Top 17 Things To Do And See In Hamburg, Germany

Chilehaus House’s © Scirocco340 / Shutterstock

A concert hall under construction in the HafenCity quarter is the new reason of civic pride. Right on the top of an old red-brick former cocoa warehouse named Kaispeicher A, Hamburg has gained a new cultural and urban landmark and its tallest inhabited building. Elbphilharmonie is a glass structure hosting stages for the local and international music scene, as well as a hotel, a restaurant, lots of residential flats and a plaza where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Take the chance to observe the construction progress on a tour you will remember.

Right in front of the Inner Alster Lake you will find Hamburg’s popular shopping street. Named after an old tradition, ‘Jungfernstieg’ is the ideal place for a stroll. After shopping at the numerous exquisite shops and art galleries around, a coffee break with a view over the Alster, or even a boat trip will provide you with the perfect respite.

Situated in the port of Hamburg, the Speicherstadt, translated as ‘the city of warehouses’, is the largest warehouse district in the world, where the buildings are set on timber-pile foundations. Construction of the unique region, built as a free zone where merchants could transfer goods without having to pay customs, began in 1883 and was not completed until 1927. The district is located right next to the water, and is notable for its colorful red bricks and neo-Gothic architecture. For a close-up look at the warehouses, take a boat trip around the harbor, where canal tours sail right by the edge of the district.

The Fish Market of Hamburg is a traditional, bustling Sunday morning market. Come here to purchase an array of seafood, fresh fruit, flowers, clothes and much more. The market begins early, with a 5am start, and even if you aren’t a morning person, the live, energetic music played in the auction hall is sure to put a spring in your step whatever the time of day. And whilst here, take a moment to look up at the sky; an early visit here is a great opportunity to watch the sun rise spectacularly over the river Norderelbe.

Hamburg Dom is a fair and festival boasting a rich and varied history, recorded as being first held in 1329, and attracting over 10 million thrill-seekers and ride-lovers every year. The fair is held 3 times a year, and is named either the Winter, Summer or Spring Dom according to the season. Each fair lasts for around a month, making it the longest and biggest fair in Northern Germany. Visitors will have a fun time playing at the game booths and riding the gigantic, looping roller coasters here. For a great end to the perfect night catch the kaleidoscopic firework show every Friday at 10:30pm.

Treppenviertel district and the Elbe river on June 4, 2016. It is Germanys largest port and is named the countrys Gateway to the World © Oscity / Shutterstock

Lake Alster is an 160-hectare lake in the heart of Hamburg, a haven for sailors, rowers and swimmers. A calm and clean flow of water, you can often find many graceful swans gliding happily here. Buzzing with life in the summer, with enthusiastic Frisbee fans playing games on the grassy riverbanks, in winter it becomes a picture of winter beauty, with the river charmingly freezing over and offering a pretty, glassy area on which to skate.

With an incomparable botanic variety and various cultural buildings, Hagenbeck invites you to discover almost 200 different animal species including Siberian tigers, walruses, penguins and seals. Learn exciting new things about the world of animals, feed a elephant or a giraffe yourself, ride a pony and come nose-to-nose with a polar bear in one of Europe’s most beautiful parks.

While in Speicherstadt, you may come across the largest model railway system in the world. Whether you are a model railway enthusiast or not, Miniatur Wunderlandwill definitely impress you. Featuring more than 15,000 sq ft of detailed replicas, it gives you the opportunity to witness computer-controlled, realistic railway operations with sections devoted to countries such as Austria and Switzerland, as well as Hamburg itself. Book your ticket in advance and watch hundreds of thousands of LED lights illuminating this little world of wonders.

Hamburg’s symbolic heart, this impressive neo-Renaissance sandstone building dominated the centre of the city. Built at the end of the 19th century, the town hall is now home to the city’s senate and parliament. Book the 40-minute tour for a sense of the old city’s wealth before heading to the Rathausmarkt to attend one of the regular festivals and events.

Reeperbahn is Hamburg’s rambunctious red-light district and the center of the city’s nightlife. In German the area is sometimes described as die sündigste Meile, (the most sinful mile), and it is here where most of the nightclubs, bars and brothels are located. Historically a hotspot for sailors due to its close proximity to the port, The Beatles are known to have played the lively streets here before they became famous. With a number of first-rate restaurants and theaters here too, this is a top choice for an energetic night out full of music, movement and unique fun.

The Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg (MKG) is the Museum of Art and Industry, a building founded in 1874 and modeled on the design of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It offers an enthralling combination of history, culture, art and design, and exhibits various collections laden with engaging visual art and intricately molded sculptures. The work here is sourced from many different time periods, and features Ancient art as well as astonishing Baroque pieces. There is a brilliant collection here of historic keyboard instruments, featuring harpsichords, spinets, clavichords and square pianos, and the porcelain exhibition is unmissable, featuring most major 17th and 18th century manufacturers of the material.

Hamburger Kunsthalle is Hamburg’s main art museum, first founded in 1850 as an esteemed art hall. The Kunsthalle’s permanent collections focus on North German painting of the 14th century, and paintings by Dutch, Flemish and Italian artists of the 16th and 17th centuries. It is comprised of three buildings dating from 1869,1921 and 1997, of which the first was designed by Fritz Schumacher, famous also for the Chilehaus. A few examples of notable paintings here are Wanderer above the Sea of Fog by Caspar David Friedrich, and Madonna by Edvard Munch.

The Hamburger Bahnhof former railway station now hosts the Museum fuer Gegenwart (Museum of the Present) contemporary art gallery © Claudio Divizia / Shutterstock

Who hasn’t dreamed of becoming Charlie and visiting Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory? Situated near the warehouse district of Speicherstadt, Chocoversum makes this dream a reality. A choco extravaganza, a trip here takes visitors on a tour of the factory, enlightens them about the art of making chocolate, and, best of all, offers an array of tasty chocolate treats throughout the day. You can even create your own custom-made bar of chocolate here to take home.

As you pass through the inner city, it seems to follow you everywhere. St. Michaelis church, also known as ‘the Michel’, is a remarkable Baroque church. Spend some time at the central nave, which contains three organs, and head to the tower for an incredible view of the whole city. In case you still have some energy left, descend into the hidden burial vaults in the basement to complete your religious adventure.

Thanks to an old elevator, you have the opportunity to descend under the Speicherstadt. Hamburg Dungeon provides you a unique, actor-led, interactive experience reenacting spine-chilling true events. Find your way through the ‘Great Fire’, get accused at court, witness the execution of the world’s most notorious pirate and experience the most torturous chapters in the city’s history.