Malbork

Malbork (German: Marienburg) is a town in Pomorskie voivodeship in Poland, famous for having the biggest Gothic castle in Europe.

Understand

• 1 Tourist information (Centrum Informacji Turystycznej), Kościuszki 54 (at the Malbork Welcome Center building), ☏ +48 55 647-47-47, cit@mwc.malbork.pl. (updated Oct 2015)

Get in

Array of iron warriors in the courtyard of the Malbork Castle

By train

• 1 Train station (Dworzec PKP), Dworcowa. There are ticket counters, luggage lockers, Wi-Fi, waiting room inside train station. Toilets are located outside (entrance from 1st platform). (updated Oct 2015)

You can find the detailed schedule on Polish Railways site. You can also buy ticket online. This can be definitely cheaper (up to 30%). You must print your ticket or save it on your smartphone and show it to ticket controller.

International trains (from Berlin and Kaliningrad) are no longer operating. There is still a train:

• Wien 10½ hr, one train daily (both directions), called Sobieski

Domestic trains arrive in Malbork from major Polish cities:

• Gdańsk ½ -1 hr, many direct trains throughout the day (both directions), the cheapest one are Regio trains, which costs 13.50 zł. The fastest EIP trains takes less than 30 minutes but are much more expensive.
• Kraków 5-7½ hr, 7 direct trains daily (both directions), connection cost is depend on type of trains: Twoje Linie Kolejowe (TLK - 1st class 107 zł, 2nd class 79 zł) or Express Intercity Premium (EIP - air-conditioned Pendolino trains - 1st class 246 zł, 2nd class 189 zł).
• Warsaw 2½-3½ hr, 14 direct trains daily (both directions), connection cost is depend on type of trains: Twoje Linie Kolejowe (TLK - 1st class 86 zł, 2nd class 56 zł), Intercity (IC - 1st class 86 zł, 2nd class 56 zł), Express Intercity (EIC - air-conditioned trains - 1st class 157 zł, 2nd class 121 zł) or Express Intercity Premium (EIP - air-conditioned Pendolino trains - 1st class 191 zł, 2nd class 147 zł).
• Szczecin 6 hr, 3 direct trains daily (both directions), only Twoje Linie Kolejowe (TLK - 1st class 98 zł, 2nd class 65 zł) trains

By car

• Gdańsk — take road #91 in Kraków direction, after that #22 to Malbork, other way is to travel A1 motorway in Kraków direction to Swarozyn exit, after that #22 to Malbork
• Kraków — take road #1 in Gdańsk direction, after that #22 to Malbork
• Warsaw — take road #7 in Gdańsk direction, after that #22 to Malbork

By bus

• 2 Bus station (Przystanek dworcowy), Zelazna (next to train station). There are only few platforms, there is no station building, so you can wait only outside. There are buses (PKS) connections with Bydgoszcz, Elbląg, Gdańsk, Iława, Krynica Morska, Olsztyn, Płock, and few other Polish cities. You can find the schedule: E-podroznik site. Schedules are mostly up-to date. (updated Oct 2015)
• 3 Minibus stop (Przystanek autobusowy), Dworcowa (next to train station). There are few minibus companies which operate local transport outside Malbork. By this minibuses you can reach Malbork from nearby cities and villages. You can find the schedule on companies websites: Latocha, AZ Rydwan, Szaruga. (updated Oct 2015)

See

Gravestones in St. Anne's Chapel, Malbork Castle

Malbork Castle—erstwhile home of the Teutonic Knights

• 1 Malbork Castle / Castle of the Virgin Mary (Zamek Krzyżacki), Starościańska, ☏ +48 55 647 09 78. The ancient capital of the Teutonic Order, the largest Gothic fortress in Europe, on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Following the directions from the included audio guide the visit would take about 3 hours. If open the last entry to the tower, which is found at the end of the audio guided tour, is 18:15. Reopening of the tower is planned for the summer of 2025. For pricing and opening hours check Malbork castle website  
• 2 The Town square with fountain (Plac miejski z fontanną), Kościuszki. Nice place to spend some time during summer days. There are also fountain with sound shows at 22:00 in summer season. (updated Oct 2015)
• 3 Monument of King Jagiellończyk (Pomnik Kazimierza Jagiellończyka), Kościuszki (next to the town square). A monument of Kazimierz Jagiellończyk. (updated Oct 2015)
• 4 Church of St. John the Baptist (Kościół Jana Chrzciciela), Stare Miasto (Next to castle). (updated Oct 2015)
• 5 Church of the Virgin Mary of Perpetual Help, formerly St. George’s (Kościół Matki Boskiej Nieustającej Pomocy), Słowackiego. (updated Oct 2015)
• 6 Mary’s Gate (Brama Mariacka), Stare Miasto. There is a pub called Baszta inside it. (updated Oct 2015)
• 7 Potters’ Gate (Brama Garncarska), Stare Miasto. There is jewellery shop inside it. (updated Oct 2015)
• 8 Old Town Hall (Ratusz Staromiejski), Stare Miasto. (updated Oct 2015)
• 9 Baptist Chapel (Kościół Chrześcijan Baptystów), Jagiellońska. (updated Oct 2015)
• 10 Post office complex (Kompleks budynków pocztowych), 17-Marca. (updated Oct 2015)

Do

Places

• 1 Dinopark - mobile dinosaurs park (Dinopark - park ruchomych dinozaurów), Toruńska. 40 dinosaurs in 1:1 scale, 5D cinema, fossil museum, some place to eat and drink inside. Attraction mostly for kids. (updated Aug 2024)
• 2 Jumpy park - rope park (Park linowy - jumpy park), Parkowa. Rope park with many different paths, shooting range, trampolines and playground. Attraction for kids and adults. (updated Oct 2015)

Events

• 3 The Malbork Siege (Oblężenie Malborka), Parkowa. Medieval festival takes place in one weekend of July. (updated Oct 2015)
• 4 Magic Malbork, Parkowa. Outdoor event takes place in one weekend of August. Shows containing acrobats, dancers, lasers, etc. (updated Oct 2015)

Buy

• 1 Cinnamon shops (Sklepy cynamonowe), Kościuszki. Kind of fair created yearly during summer season on one of main streets. (updated Oct 2015)
• 2 Malbork's mall (Galeria Malborksa), Kościuszki. Biggest shopping center in Malbork. (updated Oct 2015)

Eat

• U Flisaka, ul. Wałowa (cross the river by pedestrian bridge starting from the castle, the restaurant is in the boat near the bridge), ☏ +48 55 272 45 66. Polish cuisine, regional food, nice atmosphere, view to the castle. About 30 zł for a meal. (updated Jun 2015)

Drink

• 1 Spiżarnia, ul. Dworcowa (a few metres from the railway station under the old reservoir tower), ☏ +48 694 496 545, jazzclub.spizarnia@wp.pl. Little themed pub combined with the green grocery. Works only in summer. You practically sit outside, but it's covered. 

Sleep

• Chiltuś, Tczewska 15, ☏ +48 55 273 37 03. Suitable prices (35 zł), a few minutes walk from castle. 
• Camping Nogat nr. 197 (OSiR Malbork), Parkowa 3, ☏ +48 55 272 24 13. Best campsite in town. Offers places to strike tents, park a car or a mobile home. They also have a camping houses and a hotel. It's less than 1 km walk along the Nogat river to the castle. Prices are per night as of 2011: Per person fee: 14 zł, Small tent: 8 zł, Big tent: 14 zł, Car: 10 zł, Van: 18 zł, Campervan: 31 zł, Dog: 5 zł, Camping house (for 3 people with private bathroom): 150 zł (120 zł off season). 
• Hotel Parkowy, ul. Parkowa 3 (Get to the roundabout close to McDonnalds and fountain in the town center. Parkowa street starts there going northwards. Follow the street, pass under the train bridge, go further (some 500 m) until you see a poster of Hotel Parkowy/OSiR.), ☏ +48 55 272 24 13. One star, but clean. 120 zł/night (+15 zł/person for breakfast) for 4-person room, other options available. Nice area, sport and recreation places nearby. (updated Jun 2015)

Go next

• Kwidzyn is 35 minutes away by train. Has a smaller castle with exhibitions focusing on rural culture and wild animals in the area. The castle has what may be the largest latrine in the world with a 55 meter dedicated extension from the castle.