Amber hunters search the Vistula Spit and Sobieszewo Island most. But wind direction, not the name of the town, decides whether a beach gets any amber.
Which wind works for which beach
The sea washes amber ashore where waves hit the beach from open water. A beach facing north-west reacts to a storm from the NW. The same waves miss a beach facing east.
- Storms from the north and north-west: Vistula Spit, Wyspa Sobieszewska, Łeba, Ustka, Kołobrzeg, Władysławowo.
- Storms from the north and north-east: Gdańsk Stogi, Gdańsk Brzeźno and the open side of Hel.
- Storms from the east and north-east: Sopot and Gdynia Orłowo. A storm from the NW misses these beaches.
We store the direction each beach faces in degrees. The Vistula Spit faces 320–340°, Hel 35°, Sopot 75° and Orłowo 90°. Wind and waves from close to that bearing hit the beach hardest.
That is why we calculate the forecast separately for each beach. For the season, read when to look for amber.
Amber hunting on the Vistula Spit
The Spit (Mierzeja Wiślana) is the best region. It lies close to the old deposits around the Vistula delta. All its beaches face NW or NNW. From west to east: Mikoszewo, Jantar, Stegna, Sztutowo, Kąty Rybackie, Krynica Morska and Piaski.
The east is quieter, so the wrack stays unsearched for longer. At Piaski, keep in mind the border zone. Polish travel guides most often recommend Jantar, Stegna, Sztutowo and Sobieszewo Island (Nocowanie.pl, in Polish).
Where to find amber in Gdańsk
Wyspa Sobieszewska lies between the two mouths of the Vistula. It has been famous for amber after autumn storms for years. It has nature reserves that you must not enter.
Gdańsk Stogi gets rich wrack in winds from the north and north-east. Brzeźno faces more to the NE, and in a westerly wind it is sheltered.
Amber in the Tricity: Sopot and Orłowo
Sopot and Gdynia Orłowo face east, into the Gulf of Gdańsk. There is less amber than on the Vistula Spit, but a storm from the east can wash some up. At Orłowo the cliff is protected: do not climb it or dig at its foot.
Amber on the Hel Peninsula
Władysławowo has an open beach facing north, and Hel faces north-east. The bay side of the peninsula is shallow and sheltered, so conditions there are completely different. Parts of the peninsula are protected nature areas.
Amber at Łeba and Ustka
Łeba and Ustka have long, open beaches on both sides of the port. Search after long NW storms, on stretches away from the breakwaters. Słowiński National Park starts east of Łeba. Collecting anything there is banned under Polish law.
Amber in West Pomerania
There is less amber in the west, but strong storms from the north can still bring some. At Kołobrzeg, check the stretches where seaweed and driftwood have collected. At Międzyzdroje, search only outside the boundary of Wolin National Park.
What to look for on the beach
Amber lies in the band of washed-up debris: wood, lignite, seaweed and shells. Look for the line the highest wave reached.
Gulls circling over one stretch of shore can be a clue. People who walk the beach before you take the best pieces, so go early.
How to choose a beach for today
- Check the wind direction over the last 48 hours.
- Pick the beaches that face that direction.
- From those, take the one where the waves are just dropping.
The richness score of each beach in our index is our own judgement, not a measurement. Before you go, also read the amber collecting rules.
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