Hi, Alan here. If you’re dreaming of escaping the hustle and bustle of the city to spend the May bank holiday weekend by the Baltic Sea with your family, listening to the sound of the waves, you’ve come to the right place. For me, what matters when travelling is experiencing the moment and disconnecting from the digital world. I’ll take you on a tour of my treasure trove of extraordinary places, proving that a May break with the kids by the Polish seaside is a real winner. Here you’ll find practical tips to help you organise your time so that the kids have fun and you get the peace and quiet you’ve been longing for.

Why is a May holiday with the kids by the sea the perfect idea for a family trip?

A spring trip to the coast combines relaxation with a powerful health boost for children. Right now, the concentration of therapeutic aerosols in the air reaches its annual peak, which is why a May holiday with children by the sea has such a beneficial effect on the respiratory system. Instead of sweltering in the summer heat, you have space to breathe freely and make memories, and even a May Day break by the sea with a baby is stress-free in such conditions. For me, being offline on an empty spring beach is a luxury you can’t buy for any amount of money.

What sort of weather can you expect on the Baltic coast during the May bank holiday?

At the start of the month, average temperatures are 10–15°C, though in the sun thermometers often show as high as 20°C. However, the weather on the Baltic coast in May can be quite changeable, so it’s worth preparing accordingly. Strong northerly winds can make it feel colder, and whilst rain is possible, it rarely lasts all day.

In my experience, the key is to dress in layers. A hat comes in handy in the morning, whilst a T-shirt is enough at midday. Our previous May Day 2024 trip to the seaside with the children showed us that such spring contrasts are actually excellent thermoregulation training for a child’s body.

Why is a trip to the seaside in May beneficial for a child’s immunity and hardening?

In spring, as the waves crash against the shore, they release powerful doses of iodine, bromine and calcium into the air, which naturally clears the airways and boosts the immune system. A May holiday by the sea is the perfect time to harden a child’s body due to the changeable weather conditions. Temperature differences force the blood vessels to work hard and teach the little one to react quickly to the cold.

The process is incredibly simple: let your child run barefoot on the wet, cold sand. It’s a free and the most natural therapy you can treat them to during your holiday.

Why is Świnoujście, with the widest beach, recommended for a May Day break for families with young children?

Looking at the Polish coast, Świnoujście – the widest beach in our country, stretching an impressive 200 metres – entices with its fine, powdery sand and a shallow, gentle slope into the water. This is a perfect guarantee of safety for little ones. Although the sea is still cool in May, shallow pools form on the shore which the sun quickly warms up, turning them into natural, warm paddling pools.

Such a vast space also ensures you won’t be stepping on other tourists’ toes. You’ll have plenty of room to set up camp, fly kites and simply enjoy being together here and now.

How to plan a May Day break by the sea and avoid the tourist crowds?

The secret to ensuring crowds of tourists don’t spoil your holiday is relatively simple: steer clear of the main promenades in popular resorts in favour of quieter towns and book your accommodation in advance. This also makes it possible to enjoy an affordable May Day break by the sea with the kids, without overpaying for popular spots. A good, well-thought-out plan allows you to focus solely on spending time with your family, rather than on the frustration of queuing for waffles.

How much does it cost to rent a heated holiday home for a family of four in May?

When it comes to a May holiday by the sea, holiday cottages for families are one of the most popular accommodation options. Average prices for renting a four-person property in early May range from PLN 350 to 600 per night. The final cost depends largely on the standard of the cottage, its distance from the beach and the type of heating system provided.

In May, night-time temperatures can drop close to freezing, so holiday homes with heating are an absolute must; before booking, be sure to ask the owners about the specific type of heating system.

Type of cottage	Type of heating	Average price per night (2+2)	Pros and cons
Standard	Electric heaters (fan heaters)	350–450 PLN	Cheaper, but dries out the air and takes a long time to heat the room.
Premium	Central heating / Heat pump	500–600 PLN	Constant temperature around the clock, comfort for babies.
Rustic	Wood-burning stove	400–500 PLN	Atmospheric, but requires getting up at night to add more fuel.

Which quiet seaside towns should you choose for the May bank holiday in 2026?

When considering where to go for a May Day break by the sea with children, do consider Białogóra, Dębki, Lubiatowo and Sasino. In my opinion, these are the best places for a May Day break by the sea with children, ideal for those seeking true peace and contact with wild nature in the upcoming 2026 season. In these areas, you can easily find charming seaside guesthouses for family May Day breaks, separated from the beach by a wide strip of dense pine forest. There are no noisy amusement parks or garish stalls selling plastic goods here, which makes a digital and sensory detox much easier.

By choosing such hidden gems, you are opting for a fully authentic experience of nature. A soothing walk along a forest path to the Baltic beach in Lubiatowo has been a reliable moment of total reset for me for years.

What should you look out for when choosing a hotel with a swimming pool and children’s entertainment?

When browsing attractive May Day holiday packages by the sea for families, remember that not every venue will meet your expectations. The ideal seaside hotel with children’s entertainment for the May bank holiday should ensure an optimal water temperature in the children’s area (minimum 30°C) and the presence of qualified carers – a simple, small indoor playroom is simply not enough these days. The best child-friendly seaside hotels for the May bank holiday skilfully divide activities into age groups: for the youngest, they offer sensory activities, and for older children, fascinating science experiments or cookery workshops.

Once you’ve found your dream hotel with a swimming pool and entertainment, check additionally whether the paddling pool has a non-slip floor and a safe, chlorine-free water treatment system, which effectively protects a toddler’s extremely delicate skin from irritation.

What to do with children at the seaside? Tried-and-tested attractions for sun and rain

Are you wondering what to do with the kids at the seaside over the May bank holiday when the usual walks along the shore start to bore you? Running out of ideas for interesting trips is no problem! I’ve put together a comprehensive guide for you describing the best attractions for children by the sea over the May bank holiday, which will save absolutely every day of your trip, regardless of any vagaries of the coastal weather.

Where can you find the most interesting aquariums, the seal sanctuary in Hel and marine exhibitions by the sea?

The best options for a cloudy day include the full-scale Ocean Park in Władysławowo (where you can admire 1:1 scale models) and the iconic Gdynia Aquarium. Whilst on the west coast, it’s also worth visiting the famous Wax Museum in Międzyzdroje, where children can have a souvenir photo taken with their favourite, realistically rendered fairy-tale characters.

A trip to Hel and the seal sanctuary over the long May bank holiday weekend, however, requires parents to be a bit clever with their planning to avoid exhausting traffic jams. It’s best to head onto the peninsula before 8:00 am – by 10:00 am, the road can turn into a giant car park. It’s also worth buying tickets online in advance to neatly avoid the annoying queues at the ticket offices.

What does the Gdynia Aquarium offer for pre-school children?

When visiting the Gdynia Aquarium, you’re sure to find the Wet Room, equipped with special, low and completely open tanks that little ones can easily look into. The vibrant, colourful coral reefs instantly capture the attention of fascinated preschoolers, and in the dedicated touch pool, children can safely put their hands in the water and experience the amazing texture of some marine animals for themselves.

Which seaside towns have the best water parks and hotels with swimming pools?

Reda and Sopot are the undisputed leaders when it comes to family water parks on the Polish coast. The modern water park in Reda is a sensation on a European scale – one of the main slides leads through an illuminated tunnel straight into a huge aquarium with swimming sharks. Sopot, in turn, offers an exciting wild river and really well-designed splash zones for the youngest children.

Which lighthouses on the Polish coast can you visit with young children?

Historic lighthouses always make for a wonderful day-out destination. The one in Kołobrzeg is very easy to visit with young children thanks to its spacious, wide staircase. Be careful, however, with the lighthouse in Niechorze (which requires climbing over 200 steep steps) and in Rozewie, where, due to the rather difficult ascent, there is a strict ban on children under 4 years of age entering the tower. In the latter location, however, you can easily visit the Maritime Lighthouse Museum, which perfectly illustrates to young explorers the impressive scale of these distinctive structures, without the need to climb to the very top.

Where are the amusement parks and dinosaur parks along the coast?

Family-friendly dinosaur parks are a guaranteed thrill – for example, the well-known Łeba Park is the largest facility of its kind in the whole of Pomerania, set in a natural forest, featuring roaring and moving 1:1 scale models of prehistoric reptiles. Meanwhile, in the charming town of Rewal, there is the popular Whale Park, whose main theme is the fascinating giants of the oceans. These are wonderful places where valuable education blends seamlessly and very naturally with joyful outdoor fun.

From which ports do child-friendly boat trips depart?

If you’re interested in boat trips, vessels styled as impressive pirate galleons set sail daily from the ports of Kołobrzeg, Ustka, Łeba and Gdańsk. They are perfectly suited to children’s needs and imaginations: the crew, dressed in authentic period costumes, enthusiastically organises pirate initiation ceremonies and leads animated games, whilst sturdy railings, further secured with thick netting, give parents a full guarantee of safety throughout the entire maritime adventure.

When and on which beaches is it best to look for amber and build sandcastles?

A family amber hunt is best planned early in the morning, just after a spring storm, especially whilst walking in the peaceful surroundings of Mikoszewo, Jantar and Stegna. It is on the Vistula Spit that favourable sea currents wash ashore by far the most of this beautiful Baltic gold. Look out for it carefully where the receding waves have left a characteristic tangle of seaweed and small twigs on the sand.

On the other hand, if you’re planning to build creative sandcastles, the wide beaches in Świnoujście and Łeba are ideal, where the extremely fine, soft sand holds its shape perfectly after being lightly moistened with water.

Where can you eat fresh fish in child-friendly restaurants (with a play area)?

Look for authentic taverns located near the bustling fishing ports in Władysławowo, Jastarnia or Kołobrzeg, and always ask the staff for fish from the morning’s catch, such as delicious, fresh flounder. When choosing places to eat, remember that recommended restaurants with a children’s menu and facilities for little ones usually have a safe, fenced-off play area, ideally located outside, so you can enjoy your afternoon coffee in peace whilst keeping an eye on your little ones at all times.

My personal advice: steer well clear of places where you can smell stale, burnt oil from a distance. Really good, artisanally prepared fish smells of the fresh sea, not an overworked deep-fryer.

What are the easiest R10 cycle routes for families with children on the Baltic coast?

The iconic R10 coastal cycle routes are a brilliant way to spend time actively, and in particular the section leading straight from charming Puck through Władysławowo all the way to Hel itself is considered the easiest and, at the same time, the most spectacular in terms of views for families. The path at this stage is comfortably flat, mostly paved with smooth asphalt or even cobblestones, and completely separated from dangerous traffic. You cycle at a leisurely pace right along the shore of Puck Bay, marvelling at the colourful kitesurfers on the water, and the route’s ample width allows you to easily pass wide pushchairs and children’s bike trailers.

Where can you find indoor attractions (play areas, educational workshops) when it rains?

When the capricious spring weather isn’t playing ball, you’ll find the best and most modern indoor attractions in the Tri-City – primarily the impressive Hevelianum in Gdańsk and the innovative Experyment Science Centre in Gdynia. These venues organise fantastic educational workshops for children over the May bank holiday, specifically with visiting families in mind, teaching the fascinating laws of physics and chemistry in an extremely accessible way through sensory-engaging play at a variety of fully interactive science stations.

For much younger children, the large play areas in seaside shopping centres are also a good and tried-and-tested option, though I must admit that it is the interactive science centres that provide little ones with incomparably more valuable inspiration for actively exploring the world around them.

How to prepare for a May Day break by the sea with your child? [CHECKLIST]

If you’re planning a May Day break by the sea with the kids, remember that packing your suitcases cleverly and thoughtfully is absolutely half the battle when it comes to a successful holiday. Given that the weather on the Polish coast can be quite changeable, smart packing (checklist) and a well-chosen, multi-layered wardrobe for every eventuality will allow you to spend literally the whole day outdoors stress-free, without unnecessary complaints about the biting cold.

What to pack for a May Day break for a baby and an older child? A softshell jacket and wellies are essential!

When preparing for the highly changeable weather on the Baltic coast, always dress your child in layers, using the tried-and-tested ‘onion’ method. A comfortable softshell jacket and wellies are the perfect combination – the outer fabric doesn’t restrict children’s movements at all whilst they’re playing, breathes perfectly and at the same time provides excellent protection against the gusty sea wind. Waterproof boots fitted with a removable inner liner will, in turn, allow little ones to run freely and happily through deep puddles without the slightest risk of catching an unwanted cold right at the start of the trip.

• Thermal underwear (which wicks away accumulated sweat much better and faster than classic, thick cotton).
• A warm fleece or, alternatively, a thick woollen jumper.
• Practical waterproof trousers, essential for comfort, fitted with adjustable braces.
• A lightweight hat that protects your ears well from the wind and a stretchy neck warmer.
• A breathable softshell jacket.
• High wellington boots (preferably made from ultra-light EVA foam, which won’t weigh down little feet at all).

What sand accessories are worth taking to keep your child entertained on the beach?

When on the Baltic coast, a sturdy spade with a durable metal handle, modern, foldable silicone buckets and moulds of various shapes are essential equipment that will effectively and creatively keep a child occupied on the beach for many long hours. Compacted, damp spring sand shaped by the waves is usually very heavy, so cheap, flimsy plastic spades bought from a nearby stall unfortunately break quite quickly in it. It’s also worth knowing that practical, foldable buckets are brilliant at saving a lot of valuable space in a travel suitcase packed to the brim.

Do you need to use UV sunscreen for children at the seaside in May?

Definitely yes; protective UV sunscreen (preferably SPF 50) is absolutely essential to apply regularly on the beach in May. A cold, fairly strong wind effectively masks the intense effects of the blazing sun, whose rays are also instantly reflected off the light-coloured sand and the water’s surface, dangerously amplifying the UV radiation reaching the skin. A child having the time of their life can suffer a painful sunburn in less than an hour, without even realising for a moment that they are hot at all.

Why is a beach screen useful during May Day walks with a child?

Whilst in the height of summer beach windbreaks are often the subject of numerous jokes, in spring such a structure acts as an incredibly effective barrier protecting our family from the biting, icy wind. It instantly creates a unique microclimate inside, where the temperature can be several degrees higher, allowing a snugly wrapped baby to sleep peacefully and for a long time in their pushchair, whilst an older child can play comfortably nearby on a spread-out blanket without the slightest risk of getting a dangerous draught.

Is it worth taking out additional travel insurance for a short domestic trip?

From my point of view, definitely yes, it’s worth doing. Travel insurance taken out before your holiday will, in the event of a sudden, unforeseen infection in your child, instantly cover the often high cost of a private consultation or a qualified doctor coming directly to your hotel room. Local seaside health centres during the long May bank holiday weekend can often be severely overcrowded with sick patients or simply closed by order from above, and such an affordable policy, costing just a few zlotys a day, provides you with something priceless – complete, undisturbed peace of mind.

Logistics of a seaside trip – travelling by train, travel sickness and choosing a pushchair

Getting there can be the biggest challenge, but good logistics will ensure your trip begins with relaxation rather than stress behind the wheel.

Is it worth taking the Pendolino train to the seaside, and how can you buy cheaper tickets for the May bank holiday?

When planning your logistics, bear in mind that travelling by train (Pendolino) is now a truly comfortable way to travel with the whole family – above all, you smoothly avoid the frustrating, multi-kilometre-long traffic jams that usually form on the A1 motorway, and you can take a stroll with your little one through the spacious carriage at any time without hindrance. To cleverly buy much cheaper tickets, keep an eye out in advance for the “Super Promo” promotional batch, which is released into the system exactly 30 days before your planned departure. Be sure to also take advantage of the statutory discounts and special offers available to you, such as the popular Family Ticket, which can effectively reduce the standard price for adult passengers by up to 30%.

How to deal with a child’s travel sickness on a long journey?

To ensure that troublesome travel sickness doesn’t spoil your long-awaited enjoyment of the journey, remember a few simple rules. About an hour before setting off, give your child a relatively light, high-protein meal. In the car, make sure to seat them securely facing forwards so that they can effortlessly see a stable horizon straight through the windscreen. It is also crucial to put away any screens immediately – staring at and watching fast-paced cartoons on a tablet whilst the child’s disoriented vestibular system is constantly registering the vehicle’s movement is almost a guaranteed recipe for severe nausea. In addition, such unpleasant symptoms can be effectively alleviated by directing cool air conditioning vents towards the face and taking very frequent breaks in car parks to get some fresh air.

Which pushchair with inflatable wheels is best suited to sandy beaches?

When heading out onto deep, extremely loose beach sand, you need to know that a sturdy pushchair with pneumatic tyres (ideally with a diameter of at least 12 inches) and a useful front-wheel lock for straight-line travel is your greatest ally on walks. The small, hard plastic wheels of lightweight ‘umbrella’ pushchairs literally sink deep into the loose sand straight away, mercilessly forcing the frustrated parent to lift and carry the whole pushchair in their hands.

When conditions get tougher, it’s also worth simply pulling the pushchair behind you, resting it on just the two rear wheels, which significantly reduces the resistance felt from the ground. It is precisely this priceless, little bit of parental ‘insider knowledge’ gained through trial and error that works wonders in saving tired backs on absolutely every seaside beach in Poland.

I firmly believe that this comprehensive guide will help you organise your trip efficiently and allow you to focus fully on what matters most – joyfully bonding with your loved ones. If you have any questions or are actively looking for other holiday inspiration, do get in touch with us!