Attraction in Gdańsk

Main Town Hall (Museum of Gdansk)

The Main Town Hall in Gdansk is a Gothic and Renaissance civic building at the corner of Dluga Street and the Long Market, now the main branch of the Museum of Gdansk.

Reviewed and updated July 2026

Main Town Hall (Museum of Gdansk) — Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Main Town Hall is a Gothic and Renaissance civic building at the junction of Dluga Street and the Long Market, and it now serves as the main branch of the Museum of Gdansk. People come for its decorated interiors, above all the Red Room, and in summer for the climb up the tower that gives a panoramic view over the Old Town.

The Red Room and the interiors

The centrepiece of a visit is the Red Room, also called the Great Council Chamber, which is regarded as one of the finest Renaissance rooms in Northern Europe. Its painted ceiling, panelling and ornamentation were made to project the wealth and civic pride of a leading Hanseatic trading city. The other historic chambers house the Museum of Gdansk's displays on the city's past, so the building works as both a monument and a museum in one visit.

A working town hall turned museum

For centuries this was the seat of the Main Town's council, the administrative heart of self-governing Gdansk, which is why the architecture blends Gothic bones with Renaissance decoration added as the city grew rich. Today it is the flagship branch of the Museum of Gdansk rather than a seat of government. That history is legible in the rooms themselves, where council business once happened beneath the same ceilings visitors now look up at.

Climbing the tower

In summer you can climb the tower for a panoramic view over the Old Town, taking in the roofs of the Main Town, the line of Dluga Street and the Long Market below. The tower is a seasonal option, so it is not open all year, and the ascent is on foot up narrow historic stairs. If a view over Gdansk is a priority, check the museum's official channels before you go, as tower access depends on the season and opening times.

Fitting it into a Gdansk visit

The Main Town Hall sits right on the walking route most visitors already take through the centre, between the Golden Gate and the Green Gate along Dluga Street and the Long Market. That makes it easy to pair with nearby landmarks such as Neptune's Fountain and Artus Court on the same stroll. For planning the wider area and what else to see close by, see our Gdansk guide.

Good to know

The tower climb is a summer-only option and is separate from the museum interiors, so confirm current opening dates and times through the Museum of Gdansk before planning your visit.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, in summer visitors can climb the tower for a panoramic view over the Old Town. It is a seasonal option, so check the Museum of Gdansk's official channels for current opening dates and times before you go.

The Red Room, also known as the Great Council Chamber, is the building's richly decorated centrepiece and is regarded as one of the finest Renaissance rooms in Northern Europe.

It stands in the Main Town at the junction of Dluga Street and the Long Market, on the main pedestrian route through the historic centre.

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Long Market

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Fontanna Neptuna

The bronze Neptune Fountain, cast in the early 17th century, has stood in front of the Artus Court since 1633 and became the symbol of Gdansk. Local legend claims the god's trident scattered gold flakes into the water, inspiring the herbal liqueur Goldwasser.

Bazylika Mariacka

One of the largest brick churches in the world, this vast Gothic basilica can hold up to 25,000 people. Climb its 405 steps to a viewing terrace for a sweeping panorama over the red rooftops of the old town.

Great Armoury (Wielka Zbrojownia)

The Great Armoury is an ornate former arsenal in Gdansk's Main Town, widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Dutch Mannerist architecture in the city. Its richly decorated facades now front the Academy of Fine Arts and a shopping arcade.

Mariacka Street (ulica Mariacka)

A short cobbled lane in Gdansk running between St. Mary's Basilica and the Motlawa waterfront, lined with reconstructed patrician houses and amber shops. It is widely called the most photogenic street in the city.

Prison Tower and Torture Chamber

A 16th-century fortified complex in Gdansk's Main Town that once held prisoners and carried out interrogations, now marking the start of the Royal Route.