The Green Gate (Brama Zielona) closes the eastern end of the Long Market in Gdańsk, where the Royal Route reaches the Motława river. It was built in the 1560s as a residence for Polish kings visiting the city, yet no king ever stayed in it. Its only royal guest was a future queen, Marie Louise Gonzaga, in 1646.
The Green Gate at a glance
- Where: at the river end of Długi Targ (Long Market) in the Main Town, opening onto the Green Bridge over the Motława.
- Built: 1564–1568, on the site of an older Gothic gate, the Cog Gate.
- By: Regnier of Amsterdam, with Hans Kramer of Dresden.
- What it is today: a branch of the National Museum in Gdańsk used for temporary exhibitions, meetings and conferences.
- Time needed: 10 minutes from outside, about an hour if there is an exhibition inside.
A palace for kings who never came
In the 16th century Gdańsk was the richest city of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and its council wanted a worthy place to host the king on his visits. The old Cog Gate at the river end of the Long Market was replaced in 1564–1568 by a building in the Dutch Mannerist style, designed by Regnier of Amsterdam and built to plans by Hans Kramer from Dresden. Its look is often compared to Antwerp's City Hall, a reminder of Gdańsk's close ties with the Low Countries.
Kings preferred other lodgings, and the gate's only royal moment came on 11–20 February 1646, when Marie Louise Gonzaga stayed here on her way from France to marry King Władysław IV. Instead the big first-floor hall hosted citizens' feasts and theatre performances, and from the 18th century the city's natural science society met here. In 1831 the Renaissance gables were replaced by a plain classicist attic; they were rebuilt in 1886. At the end of the Second World War only the outer walls survived, and the building was restored afterwards.
What to look for
- The four arched passages through the ground floor, the route the Royal Route takes from the Long Market to the river.
- The gables and the decorated attic, rebuilt after 1886, with stone ornament against the red brick.
- The two façades: compare the side facing the Long Market with the river side, where the gate meets the Green Bridge.
- The view back up the Long Market towards the Main Town Hall tower, with the Golden Gate at the far end of Long Street.
- The Motława side: stand on the Green Bridge to see the gate, the waterfront houses of the Long Embankment and the Crane together.
Why is it called green?
The gate is red brick and light stone, not green, and nobody is quite sure how it got its name. It was once called the Koggentor, after the Gothic Cog Gate it replaced, and the bridge in front of it is also called green. Whatever the reason, the name stuck in both Polish and German, and today Zielona Brama is one of the city's best-known meeting points.
Tips for your visit
- Come early in the morning to see the gate without the crowds that fill the Long Market by midday.
- For the classic photo, walk onto the Green Bridge and look back: the gate frames the view of the Long Market.
- Check what is on inside: the museum branch has no permanent collection, so it is only worth going in when an exhibition is running.
Nearby
- Artus Court and Neptune's Fountain: the merchants' hall and the 17th-century bronze fountain, a couple of minutes' walk up the Long Market.
- The Crane (Żuraw): the medieval port crane on the Long Embankment, a few minutes' walk along the river.
- Granary Island: across the Green Bridge, where old granaries and new buildings line the water.
- St Mary's Church: one of the largest brick churches in the world, a few minutes' walk north of the Long Market.
See Gdańsk with World City Trail
Our Gdańsk scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 2 hours, with about 24 minutes of walking. It includes the High Gate, the Golden Gate, Artus Court and Neptune's Fountain. You can play in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Polish.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Gdańsk.
Play the Gdańsk scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Gdańsk →
Play the outdoor escape game in Gdańsk →
Facts checked in October 2026.