Gdańsk Royal Way Gate by Gate
Polish kings entered Gdańsk through the same sequence of gates and streets that you can still follow today, and the full walk takes about 2 hours. Almost all of it is rebuilt: around 90 percent of the Main Town was destroyed in March 1945, and restorers rebuilt it in the 1950s and 1960s.
Upland Gate to Golden Gate
Begin at the Upland Gate (Brama Wyżynna), a Renaissance entrance at the western end of the Main Town. The Golden Gate follows, a Mannerist arch. Together they frame the approach to Długa, and the street is free to walk at any hour. Book a guided Old Town walk on GetYourGuide if you would like the architecture explained.
Długa and the Main Town Hall
Długa is a pedestrian street of tall merchant houses with sculpted gables and stone portals. The Main Town Hall at Długa 46 is home to the Gdańsk History Museum, and its Red Hall has one of the finest Mannerist ceilings in northern Europe. Tickets are 26 PLN regular and 19 PLN reduced, with a 70 PLN family ticket. Monday is free, and the museum is closed on Tuesday. Opening hours are listed at muzeumgdansk.pl .
Długi Targ and Neptune’s Fountain
Długi Targ widens into a long market square. The Neptune Fountain stands in front of Artus Court. Abraham van den Blocke designed it, Gerdt Benning cast it in bronze in 1615, and it was inaugurated in 1633. Artus Court is the next stop for its tall tiled stove and hanging ship models, at 26 PLN regular and 19 PLN reduced.
Green Gate and the quay
The four-arched Green Gate opens the Main Town onto the Motława. Turn left along Długie Pobrzęże, where the medieval Crane stands on the quay. It was built in 1442 to 1444 as a port crane and city gate. Tickets are 23 PLN and 17 PLN, and Wednesday 13:00-17:00 is free. nmm.pl has current hours.
St Mary’s Basilica
Take a side trip up Mariacka. St Mary’s Basilica was begun in 1379 and completed in 1502, and at 105.5 metres long it is one of the largest brick churches in the world. The astronomical clock inside, built by Hans Düringer in 1464 to 1470, stands about 14 metres tall. The tower climb is about 400 steps and runs in the warmer months. Check tower hours and prices at bazylikamariacka.gdansk.pl , and search Gdańsk day tours on Viator for guided combinations.
When to go
The Royal Way is open at every hour, and early morning gives the quietest light on the gables. The Main Town is pedestrian only, so the walk is easy without a car. The St Mary’s tower climb closes in the winter months and during lightning or gale warnings, so keep it for a clear day. Museum interiors follow their own days, with Monday free and Tuesday closed at the Museum of Gdańsk branches.
The verdict
Walk the route from west to east, so that the river and the Crane come as the finale, and start before 09:00 to have Długa quiet. If you only enter one building, make it the Red Hall. Longer routes are laid out in the walking tours guide .
Before you go
Wear shoes with grip, since the granite and brick paving gets slick when wet. Pick a clear late afternoon for photographs of the gables.