The Coastal Landscape Park (NPK) is one of Poland’s most valuable and diverse protected areas, playing a key role in the Baltic coast nature protection system. The Park underpins the region’s unique microclimate, covering Władysławowo, Jastrzębia Góra, Hel, Puck and nearby seaside resorts.
What is its history? What does it offer? Let’s find out!
The history of the Coastal Landscape Park dates back to 1978, when it was established as one of Poland’s first four landscape parks. Protecting this distinctive coastal strip was driven by the need to preserve its unique aesthetic, geological and biological values amid growing urbanisation. Established in January 1978, the Park set a new direction for tourism management in Gdańsk Pomerania, focusing on sustainable development and protecting marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
At that time, Poland was still developing its landscape protection system, and NPK became a testing ground for integrating human activity with the preservation of pristine nature. Over the decades, the Park evolved, adapting its legal framework and boundaries to changing ecological knowledge. Today, NPK’s status as an area of exceptional natural value is undisputed.
Key historical dates and parameters | Details |
Year established | 1978 |
Order of establishment | Poland’s fourth landscape park |
Primary objective | Protection of natural, historical and cultural values |
Development focus | Combining active protection and sustainable tourism |
The Coastal Landscape Park’s geography is defined by a unique division between land and water. The Park covers 18 804 ha, making it significant in the context of European ecological corridors. What distinguishes NPK from other Polish parks is that most of its territory—11 352 ha—is marine water, mainly within the Inner Puck Bay. The land area covers 7 452 ha and stretches in a narrow coastal strip from Białogóra to the tip of the Hel Peninsula.
The Park is complemented by a 17 540-ha buffer zone. It protects the most valuable ecosystems from the direct impact of intensive development and industry.
NPK area structure | Value in hectares (ha) | Percentage share |
Total area | 18 804 | 100% |
Marine waters | 11 352 | ~60% |
Land area | 7 452 | ~40% |
Park buffer zone | 17 540 | N/A |
This diversity gives visitors a range of experiences: from views of the open Baltic Sea in Jastrzębia Góra, through the intimate atmosphere of Puck Bay in Rzucewo, to Hel’s unique setting, with land surrounded by water on almost every side. This spatial arrangement supports leisure that attracts both water sports enthusiasts and forest hikers.
The Coastal Landscape Park’s vegetation is fascinating evidence of life adapting to extreme environmental conditions. Its vascular flora includes around 700 species, nearly half the flora of all Gdańsk Pomerania. Notably, 141 species of plants, bryophytes, fungi and lichens are legally protected, placing NPK among Poland’s leading protected areas for biodiversity.
One of the region’s best-known botanical symbols is sea holly (Eryngium maritimum). This rare plant, with distinctive prickly leaves and a blue hue, is the focus of intensive active conservation in the Park. Its presence on dunes indicates a stable sandy ecosystem, which is highly vulnerable to degradation from excessive tourist traffic.
Characteristic NPK biotopes and flora species | Description and ecological significance |
Dune ecosystems | Dominated by marram grass and sand couch; they stabilise the sand |
Atlantic bogs | Supporting cloudberry (a boreal relict) and European bog myrtle |
Salt meadows (halophytes) | Distinctive salt-tolerant flora of Beka and Mechelińskie Łąki reserves |
Beech and oak forests | Ancient stands on Rozewie cliffs, protecting shore from erosion |
For visitors seeking peace, walks through cliff forests, where common polypody and marsh Labrador tea can be found, are an excellent form of forest therapy. Meanwhile, raised bogs protected in reserves such as "Bielawa" and "Białogóra" offer a unique chance to observe vegetation typical of Europe’s cooler regions—an extraordinary feature of the coastal landscape.
The Coastal Landscape Park is a key link in Europe’s bird migration system. Located along the coast, it forms a natural ecological corridor used by hundreds of bird species during seasonal migrations. The waters of Puck Bay and coastal wetlands provide resting and feeding grounds for waterbirds and waders, making the region a paradise for ornithologists and nature photographers.
The Beka Nature Reserve is recognized as a bird sanctuary of European importance. Nearly 200 bird species are recorded here, including rare breeding species linked to salt meadows and reed beds. In autumn, huge flocks of swallows, starlings and wagtails gather here, forming groups of many thousands in the reed beds.
Fauna monitoring and protection in NPK | Key areas of activity |
Bird monitoring | Protect sand martins, forest owls and breeding species in reserves |
Marine mammals | Monitoring grey seals and porpoises in Puck Bay |
Nest box programme | Over 130 boxes: blue tits, great tits, starlings, |
Amphibian protection | Mechelińskie Łąki Reserve: refuge for all native toad species, including the rare natterjack toad |
The Park also conducts intensive active mammal conservation efforts. Annual winter bat counts and forest owl monitoring (e.g. in 2026) demonstrate its commitment to preserving the region’s ecological balance.
The landscape diversity of the Coastal Landscape Park is unique along the entire Baltic coast. All types of sea shores can be found within the Park: high cliffs, dune shores and low lagoon coasts. This geomorphological variety directly influences the character of the tourist towns.
Jastrzębia Góra is famous for Poland’s highest cliffs, reaching over 30 metres. The “Through the Ravines and Cliffs of Rozewie” trail offers close views of the sea’s destructive yet creative power. Picturesque ravines such as Lisi Jar and Łebski Żleb lead directly to stony beaches and are among the region’s greatest landscape attractions.
The Hel Peninsula has an entirely different character—a 34-km sandy spit and one of Poland’s most recognizable landmarks. Here, sand accumulation formed a unique strip of land just a few hundred metres wide in places. Visitors to Hel or Jastarnia enjoy direct access to wide sandy beaches shaped by coastal currents and wind.
Another phenomenon is Rewa Head, or “Szperk”—a narrow, kilometre-long sandy spit extending into Puck Bay. With exceptional views, it is often used as a backdrop for photo shoots and serves as a base for kitesurfing enthusiasts. This diversity means NPK never grows dull, offering entirely new aesthetic experiences every few kilometres.
One of the strongest reasons to visit the Coastal Landscape Park region is its health-promoting microclimate. Iodine plays a central role: this key trace element is essential for thyroid hormone production, metabolism regulation, and immune and nervous system support. Sea air, saturated with marine aerosol, acts as a natural inhalation treatment, especially benefiting people with upper respiratory conditions and allergies.
Contrary to popular belief, iodine levels are highest not in summer but during the cooler months—from October to March. Autumn and winter storms, with strong winds and high waves, release minerals from seawater into the atmosphere most effectively. For tourists, this is an excellent opportunity for an “off-season” break.
Benefits of iodine inhalation in NPK | Mechanism and benefits |
Optimal period | October–March (frequent storm season) |
Coastal zone | Highest saturation within 300m of waterline |
Minimum walking time | Just 45 min seaside walking replenishes deficiencies |
Recommended stay | 2–3 weeks for lasting immune support |
Health benefits of staying in the Park also include stress reduction. The sound of waves, clean air and contact with forest greenery have proven relaxing effects, fitting the modern “slow life” trend. Hotels in Władysławowo and Jastrzębia Góra offering wellness packages based on walks through NPK invest in guests’ wellbeing for months after their holiday ends.
The Coastal Landscape Park is ideal for active leisure enthusiasts. An extensive network of trails enables environmentally friendly exploration of the region. The most popular is the R10 cycling route (EuroVelo 10), part of the international Baltic Sea route. The section through NPK, from Białogóra via Władysławowo to Hel, is considered one of Poland’s most scenic.
R10 offers cyclists unique views and contact with nature, running largely through areas closed to motor traffic. It is ideal for families with children: the route is relatively easy and its modern surface ensures a comfortable ride.
For hikers, the Park has prepared several educational trails, including:
“Through the Ravines and Cliffs of Rozewie”: a 4.5-km loop featuring natural monuments and unique landforms.
“Torfowe Kłyłe” in Jastarnia: a 2-km trail through reed beds and birch forests along Puck Bay.
“Każa” wilderness: a route between Chałupy and Kuźnica showcasing dune vegetation and heathland.
Libek Hill in Kuźnica: leads to the highest dune elevation in the western part of the Hel Peninsula.
Physical activity amid the Park’s unspoilt nature benefits not only physical fitness but also mental recovery. Hotels working with bike rentals or offering guided NPK tours become active recreation hubs—highly sought after by today’s travellers.
Tourism in the Coastal Landscape Park is about more than nature; it also offers the rich culture of Northern Kashubia. Fishing traditions, unique architecture and distinctive folklore are key parts of the visitor experience. Towns such as Puck, Hel and Kuźnica have preserved their historic layouts, characteristic fishing houses and historic churches.
Kashubian cuisine is a pillar of regional identity, based on local ingredients: fish, potatoes, forest berries and honey. For visitors, food is often a key part of experiencing a region, and restaurants serving traditional dishes with a modern twist are highly acclaimed.
Traditional NPK specialities | Description and key ingredients |
Kashubian-style herring | Marinated herring fillets in onion, vinegar and tomato sauce |
Kashubian fish soup | Aromatic broth of cod, eel and pike-perch with vegetables |
Plince with pomoćka | Crispy potato pancakes with curd and sour cream |
Ferkase | Chicken stew in white sauce with raisins |
Kuch miodny | Traditional nut-and-fruit cake like gingerbread |
It is also worth visiting local museums, such as the Fisheries Museum in Hel and the open-air museum in Nadole, to experience the spirit of historic Kashubia. Combining regional flavors and history with a hotel offering creates authenticity, highly valued in the age of globalization. Institutions promoting local crafts and cuisine help preserve the region’s cultural heritage.
The Coastal Landscape Park has immense potential, combining rigorous nature protection with a high-quality tourism offering. Since its establishment in 1978, the Park has evolved toward modern landscape management, becoming a symbol of the Polish coast. For tourists, visiting the Park means encountering rare species such as sea holly and grey seals, while enjoying the benefits of its unique microclimate.
The region’s tourism prospects are inseparable from the active conservation carried out by the Park. Investments in infrastructure, such as the R10 cycling route and educational trails, show that modern tourism can and should coexist with nature. For visitors, the Park guarantees the preservation of the qualities that draw guests to the Baltic: clean air, tranquillity and beautiful views.
By choosing a holiday in the Coastal Landscape Park, tourists invest not only in their health and relaxation but also support the protection of one of Europe’s most beautiful areas. Here, Kashubian history meets wild nature, creating an unforgettable mosaic of experiences that delights visitors year-round.
