Northern Poland - Baltic Coast, Gdańsk and the Masurian Lakes by MotorhomeBaltic Coast, Gdańsk and the Masurian Lakes by Motorhome

Wolin is the island just across the German border, with a national park of beech forests on eighty-meter cliffs and a bison reserve where you can see the animals up close. Międzyzdroje is the seaside resort before it, with a long pier and a promenade featuring handprints of Polish film stars. The campsites are located in the forest on the outskirts of the town; the road through the park to Lake Turkusowe, an old limestone lake in turquoise, makes for a beautiful walk.

Kołobrzeg is the largest seaside resort on the west coast, a spa town with salt springs and a kilometre-long beach. On the harbour pier stands the Latarnia Morska, a lighthouse you can climb for a panoramic view. From here, the Molo w Kołobrzegu extends, a long pier reaching deep into the Baltic Sea. The old town, rebuilt after 1945, features the Gothic Bazylika Mariacka with its leaning tower. In the evening, a walk to the lighthouse is a popular activity, with campsites right behind the dunes.

Ustka is a fishing port with a beach promenade, a red brick lighthouse, and World War II bunkers in the dunes. It is smaller and quieter than Kołobrzeg; the campsite is located on the west side of the harbor, directly behind the beach. The smoked mackerel from the stalls by the harbor makes for dinner.

Słowiński National Park near Łeba has the highest moving dunes in Europe: forty-meter high sand mountains that shift a few meters inland each year, burying forests. From the parking lot at Rąbka, you can walk to the Łącka Dune in an hour, or take the electric cart. Next to the dunes are Lake Łebsko and Łeba beach, which is empty for kilometers. The campsites are located between the village and the park.

Gdańsk is the city of the Hanseatic League and Solidarność: the Long Market with the Neptune Fountain, the crane on the Motława, St. Mary's Church which can accommodate 25,000 people, and the European Solidarity Centre on the old shipyard. Everything was rebuilt brick by brick after 1945. The beach and wooden pier of Sopot are nearby. The campsites are located on the coast near Brzeźno and in Sopot, with tram or train connections to the city centre; parking a motorhome in the city itself is almost impossible.

Hel is a 35-kilometer sand spit that closes off the Bay of Gdańsk like a sickle, with the fishing village of Hel at its end. On the bay side, windsurfers and kitesurfers are in the shallow water, while on the sea side, empty beaches lie behind the dunes. The seal center and the small lighthouse are the attractions; smoked fish and the view are reasons to stay. The road is narrow and busy in summer; visit outside the weekend.

Malbork is home to the largest brick castle in the world, an imposing structure on the Nogat River. Zamek w Malborku, once the seat of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, consists of three castles that you can explore with an audio guide. Inside, you'll discover the Malbork Castle Museum with its rich collections and the history of the Order. When evening falls, the castle is atmospherically lit, offering an enchanting view from across the Nogat.

Frombork is the charming town where Nicolaus Copernicus worked as a canon and meticulously wrote his groundbreaking book about the universe. He is reverently buried in the magnificent cathedral situated on the hill, which majestically rises like an imposing fortress above the serene waters of the Vistula Lagoon. The fascinating planetarium and the impressive tower, offering panoramic views over the expansive lagoon, are absolutely well worth a visit for any traveler. It is a wonderfully small, tranquil town, featuring a pleasant campsite conveniently located right by the water's edge and a quaint little harbour from which, during the warmer summer months, boats regularly depart to sail towards the picturesque Vistula Spit.

Giżycko is the sailing capital of Masuria, where the waters of two large lakes embrace the city and history comes alive. The historic Most obrotowy, a swing bridge from 1889, is still opened by hand for passing ships. Twierdza Boyen is a Prussian star fort in the forest. On the water, you can rent a boat or take a passenger ship across Lake Kisajno. The many waterside campsites around the city give Giżycko a relaxed, maritime atmosphere.

Mikołajki is the village on Lake Śniardwy, the largest lake in Poland, with a quay full of sailboats and a bridge where everyone gathers in the evening. It is the place to see the Masurian Lakes from the water: a boat trip to Ruciane-Nida through the locks and lakes, a canoe on the Krutynia, or just a small boat for an afternoon. The Wolfsschanze near Gierłoż is an hour's drive away. The campsites are located on the lake, within walking distance of the village.