Thanks to centuries of sea trade, the vibrant city of Hamburg offers an unparalleled wealth and variety of culture. Stay a weekend, stay a week – you're sure to fall for its irresistible charm. Whatever you do, don't miss out on these 10 highlights!
St. Pauli
Don't let St. Pauli's skull and crossbones flag deter you. This traditionally working class neighborhood is now one of Hamburg's most culturally diverse and vibrant areas.
Reeperbahn
Also known as the "most sinful mile," the Reeperbahn is Hamburg's infamous red-light district. Nowadays it's a bustling and highly popular locale, home to the city's best nightlife.
Hamburg Dungeon
Discover the dark side of Hamburg's history on a fun and interactive tour – but be warned, the Hamburg Dungeon is not for the faint of heart!
Alster Lakes
These two beautiful lakes surrounded by parks are ideal for a break. Have a picnic, jog along the water, or take a boat out. At Alster Lakes you'll forget that you're in the middle of a city.
Hamburg Harbor
The Port of Hamburg has an important economic role in the city and is still today one of the busiest ports worldwide. Take a stroll along Germany's "Gateway to the World" gorgeous historic harbor and top it off with a snack from the famous fish market.
Speicherstadtmuseum
The Speicherstadt, Hamburg's warehouse district, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Well worth a visit, the Speicherstadtmuseum offers fascinating insight into the city's rich trade history.
Hamburg Zoo (Tierpark Hagenbeck)
Whatever your age, you're sure to love this charming zoo, where every care has been taken to make the animals feel at home. The aquarium next door is equally impressive.
Finkenwerder
If you're looking to enjoy a delicious seafood meal, head to this quaint riverside neighborhood. The restaurant Landungsbrucken Finkenwerder has long been a local favorite.
Herbertstraße
A gated street entirely dedicated to legal prostitution and lined with classic "windows." If the Reeperbahn didn't satisfy your curiosity, the nearby Herbertstraße certainly will.
Harbor Piers (Landungsbruecken)
Stroll along the Landungsbruecken to watch the ships come and go, then hop on a ferry and enjoy an inexpensive and picturesque ride across the waters en route to your next destination.
If you plan on discovering the many sides of Hamburg, it's really worth getting bundle transport tickets. Different deals are available depending on the length of your stay and you're sure to save a lot of money rather than buying singles each time. Also, these tickets give you access to the ferries, which are the cheapest way of admiring the city from the water.
Hamburg is infamous for its grey, cold winters. If you can, it's best to plan your visit between April and September. Once the weather improves, the city truly transforms – moods soar, streetside cafés fill up, and the parks and lakes once again become bustling hang-out spots.
Known for its gigantic portions and very reasonable prices, the restaurant Erika's Eck near the Schlachthof has been a favorite for locals and tourists alike for over 30 years now. This is the perfect spot to feast on some original German grub and if you're out on the town, come here after midnight for its famous €1 sandwiches – available until 9am!
Cities in Germany
Want to discover all there is to do in Hamburg? Click here for a full list.
was my first pub crawl ever and totally worth it. highly recommended to everyone whether alone or in a group.
While this tour was free, my husband and I felt it was better than most of the other guided tours we paid for. Evan, our guide, gave us much detail about the sites and kept it entertaining at the same time. Would that Evan could have lead all our tours.
You hear interesting insights about the Elbphilhamonie presented in a enjoyable manner. Would do it again.
The guided tour was quite interesting and Kalvin provided us with a lot of fun facts and historical facts as well.
My two friends and I are so happy we joined the tour. We had so much fun and met so many great people. The guides did a great job at making sure that everybody knew when we were leaving for the next place, so people didn't get left behind - and was just overall really great guys. Would definitely take the tour again, if we get the chance. We did have a little trouble finding the meeting point. The area shown on the map, was on the wrong side of the road, and as tourists that had just arrived to the city, we were quite confused, but luckily found the group.