Hamburg's highlights for new explorers

Even with a small budget, one does not have to do without discovering Hamburg's highlights. We'll tell you what you can experience for less than €40 a day - from culinary refreshments and mobility to the classic sights of the Hanseatic city. Because often more fits into a day than you think, regardless of what your wallet says.

The ideal companion for your Hamburg day is the Hamburg Card (€11.90 per person per day). With the Hamburg CARD, you can save money and travel stress-free on buses, trains and HVV harbour ferries. You also get attractive discounts on attractions, museum visits, musicals and theatres, as well as restaurants and souvenirs. Simply print it out at home, download it as a mobile ticket or receive it via text message on your smartphone.

Breakfast at “Kleine Pause“ – from €11.60

What is it they say? Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! They also know about this is Hamburg – that’s why you’ll get an early breakfast at almost every corner of the city. One of the most popular corners is the one of “Kleine Pause” (Wohlwillstraße 37, 20359 Hamburg), where you can enjoy a hearty meal from 7 a.m. onwards. Here you can enjoy a fantastic, rustic farmer's breakfast for €11.60. Freshly energised, you can then start your day.

Tip: "Kleine Pause" is also a real insider tip after a long night of partying and offers everything a fast food lover could desire.

Visit the Elphi-Plaza – for free

If you want to enjoy a fantastic view of the entire city, especially Hamburg Harbour, you should visit the Elbphilharmonie (Platz der Deutschen Einheit 1, 20457 Hamburg). There is a public viewing platform at a height of 37 metres from which you can admire the Hanseatic city in all its glory: the Plaza . It is not only attracting lots of interested tourists, but also numerous Hamburg locals who want to admire their favourite city. And the best thing about it is that the view is completely free!

HVV Ferry 62 to Finkenwerder – free with Hamburg CARD

In Hamburg, ferries are considered public transport: anyone with a ticket from the Hamburg Transport Association (HVV) can also travel free of charge on the water – including on line 62 towards Finkenwerder. The ferry departs from the Landungsbrücken: from there, it travels through the museum harbour, past the Övelgönner Ufer to the other side of the Elbe in the Alte Land. During the trip, you can not only admire the Hamburg skyline, but also enjoy a hot cup of coffee or a cool Astra beer at a reasonable price. You can board the ferry here: Landungsbrücken, Bridge 3.

Lunchtime at Elbe beach – approx. €5.00

You can also take a long walk on the beach in Hamburg: if you take the HVV ferry 62 to Neumühlen station (Övelgönne/Museumshafen), you can reach the Elbe beach after a few minutes' walk. From there, you can either stroll along the sand right by the water or take the paved path above the beach – in either case, you will soon arrive at the Strandperle: here you can treat yourself to a hearty fish sandwich with a cool Astra beer or enjoy a homemade piece of cake with a hot drink in the picturesque harbour atmosphere. Of course, with a direct view of the Elbe!

StadtRAD – approx. €3.00

There are StadtRAD stations scattered across the Elbe beach and throughout the Hanseatic city (over 300 rental stations at many underground and suburban railway stations in Hamburg) – this is a public bicycle rental system operated by Deutsche Bahn, which is available to both Hamburg residents and tourists. What makes the red rental bikes particularly practical is not only that they can be used anywhere and at any time, but also that they are very inexpensive to rent: the first half hour is free in most tariffs, after which each additional minute costs €0.10. Even if you pause your ride from time to time, you will pay a maximum of €9 per day. And the best thing about it: with the Hamburg CARD, you save an additional 20% on the rental fee per minute (€0.08 instead of €0.10 per minute – from the 31st minute onwards). Whether you want to take a bike tour along the Elbe or Alster rivers, when the weather is nice, a trip with StadtRAD in Hamburg is always worthwhile.

Pizza at Hans-Albers-Platz – €3.00

If you want to experience Hamburg's nightlife, a visit to the Reeperbahn is a must. The most sinful mile in the world is not only home to a multitude of clubs and bars, but also has a lot to offer in terms of cuisine: from lobster to kebabs, you'll find everything a foodie's heart desires – even late at night, when you're feeling peckish after a night of partying. In that case, you can get the best pizza at Hans-Albers-Platz (Querstraße 1, 20359 Hamburg): at "Alt-Hamburg". Here, small pizzas are prepared in a real stone oven for just €3.00. On weekends, you may have to queue for up to 20 minutes at the small serving window, but it's definitely worth the wait. If you're feeling a little hungrier, you should get two pizzas.

One for the road at Trinkba – from €1.99

If you're still thirsty late at night but don't have much cash on you, Trinkba (Gerhardstraße 3, 20359 Hamburg) is the place to go. At this bar on the Reeperbahn, once known as the ‘99 Cent Bar,’ you can enjoy a variety of drinks for very little money. Ahoj-Brause for €0.99, shots for €1.99 and pleasant sounds from the jukebox – there's no better way to end a boozy evening in Hamburg.

Even more Hamburg tips for your city break! 

Whether you're short on time or money, or looking for an all-inclusive experience, we'll show you how to get the most out of your trip to Hamburg. Click through our specially curated lists, discover the best deals – and most importantly, gather inspiration for your trip to Hamburg!