Porta Regia: the royal gate of Gniezno's cathedral

Gniezno is a city in Greater Poland in Poland. It is traditionally regarded as having been the first capital of Poland, and has been witness to many important events in early Polish history. Gniezno has become the seat of the second Polish diocese (after Poznań) and the first archbishopric. The coronations of several kings of Poland took place in the Gniezno cathedral.

Gniezno is situated in the northeastern part of the Greater Poland, between three lakes: Jelonek, Swietokrzyskie and Winiary, in what is called the Gniezno Lake District. It is only 50 kilometres away from Poznań and relatively close to Kujawsko-Pomorskie.

Get in

By plane

The nearest airports with scheduled passenger service are in Poznań (50 km) and Bydgoszcz (90 km).

By train

Gniezno is an important railroad junction, so there are many options to travel to and from the city by rail. The main rail line through Gniezno is Poznań-Gniezno-Inowrocław, where it is forks out to Gdańsk through Bydgoszcz and to Olsztyn through Toruń, with numerous connections:

• to Poznań up to 17 daily regional trains and 6-10 (depending on season) fast ones. The travel time to Poznań varies from 40-45 for fast trains to 55 for the local ones (stopping at every station).
• to Bydgoszcz and Gdańsk: 4 regional trains and 4-7 fast ones
• to Toruń and Olsztyn 2 local trains and 3 fast ones.

Another line runs from Gniezno to Września and Jarocin, with 4 local trains daily (including two coordinated in Jarocin with trains to Wrocław).

An interesting alternative for those traveling to Gniezno from the South-East is a journey by a local narrow-gauge railway. It runs over a 38 km route during spring and summer weekends, and on other days by special request. Details (Polish only) - [1].

• 1 Gniezno railway station. (updated Dec 2020)

By bus

Gniezno is a big bus travel junction, as well. Most coaches go not - as you might think - to Poznań (trains are dominating on this route), but to other places in the region (only routes to tourist places are mentioned):

• Bydgoszcz: 7 buses daily
• Czerniejewo (a beautiful historic palace): more than 30 daily
• Imiolki (the Dominican Fish-Gate): 11 daily
• Konin: 14 buses daily
• Kruszwica through Strzelno: 8 daily
• Skorzecin (a lake resort): 12 daily
• Wenecja through Biskupin: 9 buses daily
• Wągrowiec: 9 daily
• Września: 18 daily
• Żnin: 10 buses daily

By car

The main road passing through Gniezno is the country road nr 5, linking the town with Poznań and Wrocław in the south and with Bydgoszcz and Gdańsk in the north and passing through such attractions like Biskupin, Wenecja or Znin. The other roads passing through Gniezno are: country road nr 15 - enabling you to get to Kruszwica, Strzelno or Toruń; local road nr 260 - for those travelling in the Lake District nearby Powidz, 190 - to Wągrowiec and 197 to Slawa through the northern parts of Lednicki Landscape Park.

Get around

Church of the Holy Trinity in Gniezno.

On foot

Most tourists will find it unnecessary to use public transport in Gniezno, as all main tourist attractions are situated in the very centre (6-8 minute walk from both rail and bus station).

By bus

The network consists of 16 city bus lines and 1 suburban line. Some lines run only few times a day (e.g. in peak hours).

The fee structure is simple - single ride will cost you 2 zloty (€0.45), the fee doubles at night (23-5). If you travel more, you can use 11-ride ticket for 21 zloty. Unfortunately, there're no multiple-day tickets, the only option for those staying in the city for longer are monthly tickets - for one line: 50 zlotys (€12), for two lines: 60, for the whole network: 100 zlotys.

More information: free phone number: 9285 or [2].

Tourist information

• The regional Tourist Information Centre, Rynek Sq., ☏ +48 61 428 41 00, turystyka@powiat-gniezno.pl. (updated Apr 2020)
• Polish Country-Lovers’ Society, the Gniezno department, 10 Łaskiego str., ☏ +48 61 425 37 37, fax: +48 61 426 36 60. (updated Apr 2020)

See

Gniezno Cathedral, where six kings of Poland were crowned between the 11th and 14th centuries

Central post office

• Assumption and St. Adalbert's Cathedral. Cathedral with the reliquaries of St. Adalbert (Czech: Wojtiech; Polish: Wojciech), famous Romanesque bronze door from c. 1170, the most precious monument of romanesque art in Poland, the tombs of St. Adalbert and numerous Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque monuments and tombs of Gniezno bishops and archbishops and some Polish primates. (updated Apr 2020)
• Archbishopric Archives. The archives contain numerous documents including papal bulls from the early Middle Ages, the most precious of which are the Golden Gniezno Codex, the bulla od pope Innocent II from 1136 and the pergamine Gospel book - a manuscript from France from c. 800. (updated Apr 2020)
• Church of St. John the Baptist. Gothic church from the mid 19th century, with unique polichromy in the presbytery. (updated Apr 2020)
• Archbishopric Museum. The museum contains precious liturgical vessels, including the chalice of St. Adalbert, chalice of Dobrava (the wife of first polish Dukre, buried in Poznań) or the Royal Chalice. (updated Apr 2020)
• Parish church of the Holy Trinity. Gothic church from the 15th century. (updated Apr 2020)
• Franciscan Assumption and St. Anthony's Church. Gothic-Baroque church with the miraculous icon of Our Lady, the Mistress of Gniezno; next door is the Baroque Franciscan Monastery from the 18th century. (updated Apr 2020)
• Church of St. Michael Archangel. Gothic church from the 15th century, rebuilt in 1815 with a neo-Baroque rower from 1900. (updated Apr 2020)
• Primates' Palace. (updated Apr 2020)

Visits to the Bronze Door and the cathedral's crypt are permitted only with a guide.

Museums

• The Gniezno Archbishopric Museum, 2 Kolegiaty str., ☏ +48 61 426 37 78. open 9.00-17.30 (May-Sep, except Mondays) or 9.00-15.00 (Oct-Apr, except Sundays, Mondays and church holidays). (updated Apr 2020)
• Museum of Beginnings of The Polish State, 1, Kostrzewskiego str., ☏ +48 61 426 46 41, sekretariat@muzeumgniezno.pl. open from Tuesday to Sunday 9:30 - 17:30 (May–Sep) or 10.00-17.00 (Oct-Apr). As the main part of the museum is an interactive show about the earliest polish history, one needs to make an obligatory advance booking! (updated Apr 2020)

Do

• International Jazz Festival (Jazz Pod Piątką) (Jazz in the building number 5). In June. (updated Apr 2020)
• International Organ Festival (Musik in the Gniezno Cathedral walls). Concerts on Sundays in June and July. (updated Apr 2020)
• Polish Amateur Film Festival "Offeliada'. In October. (updated Apr 2020)
• Juwenalia (The festival of students of the Collegium Europaeum University, the Gniezno State Professional High School). In May. (updated Apr 2020)
• Nameday of Gniezno. April 23 (Saint Adalbert's day). (updated Apr 2020)
• Gniezno Days. Late April. (updated Apr 2020)
• The Long-Distance International Run of the United Europe. Late April. (updated Apr 2020)
• The Flea Markets. Several times a year. (updated Apr 2020)
• The Days of St. John. Around June 24. (updated Apr 2020)
• Polish Piast Bike Rally. In June. (updated Apr 2020)
• Meetings with poetry. In the undergrounds of the Gniezno Cathedral, irregularly (updated Apr 2020)

Eat

Budget

• Amanda, 1, Chrobrego str, ☏ +48 61 428 28 31. 
• Cafe-Pub Klub Kibica, 32, Warszawska str, ☏ +48 61 426 11 97, awo@hotel-awo.pl. 
• City Bar, 15, Rynek Square, ☏ +48 61 425 35 35, sunnytravel@hotel-victoria.pl. 
• Hubertus, 2, Kolejowa str, ☏ +48 61 426 74 49, 95095544@pro.onet.pl. 
• Pod Piątką, 5, Tumska str, office@5.gniezno.pl. 
• Poker, 185, Wrzesińska str, ☏ +48 61 425 78 57. 
• Stołówka CEG, 5-7 Kostrzewskiego str, ☏ +48 61 423 71 52. 
• Wenecja, 9, Jeziorna str, ☏ +48 61 426 19 26. 
• Verona, 20, Rynek Square, ☏ +48 61 425 38 38. 
• Stołówka Klubowa, 42, Roosevelta str, ☏ +48 693 533 341. 
• U Zygmunta, 20, Ks, ☏ +48 61 426 37 74, mariakam@wp.pl. 

Mid-range and splurge

• RATUSZOWA, 40/41 Chrobrego str, ☏ +48 61 424 32 23. 
• Europejska, 19, Dabrowki str, ☏ +48 61 426 30 41. 
• Gwarna, ul, Mieszka I 16,, ☏ +48 61 426 16 16. 
• Herbowa, 106, Roosevelta str, ☏ +48 61 426 54 31, restauracjaherbowa@02.pl. 
• Imperial, 2, Paczkowskiego str, ☏ +48 61 428 23 75. 
• In Centro, 10, Rynek Square,, ☏ +48 61 428 26 14, incentro@wp.pl. 
• Kasyno, 43, Wrzesińska str, ☏ +48 61 425 70 21. 
• Kresowianka, 123, Roosevelta str, ☏ +48 61 428 23 93, kresowianka@kresowianka.pl. 
• Klub Muzyczny "Młyn" (Music Club „The Mill”), ☏ +48 602 447 674. 
• Kresowianka, Rynek Square, ☏ +48 61 424 22 52. 
• Królewska, 3, Chrobrego str, ☏ +48 61 426 14 97, hotel-pietrak@home.pl. 
• Leo Libra, ul, Pustachowska 1,, ☏ +48 61 425 66 81. 
• Nest, 20, Sobieskiego str, ☏ +48 61 423 80 00, recepcja@hotelnest.pl. 
• Panda, 6, Łubieńskiego str, ☏ +48 603 101 081. 
• Restauracja Polska, 5, Tumska str, ☏ +48 61 426 18 00, office@5.gniezno.pl. 
• Ristorante Italiano, 12, Tumska str, ☏ +48 61 426 14 97. 
• Sphinks, 4, Chrobrego str, ☏ +48 61 426 13 73. 
• Staromiejska, 11, Łubieńskiego str, ☏ +48 603 577 724. 
• W Piwnicy, 7, Dąbrówki str, ☏ +48 61 425 24 85. 
• W Starej Kamienicy, 13, 3 Maja str, ☏ +48 61 424 22 46. 
• Złoty Smok, 1A, Kaszarska str, ☏ +48 61 426 78 04. 
• Restauracja Za Drzwiami, 11, Tumska str, ☏ +48 61 424 44 02. 

In the vicinity

• Karczma Wiejska (The Country Inn), Kosowo 28, 62 250 Czerniejewo. 
• Kleckowianka, 20, Paderewskiego str, 62-270 Kłecko, ☏ +48 61 427 00 80. 
• Nad Jeziorem Białym (The White Lake), 62-431 Skorzęcin 52,, ☏ +48 63 277 01 49, info@hotel-skorzecin.pl. 
• Restaurant-Hotel Pietrak, 4, Foluska str, 62-240 Trzemeszno, hp-trzemeszno@post.pl. 
• The Czerniejewo Palace Restaurant, 5, Gen. Lipskiego str., 62-250 Czerniejewo, ☏ +48 61 427 37 01, biuro@czerniejewo-palac.pl. 

Sleep

Budget

• The Medical School Hostel, 27, Mieszka I str, ☏ +48 61 426 34 09. 
• The School Centre Hostel, 16, Powstańców Wlkp. Str., ☏ +48 61 424 57 11, soswg@ids.poznan.pl. 
• Youth hostel, 11, Pocztowa str, ☏ +48 61 424 07 96. 
• Youth hostel, Siemianowo 11, 62-261 Lednogóra, ☏ +48 61 427 52 99. 
• The House of the Society of Countryside Libraries, 20, Ksiedza Ludwiczaka str, ☏ +48 61 425 98 96. 

Mid-range

• Hotel Gewert, 2, Paczkowskiego str, ☏ +48 61 428 23 75, recepcja@hotelgewert.pl. 
• Hotel City, 15, Rynek Sq, ☏ +48 61 425 35 35, recepcja@hotelgniezno.com. 
• Hotel Lech, 5, Bł. Jolenty str, ☏ +48 61 426 23 85, recepcja@hotel-lech.pl. 
• Hotel MIESZKO, 2, Strumykowa str, ☏ +48 61 426 46 66, mieszko-poczta@bazafirm.pl. 
• Hotel Orzeł, 25, Wrzesińska str, ☏ +48 61 426 49 25, +48 602 489 021. 
• Motel ED-RAJ, 8a, Krótka str, ☏ +48 61 424 42 81. 

Splurge

• AWO, 32, Warszawska str, ☏ +48 61 426 11 97, recepcja@hotel-awo.pl. 
• Adalbertus, 7a, Tumska str, ☏ +48 61 426 13 60, adalbertus@pietrak.pl. Centrally located, just few steps to the Cathedral and two minutes walk to the Rynek Square. 
• Hotel "Nest", 20, Sobieskiego str, ☏ +48 61 423 80 00, recepcja@hotelnest.pl. 
• Hotel Pietrak, 3, Chrobrego str, ☏ +48 61 426 14 97, hotel-pietrak@home.pl. 

In the vicinity

As Gniezno is in the Lake District, many accommodation options are well out of the city:

• Motel Gościniec w Dolinie (The Valley Inn), Jankowo Dolne 43, 62-200 Gniezno. 
• Jankowo Dolne – The Rest Centre, ☏ +48 61 424 57 36, jankowo@gosir.gniezno.pl. 
• Gołąbki – The Rest Centre „Jutrzenka”, 88-422 - Gościeszyn, ☏ +48 52 302 49 80. 
• Mielno – The Kids’ Rest Centre, Mielno 8, 62 - 212 Mieleszyn, ☏ +48 61 427 74 21, dwd@mielno.pl. 
• Witkowo – The Sport and Recreation Centre, Skorzecin, ☏ +48 63 277 92 77, oksiw@skorzecin.net.pl. 
• Skorzęcin – Camping, Iind category (open June - mid-Sept), 62 - 230 Witkowo, ☏ +48 63 277 02 79. 
• Czeremcha, 20, Św. Jana str,62-240 Trzemeszno, ☏ +48 61 415 43 86. 
• Hotel Biały - „Nad Jeziorem Białym" (On the White Lake), 62-431 Skorzęcin 52, ☏ +48 63 277 01 49, info@hotel-skorzęcin.pl. 
• „Słowianin" (A Slav), Modliszewo 8B, 62-211 Zdziechowa, ☏ +48 61 427 19 01. 
• Osiniec Inn, Osiniec 14a, 62 - 200 Gniezno, ☏ +48 61 426 45 43. 
• Agrotouristic House Kalina, Kalina 4, 62 – 200 Gniezno, ☏ +48 61 427 11 02, stajnia-kalina@tenbit.pl. 
• Agrotouristic House Beata Kamińska, Goślinowo 34, 62 – 200 Gniezno, ☏ +48 61 426 72 94. 
• Hotel Pietrak, 4, Foluska str, 62-240 Trzemeszno, ☏ +48 52 315 44 00, hp-trzemeszno@post.pl. 
• Hotel Victoria, Łubowo 13, 62-260 Łubowo, ☏ +48 61 427 54 54, reception@hotel-victoria.pl. 
• The Czerniejewo Palace, 5, Gen. Lipskiego str., 62-250 Czerniejewo, ☏ +48 61 427 37 01, biuro@czerniejewo-palac.pl. 

Go next

The large cities of Poznań, Bydgoszcz and Toruń are within 60-90 minutes from Gniezno by road or rail.

The area around Gniezno is rich in historic monuments and places of interest:

• Ostrów Lednicki - an island on Lednica Lake with preserved remnants of a medieval fortress from 10th century; one of the most important places on the Piast Route.
• Dziekanowice - located next to Ostrów Lednicki, with an open-air museum of Greater Poland architecture
• The Fish-Gate (a large girder construction shaped after the early Christian symbol) in Imiołki. Every year in May or June, the Dominican Order holds a large Catholic youth gathering there.
• Timber churches in Weglewo and Lubowo
• Czerniejewo with a beautiful classicist palace, stables and carriage house
• Żnin, Biskupin and Wenecja with settlements of so-called Lusitian culture from 2700 years ago all connected via narrow gauge railway
• Trzemeszno with one of polish oldest churches
• Strzelno - a romanesque rotunda and the Trinity Church with famous columns presenting human virtues and sins
• Mogilno with a romanesque church of St. John