After the Koszalin Marathon: Kołobrzeg

The Route: Koszalin → Kołobrzeg → Koszalin Logistics: Regional train each way, then on foot. A straight out-and-back with no overnight. Marathon Month: October Duration: Day trip

Koszalin ──(about 40 min, regional train)──> Kołobrzeg ──(on foot)──> pier, lighthouse, fishing harbour
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    └─────────────────────────────(regional train back)───────────────────────────────┘

Nocna Ściema finishes in the small hours of a Sunday, so the first realistic day out is Sunday afternoon or the Monday. Kołobrzeg is the easiest choice: a regional train takes about 40 minutes, and the town is compact enough to cover on foot with tired legs.

October on the Baltic: the sea in late October is for looking at, not swimming in. Bring a windproof layer, and expect some seafront cafés to run reduced hours outside the summer season.

The pier and the seafront

The concrete pier is 220 m long and ends in viewing terraces and cafés. It is lit in colour after dark, which suits a late-afternoon walk that runs into the evening. The promenade runs along the shore beside it, and the walk needs no planning.

The lighthouse and the harbour

The lighthouse is 26 m tall and houses a minerals museum. The present building dates from 1947, after the original was destroyed in the Second World War. Opening hours are not fixed in the sources, so check them on the day before climbing. The fishing harbour is a short walk from the lighthouse.

The basilica

The basilica of St Mary was built between the late 14th and early 15th centuries and was destroyed three times in wars. It holds a Gothic candelabrum from 1327 and a cross from 1330. It sits in the old town, a short walk from the seafront.

Getting back

Regional trains run both ways, but this guide does not carry a timetable. Check the last return before settling into a restaurant, particularly on a Sunday.