© ThisIsJulia Photography
© ThisIsJulia Photography
© ThisIsJulia Photography
© ThisIsJulia Photography
© ThisIsJulia Photography
© ThisIsJulia Photography
© ThisIsJulia Photography

Hamburg Town Hall

Impressive architecture. The pride of Hamburg.

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

Hamburg Town Hall was built from 1886 to 1897 and with its impressive architecture dominates the centre of the city. The magnificent sandstone building houses the city's senate and parliament.

After Hamburg Town Hall burned to the ground in 1842, the city council temporarily moved into provisional premises - for 55 years! The new Town Hall was inaugurated in 1897, has 647 rooms and stands on over 4,000 oak piles. In stark contrast to the restrained Hanseatic style, the Town Hall is conspicuous due to its elaborately decorated façade, flanked by a total of 20 statues of emperors. The following is written in Latin above the main door: "The descendants shall seek worthily to maintain the freedom achieved by their forebears." The ornate wrought iron gate of the main entrance door leads into the entrance hall which is supported by 16 sandstone pillars painted with 68 portraits of worthy Hamburg citizens. The staircase was made from Sardinian marble and shows the course of human life. The debating chamber is designed rather simply and Parliament meets here every second Tuesday at 3.00pm

Portraits of former speakers of parliament hand in the adjacent Bürgersaal where citizens are received. The Kaisersaal (imperial hall) - named because of the visit by Kaiser Wilhelm II at the opening of the North Sea-Baltic Canal - has a striking ceiling painting that symbolises merchant shipping under the German flag. The walls are decorated with wall coverings made of pressed leather. The Tower Hall accommodates celebrations on special occasions and receptions. Guests make entries into the Golden Book in the Mayor's Hall with its enormous fireplace. A painting hangs here that depicts the inauguration of the Town Hall in 1897. The Phoenix Hall is named after the phoenix above the fireplace, which is meant to symbolise Hamburg's renaissance after the great fire of 1842. In the Senate chamber, the only light passes through the large glass roof: This symbolises the ancient Germanic custom that the council meets in the open air. The Grand Ballroom is 46 metres long, 18 metres wide and 15 metres high. Five huge paintings depict the history of Hamburg from 800 to 1900 and 62 city coats of arms of the old Hanseatic League decorate the walls. The three chandeliers with 278 lights each weigh 1,500 kilograms!

Guided Tours

Visits only with guided tours (except for official events):
Visitors to the city and those who wish to participate in a guided tour of Town Hall can get information and register using the information hotline: +49 (0) 40 428 3124 or for groups of 70 or more: +49 (0) 40 428 312 064

Hamburg CARD Benefit

Town hall tours

Adults: 5.50 € instead of 7.00 €; children up to 14 years free of charge

Show your valid Hamburg CARD at the cash desk and on request on the day of use. Duplication of discounts not possible.

from 11.90 €

Hamburg CARD

Free travel on buses, trains and harbour ferries (HVV) and up to 50% discount on over 150 tourist offers

More on this subject

© mediaserver.hamburg.de / Cooper Copter

You should see this Sights in Hamburg

A short holiday in Hamburg also means sightseeing in Hamburg. Whether the Elbe Philharmonic, Landungsbrücken or Hamburg City Hall - they and many other sights are simply part of a trip to Hamburg. The easiest way to explore Hamburg's sights is on a sightseeing tour with the striking double-decker buses.

Sights in Hamburg
© Fotolia / JFL Photography

CITY AREA PORTRAIT Alt- & Neustadt

The historic core of the Altstadt (German for Old Town) district is shaped by traditional buildings such as the Hamburg city hall and the chamber of commerce, the alleyways and bridges which stretch out all the way to the HafenCity district. In the Neustadt district district between Laeiszhalle and Jungfernstieg with elegant promenades, fashion stores and gallery owners – overlooking the Alster.

Alt- & Neustadt

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© Tourismusverein Altes Land e.V.

Discover the fruit paradise. Altes Land bei Hamburg

Nordic fruit orchards, pink fields of blossoms and a fresh Elbe breeze – the Alte Land is one of the prettiest day trip destinations far away from the massiveness of the Hamburg metropolitan area.

Altes Land bei Hamburg
© ThisIsJulia Photography

View Point

A viewing tower offers a host of new perspectives of the growing HafenCity in Hamburg. However, it is not only the view which is spectacular. The View Point itself is very eye-catching.

View Point
© Pixabay / muscha

The blooming country. Lüneburger Heide

The Lüneburger Heide with its quiet villages invites you to relax and go hiking, but with numerous attractions such as the Heidepark Soltau and the Snow Dome Ski Hall Bispingen, it also provides pure family fun.

Lüneburger Heide

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