The lighthouse's history
The first lighthouse at Hel was built in 1827 — of wood, much lower, and its job was to warn ships of the dangerous end of the peninsula. Over the following decades it was modernised repeatedly, growing in height and power. In 1893 a masonry red-brick lighthouse was raised, which survived until the Second World War.
The original 1893 lighthouse was blown up by German forces in 1939 (or damaged during the defence of Hel — historians disagree). In 1942 the Germans rebuilt it — this time somewhat larger, in the distinctive square, massive form, with a bunker at its base (the lighthouse was to be part of the Atlantic Wall). After the war the structure passed into Polish hands, was fitted with modern lighting and works to this day as an active lighthouse.
Climbing to the gallery
The lighthouse is open to visitors — you can climb to the viewing gallery at the top. It means about 300 internal steps — steep, spiral and not suitable for anyone with limited mobility. The climb is not comfortable, but the reward is considerable — a 360° panorama:
- The tip of Hel — the last stretch of the peninsula, with the western and eastern beaches
- The Bay of Puck — with a panorama of Kashubia many kilometres away
- The Tricity — Gdynia, Sopot and Gdańsk, their skylines visible in perfect conditions
- The open sea — the Baltic on the eastern side, sometimes with ships heading for Gdańsk
- The whole peninsula — a ribbon of sand running to the horizon
Practical information
- Address — Hel, ul. Bałtycka
- Ticket — about 10 zł adults, about 5 zł children
- Open — seasonally (May–September), with limited hours out of season
- Time needed — 30–45 min (10 min up, 15 min on the gallery, 10 min down)
- The stairs — steep and spiral, not accessible for those with limited mobility
- Wind — always strong on the gallery; take a jacket even in summer
- Best time — early morning (fewer people, clearer air) or before sunset
The peninsula's other lighthouses
Hel is not the peninsula's only lighthouse. At its root, near Władysławowo, stands the Rozewie lighthouse — one of the oldest in Poland (1822) and still working. From the road onto the peninsula you can also see the smaller lights of Jastarnia and Jurata — warning ships of shallows and marking the entrances to the fishing harbours.
For lighthouse enthusiasts a tour of the lighthouses of the Polish coast makes an interesting journey — Świnoujście, Niechorze, Kołobrzeg, Ustka, Łeba, Rozewie, Hel and Stilo. Each has its own history and architectural style. Hel stands out for its severe brick appearance — the result of the German rebuilding of 1942.
How to get there and practical info
- Address
- Hel, ul. Bałtycka (at the end of the town)
- Ticket
- About 10 zł adults, about 5 zł children
- Season
- May–September; limited out of season
- Stairs
- About 300, steep and spiral
- Time needed
- 30–45 min
- From Hel railway station
- About 15 min on foot
When to go
May — no crowds, open for the season. Good light for photographs.
Crowds and queues in July and August. Loveliest in the evening before sunset.
September — clear visibility and a distant panorama of the Tricity. Ideal.
Usually closed to visitors. Check before you go.
Other sights in Hel
Straight-line distances from „The Hel lighthouse" — calculated from real coordinates. By road it is often further.
Where to stay nearby
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