Picturesque lakes with gentle, safe swimming areas, educational and walking trails, charming spots by rivers, attractive agritourisms with their friendly hosts and four-legged companions... – all of this makes Kociewie a great idea for a family holiday. See which places are worth visiting with children.
It’s a good idea to choose one of the towns by the lakes as a base, where you’ll have easy access to charming beaches and swimming areas, as well as basic dining infrastructure. For shorter trips, it’s worth going on foot or by bike, and for slightly longer ones, by car.
Szteklin swimming pool, photo by M. Kuchta
With children into nature
Pleasant swimming areas where you can spend time with your family include:
- the municipal beach in Ocypl,
- the beach at Lake Czarownic in Nowe,
- the beach in Borzechowo (Neptun),
- the beach at Twardy Dół,
- the swimming area in Szteklin
In Szteklin, an additional attraction for children will be the Park of Gigantic Bugs – an outdoor installation that allows you to learn about the appearance and characteristics of various common insect species.
The Park of Gigantic Bugs, phot: Magda Kuchta
You can spend the entire day at the Arboretum in Wirty. Several educational trails have been marked through the vast forest area, leading to the most interesting corners of the dendrological garden. Here, you can see, among other things, the only specimen of intermediate walnut in Poland, the oldest and largest Greek fir in Poland, and safely take a peek into a beehive. You can spread picnic blankets in designated areas, and for a fee, light a fire at a designated spot. The trails will take you all the way to Lake Borzechowskie and various viewpoints.
A pleasant forest walk is worth planning along the Vistula River. The Wiosło Małe and Wiosło Duże nature reserves have designated hiking trails, which will take you, among other places, to a small wooden tower that offers beautiful views.
Wiosło Duże Reserve, observation tower, photo: Magda Kuchta
The whole family can go on a kayaking trip. The Wda and Wierzyca rivers are exceptionally beautiful, but not all sections are suitable for beginner kayakers. An easy route that can be navigated with children is the section from Młynki to Wdecki Młyn on the Wda River, which covers about 13 km and takes around 3-4 hours to complete.
Sightseeing and fun
Exploring the region with children is worth combining with fun and educational attractions. One such place to visit is the Owidz Hillfort – an open-air museum and the Slavic Mythology Museum located on a moraine hill, where a Slavic settlement existed in the Middle Ages. It’s a good idea to plan your visit during open-air events at the museum, such as reenactments, performances, fairs, or knightly gatherings, and to sign up for creative workshops, like pottery. At the hillfort, you can learn about the customs, beliefs, and everyday life of the earliest inhabitants of Kociewie.
Owidz stronghold, photo: Magda Kuchta
Children will surely enjoy a visit to the castle in Gniew. It’s a charming Teutonic fortress that is especially worth visiting during knight tournaments. Gniew Castle is also a family-friendly hotel, featuring a swimming pool and a playroom.
It’s worth taking children to Tczew. While adults admire the construction of the unique Tczew Bridges, children will have the opportunity to play at the riverside playground – a large, well-equipped space offering plenty of attractions for all age groups. Additionally, especially with older children, it’s worth visiting the Vistula River Museum and the Shipwreck Conservation Centre. In addition to exploring the exhibitions and permanent displays, families can sign up for educational workshops, art classes, and experiments.
Tczew, playground and boulevards, photo: Magda Kuchta
In Starogard Gdański, it’s worth taking the family to Piekiełki – the areas around the Wierzyca River. Scenic, educational walking trails have been marked along the river, and there are also attractions for children – a summer swimming pool with slides and open playgrounds. It’s also a place with infrastructure for campers.
Piekielki, Starogard Gdański, photo: Magda Kuchta
The Kociewska Farm in Godziszewo is a place to taste Kociewie cuisine and enjoy entertainment for children. The youngest visitors can experience a mini zoo with farm animals, mini golf, obstacle courses and mazes, inflatable trampolines, and outdoor games.
On the national road No. 22 in the village of Frank, there is a garden plant nursery whose owners have opened their demonstration gardens for visitors. These are miniature gardens arranged in various historical and contemporary styles. Children will surely enjoy the maze and the wooden bridge suspended above it.
Godziszewo farm, photo: Magda Kuchta
