Adventurous short trip to Hamburg
The Hanseatic city of Hamburg has almost 2 million inhabitants and covers an area of over 750 km² with its 104 districts. Discovering the many attractions that a city of this size has to offer in three days is not impossible, but such an undertaking needs to be well prepared. Therefore, we have compiled an overview of what you should not miss in Hamburg.
Journey? Is clarified!
Smart visitors to Hamburg travel by train and are welcomed by an extensive mobility mix that makes their own car superfluous. With travel packages such as the Bahnhit Hamburg offer, you can even save real money.
The perfect companion in Hamburg is the Hamburg CARD. With it, you can use all subways and suburban trains, buses and ferries of the Hamburg Transport Association (HVV) free of charge, alone or in a group. The card is available for one or a maximum of five days. In addition to the mobility offer, you get up to 50 percent discount on many Hamburg attractions and offers. These include city tours, museums, theater and stage arts, as well as many other attractions and experiences. It's easy to find the right experience with the Hamburg CARD: All the benefits with the Hamburg CARD.
Wat mutt, datt mutt
Of course, we can not let you go without introducing you to the most important sights of the city. So let's start with one of the most famous landmarks of Hamburg: the Michel. St. Michael's Church (proverbially known as Michel in Hamburg) is one of the most beautiful baroque churches in Germany. The 132-meter-high tower is visible from afar and dominates the Hamburg cityscape.
The tower's observation deck is 106 meters above the water level and offers an overview of large parts of Hamburg. Climbing (or taking the elevator) to the top of the Michel may be a bit cliché, but once at the top you quickly realize it's worth it. From here, many other sights of Hamburg can be explored with the red double-decker buses, for which, by the way, there are discounts with the Hamburg CARD.
With just one stop, you can and should make your way to the Reeperbahn. During the day, the atmosphere here is relaxed - souvenir stores and trendy cafes invite you to linger.
In the evening, the lights come on and the Reeperbahn becomes the most sinful mile in the world. Clubs, bars and discos line up like a string of pearls. The most popular are located around the Große Freiheit, Hans-Albert-Platz and Hamburger Berg. With its wicked image, many forget that the Reeperbahn is also home to exclusive theaters and a hotspot for musical fans.
Here's something for the ears
Since Hamburg is the musical capital of Germany, there are not only musicals to see on the Reeperbahn. Not far from the Reeperbahn are the Landungsbrücken, from where you have a fantastic view over the Elbe to the Musical Boulevard, where the musicals Disney's THE LION KING and Disney's FROZEN are playing. The Landungsbrücken are also the starting point for many harbor tours of the Port of Hamburg and the Speicherstadt. Other city tours can be taken by bus from the Landungsbrücken stop.
The construction of the Elbphilharmonie gave Hamburg a new cultural landmark in HafenCity: The result is a concert hall whose impressive glass wave architecture and interior design are unparalleled anywhere in the world. The old quayside warehouse in the harbor as a base shows the connection with the maritime tradition of the city. Anyone who has experienced a concert in the Elbphilharmonie will confirm it: The Elbphilharmonie is a treat for all the senses, an architectural masterpiece, one of the city's most popular viewing platforms and a house of music for everyone. All around a MUST for all Hamburg visitors.
The Miniatur Wunderland enjoys a similar cult status as the Elbphilharmonie. Here, more than 1,000 trains with more than 10,000 wagons run through a lovingly designed and varied landscape in miniature format, which makes visitors smile again and again with its playful details. A visit is not only worthwhile for families and railroad fans, but for everyone! To avoid waiting in line for tickets, it is advisable to reserve your tickets for Miniatur Wunderland a few days in advance.
Always a little water under the keel
When you arrive at Miniatur Wunderland, you are already in the middle of Speicherstadt. This is where the goods that arrived in the port of Hamburg or were shipped were stored. The many narrow alleys and canals can be explored on foot or by boat. The characteristic brick houses bear witness to both the wealth of the Hanseatic city and its practical use. Today, the Speicherstadt is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Anyone visiting Hamburg should definitely not miss the impressive architecture and history of the building complexes.
From the harbor, we turn west again - to the Hamburg Fish Market. Since the 18th century, not only fish is sold here, but also fruit and, of course, the obligatory fish sandwiches. To visit, you either have to stay up late (it's only a few minutes' walk from the Reeperbahn) or get up early. The Hamburg fish market directly on the water with a view of the Hamburg harbor is unique and indescribably authentic for anyone who really wants to get to know Hamburg.
Again and again, this tour takes us to the river that has made Hamburg a metropolis: the Elbe. In the past, merchant ships and whalers sailed in and out of the city, today you can marvel at container and cruise ships. With the port ferries of HADAG (lines 61, 62, 64) you should make a trip to the Elbe beach in Blankenese or Övegönne and end your Hamburg vacation perfectly in a café or a beach bar. The port of Hamburg exudes a unique maritime Nordic flair.
To each his own neighborhood
You still have some time? Then we would like to encourage you to go beyond all the sights and take a curious stroll and an exploratory tour through the individual districts of Hamburg. Because every district is different - and has its own special advantages and sometimes also peculiarities. You can find more information in our overview of Hamburg's districts. But maybe you have already found your personal favorite district?
