Westerplatte

Westerplatte is a small peninsula at the mouth of the Dead Vistula about 7 km north-east of Gdansk's Main Town, in Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, and the place where the Second World War began on 1 September 1939 when the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein opened fire on the Polish military transit depot. City bus 106 runs from near Gdansk Glowny to the Westerplatte terminus in about 25-30 minutes, and a seasonal boat also sails from the Motlawa quay in the Main Town. Taxis, bicycles and ride-hail apps are further transport options. At the site, visitors walk a signposted path past the ruins of Guardhouse No. 1, which now has a small museum with a ticket under about 20 PLN, the remains of barracks and the former railway embankment, and the Westerplatte Defenders Monument, a large stone memorial on a rise above the harbour. Information boards describe the seven-day defence led by Major Henryk Sucharski. The grounds are free to enter. A morning visit suits the site, which can be done in about two hours on foot, followed by an afternoon in Gdansk's Main Town or the nearby Museum of the Second World War in the city centre, which provides context. The best window is May to September, when the boat runs and walking conditions are pleasant, although the memorial is moving in any season. Early arrival avoids tour groups. Food options at the site are limited to a few kiosks and cafes near the bus terminus, so a meal in Gdansk before or after is practical. The paths are mostly flat but partly unpaved, and the exposed peninsula can be windy even in summer, so a light jacket is advisable.