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 to Thomas Gottschalk to Udo Lindenberg and numerous other waxwork personalities.

Experience the fascinating world between wax and reality! The Panoptikum in Hamburg is Germany's oldest wax museum, and its popular wax figures have been captivating visitors for generations. Then as now, the family business carries on the tradition with care and dedication. But it remains true: similarity is no coincidence. It's a form of art!

For over 100 years, since 1879 to be exact, a special wax museum has fascinated young and old alike; the Panoptikum in Hamburg located on Spielbudenplatz is Germany's oldest and largest wax museum. A world of wax is presented here in an area of more than 700 square metres, captivating visitors both young and old.

On four floors, meet over 120 people from history, art and politics, celebrities and mega-stars. Wax figure replicas, all of them lifelike and up close. Whether it's Michael Schumacher, Otto Waalkes, Robbie Williams, Udo Lindenberg or Angela Merkel – all of them await a souvenir photo with you. Also discover the giantess Mariedl with a height of 2.27 metres, a man with three eyes, and other strange people. Not all of the wax figures are based on living examples. The gruesome corner with weird creatures including a medical, anatomical display completes the exhibition, and it is a source of goosepimples for children and even some of the grown-ups. The British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has been a new addition since July 2023. Sculptor Lisa Büscher has developed the Ed Sheeran wax figure, a special challenge has been the many tattoos of the artist.

The Panoptikum once served as a mere curiosity that was designed to amuse and amaze visitors. Today, it is much more than that, namely a place of art whose respective display objects require up to twelve months of intensive and detailed work. The results are proverbial.

A visit to the Panoptikum takes 30 to 60 minutes. On request, you will be provided with an audio guide in German and English with interesting background information. The Panoptikum can be booked for children's birthdays and other private events, for companies and film teams.