Hamburg

Experience the harbour and the Elbe

Numerous boats depart from the St. Pauli Landungsbrücken for harbour tours. The Old Elbe Tunnel also brings the connection between the Landungsbrücken and the harbour to life: pedestrians and cyclists can pass through the tunnel free of charge around the clock. It leads to the harbour area in Steinwerder. If you want to experience Hamburg from the water, you can also travel along the Elbe on HADAG ferry 62 with a regular HVV ticket. At the Elbe waterfront, you can enjoy fresh fish sandwiches at the Hamburg Fish Market. The harbour activities, the tunnel and the ferry offer different perspectives on the Elbe and the harbour; you can bear in mind which of them you would like to shape your trip when choosing your stay in Hamburg.

The Alster and green spaces

The Outer Alster invites you to walk along all its shores; its paths are also popular with joggers. Stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing and pedal boating are popular activities on the Alster. This means you can enjoy both gentle exercise by the water and activities on the water. If you like spending time outdoors when you travel, these options can provide a focus of their own.

Planten un Blomen reveals another green side of the city: this 45-hectare park features flower beds, extensive lawns, streams, small lakes and themed gardens. Water-light concerts are held every evening from May to September on the park lake. The flower displays and themed gardens offer a different feel from the open lawns and waterways. The park therefore brings together a range of impressions in one large setting; the evening concerts add a special experience by the lake.

Architecture, views and music

Hamburg’s Speicherstadt is captivating for its brick architecture, canals and bridges, as well as its museums, cafés and restaurants. Together with the Kontorhaus district and the Chilehaus, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015. Anyone interested in architecture and urban history will find a distinctive part of Hamburg’s heritage here. The various museums and places to eat are also part of the Speicherstadt’s character.

Views are also among Hamburg’s cultural landmarks. The 132-metre-high tower of St. Michael’s Church, often called the Michel, offers panoramic views over the harbour, the Speicherstadt and the city centre. Admission to the church is free; visitors need paid tickets to access the tower and crypt. The Elbphilharmonie Plaza is 37 metres above ground level and offers views over the Elbe, the harbour, the Speicherstadt and HafenCity. The Elbphilharmonie also has a concert programme to suit different musical tastes. Architecture, views and music thus offer different reasons to explore Hamburg’s culture.

Discover nature and weigh up your travel interests

Ohlsdorf Cemetery is a natural monument with mature trees, rhododendrons, ponds and streams. It provides a habitat for increasingly rare species such as hedgehogs, eagle owls and bats, as well as grey herons and roe deer. This natural setting differs from the scenery along the Alster and the Elbe: here, trees, waterways and wildlife define the place. If nature watching is important to you, you can consider Ohlsdorf as one of the reasons for your trip to Hamburg.

Whether you want your trip to focus more on the harbour, culture, activities by the water or nature can be a helpful guide when searching for a holiday apartment in Hamburg. The experiences described here reflect a range of interests across the city, without requiring you to settle on just one focus.

Discover more places

You can also explore Neuwerk Island, Niendorf, Blankenese, Kirchwerder, Wohldorf-Ohlstedt, Eppendorf and Duvenstedt.

For the main travel overview: Hamburg.