View into the red-seated auditorium of the Hamburg State Opera with warmly lit balconies
© Mediaserver Hamburg / gem. Nutzungsbedingungen des HMG-Mediaserverslicensed for Hamburg Marketing GmbH

Cultural highlights for international guests

Special services for non-German-speakers

English stage arts & performances

Though the major language for theatre perfromances in Hamburg is German, there still is a fine selection of leading theatres and other institutions that also perform in English. For more detailed information, please check the websites of the following cultural institutions:

  • english-theatre_c-2018-thisisjulia-photography-3
    © ThisIsJulia Photography

    The English Theatre of Hamburg

    The English Theatre in Hamburg shows dramas, thrillers and comedies exclusively with British actors from London.

    The English Theatre of Hamburg
  • Thalia Theater
    © ThisIsJulia Photography

    Traditional stage with impressive productions Thalia Theater

    A visit to the venerable Thalia Theater promises visitors a high-class and stylish theatre visit in the heart of Hamburg even today.

    Thalia Theater
  • Kampnagel
    © ThisIsJulia Photography

    Venue for music, theatre and dance Kampnagel

    Kampnagel enjoys worldwide recognition as an international production house. It offers a multi-faceted platform for contemporary performing arts, as…

    Kampnagel

Guided tours in English

The following cultural institutions offer regular tours in English. For non-native speakers, some tours are also available in other languages. For example, the International Maritime Museum offers guided tours in French. The Deichtorhallen also offer tours of the Falkenberg Collection in Turkish.

Hafenmuseum
© ThisIsJulia Photography

Deutsches Hafenmuseum (German Harbour Museum) - Location: Shed 50A

Hamburg's history as an important transhipment point for the shipping industry can be experienced with exciting guided tours and many exhibits in the authentic harbour museum.

Deutsches Hafenmuseum (German Harbour Museum) - Location: Shed 50A
Hafenmuseum

Deutsches Hafenmuseum - Standort Schuppen 50A

Australiastraße (Kopfbau des Schuppens) 50A
22457 Hamburg

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Dialoghaus Hamburg
© Dialoghaus Hamburg

Dialoghaus Hamburg

Embark on a discovery tour of your senses. With Dialogue in the Dark, Dialogue in Silence and Dinner in the Dark, three exciting exhibitions await you in the heart of the Speicherstadt.

Dialoghaus Hamburg
Dialoghaus Hamburg

Dialoghaus Hamburg

Alter Wandrahm 4
20457 Hamburg

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jubilaeum-hamburg-dungeon-c-hamburg-dungeon-nick-mailer-web-2-2500x1500
© Hamburg Dungeon / Nick Mailer

Hamburg Dungeon

Experience history in a different way: In the catacombs of Hamburg's UNESCO World Heritage Speicherstadt, professional actors bring the city's darkest events back to life. In front of gruesome backdrops and with the help of cinematic effects, visitors experience the historical events of Hamburg's history for 90 minutes in thirteen different show areas.

Hamburg Dungeon
jubilaeum-hamburg-dungeon-c-hamburg-dungeon-nick-mailer-web-2-2500x1500

Hamburg Dungeon

Kehrwieder 2
20457 Hamburg

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Hamburger Rathaus
© ThisIsJulia Photography

Hamburg Town Hall

Unusually ostentatious for Hanseatic taste: The imposing Hamburg Town Hall.

Hamburg Town Hall
Hamburger Rathaus

Hamburger Rathaus

Rathausmarkt 1
20095 Hamburg

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Hamburger Kunsthalle
© Ralf Sürbaum

Hamburger Kunsthalle

The Hamburger Kunsthalle is one of the most important and largest art museums in Germany. Its first-class collection takes visitors through 8 centuries. In 2019, it celebrated a round birthday: 150 years ago, the Kunsthalle was opened to the public.

Hamburger Kunsthalle
Hamburger Kunsthalle

Hamburger Kunsthalle

Glockengießerwall 5
20095 Hamburg

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Hamburgische Staatsoper
© ThisIsJulia Photography

Hamburgische Staatsoper

Visitors to Hamburg who are looking for high-class opera entertainment will be spoiled with grandiose performances in the time-honoured Hamburg State Opera.

Hamburgische Staatsoper
Hamburgische Staatsoper

Hamburgische Staatsoper

Große Theaterstraße 25
20354 Hamburg

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English audio guides

Many museums and exhibitions supply audio devices or audio guide apps in English, some even more foreign languages.

  • veddel_ballinstadt-museum_c-2018-thisisjulia-photography-4
    © ThisIsJulia Photography

    From Hamburg to a new world Emigrant Museum BallinStadt

    The emigrant museum BallinStadt in Hamburg opens its doors and shows in its exhibition the emigration history from four epochs.

    Emigrant Museum BallinStadt
  • Panoptikum
    © ThisIsJulia Photography

    Who is really real here? Panoptikum

    The waxworks museum on Spielbudenplatz has been open for over 130 years and it is well worth a visit! Here you can meet everyone from Albert Einstein…

    Panoptikum
  • Internationales Maritimes Museum
    © ThisIsJulia Photography

    International Maritime Museum

    Kaispeicher B in Hamburg's Speicherstadt is home to the world's largest private collection of maritime treasures from 3000 years of shipping and naval…

    International Maritime Museum
  • Hamburger Kunsthalle
    © Ralf Sürbaum

    From antique to contemporary to modern. Hamburger Kunsthalle

    The Hamburger Kunsthalle is one of the most important and largest art museums in Germany. Its first-class collection takes visitors through 8…

    Hamburger Kunsthalle
  • © Spicy's Gewürzmuseum

    Spicy's Gewürzmuseum

    The unique SPICY'S Gewürzmuseum, housed in an old warehouse in Hamburg's Speicherstadt since 1993, is a spice museum that appeals to all the senses -…

    Spicy's Gewürzmuseum
  • Planetarium Hamburg
    © Hamburg Tourismus GmbH

    Planetarium

    The Hamburg Planetarium is probably the most advanced planetarium on your home planet! Under the dome of the hall is assembled a "multimedia…

    Planetarium
  • Archäologisches Museum
    © ThisIsJulia Photography

    Hamburg Museum for Archaeology and History Helms Museum Hamburg

    The Archaeological Museum Hamburg is Hamburg's museum for archaeology and the history of Hamburg. The museum in the south of Hamburg offers an…

    Helms Museum Hamburg
  • Deichtorhallen
    © ThisIsJulia Photography

    Three of the most beautiful exhibition halls in Europe Deichtorhallen

    The Deichtorhallen Hamburg is one of Europe's largest art exhibition halls. There art and photography enthusiasts will find a wide variety of…

    Deichtorhallen

English information material & descriptions of the exhibits

Information material and exhibition texts as well as descriptions of the exhibits in English can be found at the following cultural institutions:

jubilaeum-hamburg-dungeon-c-hamburg-dungeon-nick-mailer-web-2-2500x1500
© Hamburg Dungeon / Nick Mailer

Hamburg Dungeon

Experience history in a different way: In the catacombs of Hamburg's UNESCO World Heritage Speicherstadt, professional actors bring the city's darkest events back to life. In front of gruesome backdrops and with the help of cinematic effects, visitors experience the historical events of Hamburg's history for 90 minutes in thirteen different show areas.

Hamburg Dungeon
jubilaeum-hamburg-dungeon-c-hamburg-dungeon-nick-mailer-web-2-2500x1500

Hamburg Dungeon

Kehrwieder 2
20457 Hamburg

More
Hamburger Kunsthalle
© Ralf Sürbaum

Hamburger Kunsthalle

The Hamburger Kunsthalle is one of the most important and largest art museums in Germany. Its first-class collection takes visitors through 8 centuries. In 2019, it celebrated a round birthday: 150 years ago, the Kunsthalle was opened to the public.

Hamburger Kunsthalle
Hamburger Kunsthalle

Hamburger Kunsthalle

Glockengießerwall 5
20095 Hamburg

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Archäologisches Museum
© ThisIsJulia Photography

Helms Museum Hamburg

The Archaeological Museum Hamburg is Hamburg's museum for archaeology and the history of Hamburg. The museum in the south of Hamburg offers an exciting, interactive overview of 200,000 years of the region's history.

Helms Museum Hamburg
Archäologisches Museum

Archäologisches Museum Hamburg

Museumsplatz 2
21075 Hamburg

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Kunstverein in Hamburg
© ThisIsJulia Photography

Kunstverein Hamburg

The Hamburger Kunstverein was founded in 1817 and thus belongs to one of the oldest art associations in Germany. The non-profit association is committed to the mediation of contemporary art and is one of the first places to go to for art lovers in Hamburg.

Kunstverein Hamburg
Kunstverein in Hamburg

Kunstverein in Hamburg

Klosterwall 23
20095 Hamburg

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poi-montblanc-haus-2500x1500
© MONTBLANC HAUS

MONTBLANC HAUS

With the MONTBLANC HAUS, the Hamburg-based company has created a place that inspires writing. Find out more about Montblanc's history and rediscover the power of writing in two exhibitions, a guided tour of the Manufacturing Facility or creative classes in the Writing Atelier.

MONTBLANC HAUS
poi-montblanc-haus-2500x1500

Montblanc Haus

Hellgrundweg 98
22525 Hamburg

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© MARKK / Paul Schirmweg

Museum am Rothenbaum - Kulturen und Künste der Welt

The Museum am Rothenbaum, Kulturen und Künste der Welt (MARKK) preserves the cultural and artistic wealth of humanity.

Museum am Rothenbaum - Kulturen und Künste der Welt

Museum am Rothenbaum - Kulturen und Künste der Welt

Rothenbaumchaussee 64
20148 Hamburg

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Cinemas showing original versions (OV) or originals with subtitles (OmU)

If you are interested in movies in English, you should definitely visit one of these cinemas. Don't be put off by the German website, the following cinemas from time to time show English films or original versions with English subtitles.

  • savoy-filmtheater_c-laura-mueller-10
    © Laura Müller

    Films in original version Savoy Filmtheater

    The traditional Savoy film theatre primarily shows original-language films as well as highlights from the English theatre scene.

    Savoy Filmtheater
  • © Nick Cooper on Unsplash

    3001 Kino

    Small, romantic cinema in Hamburg’s Schanzenviertel.

    3001 Kino
  • zeise-hallen_zeise-kinos_c-2018-thisisjulia-photography-3
    © ThisIsJulia Photography

    Varied cultural programme zeise cinema

    The zeise cinemas in Hamburg Ottensen are located in a former ship propeller factory. In this unique setting, audiences can enjoy a varied cultural…

    zeise cinema
  • © Polizei Hamburg

    Place to dream Passage Cinema

    The Passage cinema has three halls with 670 seats. The latest technology is presented in a stylish setting.

    Passage Cinema
  • kino-fallback_c-nick-cooper-hzp62tp-gns-unsplash_5
    © Nick Cooper on Unsplash

    Current mainstream cinema CinemaxX

    The CinemaxX at Dammtor shows current movie highlights. It's not unusual for big stars to romp around in the cinema for the premiere of their latest…

    CinemaxX

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© Mediaserver Hamburg / Jörg Modrow

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© Julia Schwendner

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The leaves are turning colourful, the skies are turning grey and those interested in culture in Hamburg are seeking shelter. Hamburg has a lot to offer in the contrast to the dark season: Our cultural highlights defy the grey weather, have colourful things to offer and best of all: you can warm up perfectly during your Hamburg trip, because they are all indoors.

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