Most people who drive north from Gdańsk are heading for Hel and pass Władysławowo without stopping. That is a mistake worth correcting. A few kilometres west of the busy junction where the peninsula road begins, the land rises into a wooded cliff, and on top of it stands one of the most interesting lighthouses on the Baltic. From its gallery you see the whole Hel Peninsula curving away to the east and nothing but open water to the north.
This guide is for travellers staying in Gdańsk, Sopot or Gdynia who want a relaxed day out on the coast, and for anyone landing at Gdańsk Airport and heading to a holiday flat in Władysławowo, Jastrzębia Góra or Karwia.
Where are Rozewie, Jastrzębia Góra and Władysławowo?
All three lie on the open Baltic coast in the far north of the Pomeranian region, at the point where the Hel Peninsula branches off to the east. Władysławowo is the town at the base of the peninsula, with the fishing harbour and the railway station. Rozewie is a cape and a small settlement on the cliff just west of it, and Jastrzębia Góra is the resort that continues along the same cliff further west. The distances between them are short: Władysławowo to the Rozewie lighthouse is roughly 5 kilometres, and the lighthouse to the centre of Jastrzębia Góra only about 2.
The coast here is part of the Coastal Landscape Park (Nadmorski Park Krajobrazowy). The beech forest on the cliff above the lighthouse is protected as the Przylądek Rozewie nature reserve, so keep to the marked paths.
How far is it from Gdańsk?
Władysławowo is about 60 kilometres from Gdańsk Airport and takes around an hour by car in normal traffic: the Tri-City ring road, then road 216 through Reda and Puck. Rozewie and Jastrzębia Góra add another ten minutes. On sunny summer weekends road 216 is one of the most congested in the region, so leave early or come on a weekday.
Without a car, regional trains run from Gdynia Główna along the line to Hel and stop at Władysławowo; the ride takes about an hour. From Władysławowo, local buses and minibuses run to Jastrzębia Góra, more often in summer than in winter. Check the current timetable on a Polish journey planner on the day, as connections thin out sharply outside the season.
Rozewie lighthouse: the main reason to come
The Rozewie lighthouse at ul. Leona Wzorka 1 is one of the oldest working lighthouses on the Polish coast. The round tower was built in 1821 and its light was first lit on 15 November 1822, using fifteen oil lamps. It has been raised twice since then, in 1910 and again in 1978, when an extra 8 metre section was lifted into place because the beech trees on the cliff had grown tall enough to block the light. Today the tower stands about 33 metres high and its beam reaches 26 nautical miles out to sea.
Inside the old tower there has been a lighthouse exhibition since 1963, looked after by the Society of Friends of the National Maritime Museum. You climb the stairs past displays on lamps, lenses and the keepers' lives, and come out on the gallery at the top. The view is the best on this stretch of coast: the Hel Peninsula to the east, the cliff and the forest to the west and, on a clear day, ships on their way to Gdynia and Gdańsk.
The lighthouse is also known as the Stefan Żeromski lighthouse. Before the war a legend grew up that the writer worked on his sea novel Wiatr od morza in the tower, and in 1938 a memorial room was opened in his honour. It was destroyed during the war and recreated in 1961, and a granite bust of the writer stands next to the tower. On the ground floor a plaque remembers Leon Wzorek, the lighthouse keeper from 1920 to 1939, who was arrested by the Germans in September 1939 and murdered in the nearby Piaśnica forest.
2026 opening hours and tickets. The lighthouse is open every day in season. In May, June and September it opens from 9:30 to 13:45 and again from 15:00 to 16:45; in July and August from 9:30 to 19:00. A normal ticket costs 19 PLN and a reduced one 13 PLN, paid at the entrance. Children shorter than 105 cm are not allowed up the tower, and children up to 7 must climb with an adult. From October to April the tower is closed to visitors, though you can still walk around it and the cliff.
The second lighthouse, Rozewie II
About 190 metres to the west stands a second, octagonal tower. It was built in 1875 so that ships could tell Rozewie apart from the lighthouse at Czołpino further west: two fixed lights side by side meant Rozewie. It was switched off in 1910, and today it carries maritime radio antennas. Its lantern was rebuilt in 2014 and 2015, and in 2017 it was named after the poet Jan Kasprowicz. You see it from the path between the two towers; it is not normally open inside.
Jastrzębia Góra and the Northern Star
For a long time Cape Rozewie was taught in Polish schools as the northernmost point of the country. Later measurements showed that the real northernmost spot lies a little further west, on the beach below the cliff at Jastrzębia Góra, at about 54°50' north. At the beginning of the 2000s a granite obelisk called Gwiazda Północy, the Northern Star, was set up on top of the cliff to mark it. The precise point is lower down at the foot of the cliff and is marked with a white and red post, so walk down to the beach if you want the photo at the exact spot.
Jastrzębia Góra itself is a cliff resort. The town sits on top, and long flights of steps lead down to a wide sandy beach facing the open sea. The cliff is still active, which means that after wet springs and winter storms parts of it slide, and some stairways and paths are closed for safety. Respect the barriers and do not walk right under the clay face. The beach between Jastrzębia Góra and Rozewie, with the forested cliff above, is the most dramatic piece of shoreline within an hour of Gdańsk.
Władysławowo: harbour, viewpoint and the Walk of Fame
Władysławowo is a working town as much as a resort. Its harbour is home to the largest fishing fleet on the Polish coast, and in the morning you can watch cutters coming in and buy smoked fish from the stalls nearby. The landmark in the centre is the Dom Rybaka, the Fishermen's House, a tall building with a tower on top. The tower has viewing terraces, and the panorama over the harbour, the beginning of the Hel Peninsula and the cliff towards Rozewie is excellent. Opening hours and the small entry fee change with the season, so check them on the spot.
On the promenade below is the Aleja Gwiazd Sportu, a walk of fame modelled on Hollywood's and created in 2000, with stars for well known Polish athletes and coaches. Next to it a monument made of fourteen stone slabs honours Polish climbers and the fourteen 8,000 metre peaks of the Himalaya and Karakoram. Further east, the open beach of Władysławowo runs straight into the Hel Peninsula, with Chałupy, the kitesurfing capital of Poland, a few kilometres down the road.
Getting there: train, rental car or private transfer
By train and bus. The cheapest way. It works well in summer, but you need to change in Gdynia, and reaching the lighthouse from Władysławowo station means a local bus or a walk of well over an hour. If you land at the airport, you first have to get into the Tri-City.
By rental car. Flexible, and the drive is easy. The downside is road 216 on summer weekends and paid parking in Władysławowo and Jastrzębia Góra in high season.
By private transfer. A transfer from Gdańsk Airport to Władysławowo costs a fixed €90 per car for one to three passengers, or €100 for a van for four to eight. The driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign and tracks your flight, with 60 minutes of free waiting. Child seats are €10 each. If you are staying in Jastrzębia Góra, Rozewie or Karwia, enter the exact address and you get a fixed price for it before you pay. For a day out from Gdańsk, choose the round trip option in the booking form. Payment is by card online in advance, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.
As part of a tour. Our private Hel Peninsula tour drives through Władysławowo on its way along the peninsula to Jastarnia, Jurata and Hel. It lasts 6 to 8 hours, costs €225 for one person and comes down to €55 per person for a group of eight. Tell us when booking if you would like a stop at the Rozewie lighthouse on the way.
Best time to go
- May and June. Fresh green beech forest on the cliff, the lighthouse open with a lunch break in the afternoon, quiet beaches and light traffic on weekdays.
- July and August. Warmest water, longest lighthouse hours and a lively promenade in Władysławowo. Also the busiest time on road 216, so go early.
- September. Warm sand, far fewer people and the lighthouse still open. Probably the best month for this trip.
- October to April. The tower is closed and many cafés in Jastrzębia Góra shut, but the cliff walks and the empty beach are at their wildest, and after storms locals search the shoreline for amber. Bring a windproof jacket.
A relaxed one-day plan from Gdańsk
- 9:00 Leave Gdańsk or Sopot.
- 10:00 Władysławowo: the harbour and the view from the Dom Rybaka tower.
- 11:00 Rozewie lighthouse, before the lunch break in May, June and September. Look at Rozewie II and walk the path through the reserve.
- 12:30 Jastrzębia Góra: the Northern Star obelisk, then down the steps to the beach and the white and red post.
- 14:00 Lunch. Fried or smoked Baltic fish is the obvious choice here.
- 15:30 A beach walk, or a short drive to Chałupy to watch the kitesurfers on the bay side.
- 17:30 Back to Gdańsk, arriving around 18:30 if the road is clear.
If you only want the lighthouse and the northernmost point, half a day is enough. If you would rather see the whole peninsula as well, combine this with a day on Hel; our complete Hel Peninsula guide covers what is out there.
Practical tips
- The lighthouse stairs are narrow and steep. Leave large bags in the car and wear proper shoes.
- In May, June and September the tower closes between 13:45 and 15:00; plan the climb before or after.
- Cliff paths can be closed after landslides. Follow the signs and never climb the clay face.
- The water on the open sea side is colder and rougher than in the Bay of Puck. Swim only on guarded beaches in summer.
- Parking near the lighthouse is limited in high season; arriving before 11:00 makes it easier.
- For more coast ideas see the best beaches near Gdańsk and surfing and kitesurfing on Hel.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the northernmost point of Poland?
On the beach below the cliff at Jastrzębia Góra, at about 54°50' north, marked by a white and red post. The Northern Star obelisk on top of the cliff commemorates it. Cape Rozewie, about 2 kilometres east, was long considered the northernmost point, but later measurements moved it slightly west.
Is Rozewie lighthouse open in 2026?
Yes, every day from May to September. In May, June and September it opens from 9:30 to 13:45 and 15:00 to 16:45, in July and August from 9:30 to 19:00. Tickets cost 19 PLN, reduced 13 PLN, paid at the entrance. Children under 105 cm cannot climb. From October to April the tower is closed.
How far is Władysławowo from Gdańsk?
About 60 kilometres from Gdańsk Airport, around an hour by car via road 216 through Reda and Puck. Rozewie and Jastrzębia Góra are about ten minutes further. By train from Gdynia Główna it is roughly an hour to Władysławowo.
Can I combine Rozewie with the Hel Peninsula in one day?
Yes. Władysławowo is where the Hel Peninsula begins, so you can visit the lighthouse and Jastrzębia Góra in the morning and drive along the peninsula in the afternoon. It makes for a long day; many visitors prefer to keep Hel for a separate trip.
Is it worth going outside summer?
Yes, if you enjoy wild beaches and cliff walks. The lighthouse is closed from October to April and many cafés close too, but the beach, the forest above the cliff and the views from the harbour in Władysławowo are there all year.
How much is a private transfer from Gdańsk to Władysławowo?
A transfer from Gdańsk Airport to Władysławowo is a fixed €90 per car for one to three passengers, or €100 for a van for four to eight. Addresses in Jastrzębia Góra, Rozewie or Karwia and day trips with a ride back get a fixed quote when you book. Payment is by card online in advance, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.