Hel is considered to be one of the most picturesque Polish towns, located on the 18.6 mile-long promontory jutting out into the Baltic Sea. The first settlers arrived here a few centuries B.C. Written records indicate that Hel was a fishing settlement, engaging in the herring trade in the 2nd century A.D. Today Hel harbors tourist boats and private yachts next to traditional fishing cutters.
Surrounded by the sea, Hel is above all a tourist town where one can find tasty fresh fish dishes in every corner restaurant. An expanded network of tourist services, including restaurants, resorts, and private guest houses, offers visitors ease in planning and organizing a vacation, as well as comfort throughout their stay. Besides beaches, seaside walks along the promenade and pier, or boating trips, Hel offers excellent conditions for windsurfing, kitesurfing, and scuba diving.
A visit to the Museum of Fishery with its tower offering a panoramic view of the area is a must. There is also a seal farm being developed in the town, which is open to tourists.
Every year the town hosts one of the most prestigious festivals of chamber music in Poland. Finally, history buffs must not miss The Museum of Coastal Defense, a wartime port and massive concrete “bunker town” constructed by the Germans during World War II, which is unique in the world.
