By Alaric 
Malbork Castle is the largest castle in the world and an attraction you can’t skip in Poland.
The Teutonic Order created this imposing crusader complex in the 13th century, and it will transport you to the medieval era.
You can admire the Grand Master’s palace, climb towers and castle walls, explore gardens, and visit the extensive armouries and amber collections.
As a history lover, I fell in love with this legendary fortress, and it’s now officially one of my favourite castles (and I’ve been to hundreds of them).
It’s also only a short distance from the popular city of Gdansk, so it’s easy to plan a day trip.
Here is how to visit Malbork Castle in Poland along with everything you need to know.
The history of Malbork Castle
Malbork Castle, also known as the Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork, is a fortified monastery on the River Nogat.
The Teutonic Knights or Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem was a military society with territories all over Europe.
On the surface, they were charitable Germanic Crusaders with a mission to aid Christians on pilgrimages to the Holy Land and establish hospitals.
But, there was also a darker side to their mission which was to convert Pagans to the Roman Catholic faith, usually through battle and brutality.
The castle was built in the 13th century but was significantly expanded in 1309 when the seat of the Grand Master moved to Malbork from Venice.
It then acted as headquarters and monastic state for the brotherhood until 1457 when King Jagiellon and his Polish forces captured the castle.
After, it switched hands between Polish, Swedish and German forces and they all left their mark on the fortress.
It was owned by Germany for 170 years until 1945. After WWII, it became part of Poland but was significantly damaged and had to be reconstructed.
Today, it’s officially the largest brick castle in the world by landmass and spreads across an area of 2.27 million square feet.
There are no precise records but researchers believe it’s made up of anything between 7 and 30 million bricks!
It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 and is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in Poland.
How to visit Malbork Castle in Poland
Malbork Castle is located in the far north of Poland and is close to the city of Gdańsk, so it makes a popular day trip.
If you’re driving, the journey will take around 50 minutes on the DK7 and DK55. You can easily rent a car if you haven’t travelled on your own.
If you’re not driving, it’s easy to take the train from Gdańsk Glowny Station to either Malbork’s main train station or Malbork Kałdowo.
I recommend taking the PKP Intercity services as the journeys only take around 30-40 minutes.
The local Polregio services are slightly cheaper but the journey is slow and takes double the time of over an hour.
From the main train station, the walk to the castle is around 20 minutes and from Kałdowo it’s 13 minutes.
Alternatively, you can take a local bus or taxi to the entrance of the castle for a small fee.
I managed to find a taxi there, but not one back. The walk was easy enough so don’t panic about being stranded.
Opening times
Malbork Castle’s opening hours change by the season and for the route you wish to take.
Most visitors take the Historical Castle Tour or the full route (3.5 hours) which is open;
- Winter (1st October – late April): 9 am – 3 pm Tuesday – Sunday.
- Summer (late April – 30th September): 9 am – 8 pm Tuesday – Sunday.
You can also take a Castle Grounds Route (1.5 hours) in the afternoon for a reduced fee. Or, there is a Castle Monastery Route (2 hours).
These both run from Tuesday – Sunday and have separate opening hours.
The castle is open on Mondays but you can only take the Castle Grounds Route. This doesn’t include many of the chambers and exhibitions.
In winter, Monday opening hours are 9 am – 2.30 pm and in summer they are 9 am – 6.30 pm.
Ticket prices
The price of your castle ticket depends on the visitor route.
All ticket prices include a mandatory guided tour (only in Polish) or audio guide available in Polish, English, German and other languages;
- Historical Castle Route (3.5 hours): 80 PLN / £16
- Castle Grounds Route (1.5 hours): 35 PLN / £7
- Castle Monastery Route (2 hours): 70 PLN / £14
I recommend purchasing a ticket online in advance to save time. Also, if you book for the early morning, you will avoid the long queues and crowds.
Is Malbork Castle free to visit? Yes, on Mondays it’s free of charge. But, you can only take the Castle Grounds Route. You cannot book this online. You must pick up a ticket on the day.
Things to do in Malbork Castle
Malbork Castle is a huge complex split into three areas: Lower Castle, Middle Castle and High Castle.
As the largest castle in the world, it’s like an entire medieval town and it can be overwhelming to know where to start exploring.
But, that’s what your audio guide is for and it will be a great help!
As someone who normally despises audio guides, I admit I was dreading a 3-hour tour with one. However, I’m pleased to say I was wrong.
I loved my audio tour as it was not only entertaining but incredibly informative.
As a history nerd, I liked that the commentary was from castle experts and I honestly learned so much.
I got here for opening time at 9 am and had planned to visit for half a day. This was mainly to avoid the crowds so I could enjoy the rooms in peace.
But, I ended up spending an entire day exploring the castle and surrounding area as I adored everything so much!
Medieval history is my weakness and I honestly felt like a princess here.
Here are all the things to do in Malbork Castle during a visit;
Lower Castle
You start your visit at the Lower Castle which is where the ticket office is.
Even if you have bought tickets online you still need to visit to pick up your audio guide.
You cannot enter the castle without one. So, make sure you do this or you’ll be turned back.
Once you’re all set up with your headset, you can head into the Lower Castle and start the grand tour.
The walking route will take you over a drawbridge and under a portcullis gate and then several other defence gates to the Middle Castle.
Years ago, the Lower Castle was the first line of defence if the fortress was attacked.
So, there’s not too much to see here aside from the remains of stables and craft workshops.
Middle Castle
Eventually, you’ll enter the large courtyard of the Middle Castle.
Here, you’ll find entrances to the medieval buildings, statues of the Grand Masters, toilets, a gift shop and the Piwniczka restaurant.
There’s lots to see around here but you start with a tour of the Grand Master’s Palace which contains a series of spectacular chambers.
This is easily the most impressive part of the tour, so have your camera ready.
Grand Master’s Palace
The Grand Master’s Palace was my favourite part of Malbork Castle as the ornate rooms were still in excellent condition.
You’ll travel through several painted rooms before making your way to the refectories, starting with the Great Refectory.
This grand vaulted hall suspended by pillars would host feasts for the knights and honoured guests. It could hold up to 400 people!
Although I did like that room, I preferred the Summer Refectory. This is an audience hall that was built to impress.
The vaulted roof is supported by a central pillar and the ornate room features colourful frescoes and a patterned tiled floor.
Centuries ago, this chamber was painted red and boasted colourful stained glass windows! I can’t imagine how spectacular it would have been.
Amber Collections
Amber is also known as ‘Baltic Gold’ and Gdańsk with surrounding areas in north Poland is known as the Amber Capital of the World.
This is because over 70% of the world’s amber products are produced there.
The Amber Collection of Malbork Castle was created in 1961 and showcases the most valuable amber treasures found through the ages.
You’ll be amazed by the carved caskets, statues, dinnerware, chess sets and jewellery from the Neolithic, Roman and Medieval eras.
Plus, there are even lumps of amber with insects and animals inside.
There are also plenty more castle exhibitions and collections to visit during the full tour.
You can learn about stained glass, ceramics, paintings, tapestries and furniture. It’s all so fascinating.
Malbork Armouries
The Malbork Armouries are two delightful treasure troves of European arms dating from the 11th to the 19th centuries.
Their exhibitions include priceless medieval swords, sabres, armour, heraldry, crossbows, maces, cannons, spears and axes.
Some of their most precious items on display are 13th-century swords used by the Teutonic Knights with images of the Virgin Mary.
It blew my mind to see them all gathered together in creative and dramatic displays. It promised a whole world of pain!
West Terrace & St Anne’s Chapel
Before you head over another drawbridge to the High Castle, it’s worth exploring the West Terrace & gardens.
Although these sheltered areas are included in the audio tour, groups seem to skip them so it’s relatively peaceful.
You’ll pass by vine-clad walls with crumbling tombstones on the way to St Anne’s Chapel at the end of the path.
This evocative vaulted room is a crypt that has funerary monuments containing the remains of several Grand Masters.
Grand Master’s Rose Garden
A part of Malbork Castle that pleasantly surprised me was the Grand Master’s Garden.
Who knew that Teutonic Knights could cultivate such beautiful flowers?
It wasn’t built for a practical purpose like a kitchen or physic garden, but simply for pleasure and distraction.
Roses are not what I would typically associate with medieval crusaders but I guess enjoying pretty colours and scents is universal.
It was also an oasis compared to the castle interiors, so I relished the peace for a while in the sunshine.
The audio guide in this section played some traditional music typical of the Grand Master’s court and it felt like I had travelled back in time.
High Castle
The last part of your tour is the High Castle, the oldest part of the fortress where the knights lived and worshipped.
You’ll start your tour by entering a large courtyard with a central well. This was built to access fresh water if the castle was under siege.
There are several rooms at the bottom including the impressive medieval kitchens that worked hard to feed the masses!
However, the most impressive rooms can be found on the upper floors by climbing up spiral staircases and exploring the cloistered corridors.
These walkways are an impressive attraction in themselves and still have many of their original paintings.
You can follow a depiction of the Apocalypse of St. John and a crusader vision board of what Christian domination of the world would look like.
The Chapter Hall is a spectacular room in the High Castle that was a former refectory with Latin inscriptions of the Margat Order in Syria.
It was used for order meetings and to elect the next Grand Master. There’s even a throne you can sit on where you can feel like the supreme head.
Castle Church of Blessed Virgin Mary
One of the most impressive parts of the High Castle is visiting St Mary’s Church.
It has been in the fortress since the 13th century. After Malbork became the capital of in region in 1309, it was largely expanded.
According to the rules of the Teutonic Order, the brothers were required to pray there day and night.
There are impressive sculptures of apostles on the walls, a large crucifix with Jesus Christ and a precious statue of the Virgin Mary with Child.
Viewing Tower
In the High Castle, you can pay extra to climb up the viewing tower on the second floor.
From the top, you can get incredible panoramic views over the entire castle and beyond.
Unfortunately, this was closed during my visit due to construction but the views do look breathtaking.
If you get the chance on your day trip, I would grab the opportunity with both hands.
Don’t miss the Toilet Gargoyle
During my tour of the High Castle, I noticed a peculiar gargoyle in a vaulted corridor with crossed legs that seemed to be grimacing in pain.
According to the audio guide, this is an “anachronistic gargoyle” pointing you towards the toilet tower!
I say toilet, but it’s a type of latrine called a ‘Dansker’ that could flush refuse down to the moat. Lovely.
It was a pioneer created at Malbork Castle and was later replicated in other fortresses.
The best viewpoint of Malbork Castle
Even if you choose not to go inside Malbork Castle, you can still get some incredible views of the fortress from outside.
At the back of the castle, there is a pedestrian bridge called Most Imienia Świętego Wojciecha, allowing you to cross the River Nogat.
From the other side of the river, you can get the best views of Malbork Castle and it makes a wonderful photo opportunity.
The River Nogat also has some lovely walking paths and I recommend taking a stroll around the outer castle walls too!
Where to eat in Malbork Castle
I recommend eating at the restaurant inside the castle called Restauracja Piwniczka (Cellar Restaurant).
It looks incredibly gothic and is set in an old vaulted wine cellar! It felt like feasting in a medieval banquet hall worthy of the Grand Master.
You can’t reserve a table but there is lots of seating both inside and outside if it’s good weather.
They serve a range of dishes to suit all tastes including vegetarian fare. I had a breadcrumb chicken steak and chips and it was good value and delicious!
If you prefer, there are some lovely cafés over the bridge on the river.
U Flisaka is a woman-owned pub with a gorgeous outdoor terrace where you can enjoy a beer or cocktail with a castle view!
When is the best time to visit?
Malbork Castle is one of the most popular attractions in Poland and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so it sees large crowds and tour groups.
To avoid this, it’s best to visit in the shoulder seasons and during the week. Weekends are very popular with not only tourists but locals too.
There are often long queues for tickets, so I would book online and get to the castle for opening time for the best experience.
I did this and found it was pretty much empty during my tour as I was one of the first inside!
How long do you need to visit?
Malbork Castle is the largest castle in the world, so to really take it all in you need plenty of time.
I would plan at least half a day to visit Malbork Castle if not an entire day.
The travel time from Gdańsk to Malbork is anything from 30 minutes to an hour.
Then, you need to make your way over to the castle which takes around 20 minutes to walk from the train station, it’s less time with a taxi.
The audio guide is 3.5 hours at a minimum for the full castle tour not including any breaks you take.
You should then spare some time for lunch and to relax after all that exploring.
It’s a fabulous full day out in Poland and there are plenty of walks you can take and the option of a boat trip on the Nogat River.
Is Malbork Castle worth visiting?
It’s probably obvious by now but yes, Malbork Castle is worth visiting.
As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest castle in the world, it promises a fabulous day out in Poland.
The entire complex will transport you back in time to a bygone era and you’ll feel like royalty on your tour.
I was truly amazed by this castle and learned so much on my visit. I would go back in a heartbeat.
Don’t skip Malbork Castle in Poland, it’s truly a magical day trip from Gdańsk!
My top tips to make the most of your visit
- Plan a lot of time – Malbork Castle is massive, so you’ll need at least half a day to see it all. I spent all day here and had no regrets.
- Wear sensible shoes – you’ll be doing a lot of walking and climbing. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
- Buy tickets online – you can buy tickets in advance to save time. Don’t forget to pick up your audio guide at the ticket desk before entering.
- Dress appropriately for the weather – The castle is drafty and largely exposed to the elements. Make sure to dress for the weather!
- Accessibility – there are ramps to access the bottom floors however it’s still an old building with cobbles, uneven flooring and steps. The upper floors are not always accessible without stairs. Wheelchair users should contact the castle first before visiting.
Read more of my Poland travel guides
The best things to do in Wroclaw
How to visit the Witches Bridge in Wroclaw
Why you must visit the magical Aula Leopoldina
How to find the Wawel Dragon in Krakow
How to visit The Witcher Castle in Poland
Wolf Pit Tavern – visit a Witcher restaurant in Krakow
The most Instagrammable places in Warsaw
St Anne’s Church Tower in Warsaw
A day trip to Wilanow Palace
Afternoon Tea at Hotel Bristol
Warsaw Travel Guide
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