic coastal people, i.e. the Kashubians, was presented. Original boats and historical elements of their equipment are beautifully displayed in huge rooms illuminated by the light coming through the windows of the former temple. 
The tower, which once served as a lighthouse, has a viewpoint over the bustling beach.
Address: ul. Bulwar Nadmorski

Monument to Neptune in Helium

Between the museum and the Seaside Boulevard, there is the main square of the city, with a stage, interestingly arranged ship-shaped benches and a Neptune monument. It stands in the middle of the square, shining white and attracting attention with its dimensions. The prototype for the creation of this proud Neptune was a statue standing in Bologna. But the Helic is the largest stone representation of this mythological deity.
Address: ul. Bulwar Nadmorski

Monument to the Beginning of Poland, or the Kashubian Mound on the promontory

The Kashubian Mound is a stone obelisk that symbolizes the beginning of Poland. It stands on the Hel Island and is about 3 meters high. It consists of a dozen or so boulders stacked on top of each other. Next to it, a footbridge begins to surround the promontory.
Address: Promenda by the beach

Museum of Coastal Defense in Hel - military attractions

The fortifications of the Hel Peninsula are one of the most interesting complexes of fortifications in Poland, stretching from Kuźnice to the Cylinder. The museum is located in two largest buildings: the fire control tower and the artillery station of the powerful Schleswig-Holstein battery. The remains of Hel fortifications, which were created here after they were attached to the Second Polish Republic, can be seen at almost every step. Bunkers, shooting positions and old cannons are scattered throughout the local, very nice forest, creating a blue trail of Hel fortifications.
Address: Helska 16

Lighthouse in Hel - viewpoint on the spit

 Above the treetops, near the beach, there is a 40-meter tower of a lighthouse. Red and very high, it makes quite an impression. It is a historic facility, available to tourists for a fee in the months of May - September. We did not climb to the top of it, because there was a fairly large queue, and the Ziemowit drone showed us Hel from above.
Address: ul. Bałtycka

Other attractions in Hel

• Rural Street - Hel pedestrian street, with interesting historic fishermen's half-timbered houses
• Sculpture ,Motherhood - stands by the Boulevard, depicts a mother going to the beach with her children. The sculpture was donated to the city by the Seensownie Anna and Rafał Lipińscy Foundation, and the author is Bartosz Banasik
• Fishing port in Hel, ul. Maritime Boulevard - port and marina, from here ships set off on cruises
• Hel Butterfly House, Kuracyjna Street, garden with butterflies for children and adults
• Seaside Landscape Park - an area of protected landscape, in its area you can see, among others, all types of seaside occurring in Poland, a group of picturesque white and gray dunes has formed near Hel
• Military Trail on Hel

Where to eat in Hel?

At the promenade to the edge of Poland you will find a nice restaurant called U Frank Dolas. The decor is military, has a cool atmosphere, the menu is interesting and the prices are quite bearable. We tasted here a very tasty fish soup, and in addition a real military pea soup from the cauldron. The flounder ended, because there were a lot of tourists, finally it was July, but there were delicious potato pancakes. A big plus of soups is the fact that they are served quickly, pea soup was available immediately, fish soup "came" a moment later.

Accommodation on Hel

We did not sleep in Hel itself or on the peninsula, a large selection on the spit can be found below on the map. We slept in Jastrzębia Góra, in the Sedna Centre. It is an attractive place for families, with a large, free car park, about 800 meters from the beach. In the resort there is a very nice playground, an outdoor swimming pool, and a playroom for the youngest in the building. Accommodation is offered in a large building in the form of rooms and in summer cottages. Slightly older type, but they include everything you need, equipped kitchens, clean bathrooms and a place to sleep. There is also a place for a private barbecue next to the house. Breakfast and lunch can be bought at the resort. We did not take advantage of the dinners so that they did not limit us temporarily, but the breakfasts were delicious and very rich. I highly recommend it! 

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.

Hel Spit

Someday you would have to sail to Hel. 7,000 years ago they were single islands, unconnected. Only later did sea currents make it a solid land. Today it is about 35 km long. It begins in Władysławowo and ends in Hel. Interestingly, it can be argued that Hel did not merge with the mainland until the 17th century. That's because the map misrepresented man-made moats.

The Hel Peninsula is the widest fragment of the Spit, which attracts crowds of holidaymakers who want to relax at the very beginning of Poland. The narrowest part of the peninsula can be found between Kuźnica and Jastarnia, it is about 150 m wide and also hides the highest point of the gauge - Mount Libek. A dune that descends to one of the most beautiful beaches on the Baltic Sea! The Puck Bay spills over on the other side. It is a good alternative to the crowded Tri-City, with Sopot, Gdynia and Gdańsk.

Our Hel video

I encourage you to watch our film.

History of Hel

The town of Hel has medieval roots. It was quite a significant settlement, which was established in the 9th century. There was a church, a town hall and even a hospital. We cannot talk about its exact location, because the settlement was kidnapped by the sea. Old Hel disappeared from the pages of history in the second half of the 16th century. 

It is quite possible that Old Hel is hidden under a military port. When it was built in the 1930s, wooden structures were covered. However, archaeological research was not carried out at that time. A similar fate befell the Old Head, although it was taken away by the shifting sands. 

Today, Hel is an extremely popular town, where the beach full of holidaymakers is accessible from the promenade. This creates a playful atmosphere that is often found by the Polish sea. However, it is worth separating from it for a moment, taking a breath and preferably in the bosom of nature. Helska scythe offers many such places.

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?

If you are looking for more ideas for interesting places to visit, we have it for you some options in the area. There are several attractions within a radius of 100 kilometers, that are worth adding to your travel plan.

• Puck Bay, distance: 18.8  km
• Rewa, distance: 18.8  km
• Rzucewo Castle, distance: 23.6  km
• Puck, distance: 28.2  km
• Gdansk, distance: 29.9  km
• Władysławowo, distance: 32.8  km
• Jastrzębia Góra, distance: 41.1  km
• Frombork, distance: 63  km
• Malbork Castle, distance: 64.5  km
• Słowiński National Park, distance: 89.1  km