The Royal Route
Follow the Polish kings' path from the Upland Gate to the Green Gate: grand gates, Długa Street, the Town Hall, Neptune and the Long Market.
Route map
Route stops
- 1High Gate
Puerta Alta is a Renaissance structure completed in 1588, featuring elaborate decorative stonework by Willem van den Blocke. Once the main western gateway to Gdansk, it marks the starting point of the Royal Route through the city. Today, the gate houses a small museum and tourist information centre, making it an essential stop for visitors exploring Gdansk's historic old town.
0.1 km·1 min - 2Prison Tower and Torture Chamber
A 14th-century defensive tower that once formed part of Gdańsk's city walls, this structure served as a prison and torture chamber until the 17th century. Today, it's open to visitors, with access to the upper levels offering panoramic views across the city. What to see includes the tower's medieval architecture and the historical chambers below.
0.1 km·2 min - 3Great Armoury
The Gran Armería is an early 17th-century Dutch Mannerist building designed by Antoon van Obberghen. Originally constructed to house Gdansk's weapons and munitions, it stands as one of the city's most photogenic structures, with distinctive architectural features typical of the period. Today, the building serves as home to the Academy of Fine Arts, continuing its role as an important cultural institution in Gdansk's historic centre.
0.1 km·2 min - 4Golden Gate
The Puerta Dorada is a Renaissance archway built in 1612, marking the official entrance to Gdansk's Old Town via the Royal Route. The structure showcases both Dutch and Italian architectural influences and is adorned with allegorical sculptures representing freedom, peace and justice. This impressive gateway remains one of the city's most distinctive Renaissance monuments.
0.1 km·1 min - 5Casa Uphagena
An 18th-century merchant's townhouse on Długa Street, Casa Uphagena has been carefully reconstructed to reveal how Gdansk's wealthy trading class lived. Step inside to explore original furnishings, a music room, grand salon and working kitchen—all authentic period pieces that offer genuine insight into the daily life and domestic refinement of the city's merchant elite during the 1700s.
0.1 km·1 min - 6Long Street
Gdańsk's main historic thoroughfare and centrepiece of the Royal Route, Calle Długa runs from the Golden Gate to the Green Gate through the heart of the Old Town. The street is lined with striking merchant houses dating from the 15th to 17th centuries, their colourful façades reflecting the city's prosperous trading past. What to see here captures the essence of Gdańsk's medieval character and architectural heritage.
0.2 km·2 min - 7Gdansk Town Hall
Gdansk's Town Hall is a striking Gothic-Renaissance structure dating from the 14th century. The distinctive 83-metre tower is crowned with a gilded statue of Sigismund II and houses a carillon of 37 bells. Inside, the renowned Red Room remains one of the building's most impressive features. The Town Hall now operates as the Gdansk Historical Museum, offering visitors insight into the city's rich past. What to see includes the tower's architectural details and the museum's collections housed within this iconic civic building.
0.0 km·1 min - 8Neptune's Fountain
A striking baroque bronze fountain erected in 1633, Neptune's Fountain stands as Gdańsk's most iconic monument and Poland's oldest secular landmark. Positioned in the heart of Długi Targ square facing the Artus Court, this masterpiece has watched over the city for nearly four centuries. Its commanding presence and artistic craftsmanship make it an essential visit for anyone exploring Gdańsk's historic old town.
0.1 km·1 min - 9Artus Court
Palacio Artus is a Gothic-Hanseatic building founded in 1350 that served as Gdansk's commercial and social hub for 600 years. The palace houses an impressive 11-metre Renaissance tile stove and notable art collections. Today it functions as a branch of the Gdansk History Museum, offering visitors insight into the city's prosperous merchant heritage and architectural grandeur from the medieval period onwards.
0.2 km·3 min - 10Golden House (Złota Kamienica)
Casa Dorada, also known as Złota Kamienica, Speymann House or Steffens House, stands as one of Gdańsk's finest examples of civic architecture. Built between 1609 and 1618 for burgomaster Johann Speymann, the building was designed by Abraham van den Blocke. Its striking Flemish Mannerist façade was originally gilded—hence the name—making it among the most ornate civic buildings along the Royal Route through Gdańsk's historic centre.
0.3 km·4 min - 11Targo Largo
Gdansk's main square sits at the heart of the Royal Route, ringed by striking Flemish and Hanseatic merchant townhouses. The centrepiece is the iconic Neptune Fountain, with the impressive Artus Court nearby—a masterpiece of late medieval civic architecture. This is where the city's mercantile heritage is most evident. What to see includes the ornate facades dating from centuries of Baltic trading prosperity. Opening hours are unrestricted for the square itself.
0.1 km·2 min
