Hamburg really capitalizes on its waterside location with the Speicherstadt, or Warehouse District. Not only will you marvel at the impressive red-brick architecture and canal network within the world’s largest warehouse complex, but several buildings have been converted into museums and attractions that bring the area’s rich history to life.
Opened in 2017, the Elbphilharmonie (Elbe Philharmonic) is a striking work of modern architecture on the banks of the Elbe River in Hamburg. Made with 1,096 individual glass panes, it houses two concert halls, as well as a hotel and residential apartments. The halls’ acoustics are considered among the best in the world.
Located in Hamburg’s UNESCO-listed Speicherstadt District, the Hamburg Dungeon offers a spooky, macabre, and entertaining way to discover the darkest parts of the city’s history. On an interactive, actor-led visit, you can learn about the Great Fire of 1842, hear gruesome tales of torture, and have plenty of suspense and surprises along the way.
The unabashed highlight of Hamburg’s Old Town (Altstadt), the opulent Hamburg City Hall (Hamburger Rathaus) is recognizable by its soaring tower, coffered ceiling, and vast scale. The neo-Renaissance landmark on the edge of scenic Alster Lake dates back to 1897, and is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions.
The clock tower of the Church of St. Michaelis (or Michaeliskirche has soared above the rooftops of Hamburg since the 1680s. This baroque Protestant church stood as a beacon for sailors over centuries. Today, visitors arrive for a guided tour of the tower and its observation deck, offering panoramic views out to the Port of Hamburg.
Explore an alternative side of Hamburg with a visit to the Reeperbahn, a street in the red light district at the heart of the St. Pauli neighborhood. This pedestrian street is lined with bars, clubs, and sex shops, but more upmarket restaurants and theaters with family-friendly shows have also opened here in recent years.
The St. Nikolai Church was first constructed in the 12th century, a fantastic Gothic cathedral on the River Alster. Rebuilt several times over, it was mostly destroyed during World War II air raids—miraculously, the cathedral tower still stands. Some 35,000 people were killed during Operation Gomorrah; today, the church ruins serve as a museum and memorial to those lives lost.
Approximately 12,000 ships per year deliver and pick up goods at the sprawling Port of Hamburg. The port takes up about an eighth of the city and is easiest to see on a river cruise. Learn about Hamburg’s maritime history during a visit to the MS Cap San Diego, a museum ship that travelers can step aboard and explore.
A hundred years ago, Hamburg’s port dominated the city, a maze of waterways bustling with industry. But trade has now taken to the skies, and the port’s been redesigned into the largest inner-city development project in Europe: HafenCity (which translates to “Port City”). Today, in place of shipyards, you’ll find restaurants, hotels and shops, office and apartment buildings—even the Elbphilharmonie.
Deichstrasse is the oldest street in Hamburg, Germany dating back to the 14th century. It is located near Speicherstadt, which is the old warehouse district near the harbor. The Great Fire of 1842 destroyed many of the original 14th century buildings on this street, so most of what you see today are restored 17th-19th century buildings. The tall, narrow, half-timbered houses here represent typical architecture from this region a few hundred years ago.
The harbor and the warehouse district played a big part in shaping Hamburg as a city, and a visit here will give you a glimpse at the city's history. Along this road, you will find many restaurants and pubs. The Johannes Brahms Museum is located at number 39, which is the composer's former home. The Telemann Museum, a great place for music lovers, is also located in this area. Around the corner at Peterstrasse 35-39 is a replica of the Beylingstift complex, a baroque building built in 1751.
The Outer Alster Lake (Aussenalster) is the larger of Hamburg’s two lakes, stretching to almost 400 acres (162 hectares) in size, although never more than 8 feet (2.5 meters) deep. Equally popular with tourists and locals, it provides a welcome place of calm and tranquility against the urban backdrop of the busy city.
The Alster Lakes—the Inner Alster (Binnenalster) and Outer Alster (Aussenalster)—are the scenic heart of Hamburg. Created when the Alster river was dammed in the 12th century, the lakes are linked to the Elbe River via a maze of canals and lined with green parks and waterfront promenades.
St. Peter's Church is one of the five main churches in Hamburg that survived World War II. It is also the oldest remaining church in the city. Although the church has been expanded and rebuilt a few times, a church has been standing in this place since at least 1195. It is located at the highest point in Hamburg's old town. Today you can see the church's tower which stands at 433 feet tall and was rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1842. Visitors can climb 544 stairs to the top of the tower for one of the best views of Hamburg from above.
Inside the church you will find many works of art. A mural from 1460 depicts the first bishop Ansgar of Bremen with the words “Apostle of the North.” Two oil paintings from the 17th century by Gottfried Libalt were returned to the cathedral in 2001 after being restored. A painting entitled Christmas 1813 in St. Peter's shows Hamburg citizens locked in the church when they refused to provide food to Napoleon's troops.
Jungfernstieg is Hamburg's most popular shopping street, located along the Inner Alster Lake. Its name originates from an old tradition of families who would take their unmarried daughters or maidens (Jungfern) to walk around on this promenade. Jungfernstieg was also the first street in Germany to be paved with asphalt.
The stores on Jungfernstieg are mostly upscale shops where you can find high-end clothing, shoes, and jewelry. You can also find accessories, bath products, perfumes, cosmetics, and purses. There is also a spa where you can get a massage and other wellness services. Along with department stores and boutiques, there is also a wide selection of restaurants and cafes where you can stop for a meal while you're shopping.
The most traditional building in the area is the Alster Pavilion, dating back to 1799. Today there is a restaurant there called Cafe Alex where you can have a meal or a coffee while enjoying views of the Inner Alster Lake and the big fountain in the middle of the lake. Nearby is the Alster Pier where you can join a boat tour of the lake.
The impressive St. Pauli Piers (St. Pauli Landungsbrücken) is one of Hamburg's most popular attractions. Built in 1907, the 2,257-foot (688-meter) landungsbrücke (“pier”) is composed of several floating pontoons, which are accessible from land by 10 movable bridges. Once mooring points for large passenger steamships, today the pontoons are mostly used by sightseeing boats. The structure also features two towers of differing heights, plus several copper domes.
The Landungsbrücken is located in Hamburg’s St. Pauli district, between the lower harbor and the fish market, on the banks of the Elbe river. It forms a central transportation hub, with streetcar (S-Bahn), underground train (U-Bahn), and ferry stations all stopping here. It’s also a major tourist magnet, with numerous restaurants and departure points for harbor cruises. (A boat tour is considered the best way to see Hamburg.) With the water on one side, and colorful souvenir shops and quaint fish restaurants serving North Sea shrimp on the other side, it’s easy to forget that you are walking on a floating platform.
Hamburg’s Old Elbe Tunnel (Alter Elbtunnel, or officially St. Pauli Elbtunnel) runs under the Elbe River, connecting the St. Pauli jetties on the river’s north side to the Steinwerder in the Port of Hamburg. Comprising two separate tunnels for pedestrians and vehicles, it takes on-foot visitors on a very unique sort of stroll—underwater.
Hamburg is famous for its Beatles history. It's the city where the band got their start by playing at various clubs near Reperbahn in the St. Pauli neighborhood, Hamburg's red light district. This is where they eventually gained worldwide fame. Of the many clubs they appeared at, Kaiserkeller, located at Grosse Freiheit 36, is one you can still visit today. The Beatles started playing here in late 1960 after the Indra Club closed. It was a good location for the band since it was closer to the heart of the neighborhood.
Today the club, which is known by its address Grosse Freiheit 36, continues to host live shows and other events. Visitors come to explore the history of one of the world's most popular bands at one of the first clubs where the Beatles performed. It's also a fun place to enjoy more current music and experience Hamburg's nightlife. Nearby you can also see the Beatles Square as well as other clubs, both original and reincarnated, where the Beatles once played.
Discover the leafy side of Hamburg during a visit to the Planten und Blomen Park in the heart of the city. While plenty of parklands line the city’s canals and waterways, this park offers a particularly beautiful concentration of green space. Hamburg’s old botanic garden is preserved within the park.
The city of Hamburg played a big part in Beatles history. The famous band made it big in Hamburg and spent their early days playing at a variety of clubs in Hamburg's St. Pauli neighborhood. In 2001 a radio program manager proposed the idea of having a square to honor the band's importance in Hamburg's history. Beatles Platz was finally finished in 2008.
The square has five metal silhouette statues to represent each musician who was at one point a member of the band: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe, Ringo Starr, and Pete Best. The drummer statue represents both Ringo Starr and Pete Best, who was the drummer before Ringo. Visitors often stand in the life-sized silhouettes and pretend they are part of the band. The square is actually circular with a 95-foot diameter and was paved black to look like a vinyl record. There are also steel bands with the names of around 70 Beatles songs engraved on them.
Opened in 2001, Hamburg’s Miniatur Wunderland holds the Guinness World Record for the largest model railway. One of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions, the vast landmark encompasses more than 1,000 trains, as well as myriad model airplanes, cruise ships, and other vehicles.
Universum Bremen is an expansive science museum featuring over 250 exhibits. There’s also a large outdoor area and a variety of entertaining and educational science shows suitable for all ages. The children's area features about 25 exhibits designed for kids ages 3 to 8.
One of Hamburg’s most gorgeous architectural scenes, the UNESCO-protected Speicherstadt marks the largest historic warehouse district in the world—and it miraculously survived the bombings of World War II. To learn all about this globally famous district, visit the Warehouse District Museum (Speicherstadtmuseum), set inside an actual 1888 warehouse. You’ll get to explore, first-hand, the story of this historic ‘hood.
Discover European art since the 14th century during a visit to the Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg’s major art museum. See highlights from the permanent collection including paintings by Manet, Picasso, and Klee. The museum also features a range of special exhibitions from sculpture to abstract art to installations.
Visitors and locals alike head to the Hamburg Fish Market (Altonaer Fischmarkt), held every Sunday morning near the Elbe riverbank in Hamburg, for much more than just seafood. Enjoy breakfast accompanied by live music, and then go shopping for fish, meat, fruit, vegetables, jewelry, clothing, souvenirs, and—naturally, because it’s Hamburg, beer.
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