The morning of my second day in Hel was a very warm and sunny one. My wife and I had a big day ahead of us. The plan was to visit the resorts of Jurata, Jastarnia, Kuźnica and Chałupy – all in one day. Jurata was our first stop on our drive back to the mainland.
First impressions
After parking up on Ratibora Street, we made our way to Jurata Promenade along the Bay of Puck (Promenada Jurata wzdłuż Zatoki Puckiej).
Walking along the promenade towards the pier, one feels a wonderful sense of unity with the water because there’s only a cycle path and some rocks separating the boardwalk from the sea. Indeed, there are no sandy beaches within the vicinity of the pier.
Jurata Pier
Undoubtedly, Jurata Pier is one of the greatest tourist attractions in the region.
320 metres long, the pier was built in the 1970s. To be more precise, the modern pier succeeded the wooden structure erected in the same place in 1973. Unfortunately, defective material was used for the construction of the original wooden pier. Therefore, a new promenade had to be built over the waters of the Bay of Puck.
You can walk from the pier to the beach on the Baltic Sea side of Jurata via the Międzymorze promenade, which is lined with pubs and souvenir shops.
A little more about Jurata
Jurata was founded in 1928 by entrepreneurs and immediately became a luxury summer resort for the elite. Indeed, Jurata quickly gained a reputation as being the most modern Polish resort. Hence, the label “Polish Palm Beach” was born.
The first season in Jurata commenced in 1931. An information brochure published on this occasion wrote:
Final thoughts
Jurata has a real tinge of luxury and a Mediterranean feel to it. The lush thickets which hang over the seashore are eerily reminiscent of Mediterranean landscapes on sunny days.
These days, you can find guesthouses and hotels of various standards in Jurata. The days of elitism and poshess are long gone. Nevertheless, there’s still a slight whiff of refinement in the air.
For me, Jurata is right up there with Hel. As a place to relax on the beach. And as a place to stroll the day away.