By rail
Malbork, ~40 min from Gdańsk
Europe · Poland
Malbork, Poland
The world's largest brick castle
Getting there
By air
Gdańsk (GDN), ~1 h
Best time to visit
May to September — summer
Don't miss
Malbork Castle
The High Castle
The Middle Castle
The Nogat bridge
Things to do
The castle tour
Walks along the Nogat river
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: DerHexer; derivate work: Carschten · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Walking shoes
A quieter corner
The castle lit up at night, seen from the river
Questions travellers ask
What is Malbork known for?
Malbork Castle, the world's largest brick castle. Take the castle tour through the High Castle and the Middle Castle.
How do I get to Malbork from Gdańsk?
By train it is about 40 min from Gdańsk. By air, Gdańsk (GDN) is about 1 h away.
When should I plan a visit to Malbork?
May to September, in the summer. Wear walking shoes.
Is Malbork Castle worth seeing after dark?
Yes — the castle lit up at night, seen from the river, is a hidden gem. Walk along the Nogat river, then try some Pomeranian home cooking.
About Malbork
- Riverside
Where it is
Malbork is a town in the Pomeranian region of northern Poland, on the Nogat river, an arm of the Vistula delta, south-east of Gdańsk.
History
The Teutonic Knights built the castle between the late 13th and early 15th centuries, and from 1309 it was the headquarters of their order and its state. In 1457 the castle was sold to King Casimir IV of Poland, and it was a Polish royal residence until 1772, when it passed to Prussia; more than half destroyed in the Second World War, it has been restored and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
People
Malbork's people speak Polish, and the town lives largely from its castle, tourism and local industry. The Teutonic Knights who built the castle once controlled the valuable trade in Baltic amber.
Known for
- Malbork Castle, the Teutonic Knights' fortress
- The High Castle and the Grand Masters' Palace
- Walks along the Nogat river
- Views of the castle across the water
Did you know?
When it was completed in 1406, Malbork Castle was the largest brick castle in the world, and it is still the largest brick complex in Europe.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.