The wonders of Pomerania

The Baltic coast with its broad strip of sandy beaches is the favorite vacation spot of Poles. That said, the strip of mainland in its vicinity is also appealing. The area is full of lake districts with moraine hills and a multitude of historical monuments - witnesses of Slavic, Prussian and Scandinavian influences.
You can easily discover these attractions by bike. West Pomerania is a region proud of the scale of bicycle investments and a developed network of long-distance routes. Many of them follow the tracks of former railways, guaranteeing cyclists unthought-of fun. You travel along the smooth asphalt with a smile and effortlessly, without the company of cars, on your way passing hills, forests, lakes and gothic buildings.
Our program combines (and in neat proportions) Baltic resorts, historic cities, and natural treasures of the lake district known from postcards. The route is easy and progresses without large slopes, mostly on delimitated bicycle paths. You can shorten two longer stages by taking a train with your bike. Choose a date now and count down the time to an exceptional, active vacation!

10 days programme

Day 1 (Wednesday) Arrival to Szczecin and Moryń
We wait for participants at the Szczecin station (you can get here in 2 hours from Berlin) at an agreed meeting point (station or guarded car park) at 5:00 p.m. At dinner time we arrive at a charming guesthouse on Lake Morzycko, where we spend the first 2 nights.

Day 2 (Thursday) Moryń and surroundings   35-50 km cycling
Have you heard of the magical place called Moryń? You’re probably still unfamiliar with it, since the town is located off the beaten track, at the very edge of the Polish “wild west”. It is remarkable, and looks vividly as if brought from the Middle Ages, completely surrounded by a defensive wall of stone. After enjoying its charm, we will absorb the nature of the Cedynia Landscape Park. Our journey progresses down the Odra river through a forest road along the wild Słubia river. After that, you can take a ferry trip to the German side and return through a former rail route from Siekierki, which is hidden among forests, ponds and hedges.

Day 3 (Friday) Moryń - Gryfino   65 km cycling
We continue our ride along the former trackway to Trzcińsko Zdrój - another ancient city by the water, surrounded by walls and towers. Here we come across the route Blue Velo. On our way, there is the Castle of the Order of St John, a pleasant beach and bathing area in Banie, the largest vineyard in Poland (Winnica Turnau) and another picturesque section of the former tram tracks situated between lakes. You can shorten this phase by hopping on a train at Godków Station after travelling 12 km.

Day 4 (Saturday) Gryfino - Szczecin   35-50 km cycling
We are stopping at the German side of the border for a while. We can extend our stay by visiting the village-garden of Mescherin on the Oder river and another impressive medieval town - Gartz. Next, we are awaited by a pleasant ride to the region’s capital - Szczecin. This cyclist-friendly town greets us with a magnificent scenery of the Oder boulevards with a multitude of bustling restaurants and moored ships. It is no coincidence that we will be spending Saturday evening here - it’s easy to find a concert and great entertainment. It is also worth getting to know the architecture of the city center with the star-shaped arrangement of avenues and roundabouts, imitating 19th-century Paris.

Day 5 (Sunday) Szczecin - Wolin   30 km cycling
We organize a short bus transfer from Szczecin (60 km, 1 hour drive) to Stepnica on the right bank of the Szczecin Lagoon - a large body of water separated from the Baltic Sea by islands. We get off next to the beach and a stylish wooden tavern. The route continues on a climatic path along the embankment on the eastern shore, through a vast meadow reserve where Polish ponies (koniks) and shaggy Scottish highland cattle graze. We spend the night in Wolin. This quiet town was once a great, blooming settlement in the 10th century. Its former glory is recalled by the Slavs and Vikings’ Center - a living open-air museum on the island.

Day 6 (Monday) Wolin - Rewal   50 km cycling
We take the alleys along the Dziwna strait to Kamień Pomorski with a pleasant old town, a port full of yachts and a cathedral with famous organs. From there, it is within a stone throw along the broad bicycle path to the Baltic Sea, and then along the coast through beech forests. Dziwnówek, Łukęcin, Pobierowo - be sure to visit these beautiful beaches. Accommodation is near the ruins of the church in Trzęsacz protruding on the cliff.

Day 7 (Tuesday) Rewal - Kołobrzeg  45 km cycling
The “Velo Baltica” route leads along a series of bicycle paths through other seaside resorts. Its most picturesque part is the wooden footbridge across the dune in Dźwirzyno. By boarding the single-track railway in Trzęsacz, we can shorten this easy stage by another 10 km and spend more time on the beach, dancing in the sea waves or in the aquapark in Pogorzelica. Kołobrzeg is a large port with a distinguished history and a beautiful lighthouse, spa district, gothic town hall with a rebuilt old town, pier and promenade.

Day 8 (Wednesday) Kołobrzeg - Połczyn Zdrój   83 km cycling or 18-65 km cycling and train transfer 
If you want to cover this stage entirely on two wheels - you will count down kilometers quickly on the Old Railway Trail which runs mainly through the forests of the former narrow gauge railway to Karlino. Owing to great rail connections, there are easier route options to choose from - for example a shortcut of 40 km by train to Białogard. You can continue your journey with the Baltic Sea and cycle along the shore a further 35 km to Mielno, then from Koszalin by train to Rąbin. In the easiest version, we ride the bike only 18 km Rąbino - Połczyn, first along the beautiful maple alley and then on the railway embankment. Our overnight stay is in Połczyn Zdrój - "a resort with a soul" - there is a nice market square, countless old houses, a castle, a park and sanatoriums.

Day 9 (Thursday) Połczyn Zdrój - Drawsko Pomorskie/Gudowo  47 - 55 km cycling
The former railway route to Złocieniec, running through so called Pomeranian Switzerland, surpasses all the previous trails with its attractiveness! Halfway, we can enjoy a picnic on the "Gęsia Łączka" beach and swim in Lake Siecino. Our further route run to Drawsko - either in a completely wild version through forests, or through villages and alleys between moraine hills above the large, picturesque Lubie Lake, where we can enjoy trout straight from the water in the inn situated next to the ponds. We spend the last night either in a hotel in Drawsko, or - in a luxurious variant - in a four-star “Lubie Resort” in Gudowo, in apartments with a wonderful view of the lake.

Day 10 (Friday) End or extension of the trip
In the morning we travel by bus back to Szczecin. You can also extend your stay in the Drawskie Lakeland for a few more days, taking a bicycle tour of Lake Lubie or a rafting trip on the Drawa River. In that case, return to Szczecin is possible by direct train.

7 days programme

A trip around the pleasant Moryń, a drive along the Blue Velo trail - this is a very attractive part of the route. However, if you don't have the time for a 10-day holiday, you are welcome to book a shorter 7-day version of the program  which starts in Szczecin:

Day 1 (Saturday) Arrival to Szczecin

Day 2 (Sunday) Szczecin - Wolin   55 km cycling

Day 3 (Monday) Wolin - Rewal  50 km cycling

Day 4 (Tuesday) Rewal - Kołobrzeg  45 km cycling

Day 5 (Wednesday) Kołobrzeg - Połczyn Zdrój   83 km cycling or 18-65 km cycling and train transfer

Day 6 (Thursday) Połczyn Zdrój - Drawsko Pomorskie/Gudowo  47 - 55 km cycling

Day 7 (Friday) End or extension of the trip

See more photos in a large gallery

Dates of tours in 2024: (orange = start of 7-days programme)

WRP-1   24.04 (27.04) - 03.05
WRP-2   01.05 (04.05) - 10.05
WRP-3   08.05 (11.05) - 17.05
WRP-4   15.05 (18.05) - 24.05
WRP-5   22.05 (25.05) - 31.05
WRP-6   29.05 (01.06) - 07.06
WRP-7   05.06 (08.06) - 14.06
WRP-8   12.06 (15.06) - 21.06
WRP-9   19.06 (22.06) - 28.06
WRP-10   26.06 (29.06) - 05.07
WRP-11   03.07 (06.07) - 12.07
WRP-12   10.07 (13.07) - 19.07
WRP-13   17.07 (20.07) - 26.07
WRP-14   24.07 (27.07) - 02.08
WRP-15   31.07 (03.08) - 09.08
WRP-16   07.08 (10.08) - 16.08
WRP-17   14.08 (17.08) - 23.08
WRP-18   21.08 (24.08) - 30.08
WRP-19   28.08 (31.08) - 06.09
WRP-20   04.09 (07.09) - 13.09