Hamburg, Germany: travel guide
Germany's great port city of canals, warehouses and a landmark concert hall
Germany's second-largest city and its greatest port.
About Hamburg
Hamburg is Germany's major port, a city built on water, with the Elbe, the Alster lakes and a web of canals. Its brick warehouse district, the Speicherstadt, is a striking sight, and the wave-topped Elbphilharmonie concert hall has become the city's modern emblem.
Things to do in Hamburg include a harbour boat trip, visiting the model world of Miniatur Wunderland, strolling the Alster, eating fresh fish rolls at the waterfront and sampling the nightlife of St Pauli and the Reeperbahn. The leafy suburb of Blankenese on the Elbe offers a quieter side.
Hamburg suits travellers who like a maritime atmosphere and a lively cultural scene. The summer months are best for being outdoors, and the weather can be changeable year round.
- Country
- Germany
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Berlin
- Nearest airport
- HAM
Last updated
Top places to visit in Hamburg
Miniatur Wunderland
miniature world · 4.8 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The world's largest model railway exhibition — 15.7 km of track, 270,000 figures and 10,000 cars in painstakingly detailed miniature worlds spanning Germany, Scandinavia, the USA, Italy and beyond. Day-night cycles run every 15 minutes.…
Elbphilharmonie Plaza
concert hall and panoramic plaza · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · entry €5 (≈ ₹530)
Hamburg's architectural masterpiece — a wave-shaped glass concert hall opened 2017 atop a 1963 brick warehouse, designed by Herzog & de Meuron. The public plaza on the 8th floor (37 m above the Elbe) offers a free 360° harbour panorama.…
Speicherstadt UNESCO Warehouse District
historic warehouse district · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The world's largest warehouse complex in continuous use — UNESCO World Heritage since 2015. Red-brick neo-Gothic warehouses built 1883–1927 on oak piles above tidal fleet canals now house Miniatur Wunderland, the Hamburg Dungeon, the…
Hamburg Rathaus (City Hall)
city hall · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
One of Germany's most magnificent city halls — neo-Renaissance palace completed 1897 with 647 rooms (more than Buckingham Palace). The clock tower rises 112 m. Guided tours of the State Rooms (EUR 5, every 30 min) reveal gilded ceremonial…
Reeperbahn & St Pauli Entertainment Mile
entertainment district · 4.0 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Europe's most notorious entertainment mile — the Reeperbahn in St Pauli has been Hamburg's sailor quarter and entertainment zone since the 18th century. The Beatles played their first 1960 gigs here at the Kaiserkeller and Indra Club; a…
Alster Lakes (Inner and Outer Alster)
urban lakes · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Two interconnected artificial lakes at the centre of Hamburg — the Inner Alster (Binnenalster, 18 ha) and Outer Alster (Außenalster, 164 ha) — created by damming the Alster river in the 13th century. Sailboats, rowing boats, stand-up…
Hamburg Christmas Market Rathaus
christmas-market · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Hamburg Christmas Market — the spectacular markets at Rathausmarkt, Jungfernstieg, and St Pauli, with the historic wooden chalets, the famous Glühwein, and the magical Hamburg winter atmosphere.
Hamburg Reeperbahn Famous
entertainment-district · 4.4 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
The Reeperbahn — Hamburg's famous entertainment and red-light district, known as "the most sinful mile" of Germany, with the legendary clubs, the famous Davidwache police station, and the wild St Pauli nightlife.
Hamburg Rathausmarkt Square
town-square · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The Rathausmarkt — the spectacular central square dominated by the magnificent neo-Renaissance Hamburg City Hall, with the lake Binnenalster in front, and the historic Alster Arcades.
Hamburg Hafen City District
modern-district · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
HafenCity — Europe's largest inner-city development project, with the spectacular Elbphilharmonie, the modern architecture, the new neighbourhoods, and Hamburg's transformation from industrial port to cultural city.
Hamburg Planten un Blomen Park
urban-park · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Planten un Blomen — Hamburg's most beloved central park, with the spectacular Japanese garden, the apothecary garden, the famous evening water-light shows, and the elegant landscaping.
Hamburg Harbour Tour
harbour-tour · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The classic Hamburg Harbour Tour — a 1-hour boat trip through Europe's third-largest port, with the spectacular container terminals, the historic Speicherstadt, and the iconic Elbphilharmonie.
Things to do
- Hamburg Harbour Boat Tour (Große Hafenrundfahrt) Activity · 1.3 h · from EUR 17 per person
- Speicherstadt & HafenCity Architecture Walking Tour Cultural · 2 h · from EUR 21 per person
Where to stay in Hamburg
- HafenCity & Speicherstadt about EUR 185 per night
The most architecturally exciting neighbourhood to stay in Hamburg — the Elbphilharmonie is your neighbour, Miniatur Wunderland is a 5-minute walk. Newer hotels at premium prices but extraordinary location for harbour…
- St Pauli & Sternschanze about EUR 100 per night
Hamburg's most vibrant neighbourhood — the Reeperbahn nightlife strip, the Schanze's bohemian café culture, excellent restaurants and the central Fischmarkt (Sunday mornings). Mid-range prices with excellent public…
Hotels
- The Westin Hamburg 5-star · EUR 380 to EUR 2,800 per night
- Hotel Baseler Hof Hamburg 4-star · EUR 145 to EUR 295 per night
- Superbude Hamburg Altona 2-star · EUR 19 to EUR 88 per night
Where to eat
- Zum Schellfischposten Seafood, German, Street Food · about EUR 6 per person
- Das Dorf Currywurst German, Street Food · about EUR 5 per person
- Fischereihafen Restaurant Seafood, German · about EUR 70 per person
Getting to Hamburg
Airport: Hamburg (HAM)
Getting around
- Metro
- Transit Pass
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
HVV Zone Boundary Confusion
Hamburg U-Bahn & S-Bahn network
Tourists often buy a Zone A (city centre) ticket but travel to zones B or C (airport, outer suburbs). Inspectors (Kontrolleure) board randomly and issue on-the-spot fines of EUR 60 for travelling in the wrong zone.
How to avoid it: Always check your destination zone before buying a ticket. Hamburg Airport is in Zone B — your city-centre ticket is NOT valid.
More in Germany
Frequently asked questions about Hamburg
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Hamburg?
- The highest-rated places in our Hamburg guide are Miniatur Wunderland, Hamburg Christmas Market Rathaus, Elbphilharmonie Plaza, Alster Lakes (Inner and Outer Alster), Hamburg Rathausmarkt Square.
- Where should I stay in Hamburg?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Hamburg: HafenCity & Speicherstadt, St Pauli & Sternschanze.
- How do I get around Hamburg?
- Ways to get around Hamburg covered in our guide: Metro, Transit pass, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Hamburg?
- Scams reported to us for Hamburg include HVV Zone Boundary Confusion. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- Which airport is nearest to Hamburg?
- The nearest airport to Hamburg has the code HAM.