Hamburg is one of Germany’s coolest cities that has no shortage of things to do – and a favourite of mine. It’s a must-visit for anyone heading to Germany.
There’s a perfect blend of old-world charm and modern-day buzz and whether you’re a first-timer or a frequent visitor, there are always new things to do in Hamburg for you to try. I’ve visited Hamburg for a weekend on several occasions, and am always looking to go back!
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Quick Hamburg Travel Guide
Where to stay: When I last visited Hamburg I loved staying at the Ruby Lotti, which was at a great location for exploring the city. I have also heard great things about the Mövenpick Hotel, with a unique location in a 19th century water tower! Finally, if you want the ultimate luxury whilst visiting, you can’t go wrong with the Fairmont Hotel in Neustadt.
Where to eat: My favourite restaurants in Hamburg are Heimat and Hobenköök – neither should be missed during your visit.
Top activities and tours in Hamburg:
- Hop-on-hop-off Bus Tour
- Visiting (and touring) the Elbphilharmonie
- Boat tour on the Elbe
- Evening City Cruise (seeing the lights of the city)
- Champagne Reeperbahn Tour (for adults)
Before you go: Make sure to get the Hamburg Card, which includes free travel on public transportation in the city (including the S-bahn train from the airport), and 50% discounts on lots of popular activities.
15 Great Things to do in Hamburg
Without further ado, here are 15 of the best things to check out on a trip to Hamburg (in no particular order)!
#1 Visit Miniatur Wunderland
Miniatur Wunderland is a world-famous attraction that should be on everyone’s Hamburg itinerary. It’s something that makes Hamburg worth visiting, and it’s ironically one of Germany’s biggest attractions!
The exhibition is home to the world’s largest model railway and has over 15 kilometres of tracks. The attention to detail is frighteningly good, and the intricate details and miniaturized versions of famous landmarks, from the Grand Canyon to Mount Everest are incredible.
You might even spot some hidden Easter eggs, like miniature versions of the Beatles playing on a rooftop or a UFO landing on a farm.
With the Hamburg Card you’ll pay only half of the ticket cost. Miniatur Wunderland can be found in the Speicherstadt neighbourhood. The closest S-bahn station is Stadthausbrücke and the nearest subway station is Baumwall (line U3).
#2 Explore the Speicherstadt district
Whilst on the topic, another great thing to do in Hamburg is to explore the large UNESCO World Heritage Site found in the city.
It’s split into two parts, the first is the Speicherstadt area. Hamburg’s Speicherstadt district is a historic and picturesque part of the city, with red-brick warehouses and canals lined with boats.
The area is right by the port as the warehouses were once used for trade, in the modern day, most of the warehouses are museums or attractions. For example, Miniatur Wunderland is in one of the Speicherstadt warehouses.
#3 Explore the Kontorhaus district and Chilehaus
The second half of Hamburg’s UNESCO site is the Kontorhaus District with Chilehaus.
The Kontorhaus district is another historic area of Hamburg, with beautiful art deco and expressionist architecture. The Chilehaus building is a standout, with its unique shape and intricate brickwork. If you picture early 1900s German brickwork, the Chilehaus is the perfect example. It’s somewhat intimidating…
#4 Admire Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
The Elbphilharmonie Hamburg is an architectural masterpiece and one of the city’s most popular attractions. Some tour guides will describe it as “the” landmark of Hamburg.
Fun fact: the escalator heading up to the main floor once you enter the building is Europe’s longest! It goes on forever, and I even posted a Tiktok of it here!
Its wave-like design makes it stand out from the rest of the city’s skyline, it’s such a unique building. Photos don’t do the Elbphilharmonie justice, and it looks a million times more impressive in real life. Whether you choose to admire it or not, you will see the large opera hall towering over the warehouses if you visit the Speicherstadt district.
Book a guided tour of the Elbphilharmonie here!
#5 Take a boat tour
One of the best things to do in Hamburg is to take a boat tour. At the end of the day, Hamburg is a port city, so why not explore it from the water?
Taking a boat tour of Hamburg allows you to see the city’s famous landmarks from a new perspective. The tours are extremely popular, with lots of options (there’s even options to sail on the Alster lake, in addition to the harbour).
You can choose pretty much anything from sightseeing to dinner cruises and everything in between. Whichever tour you choose, one of the biggest selling points is seeing the Speicherstadt region from the water. Browse a selection of boat tours below!
#6 See St. Michel’s Church
St. Michel’s Church is another one of Hamburg’s most recognizable landmarks, with its infamously unique spire. The outside is beautiful, the inside is beautiful, and the view from the top of the spire is beautiful.
It’s one of the best churches you can visit full stop. Also, don’t miss the chance to hear the church’s famous organ, which has over 6,000 pipes. It’s an extraordinary free concert!
#7 Go on a walking tour
Hamburg is a very walkable city, with lots of interesting neighbourhoods to explore. A walking tour of Hamburg will take you through the city’s history, past main sights, and help you orientate yourself for later.
I love going on a walking tour of a new city on my first or second day (always early during the trip), to get a lay of the land and make it easier to get around later.
There are both private tours and group walking tours available, starting at as little as $22 per person. Browse some of the most popular walking tours of Hamburg below!
#8 Visit Hamburg Rathaus
The Hamburg Rathaus is the city’s town hall and an impressive one at that. It’s actually one of the largest town halls in the world!
Like St. Michel’s Church, the outside is beautiful and the inside equally so. The Rathaus is a popular place for Hamburg tours to begin, so you’ll likely stumble upon the stunning building at some point (especially if you are going on one of the above-mentioned walking tours).
And speaking of tours, it’s also possible to take a guided tour of the Rathaus itself, to learn about the building’s history and see the grand ceremonial halls.
#9 Make your own chocolate at Chocoversum
A more unique thing, but a delicious thing to do in Hamburg is to make your own chocolate. Chocoversum is a museum and workshop dedicated to chocolate.
A guided tour of the real-life Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory allows you to learn about the history and production of chocolate, and then try your hand at making your own.
You can choose from a variety of toppings and flavours to create the personalised chocolate bar of your dreams. Oh, and you also get to try chocolate samples at each stage of the chocolate-making process!
Don’t forget that the Hamburg Card gives you a 50% discount to the Chocoversum. Get it before you go here!
#10 Walk through Planten un Blomen
If you have more than enough days in Hamburg, you may wish to spend some time like a local and simply go for a stroll.
Planten un Blomen is one of Hamburg’s most beautiful green spaces, with an abundance of gardens, fountains, and lakes. Take a stroll through the Japanese garden, or even stay late to watch the colourful water light show at night.
Planten un Blomen is also home to several playgrounds and a mini golf course, making it a perfect spot for families with kids of all ages.
#11 Visit some of Hamburg’s many museums
Hamburg is home to over 60 museums, making lots of the most popular things to do in Hamburg turn out to be a museum.
The museums in Hamburg cover everything from art to maritime history, the European emigration and some things which are a little more bizarre; looking at you, Popcorn Museum.
Some of the most popular museums include the Museum of Hamburg History to learn about the city’s past or the Hamburger Kunsthalle to see works by famous artists like Rembrandt and Picasso.
Another popular museum is the Dialoghaus Hamburg where you can experience life as a blind person.
#12 Enjoy the view from Elbphilharmonie Plaza
Elbphilharmonie mentioned earlier, is stunning to look at, but what makes the Elbphilharmonie even more appealing is the view from the plaza.
On the 8th floor, the plaza offers panoramic views of the harbour and surrounding neighbourhoods. You can also grab a drink or snack at the plaza’s cafe while taking in the scenery.
Top Tip: Don’t book online, just head to the ticket office where you can get a free ticket as opposed to paying online. Do note that the free ticket comes without a guaranteed time slot (they only allow a certain number of people in at a time). When you purchase a ticket in advance (€2), you are guaranteed a time slot for visiting the plaza.
#13 Visit St. Nikolai Memorial
The St. Nikolai Memorial is a striking church ruin located in the centre of Hamburg. The church was severely damaged during World War II and was left in ruins as a memorial to the victims of the war.
Today, you can explore the remains of the church, climb the tower for a bird’s eye view of the city, and learn about the history of Hamburg during the war.
The memorial offers a sombre and moving experience that is sure to leave an impact on visitors. And like St. Michel’s, make sure to stick around for a spectacular free concert at certain points throughout the day.
#14 Go through the Alter Elbtunnel
The Alter Elbtunnel, also known as the Old Elbe Tunnel in English, is a fascinating piece of engineering and history. Completed in 1911, it was built to provide a way for workers to cross the Elbe River from central Hamburg to the port on the south bank.
Today, the tunnel is still in use and is open to pedestrians and bicycles. Visitors can walk or cycle through the tunnel and marvel at the engineering feat that was achieved over a century ago.
The tunnel’s Art Nouveau entrance hall on the Hamburg side is particularly impressive. No matter how you choose to go through the tunnel, a trip to Hamburg would not be complete without doing so.
#15 Explore the St. Pauli district
Last, but by no means least, of these things to do in Hamburg is to explore the district of St. Pauli. It is one of Hamburg’s liveliest neighbourhoods, known for its nightlife, entertainment, and colourful atmosphere.
The iconic street of Reeperbahn is the centre of the district’s nightlife scene, with plenty of bars, clubs, and theatres to explore. There are even adults-only walking tours and pub crawls taking you through the “Sinful mile” at night.
If you fan of The Beatles, you may be particularly attracted to St. Pauli as there are lots of remnants of the band’s time in the city to discover. Most notably, there is a square named after The Beatles in the area, and locals will be happy to point out where their apartment was back in the day (hint: it’s in the photo below).
Things to do in Hamburg: Conclusion
All in all, Hamburg is a city that truly has something for everyone. From its fascinating history and stunning architecture to its vibrant culture and lively entertainment scene, Hamburg is hard to beat.
There are endless things to do in Hamburg, no matter what you are interested in and who you are traveling. I have visited Hamburg both with friends and for work, and honestly have never grown tired of the city!
So why not book your trip today and discover all that this wonderful city has to offer for yourself? You won’t regret it!