Westerplatte
Gdańsk, Poland
The peninsula at the mouth of Gdańsk harbour where the first shots of the Second World War were fired on 1 September 1939. A tall monument, ruined guardhouses and outdoor panels tell the story; parking is by the entrance.
Westerplatte in Gdańsk (Danzig) in Pomerania is a peninsula at the harbour entrance and is regarded as the place where the Second World War began. It was handed to Poland for military use in 1926 and housed the Polish Military Transit Depot. At around 4:45 a.m. on 1 September 1939 the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein fired some of the first shots of the war here.
One of the key sites is Guardhouse No. 1 (Wartownia nr 1), built in 1933/34. Its crew of 14 men under Piotr Buder held out until the surrender on 7 September 1939, despite heavy damage from an air raid on 2 September. The building was moved to its present site in 1967 and has housed an exhibition of uniforms, maps and a reconstruction of the interior since 1974. The Cemetery of the Defenders opened on 22 July 1946 on the site of the destroyed Guardhouse No. 5; Major Henryk Sucharski, the last commander, was buried there on 1 September 1971.
- Nearest town
- Gdańsk, Poland
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 54.4064, 18.6700
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Poland: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Some motorway sections are tolled; pay with the e-TOLL app. Motorway limit for cars: 140 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- PG Camper ParkMotorhome stopover5 km from Westerplatte · 30 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityWi-Fi
- Camper Park StogiCampsite6 km from WesterplatteElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Camping KawenaCampsite6 km from WesterplatteElectricityShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Park 45Campsite6 km from Westerplatte · 1,000 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Sopot 34Campsite7 km from WesterplatteTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- HelkampCampsite23 km from WesterplatteTentsCaravansMotorhomesShowersToilets
All campsites in Poland · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Westerplatte?
Westerplatte is in Gdańsk, Poland, at GPS 54.4064, 18.6700. It is about 8 km from Sopot.
Can you camp near Westerplatte?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is PG Camper Park, about 5 km away; within 25 km there are 15 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Westerplatte?
Westerplatte is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Teutonic castles of the Vistula: Gdańsk to Toruń.
What is there to see near Westerplatte?
Places worth a stop nearby: Krzywy Domek (8 km), Malbork Castle (47 km), Rozewie Lighthouse (52 km) and Frombork Cathedral Hill (66 km).
When is the best time to visit Westerplatte?
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)