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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 £360 per night

Next weekend

From £331 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 £112 per night
Average weekday price £112 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

8.0

I travel to Hamburg every year for a convention, so my...

23 April 2024

I travel to Hamburg every year for a convention, so my purpose for visiting is not tourism in the first instance. However, over time I have been able to visit many of Hamburg's cultural attractions and can highly recommend it as a tourist destination. Public transport is efficient and punctual, and everywhere is easily accessible. Visit Hamburg - it's a great city!

SoloBob
SoloBob Ireland
10

Hamburg was a surprise.

18 April 2024

Hamburg was a surprise. It's not a tourist city as such, I mean they have things to see and tour buses, but it's not the mainstay by any means (no tourist tat shops gives that away!) This is a working port town in one part and an absolutely stunning old town/commercial centre on the other. The retail opportunities are fabulous so this would be a recommended visit for a shopping trip. Culturally, there are things to see. We visited the Rathaus and Kunsthalle for example and found these very interesting. There's history mixed with a lot of new and as mentioned, it's a working town so old buildings and canals with new high rise office blocks. Super clean and easy to get about though. Walk or cycle, don't bother with the train if you're staying in the centre. One thing to avoid would be Reeperbarn as its tacky, full of cheap bars and sex based options (unless that's your plan for a trip there). All in all, I would go back again. Shopping and socialising in the city centre are key. Go when it's warm to make the most of the abundant cafe culture outside.

Lynn
Lynn
10

The city was a lot bigger than I thought and I wished...

15 April 2024

The city was a lot bigger than I thought and I wished I'd have had more time. The local people and police force are very friendly and helpful - most speak English. The train service, throughout the City, to and from the main airport is excellent.

Philip
Philip United Kingdom
8.0

Its really a city that seems to have a lot of tourists.

14 April 2024

Its really a city that seems to have a lot of tourists. The train were easily accessible especially during the day time. We enjoy a park close to hotel Keese. We spent sometime there walking around and sitting down for fresh air, eat and drink. Avoid checking in late to your hotel if you dont have wifi on your phone. Try to check in when staff are still on site.

Joseph
Joseph United Kingdom
10

Hamburg, a major port city in northern Germany.

4 April 2024

Hamburg, a major port city in northern Germany. It's crossed by hundreds of canals and bridges, has outstanding museums and historic churches. It also contains large areas of parkland and waterfront.

Eric
Eric
10

A lot to see and to do.

2 April 2024

A lot to see and to do. Very nice and funny people, great hospitality. The canal cruise is a real recommendation. Eating and drinking is very good (and not too expensive). The Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall is a must see. Line 62 boat is also a recommendatation, you just sit and look at the harbor from the river Elbe. If you travel a lot with the public transport in Hamburg we would recommend the Hamburg Card. For diner we can recommend the Portuguese quarter!

Mark
Mark Netherlands

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