The Old Toy Gallery (Galeria Starych Zabawek) is a small private museum at Piwna 19/21 in Gdańsk’s Main Town. It traces seven decades of Polish childhood through toys made in Poland between 1920 and 1989, and it draws visitors who want a more personal view of everyday life before and during the communist era.
The collection is packed and personal. Display cases hold dolls and stuffed animals, tin vehicles, dollhouse furnishings and piggy banks, along with wooden building blocks, early plastic toys and board games, according to WhichMuseum. Many Polish visitors spot toys from their own childhoods. Foreign guests get a clear view of how industry and design changed under shortages and state production. Reviewers on Tripadvisor often praise the friendly owner and the reasonably priced tickets. The gallery holds a 4.33 rating across roughly 1,100 reviews on InTravel.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Photography is not permitted inside, so plan to look closely rather than film. The gallery’s souvenir magnets have a following of their own and make a more original keepsake than standard old-town fare. The rooms are compact, so weekday mornings and shoulder-season visits are more comfortable than summer afternoons. Hours can vary, so call ahead at +48 695 99 53 63. Piwna Street leads straight to St. Mary’s Basilica, and Długi Targ (Long Market) and Artus Court are a short walk south. Combine the visit with a stroll through the Main Town.
