In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Poland
Ciechanów
Spend a half‑day to a full day in Ciechanów: walk the historic centre, see the castle ruins and brewery, then return to Warsaw.
Ciechanów is a small city of about 44 000 in northern Masovia, 100 km north of Warsaw on the main rail line to Gdańsk. Its compact historic centre makes it suitable for a short visit of half a day to a full day.
- Country
- Poland
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, possible snow)
- Stay
- 0–1 (day‑trip from Warsaw) nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PLN
- Money
- Currency is the Polish złoty (PLN, zł). Cards and contactless payment are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget 50–70 PLN excl. bed · Mid 70–120 PLN excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, Play, Plus and T-Mobile sell prepaid SIMs; registration with a passport is required.
- Emergency
- Police 997 · Fire 998 · Ambulance 999
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Type E sockets; German type F plugs fit with the hybrid plug most chargers have.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10%; tell the server or add it on the card terminal.; Saying 'dziękuję' when paying cash: Means keep the change — say it only if you mean it.; Taxi: Round up.
- Water
- Tap water is safe. Restaurants sell bottled water.
- Toilets
- Station and mall toilets often cost PLN 2–4.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | 8–12 PLN |
| Beer (draught) | 12–18 PLN |
| Taxi from station to centre | 10–12 PLN |
| Public bus ride | 3–4 PLN |
| Castle museum entry | 5–10 PLN |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- WAW · Warsaw Chopin
- —
- WMI · Warsaw Modlin
- —
- GDN · Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa
- —
Typical fares
- Train Warsaw ↔ Ciechanów
- ≈45 PLN one way, 1 h 30 min (check)
- Taxi station → centre
- ≈10–12 PLN (≈€2–3)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Public bus network covers the town; most sights are within a 20‑min walk. Taxis cost €2–3 (10–12 PLN) from the station to centre.
See and do
Known for
- Gothic castle ruins of the Masovian Dukes
- regional brewery
- Masovian Nobility Museum
- Birth of Mary church
- Visitation church of St Tekla
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Romanticism Museum in Opinogóra Górna | Local bus or taxi, about 8 km (5 mi) east, 15 minLocal bus or taxi, about 5 mi (8 km) east, 15 min | ≈30 min round trip |
| Kampinos National Park | Train to Warsaw then bus, about 80 km (50 mi) southTrain to Warsaw then bus, about 50 mi (80 km) south | ≈2 h each way |
Sleep
- City centre
- Close to historic sites, walkable, several guesthouses and budget hotels.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Przepraszampsheh-PAH-sham |
| Thank you | Dziękujęjen-KOO-ye |
| How much is it? | Ile to kosztuje?EE-leh toh kohsh-TOO-ye? |
| Where is the toilet? | Gdzie jest toaleta?gjeh yest toh-AH-leh-tah? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Dzień dobry, handshake; Pan/Pani with surname; avoid: First names with older people too early
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring flowers (odd number) and something sweet; avoid: Chrysanthemums (for graves) and yellow flowers
- Name days: Wish people well on their name day (imieniny); avoid: Ignoring it if a colleague mentions it
- History: Show interest; avoid: Calling Poland 'Eastern Europe' or jokes about WWII
- Queues: Let older people and pregnant women go first where signs ask; avoid: Skipping the queue at the kasa
Scams and watch-outs
- Limited English signage outside the centre; ask locals for directions.
- Winter smog can be high; consider a mask on cold days.
Ciechanów is generally safe; keep an eye on belongings in crowded buses and follow usual city precautions.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ciechanów yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 (day‑trip from Warsaw) nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Gothic castle ruins of the Masovian Dukes
- regional brewery
- Masovian Nobility Museum
- Birth of Mary church
- Visitation church of St Tekla
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Polish tourism board – Masovia: www.poland.travel/en/regions/masovia
- Wikivoyage: Ciechanów, revision 5036625 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5036625
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/ciechanow). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.