Over 30 Baltic beaches closed Saturday for high waves and strong winds, Sopot bathing sites reopen after E. coli alert
Over 30 designated bathing sites along the Polish Baltic coast were closed to swimmers on Saturday 25 July as strong winds whipped up heavy surf. At the same time, all Sopot beaches in Gdańsk Bay reopened after a four-day closure caused by E. coli contamination.
Over 30 bathing sites shut along the Baltic coast
On Saturday 25 July, over 30 seaside bathing sites on Poland's Baltic shoreline were under a red-flag swimming ban. Data from the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate's Bathing Service showed that strong winds, high waves, and dangerous rip currents had forced the closures. The hardest-hit area was the West Pomeranian voivodeship, where approximately 30 open-sea sites were declared off-limits.
West Pomerania bears the brunt
The closed resorts included Międzywodzie, Dziwnów, Trzęsacz, Rewal, Pogorzelica, and Jarosławiec. Lifeguards stressed that a red flag means an absolute prohibition on entering the water, and ignoring the warning can have fatal consequences when rip currents are present.
Hel Peninsula also affected
In the neighbouring Pomeranian voivodeship, several bathing sites on the Hel Peninsula were also closed. Swimming was banned at Kuźnice, Jastarnia, and Jurata for the same rough sea conditions.
Sopot beaches reopen after E. coli closure
There was relief for holidaymakers in the Tri-City area as all bathing sites in Sopot, in Gdańsk Bay, reopened on Saturday morning. The beaches had been shut since Thursday 23 July after routine water quality tests detected Escherichia coli (E. coli) and enterococci bacteria. The Chief Sanitary Inspectorate lifted the ban after fresh samples on Friday confirmed contamination had fallen to safe levels. The reopening covers the entire Sopot shoreline from Kamienny Potok to the Jelitkowo border.
A week of weather-driven closures
The Saturday bans are the latest in a week of frequent interruptions. On Monday 20 July, 15 bathing sites in Pomerania were closed due to high waves, wind, and lightning. By Wednesday 22 July, the number had jumped to over 120 sites across the entire Baltic coast as a low-pressure system brought gales and temperatures around 18 °C, leaving few beachgoers anyway. Thursday saw the start of Sopot's bacteria closure, while Friday kept several sites in Karwia, Chłapowo, and Władysławowo shut for high surf. The rapid changes highlight the need for daily checks.
- 15 Pomeranian bathing sites closed due to high waves, wind, and lightning.
- Over 120 Baltic bathing sites shut as gales bring high waves and 18 °C conditions.
- All seven Sopot bathing sites closed after E. coli and enterococci detected.
- Several Pomeranian sites remain closed for weather; Sopot still shut for bacteria.
- Over 30 bathing sites closed in Zachodniopomorskie and Hel Peninsula; Sopot reopens.
How to stay safe
Officials urge visitors to consult the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate's online Bathing Service for real-time status updates, as conditions can shift within hours. A red flag signals a total ban on swimming; disregarding it can prove deadly when powerful rip currents and heavy waves combine. Bathing site information is updated continuously throughout the day.
