Ustka: Our Coastal Day Trip from Łeba
By Jérôme R · Visited in July 2026 · Updated · How we work
Near Łeba, on this same stretch of the Polish Baltic coast, lies Ustka, a coastal and forest town we discovered on a day trip from our accommodation. A shorter visit than planned, as the weather had other ideas.
A holiday town busier than Łeba
True story, July 2026: we noticed the difference from Łeba right away. Ustka's beaches are a bit busier, and it's clearly a popular holiday spot for Poles: plenty of snack stalls, beach tents and other leisure set-ups along the shore.
The atmosphere is livelier than in Łeba, without being overcrowded — a good compromise if you're after a bit more life than Łeba while staying far from the crowds of southern European coasts.
The forest area, cut short by rain
A note on transparency: we also went for a walk in the wooded area bordering the town, but couldn't stay as long as we'd have liked: rain moved in while we were there. So we can only speak of this wooded section from a fairly brief look.
How we got there
True story, July 2026: we drove to Ustka from our accommodation near Łeba, as a day trip, much like the Hel peninsula. It's fairly straightforward to get there and find somewhere to park — bearing in mind that, as everywhere in Poland, all the car parks are paid.
Good to know
▸ Good to know
- Parking is paid everywhere in Ustka, as in the rest of Poland — bring some change or a card.
- Ustka's beaches are busier than Łeba's: worth keeping in mind if you're mainly after peace and quiet.
- Coastal weather can change fast: we were caught out by rain during our walk through the wooded area.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ustka worth the trip from Łeba?
For a day trip, yes: it's a pleasant coastal town, with a livelier atmosphere than Łeba. We didn't, however, have time to explore its wooded area in detail because of the rain.
Is Ustka better than Łeba?
The two complement rather than compete with each other: Łeba offers more peace and quiet and direct access to Słowiński National Park, Ustka a livelier seaside vibe. We chose Łeba as our base, with Ustka as a day trip.