Most cities crumble under a sudden population surge. But Kołobrzeg? It gets better. What’s the secret behind this small city’s big mobility success?
With just under 50,000 residents and covering an area of about 25 square kilometers, Kołobrzeg punches far above its weight when it comes to urban planning. But it hasn’t always been this way.
This is the story of how a once-destroyed city rebuilt itself—not just with bricks, but with a vision: a human-centered, seasonally adaptive, and environmentally aware city where people come first.
Kołobrzeg in Numbers
Kołobrzeg isn’t Warsaw, and it doesn’t try to be. It’s a medium-sized city on Poland’s northwestern coast, famous for its beaches, spa tourism, and a steady stream of summer visitors that can triple its population during peak season.
But here’s the challenge: How do you design a city for both 50,000 locals and 150,000 tourists? That’s the mobility puzzle Kołobrzeg had to solve—and somehow, it did.
A Walkable Urban Core: Built for People
Let’s start in the heart of Kołobrzeg—its city center.
Unlike many postwar Polish cities that sprawled with car-centric layouts, Kołobrzeg reimagined its core as a space for walkers, bikers, and public life. The city rebuilt its old town with narrow, historic streets designed to discourage car use. Instead of highways, you’ll find cobblestone promenades, outdoor cafés, and tree-lined boulevards that invite strolling—not speeding.
There’s even a car-free pedestrian zone stretching from the main train station all the way to the beach, threading together public squares, museums, and green parks like beads on a necklace.
Why is that important? Because walkability isn’t just a lifestyle choice—it’s an equity issue. Young people, the elderly, and tourists all benefit from a city where you don’t need a car to thrive. And Kołobrzeg delivers exactly that.
Mobility on Two Wheels
Now picture this: You rent a bike near the lighthouse, ride along the coast through pine forests, pass street performers, and ten minutes later, you’re sipping coffee in the historic square. That’s Kołobrzeg’s cycling network in action.
The city boasts more than 45 km of dedicated bike paths, many of them part of the regional EuroVelo 10 route—also known as the Baltic Sea Cycle Route. The bike infrastructure is not only functional, but it’s scenic and interconnected, taking full advantage of the city’s compact form.
Kołobrzeg also supports bike-sharing systems, with seasonal adjustments to ensure there are enough bikes available during the summer influx. And most importantly? The bike lanes actually connect—from neighborhoods to tourist destinations, from hotels to parks, and from the rail station to the beach.
Public Spaces that Work Year-Round
Kołobrzeg’s urban design is based on a simple but powerful idea: public space is infrastructure.
Parks like Park im. Stefana Żeromskiego are not just patches of green—they’re fully integrated urban corridors with walking paths, cultural monuments, and outdoor stages. The waterfront boulevard, complete with modern benches, lighting, and public art, is as much a mobility corridor as it is a social one.
What makes it unique is that Kołobrzeg didn’t separate green space from transport infrastructure. It fused the two. This kind of biophilic design brings nature into the movement of people—and that makes a huge difference, especially in summer.
The Summer Swell: Adaptive Mobility in Action
Here’s where things get tricky—and interesting.
Every summer, over 1 million tourists visit Kołobrzeg, causing what could be a total traffic disaster. But instead of building massive roads, Kołobrzeg adapts its mobility system seasonally.
Temporary pedestrian streets are expanded in summer. Parking is restricted in certain zones and redirected to periphery lots. Mini-buses and tourist trains are introduced during peak hours to reduce congestion. And mobile bike repair stations pop up across the city to keep cyclists rolling.
This adaptive approach is what sets Kołobrzeg apart. It’s not about pouring concrete—it’s about designing for flexibility.
Public Transport that Fits the City
Let’s be honest: Kołobrzeg doesn’t need a metro or a tram. What it does need is a smart bus system—and that’s exactly what it has.
KM Kołobrzeg, the city’s public transport operator, runs a fleet of modern, low-emission buses with real-time arrival displays and mobile ticketing. Bus routes are aligned to local travel patterns and tourist flows, not outdated grids. They even adjust schedules seasonally, running more frequent services in July and August when the streets swell with tourists.
Is it perfect?
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Most cities crumble under a sudden
population surge. But Kołobrzeg? It gets better. What’s the secret behind
this small city’s big mobility success? With just under 50,000 residents and covering
an area of about 25 square kilometers, Kołobrzeg punches far above its
weight when it comes to urban planning. But it hasn’t always been this way.
This is the story of how a once-destroyed city rebuilt itself—not just with bricks,
but with a vision: a human-centered, seasonally adaptive, and environmentally
aware city where people come first. Kołobrzeg in Numbers
Kołobrzeg isn’t Warsaw, and it doesn’t try to be. It’s a medium-sized city on Poland’s
northwestern coast, famous for its beaches, spa tourism, and a steady stream of summer visitors
that can triple its population during peak season. But here’s the challenge: How do you
design a city for both 50,000 locals and 150,000 tourists? That’s the mobility puzzle
Kołobrzeg had to solve—and somehow, it did. A Walkable Urban Core: Built for People
Let’s start in the heart of Kołobrzeg—its city center.
Unlike many postwar Polish cities that sprawled with car-centric layouts, Kołobrzeg reimagined its
core as a space for walkers, bikers, and public life. The city rebuilt its old town with narrow,
historic streets designed to discourage car use. Instead of highways, you’ll find cobblestone
promenades, outdoor cafes, and tree-lined boulevards that invite strolling—not speeding.
There’s even a car-free pedestrian zone stretching from the main train station all the way to
the beach, threading together public squares, museums, and green parks like beads on a necklace.
Why is that important? Because walkability isn’t just a lifestyle choice—it’s an equity issue.
Young people, the elderly, and tourists all benefit from a city where you don’t need a car
to thrive. And Kołobrzeg delivers exactly that. Mobility on Two Wheels
Now picture this: You rent a bike near the lighthouse, ride
along the coast through pine forests, pass street performers, and ten minutes later, you’re sipping coffee in the historic square.
That’s Kołobrzeg’s cycling network in action. The city boasts more than 45 km of dedicated bike
paths, many of them part of the regional EuroVelo 10 route—also known as the Baltic Sea Cycle Route.
The bike infrastructure is not only functional, but it’s scenic and interconnected, taking
full advantage of the city’s compact form. Kołobrzeg also supports bike-sharing systems, with
seasonal adjustments to ensure there are enough bikes available during the summer influx. And most
importantly? The bike lanes actually connect—from neighborhoods to tourist destinations, from hotels
to parks, and from the rail station to the beach. Public Spaces that Work Year-Round
Kołobrzeg’s urban design is based on a simple but powerful idea: public space is infrastructure.
Parks like Park im. Stefana Żeromskiego are not just patches of green—they’re fully integrated
urban corridors with walking paths, cultural monuments, and outdoor stages. The waterfront
boulevard, complete with modern benches, lighting, and public art, is as much a
mobility corridor as it is a social one. What makes it unique is that Kołobrzeg
didn’t separate green space from transport infrastructure. It fused the two. This
kind of biophilic design brings nature into the movement of people—and that makes
a huge difference, especially in summer. The Summer Swell: Adaptive Mobility in Action
Here’s where things get tricky—and interesting. Every summer, over 1 million tourists visit
Kołobrzeg, causing what could be a total traffic disaster. But instead of building massive roads,
Kołobrzeg adapts its mobility system seasonally. Temporary pedestrian streets are expanded in
summer. Parking is restricted in certain zones and redirected to periphery lots. Mini-buses and
tourist trains are introduced during peak hours to reduce congestion. And mobile bike repair stations
pop up across the city to keep cyclists rolling. This adaptive approach is what
sets Kołobrzeg apart. It’s not about pouring concrete—it’s
about designing for flexibility. Public Transport that Fits the City
Let’s be honest: Kołobrzeg doesn’t need a metro or a tram. What it does need is a
smart bus system—and that’s exactly what it has. KM Kołobrzeg, the city’s public transport
operator, runs a fleet of modern, low-emission buses with real-time arrival displays and mobile
ticketing. Bus routes are aligned to local travel patterns and tourist flows, not outdated
grids. They even adjust schedules seasonally, running more frequent services in July and
August when the streets swell with tourists. Is it perfect? No. But it’s a public transport
system that fits the scale and rhythm of the city. And that’s often more important than
building something grand and underused. Lessons for Other Cities
What can other small or medium-sized cities learn from Kołobrzeg?
Human-first design wins. Prioritizing walking, biking, and public space creates a
city that’s enjoyable and equitable. Seasonal adaptability matters. Don’t
overbuild—adjust instead. Responsive planning makes cities more resilient.
Nature is infrastructure. Integrating green spaces into the transport
network boosts quality of life. Kołobrzeg’s model doesn’t rely on flashy
megaprojects. It relies on thoughtful planning, clear priorities, and local
context. And that’s what makes it work. Final Thoughts
Kołobrzeg isn’t just a seaside resort. It’s a case study in smart urbanism—a place where movement,
landscape, and community are all tied together. If you’re tired of cities built for cars instead
of people, this little city in Poland offers something radically different: a vision of urban
life that’s healthy, flexible, and deeply human. And for young urbanists, planners, or just curious
minds, Kołobrzeg is a reminder that the future of mobility doesn’t have to be loud or fast—it can
be walkable, bikeable, and beautifully slow.
1 Comment
That music and typewriter noise is killing me other than that brilliant video.