Main Town Hall (Museum of Gdansk)

The Main Town Hall at Dluga 46/47 is the Gothic and Renaissance building that anchors the Royal Way in the Main Town of Gdansk, in Poland's Pomeranian region. It houses the historic interiors of the Museum of Gdansk, and for many visitors it is the best place in the city to see how the wealthy merchant republic once governed itself. The tall brick tower, topped by a gilded figure of a king, is one of the landmarks of the skyline. Inside, the route passes through the principal ceremonial rooms. The Red Room is the showpiece, a richly decorated council chamber with carved wood, a painted ceiling and large allegorical canvases that celebrate the city and its civic virtues. The Great Council Chamber and the Mayor's rooms show the portraits, furniture and decorative arts of the period, and the building also has display space for temporary exhibitions about the history of the city. Much of the interior was restored after the damage of 1945, and displays explain the reconstruction. The tower observation deck is closed for renovation in 2026, so visitors should not plan around the panoramic view. A typical visit takes one to one and a half hours. The museum is open Monday 10:00 to 16:00 with free entry, closed on Tuesday, open Wednesday and Friday to Sunday 10:00 to 16:00, and open Thursday 10:00 to 18:00; it closes on public holidays and on 24 to 26 December, 31 December, 1 January and 6 January. A standard ticket costs 26 PLN and a reduced ticket 19 PLN. The best photographs of the exterior are taken from the Long Market, with the tower rising behind the Neptune Fountain, and from the corner of Dluga Street looking east. Rooms are small, so crowds are most noticeable at midday in summer and on the free Monday. Thursday evenings and weekday mornings are calmer. The Town Hall is about a 12 minute walk from Gdansk Glowny railway station along Dluga Street.