Practical guide

Films and series shot on the Hel Peninsula. The film trail

Guide to films and series shot on the Hel Peninsula. A film trail through Hel, Jastarnia and Jurata, ideal for non-beach days.

May 15, 2026Guide

Evening view from the balcony of Apartament Zdrojowy 323 in Jastarnia - panorama of the Baltic and pine silhouettes in fading light, a cinematic backdrop for films and series shot on the Hel Peninsula

Why filmmakers love the Hel Peninsula

The Hel Peninsula has several features that are ideal from a filmmaker's point of view. The narrow strip of land between sea and bay gives a distinctive horizon line on which a single frame can combine beach, forest, buildings and elements of port infrastructure. Add to that very changeable light. Mists over Puck Bay, sharp sun over the open Baltic and autumn greyness, which work beautifully for the mood of crime stories and thrillers.

According to interviews with the creators of the series 'Zbrodnia', they chose the Hel Peninsula because it combines wild nature, unique landscapes, and former German bunkers with the image of a quiet family resort. AXN press materials highlight that shooting took place in Jurata, Kuznica, the port of Jastarnia, former military bases, and the old torpedo station, noting that few other places in Poland offer such a concentration of ready-made locations.

In press releases, the creators of 'Heaven in Hell' noted that the peninsula was a natural choice. A Jastarnia town information piece quotes the director, who described the peninsula as one of Poland's most beautiful places, perfectly capturing the film's mood. Shooting took place here from April to May 2022. Add to that the raw autumn Hel of the series 'Scheda', and it is no surprise the spit keeps returning to screens.

The Hel Peninsula from the inside gives the broader geographic context that this article turns into a concrete film trail.

Feature films from the Hel Peninsula

One of the first widely discussed films to firmly set its action on the peninsula is 'Hel', a 2015 thriller directed by Katarzyna Priwieziencew. The film description stresses that the lead character, an American writer, comes to Hel in search of inspiration, and the action unfolds on the narrow spit surrounded by the Baltic, where tourists disappear and the atmosphere becomes increasingly unsettling. Shooting took place on the Hel Peninsula, as the distribution descriptions confirm, and it is the landscapes and end-of-the-world aura that build much of the film's mood.

The second, far more mainstream title is 'Heaven in Hell', a Polish romance with Magdalena Boczarska and Simone Susinna. The town of Jastarnia announced that filming for 'Heaven in Hell' took place in 'the beautiful locations of the Hel Peninsula' from April to May 2022. In August, visitors could view an exhibition of stills from the shoot on the Jurata pier, with cast and director present. The production notes indicate that the producers favored Jurata and found the peninsula perfectly suited the story.

Local media and Cinema Zeglarz archives mention other films partly shot on the peninsula, though these are not always widely known titles. From the visitor's point of view the conclusion is simple. Thanks to titles like 'Hel' and 'Heaven in Hell' you can see familiar places on screen and then retrace those frames on a walk through Jurata, Jastarnia or the port of Hel.

TV locations in Hel, Jastarnia and Jurata

The peninsula is most firmly remembered in viewers' minds through TV series. The first is 'Zbrodnia', a three-episode crime story for AXN, with Magdalena Boczarska, Wojciech Zielinski and Joanna Kulig in the cast. Onet reported that the location choice for 'Zbrodnia' was influenced by the wild nature, unique landscapes, and the availability of objects like former German bunkers and an old torpedo station. Shooting took place in Jurata, Kuznica, the port of Jastarnia, former military bases and the torpedo station, which on screen looks like a ready-made film set.

The second production is 'Scheda', an HBO Max series that premiered in 2025. Articles about the production of 'Scheda' describe how in the second half of the previous year, Hel and its surroundings became the location for a new Polish family drama, earlier working-titled 'Miasto Mrozow'. The series is set in the town of Hel, shown in a raw autumn-winter version, with shooting also in Jastarnia, including the local beach.

A review of films from seaside resorts mentions the series 'Zatoka szpiegow', partly shot on the peninsula and in Tricity, though a larger portion of filming occurred in other Pomeranian locations. Together these titles sketch an interesting map. Hel as the raw autumn crime-and-drama scenery, Jastarnia as a port and beaches with a twist, Jurata as a refined, bright backdrop for relationship films.

For series fans, Travelist's piece 'See you on Netflix' proposes a virtual walk through the Hel Peninsula in the footsteps of 'Zbrodnia'. We translate that inspiration into a real-world trail.

A film trail with a base in Jastarnia

A practical film trail can be built around three hubs. Jastarnia, Jurata and Hel. In Jastarnia we start at the port, where 'Zbrodnia' scenes were shot. A walk along the quay, with cutters, lights and the pier entrance, lets you see frames known from the series, only without the cinematic colour filter. From there you can head towards the old torpedo station, described in local materials as a dark, eye-catching Second World War building that appears in the background of many shots.

The second stage is Jurata, where 'Heaven in Hell' was filmed. The town of Jastarnia noted that it was on the Jurata pier that the on-set photo exhibition was held throughout August, showing how strongly the production was tied to this place. A walk along the pier, a descent to the beach on either side and a stroll along the forest lanes between Jurata and Jastarnia create a natural film stretch.

The third stage is Hel. The port, the small beach on the Puck Bay side, the lighthouse and the bunkers that appear in 'Zbrodnia' and 'Scheda'. It is worth adding a military layer here, using the guide Bunkers and fortifications on the Hel Peninsula, because many film frames use the same fortifications and forests that we describe in the historical trail.

The whole loop fits comfortably into two days with a base in Jastarnia, combining short train rides, walks through piers and ports and evening screenings at Cinema Zeglarz.

Cinema Zeglarz and festivals: the film peninsula from inside

The film trail on the peninsula is not only about outdoor locations. Jastarnia has its own small heart of cinema in Cinema Zeglarz. Local historical descriptions refer to Cinema Zeglarz as the last traditional cinema on the Hel Peninsula, with a tradition reaching back to the Second World War. Alongside digital screenings, the cinema still occasionally runs 35 mm reels, which today is a rarity and an attraction in itself.

'Tygodnik Powszechny' described the All Inclusive Film Festival initiative in Jastarnia, run by three generations of women and centred around Cinema Zeglarz. The festival emphasises inclusion rather than all inclusive understood as unlimited consumption. The programme features films from around the world, meetings with creators and accompanying events, all on the scale of a small seaside town where after a screening you walk straight out onto the port or the beach.

From the visitor's point of view, this is an excellent way to escape the peak-season crowds or rescue a day with poor weather. The cinema and festival can be slotted in next to other 'plan B' options from the guide Rainy weekend in Jastarnia emergency plan.

Weaving the film trail into a week on Hel

The film trail does not have to replace classic beach time and walks. It is better as an extra layer that lets you see the same places through a slightly different lens. In a week-long stay in Jastarnia a sensible plan looks like this. One film-and-series day along the Jastarnia, Jurata, Hel line. One lighter day with an evening screening at Cinema Zeglarz. The rest of the days follow the classic mix: beaches, walks, bunkers, water sports.

The guides A week on Hel without a car and One-day family triangle help with logistics between Jastarnia, Wladyslawowo and Hel. In turn, Off-season Hel with children and blog pieces on September and October suggest when the cinematic atmosphere is at its strongest.

The base matters as well. For a film-themed week to make sense, it helps to have a place to come back to after a full day of locations in your head. A calm room, a view of the sea, the ability to prepare for the next day. Apartament Zdrojowy 323 in Hotel Dom Zdrojowy in Jastarnia fits that role, with the pier, port and beach reachable in a few minutes on foot, the same places that increasingly show up on the big and small screen.

Sources and references

Frequently asked questions

Which feature films were shot on the Hel Peninsula?

Among feature films that used Hel Peninsula locations, the first to mention is 'Hel', a 2015 thriller directed by Katarzyna Priwieziencew, set in a seaside town on the sandspit. Shooting took place on the narrow strip of land surrounded by water, which builds the claustrophobic atmosphere of the story. Another high-profile title is 'Heaven in Hell', a romance with Magdalena Boczarska and Simone Susinna, filmed in Jurata, Jastarnia and other peninsula locations in spring 2022. The town of Jastarnia announced that the creators chose the spit as a natural backdrop and even organised an outdoor exhibition of stills from the shoot on the Jurata pier. Smaller productions and documentaries are also made on the peninsula, but it is these two films that appear most often in lists of cinema from the Hel Peninsula.

Which TV series used Hel, Jastarnia and Jurata as locations?

The best-known series set on the peninsula is 'Zbrodnia', the first Polish production of AXN, shot in Jurata, Kuznica, the port of Jastarnia and on the grounds of former military bases and inside the old torpedo station. The creators stressed that the choice came down to the wild nature, bunkers and contrast between an idyllic resort and a dark plot. Another major production is 'Scheda', an HBO Max series whose action takes place in Hel. Scenes were shot on the small beach on the Puck Bay side, in the port of Hel and on the beach in Jastarnia. Articles about films from coastal resorts also mention the series 'Zatoka szpiegow', partly filmed on the peninsula. Together these titles form a strong starting point for film-based exploration of the region.

Is there an official 'film trail' on the Hel Peninsula?

There is no single officially marked route with a film-trail logo yet, but nothing stops you from building your own programme based on known locations. Town information and articles about the series point to specific places. The port in Jastarnia and the area around the torpedo station as the setting for 'Zbrodnia'. The pier and beaches in Jurata, plus the seaside lanes, as the backdrop of 'Heaven in Hell'. The small beach and port in Hel, plus the town streets, as the main scenery of 'Scheda'. Bunkers and pine forests fill in as universal military and thriller backgrounds. From these points you can build a one- or two-day film route with a base in Jastarnia, combining walks, short train rides and stops at cafes seen on screen.

How to plan a 'film trail' day with a base in Jastarnia and no car?

From Jastarnia it is easy to build a film loop without a car. The morning warms up locally. A walk through the port, pier and surrounding streets where scenes for 'Zbrodnia' were shot. Then a short train ride to Jurata, a walk on the pier where the town organised the 'Heaven in Hell' photo exhibition, plus a stroll on the beach and promenades that match frames from the film. In the afternoon another short ride to Hel, a walk through the port and the small beach on the bay side where the key 'Scheda' scenes were filmed. The train back to Jastarnia closes the day without traffic jams, in line with the philosophy of the guide to a week in Hel without a car. On the way you can drop into Cinema Zeglarz, the only cinema on the peninsula and a fixture of local film culture.

Are there film events for visitors in Jastarnia?

Yes, the cinematic face of Jastarnia is not only about locations but also concrete events. At the centre stands Cinema Zeglarz, described as the last real cinema on the Hel Peninsula, with a tradition reaching back to the Second World War. In summer it presents reviews of films from the past year, often using classic 35 mm reels, which is a rarity in the digital projection era. Jastarnia is also home to the All Inclusive Film Festival, a family initiative run by three generations, written up by 'Tygodnik Powszechny'. The festival focuses on intimate screenings, meetings with creators and a programme designed as a counterpoint to the typical 'hotel all inclusive' framed as unlimited consumption. For anyone who loves cinema, it is a great reason to plan an evening away from the beach and see the Hel Peninsula as a living film organism, not just a backdrop for stills.

Does the film trail make sense outside the summer season?

It actually takes on character precisely outside the season. Many films and series, such as 'Hel' and 'Scheda', lean on the autumn-winter climate of the spit, emptier beaches, mist over the bay and the raw light that is hard to catch in July on a packed beach. A walk through the port of Hel in November or a windy day on the Jastarnia pier lets you see the locations the way cinematographers see them, not the way summer crowds do. Off-season makes it easier to take photographs without crowds in frame and read the boards with film-shoot or exhibition notes calmly. It pairs well with the idea of 'coolcation' and autumn Baltic trips set out in the guides on off-season Hel with children and blog texts about September and October by the sea.