The Baltic Seasider

This holiday to the Polish and German Baltic coast is packed with several centuries of history, culture, and of course exciting steam railways! Based in the historic Hanseatic cities of Gdansk and Rostock, your holiday includes visits to the largest castle in the world, the oldest British-built naval destroyer, charming railway trips on the Island of Rügen and at the Molli steam railway and numerous WWII sites.

• Visit the seaside resort town of Sopot, the ‘Rimini of the North’, and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Malbork Castle.
• See the World War II memorial sites at Westerplatte, and step aboard the preserved Polish destroyer ORP Błyskawica in the port of Gdynia.
• Enjoy river and harbour cruises in Gdansk and Rostock, with excellent views and Maritime interest.
• Experience incredible rail journeys on local, regional, and Intercity trains in the region, with vintage traction and first class accommodation, plus train trips to the famed Hel peninsula.
• Experience the thrill of steam trains to the German seaside on the Island of Rügen and the famous street-running at the Molli railway in Bad Doberan.

Saturday 25 July

Arrive to Gdansk

A direct flight from London to Gdansk, before transferring to your city centre hotel and time to spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the city. All the major attractions are close to your hotel. You will receive a week-long public transport rover ticket, so you can explore the city’s local tram network. In the evening there’s a welcome dinner at the hotel. (D)

Sunday 26 July

Seaside resort of Sopot, Destroyer Błyskawica and harbour museum in Gdynia

In the morning you travel from Gdansk’s historic main station to Sopot. This is Poland’s premier seaside resort, steeped in grand architecture from the early 20th Century. The town’s sandy beach and long boardwalk pier are easily accessible from the railway station. After time for mid-day refreshments you continue to the port city of Gdynia. The battleship ‘Bismarck’ sailed from Gdynia during German occupation in May 1941 on its lone combat mission to the North Atlantic, before being sunk by the Royal Navy in 1941. You will see more naval WWII history here in the form of the Polish destroyer ORP Błyskawica (Lightning). After the tour of the destroyer, you have time to look around Gdynia, before returning to Gdansk by train. (B)

Monday 27 July

World War II history in Gdansk, Westerplatte port ferry, and Polish Post Office museum

After a leisurely breakfast, it’s time to explore the important WWII history of the city. The first battle of WWII began on the 1st of September 1939 at the Westerplatte fort, inside Gdansk harbour. The port ferry will take you on a scenic harbour cruise down the river to Westerplatte, to visit the museum and memorial. After the visit, you return by ferry past the container terminal to the Old Town to see the WWII Museum as well as the Polish Post Office. After the visit to both museums, you are free to spend the rest of the day at leisure in Gdansk. (B)

Tuesday 28 July

World War II Museum in Gdansk, Heritage Steamer and Baltic beaches

After breakfast you visit the popular WWII Museum in Gdansk, opened in 2017. After refreshments you have the opportunity to experience the steamship Soldek. You then enjoy another of the city’s attractions, its famed tramway to the seaside at Stogi, where delightful and expansive beaches await. After free time to explore Gdansk, you meet your fellow travellers in the evening for dinner at the hotel. (B D)

Wednesday 29 July

Standard and narrow-gauge railways of Hel, World War II history and ferry to Gdansk

Located north of Gdynia, the Hel peninsula juts out in the Baltic Sea and during the 1930s was of strategic significance for Poland. You take a direct PKP Intercity train from Gdansk to the famed seaside terminus of Hel. At Hel, the standard gauge railway terminus is next to the beaches, and you can stroll along the promenade. Then you have a short transfer to the military museum and narrow-gauge railway, getting a guided tour of both and having a train ride on the line. You then take the evening ferry from Hel back to Gdansk, enjoying fine views of the Baltic Sea at dusk. (B)

Thursday 30 July

By train to Malbork Castle and across the iconic Tczew Viaduct

After breakfast you take a train from Gdansk to Malbork, traveling by PKP Intercity train hauled by a vintage electric locomotive, which is based on the British Rail Class 83. You will cross the 840-metre-long railway bridge across the River Vistula at Tczew. At Malbork you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage site, largest castle complex in the world, established by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th Century. With its expansive ramparts, towers, chapels and spacious courtyards, the Gothic red brick castle is as stunning as it is beautiful. You make the return ride to Gdansk in the late afternoon and can enjoy a last evening at leisure in the city. (B)

Friday 31 July

By train to Rostock, Germany

In the morning you board a EuroCity train and travel in First Class via Poznan to Berlin. You reach Berlin Hbf in the afternoon and change trains for the onward connection to Rostock. Rostock is your base for the rest of the tour. You check in and enjoy a group dinner at the hotel (B D)

Saturday 1 August

At leisure in Rostock, train to Warnemünde seaside resort and sunset dinner cruise 

Today you relax and enjoy the ambiance of the German seaside. You are free to explore Rostock in the morning. Then in the afternoon you take the train to Warnemünde, the local seaside resort, with its wide sandy beaches and landmark lighthouse. After exploring Warnemünde, you can return by tramway to Rostock. There you enjoy a sunset dinner cruise on the River Warne aboard a privately chartered ship. Aboard the vessel you will sail down the River Warne, right to the mouth of the river at Warnemünde. A buffet dinner and complimentary drinks are served aboard, allowing you to relax in style. (B D)

Sunday 2 August

Steam at the Molli Railway along the Baltic Coast

Today, you will visit the seaside railway known as ‘Molli.’ This railway, renowned for its street running section in Bad Doberan, features a variety of German tank engines. You journey to Kühlingsborn along the Baltic Coast. You can return to Bad Doberan to capture footage of the street running. For the rest of the day, you can make use of your rover ticket, which allows you unlimited use of the steam trains and explore the area. You may choose to visit the beautiful seaside resort at Heiligendamm. In the late afternoon, you return by rail to Rostock, where you will have a free evening to enjoy the city. (B)

Monday 3 August

Steam on the Island of Rügen and historic Stralsund

Today, German Plandampf is the focal point of attention. Your trip will begin with a service via Stralsund to Putbus on the Island of Rügen. In Putbus, you experience the narrow-gauge ‘Racing Roland’ railway, which runs to the seaside terminus at Göhren. After lunch, you will have time to explore Göhren. The return trip to Putbus will be behind a different steam locomotive. On arrival in Putbus you journey back to Rostock via Stralsund . In the evening, a farewell dinner will be held at the hotel. (B L D)

Tuesday 4 August 

Return to London

In the morning you transfer by train to Berlin airport and then a direct flight to London. (B)