Elbląg - discover tourist attractions worth seeing. | PolishTrains

At a glance

• Elbląg’s Old Town has been under continuous restoration since the 1980s, drawing on Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles
• Key Old Town highlights include the Market Gate, St Nicholas Cathedral and the reconstructed tenement houses
• Direct trains to Elbląg run from Warsaw, Gdańsk, Białystok, Olsztyn, Słupsk and Szczecin
• The railway station is a 10–15 minute walk from the Old Town centre
• The Elbląg Canal is one of Poland’s unique engineering landmarks and operates from May to September
• Bażantarnia forest park and Nowa Holandia are popular green-space attractions outside the city centre

Elbląg is a city where you will find many attractions for a few hours' trip as well as for a weekend. The places of interest are mainly in the Old Town, which has been undergoing renovation since the 1980s. The city authorities are focusing on restoring and rebuilding the tenements destroyed during the war, while preserving their original style.

Elbląg tourist attractions in the Old Town:

• Market Gate

• Baker Monument

• St. Nicholas Cathedral

• Church path

• Old Town houses

**How to get to Elbląg? Explore alternatives to the car!**Before you get to know Elbląg's attractions and sights, it is worth finding out some practical information on how to get there. Don't want to set off by car? Opt for a train journey!

At the Elbląg railway station platforms stop trains from, among others:

• Białystok

• Gdynia

• Malbork

• Olsztyn

• Słupsk

• Szczecin

• Warsaw

The route to Elbląg is offered by PKP Intercity and POLREGIO. Want to know more about the timetable to Elbląg station? Check out the details at: /train-schedule/elblag.

Elbląg is one of the attractions on your way to a seaside holiday? You can also get to Gdańsk, Gdynia, Hel or Sopot by train! Explore PKP Intercity's seaside connections:https://www.polishtrains.eu/aktualnosci/pociag-nad-morze-bilety-online.

Buy your train tickets to and from Elbląg conveniently on the website or in the EuroPodróze mobile application. For instructions on how to buy a ticket, see our article: How to buy a train ticket? Step-by-step guide.

Elbląg's Old Town is a combination of ancient architectural styles with a hint of modern construction. It is mainly its urban layout that has survived the past centuries, but most of the townhouses were destroyed during World War II and the city is still rebuilding them today. To restore the buildings to their former luminosity, inspiration is drawn from Renaissance, Gothic and Baroque styles.

Elbląg what to see - must-see points in the Old Town:

The Market Gate

The Market Gate in Elbląg is considered a monument of Gothic architecture and one of the most recognisable landmarks in the city. It is a remnant of the defensive walls that surrounded the city. The origin of this fortification dates back to the Middle Ages (around the 14th century).

The building has undergone several modernisations since its heyday, but nevertheless still retains its former style. It measures a staggering 26 metres, and from its observation deck you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city. The lookout is open mainly in summer. The gate also houses a tourist information office. Its staff will be happy to provide additional tips on Elbląg's attractions for the whole family.

The viewpoint at the Market Gate can be visited daily from 10:00 to 18:00.

Piekarczyk Monument

Right next to the Market Gate is the Piekarczyk monument. A legendary Elbląg figure who became famous for his courage. The monument was erected in 2006 and its creator is Waldemar Grabowiecki. It is a statue made in bronze depicting a young smiling boy leaning on a shovel.

This statue is linked to the legend of Piekarczyk, a local baker's apprentice who saved Elbląg from an invasion by the Teutonic Knights in March 1521. At the time, the Polish-Teutonic wars were underway, and one of the places the Teutonic Knights wanted to conquer was Elbląg. The city was saved from conquest by Piekarczyk - he used a shovel to cut the rope supporting the bars of the Market Gate. In this way, he blocked the entrance to the city from the enemy.

The act of the heroic Piekarczyk is also commemorated by the imprint of the shovel, which can be seen on one of the walls of the Market Gate.

St. Nicholas Cathedral

Another historic building located in the Old Town is St. Nicholas' Cathedral. Its history dates back to the 13th century. However, due to a fire in the 18th century and the wars, it has not survived to this day in its original version. The renovated cathedral can be admired during a visit to Elbląg. An additional attraction is the viewing terrace located there.

Today, it is the tallest religious building in Elbląg and one of the ten largest churches in the country. Its tower is 97 m high, so the location of the viewing terrace in the cathedral is no coincidence.

The viewing point on the tower is open to tourists on all days except Monday. Admission tickets cost: 20 zł normal ticket, 10 zł concessionary ticket, children under 4 years visit the building free of charge.

Church path

In the Old Town, between the three churches - the Church of the Holy Spirit, St. Nicholas Cathedral and St. Mary's Church at the Dominican Monastery - there is a narrow street. It is a small passageway that links these religious buildings in a picturesque way. The path is open to tourists, but can only be walked during the day. It is an ideal place for souvenir photographs! Admission is free.

Old town houses

Although much of the Old Town was destroyed during the war, numerous renovations and reconstruction projects have succeeded in restoring the splendour of this part of Elbląg.

In the course of the reconstruction, the old street layout and historical buildings of the townhouses were restored. To admire the architecture inspired by old Elbląg, it is worth going to several addresses:

• 12 Grabary Street - Jost von Kampen's Dutch-style tenement house,

• 3 Wigilijna Street - a tenement house with original decorations from the 14th century (Sigismund III Vasa lived there in the 17th century),

• ul. św. Ducha 3-4 - a complex of Elbląg tenement houses, which have been successfully reconstructed in their entirety and restored to their original appearance,

• Stary Rynek 54-59 - these restored tenements now house Focus Hotel Premium Elbląg. In the past, the so-called House of Kings was located here.

What is worth seeing in Elbląg with children? First of all, places that will allow them to spend time actively.

TOP 3 attractions for children Elbląg:

Family Amusement Park New Holland

Nowa Holland is the biggest attraction for children in Elbląg. This huge amusement park is located on the outskirts of the city. Interestingly, a large part of it consists of artificial canals with a total length of 13 km!

The design itself is reminiscent of a modern European country - the Netherlands - i.e. the country with the largest number of bridges and an extensive network of water canals. The canals in the park are separated by islands and various entertainment spots, and can be accessed via bridges or by traversing the canals in canoes, water trams or pedal boats.

This amusement park has no shortage of places full of greenery and tranquillity, as well as those that will allow children to get a bit wild and playful. There are several must-visit spots in New Holland:

• The Rope Park - with two routes: Toddler route for younger children with 11 obstacles, suspended about 1.5 metres above the ground; Middle route for older children, suspended between 4 and 5 metres high, with 15 obstacles to provide excitement while crossing.

• Birdhouse - a place to meet nature, where you can admire many species of birds, including pheasants and peacocks.

• Viking settlement - a place that allows you to travel back in time to the 8th century. The whole family will have the opportunity to see how the ancient Vikings lived and dwelt.

• King Arthur's Court - a visit to the medieval court where the knights sat at the Round Table is not to be missed.

• MAOI Island - on a boat cruise or a visit to the nearby zoo, you can see a replica of the statues originally found on Easter Island.

• Stonehenge Island - takes you to magical circles dating back to southern England.

• Gold Mines - in this part of the amusement park you will feel like you are in the Wild West, back in the days when gold prospectors had their hands full!

• Island of Illusions - a place where every child will look at the world a little differently.

• Monster Island - Does your child love reading about prehistoric creatures? Here he or she will come face to face with monsters known from legends and history. You can have your photo taken next to the Yeti or the Loch Ness Monster.

• Mini Zoo - here you will get the opportunity to see a variety of animal species. Inhabitants of the zoo include kangaroos, llamas, sheep, moose and many more.

• The Playground - full of inflatables, slides, trampolines and ball pools. It's a space that will allow children to discharge their energy and parents to relax a little.

The Amusement Park is located at 1B Nowe Pole Street. During the summer season it is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The cost of tickets is:

• PLN 89 normal ticket,

• 79 zł concession ticket,

• 54 zł group ticket (for tours of more than 25 people).

Piekarczyk Park Playroom

About 140 metres from the historic Old Town is the Piekarczyk Park Playroom. It is a large space full of attractions for younger and older children. There will be no shortage of trampolines, ball pools, mazes, as well as logic and arcade games.

The park also has plenty of attractions for youngsters, such as a roller-skating track, tubing track, tyrolean rides, slot machine games and laser paintball.

The playroom is open daily:

• Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 20:00,

• at weekends from 11:00 to 19:00.

The ticket price depends on the length of the visit, with tickets available for 60, 120 and 180 minutes.

Climbing wall

The city's amusements are not just for the little ones. In the list of Elbląg attractions for young people you will find, for example, the popular Climbing Wall. The place called Wspinalnia Elbląg is located at 4 H. Sienkiewicza Street (about 2.1 km on foot from the Old Town).

The climbing centre offers walls of various levels of difficulty. You can go there with children of all ages, but the slightly older ones will have the most fun.

The place is open all week from Monday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., on weekends from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Prices start from PLN 20.

Are you looking forward to a weekend in the city? Here is the list: Elbląg attractions for the weekend that won't let you get bored! We have selected two of the most interesting entertainments - sure to appeal to people of all ages.

Elbląg Canal

A cruise on the Elbląg Canal is an attraction not to be missed. Ships take passengers from May to the end of September, so it's ideal for a spring or summer weekend getaway.

The entire Elbląg Canal is 80 km long, definitely one of the longest shipping routes in the country. However, it is not only famous for its length, but also for its slipways, which allow ships to be pulled from lower to higher ground. It looks like a railway track for ships! There are 5 slipways and 2 locks on this canal. And the cruise, depending on the route chosen, can take less than 60 minutes or up to 4 to 5 hours.

Prices vary and start at around PLN 100. Cruises can be taken throughout the week, but it is best to book tickets online well in advance. The first ships leave around 9am, the last ones before 6pm.

The Museum of Archaeology and History - attractions for young people, children and the whole family

The museum is located in the remains of a former Teutonic castle. In its heyday, it was the second most beautiful Teutonic castle after the one in Malbork. Today, it houses the Museum of Archaeology and History, which consists of two adjacent buildings - the Gymnasium and the Podzamcze.

The Gymnasium building bears this name for a reason, as in the 14th century a humanist gymnasium was established there (one of the first of its kind in Poland). At present, the building houses many historical monuments, such as:

• ceramic wares,

• a copy of an Elbląg cooker from the 18th century,

• chests and furniture from past eras,

• a collection of coins minted by the Teutonic Order, among others,

• replicas of medieval musical instruments.

In Podzamcze, on the other hand, a place where a malt house was located in Teutonic times, an archaeological exhibition and many educational models allow visitors to travel back in time to past eras. There are also many permanent and temporary exhibitions, such as the "History here and now" project, which allows you to visit the museum in a more interactive way. Thanks to VR technology, you will marvel at how Elbląg and its surroundings have changed over time over the past two centuries.

The exhibits in the museum buildings can be viewed on your own or accompanied by a guide who will give you a little insight into their history. The building is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, opening hours depending on the season.

Ticket prices for the museum vary, starting at a few zlotys - the final amount is influenced by the number of exhibitions and attractions you wish to visit.

Looking for other inspiration on what to visit in Elbląg? Here are 3 more places! One of them is in the Old Town, the other two are a bit further away from the centre, but you can easily reach them by public transport or on foot.

Elbląg Library in the former Holy Spirit Hospital

At the southern exit from the church path is a former set of hospital buildings. In the Middle Ages, these included a church and buildings where help was given to those in need. For a long period it was one of the most important Teutonic hospitals. Today, its building houses the city library.

Bażantarnia and the palace of August Abbeg

In a guidebook of interesting places in Elbląg, Bazantarnia had to be included! It is a forest complex full of walking trails. A perfect place for the whole family to relax. There are as many as 4 trails of varying difficulty in Bażantarnia, some of which lead through picturesque hills.

August Abbeg's palace is also located here. It is a neo-Gothic building which today houses the headquarters of the Forestry Commission of Elbląg.

The Bażantarnia can be reached by tram, bicycle, car or on foot (from the Old Town, however, the walk will take about an hour). Admission to the park is free.

Historic mills

This is another place on the list of Elbląg attractions. The city has a rich milling tradition that dates back to the 13th century - the first mills were built during this period and operated for several centuries.

The oldest and at the same time the best preserved building of this type is the Zakrzewski Mill. It was built in the 13th century, but its original appearance has not survived to the present day. The building you can admire nowadays dates from 1886-1891, but it is no longer in use today and is no longer a museum; it houses a beauty salon.

Another preserved mill can be found in the centre of the town on the Kumieli River. This is the Bush Mill, also established in the 13th century. However, the building you see today dates from the 19th century and has also been rebuilt many times since then - only a few fragments from bygone eras remain, such as the date 1908 made of sandstone on one of the walls. "The building is also not open to the public from the inside; it houses the Hotel Młyn Elbląg and a restaurant.

Now you know what is worth seeing in Elbląg! We hope our Elbląg attractions guide has shown you how much this city has to offer.

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