It never occurred to me to go to the Polish sea in winter. While in summer this direction seems like a natural choice, in winter it was always the mountains… Mainly because of entertainment for the child. In the winter of 2023, my husband and I were extremely exhausted. On top of that, the stress of daily life was weighing heavily on us, and then unexpectedly we received a proposal to leave the child with the grandparents and go somewhere for a few days of "vacation." That’s when my husband asked if I would like to see the Polish sea in winter?
At first, I was a bit reluctant, as the distance to cover was daunting, but curiosity won out… at 40 years old I had never been to the sea in Poland in winter. However, I set one condition - it had to be Pogorzelica and one of the Blue Baltic apartments. We had stayed in these apartments many times and really liked them. They are fully equipped apartments, which, after stocking the kitchen with groceries, essentially become a home.
The idea for a winter weekend by the Polish sea came unexpectedly
We booked the Klif apartment in Blue Baltic and contacted the hostess, as we wanted to arrange the details of our arrival - we were very keen on an earlier check-in time (which was no problem for the hostess). We live nearly 700 km from Pogorzelica, so I won’t hide that despite the vision of a romantic weekend for two, there were doubts about whether the apartment would be warm in winter, whether any store nearby would be open, or whether we would have to visit places like Trzebiatów for basic shopping… and whether the time spent at the sea in winter wouldn’t drag on, as we are people who like to spend every free moment actively - that's how we best relax.
Starting the winter weekend by the Polish sea in Pogorzelica
The estate where the apartments are located looks just as beautiful in the winter scenery as it does in summer. The parking lot is cleared of snow. The hostess waits for us in the building where the Klif apartment is located. At this moment it seems we are the only residents of the estate… the silence, empty parking spaces, and squirrels happily jumping around the nearby pines. We enter our apartment, which warmly welcomes us from the entrance, calming me as I was worried about a cold apartment. My husband doesn’t let me enjoy the beautiful interior for long, makes coffee in the espresso machine, pours it into thermal mugs, and urges us to go greet the sea immediately, which I do with great enthusiasm.
The beach greets us with an unusual (for us) sight… The sand covered in white snow and the sea with ice floes on the shores encourage us to walk towards Niechorze. Despite the cold wind, a walk in such a scenery gives us great pleasure.
It’s a wonderful feeling to see snow on the beach for the first time in my life
On the way back, we exit through the main entrance in Pogorzelica to see if any shop, café, or restaurant is open. Out of these three, we only find a shop, but it is well-stocked, allowing us to buy products for a warm dinner. We spend the evening in the apartment with a glass of wine, good music… and fall into Morpheus’ arms. Good night.
Winter walk along the beach from Niechorze to Pogorzelica
For the first time in several months, we could afford a long sleep and an even longer lazing in bed, without duties, without stress, calmly planning the day in Pogorzelica. For breakfast, my husband bought fresh rolls, and in the meantime, I prepared scrambled eggs. It’s snowing outside but it doesn’t scare us. Dressed warmly from head to toe, we head to the sea. Here (despite the short distance from the apartments) the weather surprises us with strong, gusty, and incredibly cold wind, so we retreat inland. A quick change of plans. We go to Niechorze along the bike path by the narrow-gauge railway. In Niechorze, we have hot chocolate and delicious cake in one of the cafés. Then we go to the Lighthouse, which is open all year round and to the museum. From the cliff where the lighthouse is located, we notice more people on the beach, which prompts us to go down and return to Pogorzelica along the shore of our beautiful and frozen Baltic. We pass several groups, mainly older people, and from the language they speak, we know they are Polish seniors. Among the younger "beachgoers" are mostly people moving on cross-country skis. We talk to one couple and already know what we will equip ourselves with when visiting Pogorzelica next winter ☺️ We love all kinds of physical activities.
Time flows slower at the Polish sea in winter
We exit the beach through the main entrance again and stop by the shop. One look at the shelves and I already know, I’ll make dinner in the apartment today because I see all the necessary products, and the kitchen is fully equipped. After dinner, a short nap and we head to Trzęsacz. It’s already dark, but from the skiers we met on the beach, we learned about the ice rink and a nice pizzeria, which we decide to visit. Two hours of fun on the ice whets our appetite and today I wonder if the pizza served was so good that we felt unsatisfied after eating it, or if we were so hungry after skating. We return to Pogorzelica. A hot shower, a glass of wine. We find a board game on the shelf and laugh like children with each move of the pieces. After a day spent in the fresh, frosty air, we quickly feel sleepy. Today I learned something about myself - I like lazy mornings like today’s. I like feeling that I don’t have to do anything, but I can do everything.
What can you do in winter by the Polish sea?
Both my husband and I wake up in excellent moods, with a ready plan for the day. After a hearty breakfast, we pack a small snack into a small backpack, pour hot tea with lemon into a thermos, and this time head to the pine forest stretching along the coast. The path, which in summer is a route for cyclists, we walk towards Mrzeżyno. In summer, riding a bike, the goal would probably be Mrzeżyno. In winter, we want to reach a viewpoint about 7 km from the center of Pogorzelica.
The weather favors us, the sound of trees makes our hike pleasant. After about 2 hours we reach our destination. Enjoying the view, we eat the snacks we brought and warm ourselves with hot tea. On the way back, I persuade my husband to take a short car trip to Pobierowo. We go there in summer by bike and eat ice cream from a local artisan. Besides, I won’t hide that I’m curious about what other tourist towns look like at this time of year.
In Pobierowo, the ice cream shop is closed, but we have a delicious dinner at a hotel in the town center. Full, we return to Pogorzelica.
I was afraid that in winter, seaside towns might be boring and monotonous. However, such a trip turns out to be completely different from a summer holiday. For busy forty-year-olds and seniors, it is an excellent way to unwind and relax.
I don’t know if it’s just us who can’t sit still? We have coffee in our lovely apartment and already have an idea for another walk because we can’t be in Pogorzelica without visiting Stajnia Czahary. Our child rides horses there every summer, under the watchful eye of instructors. We don’t ride, but we love watching these beautiful animals, the horses.
The sight of running horses with steam rising from their nostrils is impressive. Although there are no lessons at this time of year, you can take a ride if you know how to ride a horse. It quickly gets dark, so we return to Blue Baltic. We make popcorn in the microwave, turn on Netflix, and have an evening movie session.
Winter in Poland is exceptionally beautiful
This is the last day of our winter stay at the sea in Blue Baltic. This time I wake up earlier than my husband but don’t get out of bed. I quietly take the book I brought from the bedside table, which I planned to read during the stay but didn’t have the time, so now at least I’ll start ☺️
My husband wakes up and proposes that he makes breakfast today and asks me to dress warmly. I wonder what he’s "up to." When I come out of the bathroom, a surprise awaits me - breakfast in the garden. The sun, although with lazy rays, falls into our garden, there’s no wind, which allows for a meal outdoors. Nothing tastes better than a slice of bread with butter and jam, washed down with hot coffee, served in the winter garden.
Today we end our winter trip to the Polish sea
I must admit honestly that I haven’t felt so rested in a long time. My mind is refreshed, yet full of new professional ideas. This winter weekend by the sea was a hit!
After breakfast, we go to the nearby aquapark, where we also have a delicious lunch. We return to the apartment by the beach, which today is filled only with the cries of seagulls and a few strolling people, and the sea seems to smell like never before. "Gathering" a supply of iodine, we march along the beach, which is as hard as asphalt (here, as an interesting note, I’ll write that we met cyclists and during a conversation with them they told us that at this time of year, on windless days, the beach is one of the best cycling paths in Poland).
Upon return, it’s time to pack. Although I knew it wouldn’t be a long vacation, this time definitely passed too quickly. However, it allowed us to recharge our batteries, which I think will last until summer. Blue Baltic, see you in summer… and who knows, maybe earlier, because we haven’t been to the sea at Easter yet ☺️