Lübeck Town Hall

Lübeck Town Hall on the city's market square is one of the largest medieval town halls in Germany and a showpiece of the Brick Gothic style that defined the Baltic trading cities. From here the merchants of the "Queen of the Hanseatic League" ran a network of trade that reached from London to Novgorod. Today the mayor and city council still meet inside, and the building is part of Lübeck's UNESCO-listed old town.

Where it is and how to get there

Lübeck sits in Schleswig-Holstein, about 70 km northeast of Hamburg. Regional trains from Hamburg run frequently and take roughly 45 minutes; the Deutschlandticket is valid. From Lübeck Hauptbahnhof it is about a 15-minute walk across the river and past the Holsten Gate to the market square. If you drive, use one of the parking garages on the edge of the old town island and walk in.

A short history

A first town hall was recorded as early as 1225/26. Around 1240 a group of three gabled houses formed the core of today's complex, and after a fire in 1251 it was rebuilt in Gothic style. The towering "show walls" (Schildwände) rising above the roofline were meant to impress visiting envoys; the older one got its current three-tower form around 1435. Later centuries added a white Renaissance arcade (1570–1572), an ornate external staircase on Breite Straße (1594, now a replica) and a Neo-Gothic council chamber (1891). An air raid on March 29, 1942 destroyed one of the finest rooms, the paneled War Chamber.

What to see

• The market facade: dark glazed brick, slender green spires and large round "wind holes" said to reduce wind pressure on the free-standing wall.
• The Renaissance arcade: white stone, granite columns and carved gables by Flemish sculptors.
• The Audience Hall: a former courtroom with Rococo decor and ten allegorical paintings by Stefano Torelli; its two doors are famously different in height.
• The Council Chamber: where Lübeck's city parliament still sits.
• The Ratskeller: a historic cellar restaurant beneath the building.

Tours, tickets and opening hours

The exterior and the arcades are free to see at any time. The interior can only be visited on a guided tour, which usually runs several times on weekdays and once on Saturdays when no official events are scheduled. Tours are mainly in German and a small fee is charged on site in cash (EUR). Times and prices were not confirmed on an official page as of October 2026, so check with the Lübeck tourist office at Holstentorplatz before you go.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially combined with a walk through the old town. Allow 20–30 minutes for the outside and about an hour with a tour. It is an easy day trip from Hamburg, and the town hall is right in the middle of Lübeck's most famous sights.

Nearby

• St. Mary's Church: the mother church of Baltic Brick Gothic, directly behind the town hall.
• Niederegger: the famous marzipan café and shop across Breite Straße.
• St. Peter's Church: a viewing platform with an elevator and a great look down on the town hall roofs.
• Holsten Gate: Lübeck's landmark city gate, about ten minutes on foot.

Christmas market 2026

From 23 November to 30 December 2026 Lübeck's traditional Christmas market sets up around the town hall and on the Schrangen; it was first recorded in 1648. Close by are the Fairy-Tale Forest at St. Mary's Church (23 November to 30 December) and the Historic Christmas Market (23 November to 23 December). Opening hours for 2026 have not been published yet. More in our guide Lübeck Christmas market 2026.