The sea throws up amber after onshore storms, mostly from late autumn to early spring. The best moment is a few hours after the storm peak, when the waves start to drop.
Season
Your best chances are from November to March, when storms are most frequent. Summer storms can also wash up a fair amount of amber.
Wind and direction
A storm alone is not enough. The waves must hit the beach from the open sea. The Vistula Spit (Mierzeja Wiślana) reacts to storms from the north and north-west. Sopot reacts to wind from the east. That is why we calculate the amber index separately for each beach.
Time of day
Go out early in the morning, before other people walk the beach. Experienced hunters also go out after dark with a UV torch.
Where on the beach
Amber lies in the band of washed-up debris: wood, coal, seaweed and shells. Look for the fresh line left by the retreating water.
Not sure which beach suits today's wind? Check the hourly amber forecast or read where to find amber on the Baltic coast of Poland.
Do not miss the next window
The best windows last a few hours: after a storm, after rain, on a clear night with an active Sun. Sign up and we will email you when the index at your spots goes above 60.