Cycling West Pomerania in Poland: 5 popular cycle routes [2024]
West Pomerania is one of the two regions in Poland with the most well-developed cycling infrastructure, offering a variety of routes that run through different parts of the region and across diverse landscapes. Particularly noteworthy are the coastal routes, which connect popular tourist spots with scenic green areas. West Pomerania's cycling routes are also supported by a continually expanding network of Cyclist-Friendly Places.
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Here are our recommendations for the best cycling routes in West Pomerania, showcasing the most scenic and attractive routes this region has to offer. Each route provides a unique experience, lush green areas and charming towns. Below, you will find an overview of each route with link to detailed information.
Bicycle routes of the West Pomerania cycling network:
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All photos by Simon Thread, Cycling Thread.
EuroVelo 10 - Velo Baltica
The entire length of Poland's EuroVelo 10 from 艢winouj艣cie to Elbl膮g is around 540 kilometers, with about 240 kilometers running through West Pomerania. Unsurprisingly, the route is most popular in summer - counters installed along the route show that thousands of cyclists ride West Pomerania's EuroVelo 10 each day. However, Velo Baltica is also a great option for a long cycling weekend in spring or autumn, or even for two separate two-day trips during the year. The excellent train connections make it easy to divide the route into two stages: from 艢winouj艣cie to Ko艂obrzeg and from Ko艂obrzeg to Ustka, perfect for two-day weekends.
An aspect that highlights how seriously West Pomerania approaches cycling tourism is the network of Cyclist-Friendly Places. These are businesses and institutions offering various services, primarily accommodation options such as campgrounds, youth hostels, guesthouses, and hotels. Their key commitment to cyclists is providing overnight stays for just one night, a service that can be hard to find along the coast during the summer. Each of these places is also required to offer a locked, secure space for bicycles. The network includes not only accommodations but also dining establishments, shops, and bicycle services.
More: EuroVelo 10 - Velo Baltica
Szczecin Lagoon Cycle Route (Wok贸艂 Zalewu Szczeci艅skiego)
The full cycling loop around Szczecin Lagoon and Lake D膮bie spans 296 kilometers. Of that, about 200 kilometers are on the West Pomerania side, one of the few Polish regions actively implementing a network of tourist cycling routes. The remaining 100 kilometers lie on the German side, offering interesting examples of how Germany develops its cycling tourism. Together, these sections create a great opportunity for a few active days of cycling in West Pomerania and neighboring Mecklenburg.
The waterside sections of the Szczecin Lagoon Cycle Route are some of the most striking and memorable parts of the entire route. On the Polish, eastern side of Szczecin Lagoon and Lake D膮bie, roughly 40 kilometers of the route are covered with gravel. On the German side, about 10 kilometers of pleasant gravel paths stretch between Bugewitz and Anklam. Interestingly, gravel wasn鈥檛 the first choice for the surface but was necessary due to the delicate structure of the dikes, which couldn鈥檛 support more durable asphalt.
More: Szczecin Lagoon Cycle Route
Old Railway Route (Stary Kolejowy Szlak)
The entire "balloon" loop is about 250 kilometers, so planning daily distances of around 60-80 kilometers allows for a leisurely three or four days on the Old Railway Route. Since the goal of our trips is never to set records, and there's always plenty of work showcasing the route's highlights, we planned to spend four days on the route's "balloon." For the Old Railway Route, you can easily take a train to towns at the start of the route, such as Wa艂cz and Z艂ocieniec, as well as to those near the end, around the balloon loop - Karlino, Bia艂ogard, Koszalin, and Ko艂obrzeg.
The advantages of railway cycling routes are the escape from car traffic, gentle inclines, and close connection to nature. This is exactly how long sections of the Old Railway Route look, where the tracks of decommissioned railway lines have been repurposed for cycling. Currently, cyclists can enjoy two such sections: from Karlino to Zieleniewo near Ko艂obrzeg (with a small break in Go艣cino) and from Z艂ocieniec to Po艂czyn-Zdr贸j. A third section will run from Wierzchowo near Z艂ocieniec all the way to Wa艂cz. Roughly speaking, out of the 180 kilometers of the main route between Wa艂cz and Ko艂obrzeg, in a year or two, about 90 kilometers will consist of these beautiful former railway paths.
More: Old Railway Route
Western Lakelands Route (Trasa Pojezierzy Zachodnich)
The Western Lakelands Route begins at the Kostrzyneckie Wetlands in the Oder River valley, right by the new-old railway post-railway cycling bridge in Siekierki. It then runs through Trzci艅sko-Zdr贸j, My艣lib贸rz, Barlinek, Choszczno, Drawsko Pomorskie, and continues to Z艂ocieniec, Borne Sulinowo, Szczecinek, Bia艂y B贸r, and the border with the Pomeranian region. In the future, as part of the Pomeranian Cycling Routes project, a connector to the forest paths of the Kashubian Marszruta in the Tuchola Forest will be built.
The Western Lakelands Route will guide cyclists through five lakeland areas of the northern Poland - My艣liborskie, Choszcze艅skie, I艅skie, Drawskie, and Szczecineckie - making it an ideal choice for a summer cycling trip during hot weather. The development of the route started by the end of 2018, when the first 36 kilometers of the route, from Siekierki to Trzci艅sko-Zdr贸j, had been completed and marked, entirely following the path of a former railway line.
More: Western Lakelands Route
Blue Velo
The first route I rode in West Pomerania was Blue Velo - the former Oder Cycling Route, the final section of this national cycling route along the Oder River. In 2018, the marshals of all the regions along the river committed to its creation. However, in West Pomerania, the route doesn鈥檛 follow the Oder directly but passes through less-visited areas - from Kostrzyn through D臋bno, Trzci艅sko-Zdr贸j, and Gryfino, eventually reaching Szczecin and continuing along Lake D膮bie and the Szczecin Lagoon all the way to Mi臋dzyzdroje.
Much of the Blue Velo route in West Pomerania consists of dedicated cycling paths, mainly following disused railway lines and flood embankments. This, combined with the scenic beauty and changing landscapes, could make the West Pomeranian section of Blue Velo as attractive a tourist product as the best routes in Europe. By November 2018, almost 50 kilometers of the route from Gryfino (starting from the Oder bridge and the connection with the Oder-Neisse cycling route) to Trzci艅sko-Zdr贸j had been completed, with over half of it running along an old railway line.
More: Blue Velo
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Simon Thread
(Szymon Nitka)
I'm a passionate cycling traveler and the voice behind Cycling Thread. I explore Europe on two wheels, documenting the most scenic routes, inspiring places and cyclist-friendly practices. My writing blends personal experience with practical insights and a deep love of travel. I'm also a contributor to National Geographic Traveler magazine.
