What to Do in Hamburg: A Complete Travel Guide (Based on 4 Visits) 

Hamburg is one of the very few places outside of Scandinavia that I would consider living in. When I moved to Copenhagen in 2020, I was overjoyed that I could easily catch a direct train to Germany’s second-biggest city. Having visited the city four times (in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2025), I’m always impressed at how many fun things there are to do here. 

And yet, despite this, Hamburg is still nowhere near as popular as it should be. This beautiful city caters to all kinds of trips, whether you want a romantic getaway with your significant other, a solo adventure, or a weekend trip with your family (all of which I’ve done). 

Germany’s second-biggest city is well worth visiting, and if you’re on the fence about going, my advice is to see it for yourself. Based on my four trips here, I’ve compiled this comprehensive travel guide. Besides discovering the best things to do in Hamburg, you’ll also find practical tips on where to stay and how to get around. 

Things to See and Do in Hamburg 

1. Visit the Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall

The Elbphilharmonie concert hall is impossible to miss when you’re in Hamburg. It’s arguably the most recognizable building in the city, and its distinct architectural style certainly divides opinions. The concert hall opened in 2017; not only did it take longer to build than expected, but it also went well over budget. 

Nonetheless, the end result was worth it. Tickets for the observation deck are free if you get them from the booth outside the building. You can also book a specific time slot online before visiting, but you’ll need to pay a €3 booking fee. 

Address: Platz d. Deutschen Einheit 4, 20457 Hamburg

2. Check Out Binnenalster and Außenalster

In the center of Hamburg, you’ll find two artificial lakes: Binnenalster and Außenalster. Binnenalster and Außenalster run from close to the city hall up to around Winterhude in the north of Hamburg. On each of my four visits to the city, I’ve taken some time to explore these parts of the city.

Regardless of the season, you can enjoy a boat tour around these lakes. On top of that, you’ll find walking and cycling routes along the banks. Note that the walking path can get muddy when it rains, and it happens to rain quite a lot in Hamburg. So yeah, you can put two and two together there.

Walking around both lakes is roughly 6.1 miles (9.9km). I also ran around these on my first visit in 2018, which I can recommend. 

3. Take a Boat Tour

Hamburg’s maritime history is impossible to ignore, and the city is home to Europe’s third-biggest port behind Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges. Taking a boat tour is one of the coolest things to do here, and I can’t believe it took me until my fourth trip to do so. 

I took this boat tour on my January 2025 visit; while the audio was only in German, I still enjoyed exploring Hamburg from the water. The main promenade was particularly scenic, and we also went through the iconic Speicherstadt. Moreover, we got a tour of much of Hamburg’s port area. 

If you want to see even more of the city, you can take this two-hour tour instead. 

4. Visit Sankt Nikolai Kirche for the Best Views in Hamburg

Not far from the main square in Hamburg is St. Nicholas Church. It seems hard to believe when you’re there, but this was actually the tallest building in the world for a short part of the 19th century.

In that same century, the church was restored because—like many old European buildings—it fell victim to fire. During World War II, the church sustained heavy damage due to bombing campaigns in Hamburg; much of the building was demolished afterward.

Today, the church serves as a war memorial. You can walk around what was previously the building’s interior, and from the ticket office, you can buy tickets for the observation deck. In my opinion, Sankt Nikolai Kirche is where you’ll find the best views in Hamburg. 

Address: Willy-Brandt-Straße 60, 20457 Hamburg

5. Explore the Speicherstadt 

If you’ve ever looked at a postcard of Hamburg, you might well have seen the Speicherstadt before. This warehouse district is the most striking example of Hamburg’s industrious nature, and it’s been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015. Its status is well-deserved, in my opinion. 

The Schpeicherstadt dates back to the 19th century, and the district has been important for trading multiple goods—including carpets and coffee beans. You can walk around the district for free, and you’ll find plenty of cool photography spots.

The district is pretty big, so you should allocate a few hours to exploring it in more detail.

6. Walk Along the Promenade

Jan Fedder Promenade is my favorite part of Hamburg. This waterfront area takes you from close to the Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall to Sankt Pauli, and the views are beautiful—even on a rainy day. I love coming here for photography in particular. 

While walking along the promenade, be sure to try Hamburg’s famed fischbröchten (literally fish bread). It’s basically just herring and a baguette, with optional vegetables and condiments. We went to one place that was cash-only, so be sure to have some Euros on hand. 

7. Take a Day Trip to Lüneburg

Hamburg is blessed enough to be close to some beautiful towns and cities, one of which is Lüneburg. I came here in November 2019 and have been wanting to return ever since. 

The town is an excellent example of Hanseatic architecture, and from the top of its church tower, you get a superb view. It’s just 30 minutes from Hamburg; you can book tickets either in advance or on the day. 

8. Explore Hamburg’s Architecture

You’re probably not going to run out of things to do in Hamburg, but on the off-chance that you’ve exhausted your list, walking its streets is a great idea. Some of my favorite examples of architecture in Hamburg include the following:

• Chilehaus
• St. Catherine’s Church
• Hamburg City Hall
• The buildings along Nikolaifleet
• Der Spiegel’s headquarters

No two streets in Hamburg are the same, and you’ll sometimes see older buildings with random modern designs for their upper parts. It can sometimes feel chaotic—but somehow, everything works.

9. Visit Miniatur Wunderland

Going to what is effectively a huge Scalextric track might not be your idea of fun, but trust me when I say that Miniatur Wunderland is worth it. At this museum, you’ll see miniature versions of many parts of the world—including Brazil, Austria, and Italy.

Miniatur Wunderland is in the Speicherstadt district, but I should warn you that it’s in high demand. We almost missed out on experiencing the museum because we didn’t book in advance—but luckily, we were able to check it out the next morning.

You can book tickets online. 

Where to Eat and Drink in Hamburg

Hamburg is one of Europe’s best cities for food and drink. I joked with my girlfriend in 2022 that we’d need at least a week to try everything we still had on our list at the end of that trip. 

Despite visiting again since then, my point still stands. Below are my favorite places to eat and drink in Hamburg (so far). 

1. Café Sul, Portuguese Quarter 

While wandering around St. Pauli, I randomly bumped into a part of town with multiple Portuguese cafés and restaurants. All of them looked welcoming, to be honest, and it’s a shame that there was neither enough time nor space in my stomach to try everything.

If you’re only allowed to pick one, consider Café Sul. It’s the type of place where you plan to stop for one coffee, but you like it so much that you stay a few hours. Oh, and it’s needless to say: Try the Pastéis de Nata tarts.

Address: Ditmar-Koel-Straße 10, 20459 Hamburg

2. Breakfastdream, Rotherbaum

I went to Breakfastdream for brunch with my family on my January 2025 trip to Hamburg, and it’s an absolute must when you’re in town. The staff were friendly, and the food was fantastic. All of the sandwiches we had were delicious. 

You can get numerous sweet treats here, too. For example, I had a slice of cheesecake. We showed up without a reservation and were fine, but it did get quite busy after we sat down. 

Address: Bundesstraße 42, 20146 Hamburg

Social Media: Instagram

3. Zeit Für Brot, Altona

I had wanted to visit this bakery for over four years before I finally had the chance to do so, and my god, it was worth the wait. I got a chocolate-drenched pastry, and to describe it as “🤤” would be an understatement. I cannot wait to return. 

You’ll find Zeit Für Brot bakeries in numerous other cities throughout Germany (and further afield), but it’s still pretty good. Besides sweet treats, you can get coffee, bread, and more. 

Address: Ottenser Haputstraße 41, 22765 Hamburg 

4. Mit Herz Und Zucker

We visited Mit Herz Und Zucker for brunch in December 2022, and the food was fantastic. It’s the perfect place to have a relaxed morning and fuel up for an exciting day of walking around the city. 

This place is very popular, but no reservations are possible. So, you should prepare for the fact that you might need to stand outside for extended periods. I recommend getting here as soon as it opens (9 am daily) to improve your chances of getting a seat more quickly. 

Address: Lübecker Str. 29, 22087 Hamburg

5. ÜberQuell, Sankt Pauli

My friend recommended this place for pizza, but unfortunately, their kitchen was being restored when we visited. Nonetheless, the craft beer here was good. 

Even if you don’t get food, ÜberQuell is a nice place to stop for a drink before continuing your adventure. This brewery is close to the Fish Market, and you can book in advance if you wish. 

Address: St. Pauli Fischmarkt 28-32, 20359 Hamburg

Places to Stay in Hamburg: My Top Recommendations

I’ve stayed in various hotels and hostels in Hamburg; below are the places I recommend in particular. 

1. Ruby Lotti Hamburg

I stayed at Ruby Lotti in January 2025 and loved it. The room layout took some getting used to, but the beds were comfortable. I also had a nice canal view, and the showers were great. Despite being close to the city center, and having a bar downstairs, it was still quiet. 

The staff here were super friendly, and my room also had a Marshall speaker. It was also a pretty decent price. 

2. Crowne Plaza Hamburg Alster

I stayed at this hotel in 2022 after it had just been renovated. What’s nice about it is that you’re away from Hamburg’s busiest streets but still only around 15-20 minutes by foot from the downtown area.

The hotel’s staff were efficient and friendly, and the rooms were of a good size. One drawback is that the walls are sometimes quite thin—but on the flip side, you won’t hear much noise from outside.

3. Generator Hostel Hamburg

If you’re traveling alone or need a budget option, Generator Hamburg is a good choice. I stayed at this hostel on my first visit to Hamburg, for which I was a broke 22-year-old.

The hostel is close to the main train station in Hamburg, making it a great choice if you want somewhere to put your head down before traveling somewhere else. 

Like the Generator Hostels in Stockholm and elsewhere, you’ll get comfortable beds and a good selection of facilities—including a bar downstairs.

Besides the hotels I’ve mentioned, you can check out some alternatives below.

Getting Around Hamburg 

Public Transport

Getting around Hamburg is simple; the public transport system is excellent. The Metro covers much of Germany’s second-largest city, and you can also use the S-Bahn to get around. Tickets are available at booths, which you’ll find at many big stations. 

You can also download the HVV mobile app, and you’ll get a slight discount if you buy your tickets from there. However, since I think the app’s responsiveness is terrible, you’re better off using the ticket machines. 

Hamburg has a solid selection of buses and ferries, too. 

Cycling

Hamburg has a decent cycling network. You’ll find bike lanes throughout the city, but you should note that you’ll be close to the traffic in some places. With that in mind, use the usual precautions; it’s also worth reading the rules for cycling in Hamburg before you get started.

If you want to rent a bike, some hotels will allow you to do so. You can also use the city bikes; these are free if you return the bike within 30 minutes of starting your journey.

Uber/Taxi

We used Uber quite a lot in Hamburg on my 2025 visit, and it was generally reliable. Prices were reasonable, and you can book through the app like you normally would. Uber can be useful if you need to get somewhere quickly, but to be honest, most of the city is accessible by public transport. 

I’d recommend Uber if you need to get to a far-fetched part of the city, and it’s also useful if you’re heading back to your accommodation after a night out.

How to Get to Hamburg

By Plane 

You can fly to Hamburg from numerous European cities, including London, Amsterdam, and Helsinki. Outside of Europe, your options are more limited; you’ll likely need to fly to another German airport, like Frankfurt, and continue your journey from there. So, combining more than one city in the country is better if that’s the case.

To get to the city center from the airport, you can take the S-Bahn. Tickets are relatively affordable, costing €3.50. Buy them from the ticket machines at the airport.

Train and Bus 

I usually take the train from Copenhagen to Hamburg since it’s only four-and-a-half hours. Buses also operate between both cities, and you can take the train or bus from other cities in Germany as well. There’s even a direct train from Stockholm to Hamburg. 

When booking the train or bus to Hamburg, I normally use Omio to compare prices. You can sometimes get a reasonable deal in first class, too; I paid around 350 DKK ($55) for a first-class single ticket in 2025. 

When arriving by train/bus in Hamburg, you’ll arrive at Hamburg Central Station or the main bus terminal. It’s easy to continue into the city center either by foot or public transport. 

Just as a heads-up: The area around the station isn’t very nice, so try not to let it skew your opinions of the city. I promise Hamburg is lovely once you get away from this part of town. 😅

FAQ 

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