In short: the Stutthof Memorial Museum is in Sztutowo, 55 km east of Gdańsk. Entry is free; from 1 October it is open daily 08:00–15:00 (last entry 14:30), from 1 May 09:00–18:00. Our private tour with a driver who waits during your visit costs from €40 per person.
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The Stutthof Memorial Museum (Muzeum Stutthof in Sztutowo) preserves the site of the former Nazi concentration camp KL Stutthof — established on 2 September 1939, the day after the German invasion of Poland began, and operating until 9 May 1945. It was the first concentration camp founded by Nazi Germany on territory outside the pre-war Reich, and the last to be liberated. Over six years around 110,000 prisoners from 28 nationalities were imprisoned here; at least 65,000 died, from starvation, disease, forced labour, executions and — from 1944 — gassing in a small purpose-built gas chamber. Today the site is a state museum, open to the public free of charge, with original buildings, a documentary film, a moving central monument and well-curated exhibitions.
Why visit Stutthof?
Compared to Auschwitz-Birkenau near Krakow, Stutthof is far less internationally known — and far less crowded. For visitors with a serious interest in 20th-century history, this is one of its strengths: you can walk the original grounds, sit in the small barrack museum, watch the documentary film and reflect, all without the procedural rush of a busy international site. The Museum's mission is research, education and remembrance, and the standard of curation is high.
For a thorough historical background see Wikipedia: Stutthof concentration camp, and for current visitor information the official Stutthof Memorial Museum website.
What to expect on a Stutthof visit
The original buildings
Several original buildings from the SS-administered camp survive and are open to visitors: the guardhouse, the commandant's villa, two original wooden prisoner barracks with reconstructed bunks, the gas chamber, the crematorium and the main monument erected in 1968 by sculptor Wiktor Tołkin.
The exhibitions
Three permanent exhibitions cover the camp's history, the daily life of prisoners (including the chilling display of personal items left by victims) and the role of Stutthof in the wider Nazi system of camps in Pomerania and East Prussia. Information is available in Polish, English and German.
The documentary film
Documentary films of about 20 to 30 minutes, screened every hour in the museum cinema, provide essential background using archival footage and survivor testimony. Available in Polish, English, German and Russian. Highly recommended as the first stop of your visit.
The grounds
The camp site itself is large — around 120 hectares including the surrounding forest where mass graves and ash pits were located. Allow at least 60 minutes outdoors on top of the indoor exhibitions.
Opening hours and tickets
- Summer (from 1 May): 09:00 to 18:00 daily, last entry 16:45
- Winter (from 1 October): 08:00 to 15:00 daily, last entry 14:30
- Visitor service office closed (2026): 1 and 6 January, 4 to 6 April (Easter), 1 November, 24 to 26 December
- Entry: free of charge
- Documentary film (museum cinema): PLN 8 per person (groups of over 10: PLN 6 per person)
- Museum guide (paid, per group, booked in advance with the museum): standard tour up to 1.5 hours PLN 300 in English, German or Russian (PLN 180 in Polish); extended tour up to 2 hours PLN 340 (PLN 200 in Polish)
- Source: museum prices and hours per stutthof.org, checked 23 October 2026
- Children under 13: only under adult supervision
The site occasionally restricts visitor numbers on commemorative dates — most importantly 9 May (Liberation Day). Always confirm at stutthof.org/en before travelling, especially in winter and on Polish public holidays.
How to get to Stutthof from Gdansk
The Memorial is in the village of Sztutowo, about 55 km east of Gdansk via the S7 expressway and DK7 / DW501. By car it is 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.
Option 1: Public bus from Gdansk Glowny
A PKS regional bus runs from Gdansk Glowny bus station to Sztutowo, several times a day. Journey time around 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 45 minutes, tickets 18 to 28 PLN one-way. The timetable is sparse and the return options can be inconvenient if your visit runs long. Buses do not stop at Gdansk Airport directly.
Option 2: Train to Nowy Dwor Gdanski + local bus
SKM or PKP train from Gdansk to Nowy Dwor Gdanski (around 50 minutes), then a local connecting bus or taxi to Sztutowo (15 to 20 minutes). Total 2 hours, around 25 PLN. Workable but requires careful timetable planning.
Option 3: Private transfer / private tour with ShuttleHero (recommended)
For most international visitors, a private transfer or private tour is the practical choice. ShuttleHero offers two formats:
- Private transfer Gdansk Airport to Stutthof return — driver waits during your visit and returns you. From €150 per vehicle (up to 4 to 8 passengers).
- Private day tour — your driver takes you there, waits while you visit at your own pace and drives you back. The driver is not a guide; a live museum guide is not included in the price (available on request for an extra fee, quoted by our office). From €40 per person, full car from €150.
See full pricing on our Stutthof private tour page.
Price comparison — Gdansk to Stutthof
| Option | Time (one-way) | Price for 1 | Price for 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PKS bus from Gdansk Glowny | 1h 30 to 1h 45 | 18 to 28 PLN | 72 to 112 PLN |
| Train + local bus via Nowy Dwor | 2h | 25 to 35 PLN | 100 to 140 PLN |
| ShuttleHero private transfer return | 1h | from €40 (split by 4) | from €150 total |
| ShuttleHero private tour (driver waits) | 1h | from €40 | from €150 |
Prices "from"; final quote depends on time of day, exact pickup, passenger count and the format you choose; a museum guide is not included.
What is included in our private Stutthof tour
- Door-to-door pickup from your Gdansk hotel, apartment or the airport (meet & greet with a name board)
- Car or 8-seat van
- private driver familiar with the route
- Help planning the timing of your visit around opening hours and film screenings (a live museum guide only on request, for an extra fee)
- Driver waits at Sztutowo for the duration of your visit (typically 2.5 to 3.5 hours)
- Return to your Gdansk pickup point
- Optional add-on: short stop at the Vistula Lagoon viewpoint en route
- Optional combined day with Malbork Castle (different schedule, ask when booking)
Combining Stutthof with other sites?
Strictly speaking, Stutthof is emotionally heavy enough that we recommend against combining it with another tourist attraction the same day. That said, two practical combinations make sense if your itinerary is tight:
- Stutthof + brief Vistula Lagoon stop — a 30-minute restorative beach walk before returning to Gdansk
- Stutthof in the morning + Krynica Morska in the afternoon — only if you genuinely need to compress two regional sights into one day
Most visitors do not regret making Stutthof the only activity of their day. For other regional day-trip ideas see our 10 best day trips from Gdansk.
Practical tips for your visit
- Wear comfortable shoes. The site is large, with gravel paths and grass.
- Dress respectfully. No swimwear, no overly casual or inappropriately decorated clothing.
- No loud conversations. The site is a place of memory and many of the visitors will have personal or family connections.
- Phones on silent. Especially inside the gas chamber and crematorium where photography is forbidden.
- Bring water and a snack. There is a small museum cafe but visitors often want to leave the site after the main visit.
- Allow 3 hours minimum. Including the film and outdoor walks. Many international visitors spend 4 to 5 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stutthof Memorial free to visit?
Yes — entry to the Stutthof Museum and grounds is free of charge. The documentary film costs PLN 8 per person, and a museum guide for a group costs from PLN 300 in English (prices per stutthof.org, checked 23 October 2026). Donations are welcome.
How far is Stutthof from Gdansk?
The Stutthof Memorial in Sztutowo village is about 55 km east of Gdansk by road. The drive takes around 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.
How long should you spend at Stutthof?
Allow a minimum of 2 hours for a meaningful self-guided visit. A museum-guided tour takes up to 1.5 hours (extended version up to 2 hours), plus 20 to 30 minutes if you watch a film. Many visitors stay longer — the site is large and emotionally heavy, so it is worth taking your time.
Can children visit Stutthof Memorial?
Children under 13 may visit only under adult supervision. Given the harrowing nature of the exhibits, parents should consider carefully — some sections (gas chamber, crematorium, displays of personal items) can be deeply distressing.
When is Stutthof Memorial open?
Opening hours are 09:00 to 18:00 from 1 May (last entry 16:45) and 08:00 to 15:00 from 1 October (last entry 14:30). The visitor service office is closed on selected holidays (in 2026: 1 and 6 January, 4 to 6 April, 1 November, 24 to 26 December). Always confirm at stutthof.org before travelling, especially off-season.
How do I get to Stutthof from Gdansk?
Public transport options are limited — a PKS bus runs to Sztutowo from Gdansk Glowny but the timetable is sparse and connections back can be awkward. Most international visitors take a private transfer or private tour for the practical reason that the camp is in a small village without good local transport.
Is photography allowed at Stutthof?
Personal photography is permitted outdoors and in most museum buildings, but flash photography and tripods are restricted in some indoor sections. Photography is forbidden inside the gas chamber and crematorium out of respect. Always check signs on site.
Book your Stutthof private tour
A visit to Stutthof deserves to be calm, well-organised and free of logistical stress. ShuttleHero offers both pure transfers (driver waits, you visit the museum independently) and private day tours (the driver waits at the museum and drives you back; a live museum guide only on request, for an extra fee) every day of the year except 25 December and 1 January.
- Private transfer Gdansk Airport or city to Stutthof (return) — from €150 per vehicle
- Private day tour (driver waits during your visit) — from €40 per person, full car from €150
- Combined Stutthof + Malbork Castle long day — on request
For more context on the region see our Gdansk Airport guide, our complete tours directory and the official Stutthof Memorial Museum website.