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Top things to do in Hamburg

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About Hamburg

Including tips for the best time to visit Hamburg

In Hamburg, Germany’s self-proclaimed ‘gateway to the world’, a strong maritime culture fuses with innovative designs and vibrant nightlife.

Huge container ships trundle daily into the city’s vast port, where Speicherstadt – the old warehouse district – creaks with history. Over a century old, its giant storehouses are built on oak logs and divided by canals where ships bound for destinations across the globe are loaded. Other points of interest in this area include the St. Nikolai Memorial and Miniatur Wunderland – one of the world’s largest model railways. When the tide is in, you can cruise these narrow waterways by barge to get a close-up view.

More architectural delights like Hamburg City Hall await in the city centre, while a stroll along the banks of the River Elbe reveals Hamburg’s biggest attraction: the cutting-edge Elbphilharmonie concert hall. Clad with over a thousand individually curved pieces of glass, this building is the city’s tallest and well worth visiting.

Germany’s second biggest city is also the unlikely setting where The Beatles rose to fame. Take a guided tour of the lively Reeperbahn district, where the ‘Fab Four’ lived before they were famous, for the chance to visit bars and clubs where they performed. After a day’s sightseeing, refuel in one of Schanze’s laid-back restaurants and try the local food – ‘fischbrötchen’ (fish roll) and ‘aalsuppe’ (eel soup) are particularly popular.

Tonight

From £72 per night

This weekend

From £235 per night

Next weekend

From £272 per night

Most popular time to visit October–December
Cheapest time to visit January–March
Local currency € 10 = £8.57
Language German
Average weekend price £100 per night
Average weekday price £101 per night
Typical stay 2 nights

Points of interest in Hamburg

Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Hamburg

Hamburg reviews

What other travellers say about Hamburg

6.0

Although Hamburg was severely destroyed by WWII bombs, this...

24 March 2024

Although Hamburg was severely destroyed by WWII bombs, this city keeps destroying buildings and sites from the early 20th and 19th century that were spared by the bombs. There is less and less left of what has made this city unique. The last example is Sternbrücke and buildings around it although it was a protected structure!

Michael
Michael France
8.0

Food options were plenty and great options as well.

21 March 2024

Food options were plenty and great options as well. Metro was very convenient but a bit sketchy, however its always busy so even though its a bit sketchy you have enough people around you. For football fans, Hamburger SV is fun to visit, I personally liked it and even my girlfriend did. The ship museum was pretty cool, however it is HUGE, with 10 floors so don't take too long checking out the first couple floors if you don't want to be there the whole day. We didn't go to the Reeperbahn, we stayed more on the other side of the city and from my experience its a location more for couples. But that may be different if you go to the Reeperbahn etc. All in all its definitely a recommendable city.

van Onselen
van Onselen Netherlands
10

Hamburg is a fantastic city with an excellent public...

20 March 2024

Hamburg is a fantastic city with an excellent public transport system which is affordable, and you are able to get anywhere you need to. There are many different districts for everyone’s taste from snobs to hipsters to boys/girls nights out😂 great for couples too! The Reeperbahn is well worth a visit for first timers! The Landungsbrücken are as spectacular as the harbour itself and the main attractions for in relatively short walking distance Can’t recommend the city enough!

Jack
Jack Germany
8.0

Well worth a visit if you have never been.

5 March 2024

Well worth a visit if you have never been. A lot more culture and museums than one might expect. Obviously a mecca for stag do's but there is so much more to this place. Great food and drink and a very cosmopolitain city. Downsides , there are loads of rough sleepers, look out for beggers but use common sense and you should be ok.

Terry
Terry United Kingdom
8.0

There was very, very little that I found in Hamburg that was...

27 February 2024

There was very, very little that I found in Hamburg that was not excellent. The transport system is very good. The city has many interesting areas and is well-kept. I found the people to be very open and friendly.

Sean
Sean Ireland
10

Been to Hamburg for business and pleasure about 12 times now.

26 February 2024

Been to Hamburg for business and pleasure about 12 times now. I love the city centre and the surrounding areas. Food and Transport always excellent. I'll be back for sure - make sure to visit around Christmas for the markets, some of the best i have seen :)

Brian
Brian United Kingdom

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