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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted tour

The Baltic Seasider

Polish and German Baltic coast by train, Gdansk to Stralsund, 11 days

Illustration of The Baltic Seasider

The Railway Touring Company's Baltic Seasider is an 11-day escorted tour that traces the history and railways of the Polish and German Baltic coast. Based in Gdansk for six nights and Rostock for four nights, the tour centres on train journeys and heritage railways rather than one continuous itinerary. Days begin with coastal resorts: Sopot, Poland's premier seaside destination, and the port city of Gdynia, home to the preserved destroyer ORP Blyskawica. The tour devotes substantial time to World War II sites, including Westerplatte memorial and the WWII Museum in Gdansk. Day 6 features a PKP Intercity train crossing the 840-metre Tczew Viaduct to UNESCO World Heritage Malbork Castle, the world's largest castle complex. In Germany, you experience the Molli steam railway with its famous street-running section through Bad Doberan, and the Racing Roland narrow-gauge railway on the Island of Rugen. The package includes flights from London, First Class rail fares, 10 nights in centrally located hotels, five dinners, and a Tour Manager. The trip suits history-lovers, repeat rail travellers, and photographers drawn to vintage traction and coastal scenery.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure currently listed: July 2026; confirm availability before committing
  • The ground-only option (GBP 2,250) excludes rail and flight services from the UK and first/last-day transfers; it covers only the tour itinerary within Poland and Germany
  • Hotels and comfort levels are not detailed; confirm specifics with The Railway Touring Company before booking

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Gdansk

    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.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Gdansk

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

    In the morning you travel from Gdansk's historic main station to Sopot, Poland's premier seaside resort. After time for mid-day refreshments you continue to the port city of Gdynia, where you see the Polish destroyer ORP Blyskawica (Lightning), before returning to Gdansk by train.

  3. Day 3overnight: Gdansk

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

    After a leisurely breakfast, you explore the important WWII history of the city. A port ferry takes you on a scenic harbour cruise down the river to Westerplatte, to visit the museum and memorial, then returns past the container terminal to the Old Town to see the WWII Museum and the Polish Post Office.

  4. Day 4overnight: Gdansk

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

    After breakfast you visit the popular WWII Museum in Gdansk, opened in 2017, and have the opportunity to experience the steamship Soldek. You enjoy the city's famed tramway to the seaside at Stogi, before meeting fellow travellers for dinner at the hotel.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Gdansk

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

    You take a direct PKP Intercity train from Gdansk to the seaside terminus of Hel, with a short transfer to the military museum and narrow-gauge railway for a guided tour and train ride. You then take the evening ferry from Hel back to Gdansk.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Gdansk

    By train to Malbork Castle and across the iconic Tczew Viaduct

    After breakfast you take a PKP Intercity train hauled by a vintage electric locomotive (based on the British Rail Class 83) from Gdansk to Malbork, crossing the 840-metre railway bridge over the River Vistula at Tczew. At Malbork you visit the UNESCO World Heritage site, the largest castle complex in the world. You return to Gdansk in the late afternoon.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Rostock

    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, your base for the rest of the tour. You check in and enjoy a group dinner at the hotel.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Rostock

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

    You are free to explore Rostock in the morning, then take the train to the seaside resort of Warnemunde in the afternoon. You return by tramway to Rostock, where you enjoy a sunset dinner cruise on the River Warne aboard a privately chartered ship, sailing to the mouth of the river with a buffet dinner and complimentary drinks served aboard.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Rostock

    Steam at the Molli Railway along the Baltic Coast

    Today you visit the seaside railway known as 'Molli', renowned for its street running section in Bad Doberan. You journey to Kuhlungsborn along the Baltic Coast, with the option to return to Bad Doberan to capture footage of the street running, using your rover ticket for unlimited use of the steam trains. In the late afternoon, you return by rail to Rostock.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Rostock

    Steam on the Island of Rugen and historic Stralsund

    Today, German Plandampf is the focal point of attention. Your trip begins via Stralsund to Putbus on the Island of Rugen, where you experience the narrow-gauge 'Racing Roland' railway to the seaside terminus at Gohren. The return trip to Putbus is behind a different steam locomotive. In the evening, a farewell dinner is held at the hotel.

  11. Day 11rail

    Return to London

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

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Train from Gdansk to Sopot, Poland's premier seaside resort, then onward to Gdynia to board the preserved Polish destroyer ORP Blyskawica
  • Day 6PKP Intercity train hauled by a vintage electric locomotive crosses the 840-metre Tczew Viaduct over the River Vistula en route to UNESCO World Heritage Malbork Castle
  • Day 9Steam train ride on the Molli railway with street-running through Bad Doberan and a journey to Kuhlungsborn along the Baltic Coast
  • Day 10Narrow-gauge Racing Roland steam railway on the Island of Rugen from Putbus to the seaside terminus at Gohren, with return behind a different steam locomotive

Included

  • 10 nights accommodation with breakfast at a centrally located, quality hotel
  • Flights from London to Gdansk and return from Berlin to London
  • 1 Lunch
  • 5 Dinners
  • First Class rail travel on PKP and DB Intercity and EuroCity services with seat reservations, Standard Class travel on local trains when First Class is not available
  • All privately chartered river cruises and train rides as detailed in the itinerary
  • Complementary public transport rover tickets
  • Steam railway rides at the Molli and Rugen narrow gauge railways in Germany
  • Museum and site admissions to all the attractions and memorials as detailed in the itinerary
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The full package includes First Class rail travel on PKP Intercity and EuroCity services, Standard Class on local trains, steam railway rides on the Molli and Racing Roland, plus flights from London to Gdansk and return from Berlin to London.
Is this tour escorted?
Yes. A Tour Manager travels with the group throughout the 11 days.
Which trains are featured?
PKP Intercity (including a vintage electric locomotive based on British Rail Class 83), EuroCity First Class from Berlin to Rostock, the Molli steam railway in Bad Doberan, and the Racing Roland narrow-gauge railway on the Island of Rugen.
What is included in the price?
10 nights accommodation with breakfast, flights from London, one lunch, five dinners, First Class rail travel with seat reservations, river and harbour cruises, steam railway rides, public transport rover tickets, museum and site admissions, and Tour Manager services.
When does it depart?
One departure in July 2026.
How much walking is involved?
Days include city walking tours in Gdansk and Rostock, ferry rides, museum visits, and access to attractions; limited strenuous activity.

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