Europe’s largest dunes on the Polish coast are a spectacular site. My family and I recently visited them on a trip to Northern Poland. If you are on holiday or travelling in Gdansk or on the Polish coast, we strongly recommend a visit to these shifting dunes in the Slowinski National Park. Their beauty and grandeur will leave you speechless. We have prepared some recommendations on what is important to know when travelling to visit this spectacular site.
Largest dunes in Europe – Polish seaside
Largest dunes in Europe – Polish seaside
Largest dunes in Europe – Polish seaside are located between Gdansk and Szczecin. That is near the small resort town of Leba, which we will also be telling you more about. Leba is famous for the Slowinski National Park. The most famous feature of the Slowinski Park are the dunes, which are about 30-40 metres high. These dunes are said to be the largest sand dunes in Europe. These ‘moving’ dunes, which are constantly changing shape, are washed by the waves of the Baltic Sea on one side and the waves of Lake Lebsko on the other. The Slowinski dunes are quite active, with some dunes moving 10 metres a year.
Slowinski National Park
The highest point is Rockwall (115 m). In addition to Lake Lebos, the park also includes Lake Grodno, which, like Lake Lebos, used to be a sea bay. The surrounding area is covered with pine forests and the shores of the lakes are dotted with swamps. The park is home to 257 species of birds and a variety of mammals.
Largest dunes in Europe – Polish seaside
Largest dunes in Europe – Polish seaside
Polish seaside with children
Polish seaside with children
Largest dunes in Europe – Polish seaside. How to reach them?
The moving Dunes are best reached from the popular Polish seaside resort of Leba or Rabka, just outside Leba.
Unfortunately, you can’t get to the dunes by car, so you’ll have to leave your car in Rabka or Leba and then walk, cycle or take an electric car.
Important! The town is full of electric taxis that claim to take you to the shifting dunes, but in reality they only take you to the entrance of the Slovinian National Park, and from there it is more than 6 kilometres to the dunes. This ride from the centre of Leba to the entrance of the Slovenian National Park costs 12.5 zloty per person.
Largest dunes in Europe – Polish seaside
Entrance to the Slovenian National Park costs 9 zlotys per adult.
If you come with the city taxi electric car, you need to walk a little bit ahead and there will be a place from where the electric cars of the park are already running regularly, which take you to the missile base. It is 6 kilometres from the electric car counter and the dunes, and 4 kilometres by electric car. And then you have to walk 2 kilometres anyway.
Please note that part of the distance must be walked
Electric cars can get half way to the missile base
We chose to cycle and we were very happy with our decision, as you can cycle all the way to the dunes.
Bike rental in Leba costs 8-10 zlotys per hour. The only downside is that the bike rental points do not have helmets. There are also children’s bikes, high chairs and baby carriages. The road is really easy, there are no uphills or downhills, but there is a lot of traffic, both bicycle traffic and electric car traffic.
Cycling to the dunes
Our journey from the town of Leba to the dunes, and a not very long walk on the dunes, took 3 hours. The price was therefore half of what it would have been if we had taken a taxi.
Travelling in Poland with children
What is important to know
You can pay for the entrance to the park at the ticket office, or if you don’t have cash, you can buy an entrance ticket online.
Bring drinks and snacks – there is only one place, near the rocket base, where drinks and snacks are available.
The dunes can also be reached from the seaward side, but it’s a longer walk. It can be reached on foot.
Largest dunes in Europe – Polish seaside
