Poland
Country/State Data
Regions
1
Breaks
8
Coastline
528 KM
Cost of living
Capital
Warsaw
Current Time
Security
Health
Positives
- Occasionally great winter waves
- Lots of groynes and jetties
- Cross-offshore winds on the Hel Peninsula
- Empty waves in the west and east
Negatives
- Short-lived swells
- Flat summers
- Groynes too close together
- Strong currents
Where to surf in Poland
The Baltic Sea is a tough place for a surfer since waves are inconsistent and hard to forecast, often arriving with the onshore winds that created them, before quickly disappearing as soon as the wind relents. These small windows of ideal conditions usually arrive in winter and can create some impressive surf for the hard-core locals.
Poland has 420km of dune-backed sandy beaches plus some 80km of cliffs and about 26% of this coastline is protected with almost 100km of groynes. This makes for a lot of potential spots, but the bulk of the local surf population heads to the thin sliver of the Hel Peninsula to catch their waves, leaving plenty of potential to discover empty waves along the eroding beaches further west.
Most of the Polish coast faces towards the north and choosing the right spot depending on the wind and swell direction is crucial. Baltic surfing requires real vigilance, which will eventually be rewarded if you are patient and tough enough!
Surf spots in Poland
Research the 8 surf breaks in Poland and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 8 breaks in Poland.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Poland
- jan
- feb
- mar
- apr
- may
- jun
- jul
- aug
- sep
- oct
- nov
- dec
Library
Helpful surf travel videos and articles featuring Poland.
Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Population
- 38,382,576
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- PLN
Cost of living
Communication
- Dialing in
- ++48
- Dialing out
- 00
- Emergencies
- 112
- Language
- Polish
Electricity
- Plug Type
- ce
Getting There
European and budget airlines fly into Warsaw and Kraków, but Gdańsk is the target for surfers. There are 4 ferry routes from Sweden to Poland. Poland has rail connections with all its neighbouring countries.
Getting Around
There's a wide network of trains, trams, and buses for city and inter-city travel. When it comes to surfing the coast, having a car is essential to get to the right spots at the right time, otherwise, you will miss the short window for swells.
Accommodation
There are plenty of campsites on the Hel Peninsula open in summer but waves may be non-existent. Winter requires heating and hot showers so check Airbnb or local hotels.
Activities
Castles, museums and great city architecture, much of it rebuilt after being levelled in WW2. Tours to Auschwitz-Birkenau expose the horrors of the Holocaust. Visiting the Masurian Lakes, not far from Gdansk is popular. Otherwise, it's Baltic beach culture for the summer months with most watersports available to try somewhere. Rewa is big for wind, kite and foil surfing, plus the petrol heads can try jet skiing, wakeboarding and skurfing.
Hazards & hassles
The strong currents combined with the endless rows of pilings that are meant to protect these transient coastlines are always a hazard when surfing. The piles are regularly moved and replaced so the best sandbars also move around. Rips form along the rows of pilings, helping you get out in stormy conditions, but can also drag you into them. Beware the poles! Moon jellyfish are common but don't pack much of a sting, unlike the occasional Lion's Mane jelly.
Handy Hints
Unless it is May-Sept, bring thick rubber to combat the cold. Another consideration is to ride thicker, floatier boards since the Baltic Sea only has a 0.9% salt concentration, compared to the ocean's 3.5%. There is a growing surf scene and you can get quality equipment and accessories from FCS Polska who have a warehouse in Warsaw and outlet on the Hel in the season.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.
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