The Ultimate Hamburg Travel Guide: 10 Must Visit Sights!
Hamburg is one of my favourite German cities to visit, and it was one many of my German friends recommended.
With an illustrious history, nautical background and plenty to see and do, this city in the north of Germany makes for a wonderful city break.
It’s gritty yet polished, storied yet modern; Hamburg has a vibe all of it’s own.
If you’re looking for a list of things to see and do, here are some of Hamburg’s best!
Read: Why You Have to Visit Lübeck— A Magical Day Trip from Hamburg
The Speicherstadt is Hamburg’s poster child, and this warehouse district (the world’s largest and a UNESCO World Heritage site), offers beautiful red brick architecture, and a slew of attractions along the way.
Head to the Wasserschloss viewpoint at the Poggenmühlen-Brücke for the perfect shot for the gram, and is one you’ll likely have seen all over travel guides and blogs.
My tip?
Try to head over during golden hour for magical light peeking over the buildings in a warm, golden glow.
Then, hop on over to the Miniatur Wunderland museum, the world’s largest model railway exhibit based on famous sites the world over. Famed for being incredibly life-like with a minute attention to detail, this museum can easily take up several hours worth of time to explore.
If you need a coffee break, you can check out Speicherstadt Kaffeerösterei.
For a heavier meal, there’s NENI which is a popular Mediterranean / Israeli joint that gets fully booked out on the weekends, and Hobenköök Restaurant & Markthalle, which is a restaurant and market hall set in a warehouse, with a focus on local produce.
Take in Views from the Elbphilharmonie Observation Deck
The Elbphilharmonie concert hall is a huge building that has now become an icon of Hamburg.
You can catch a show here, or join many others in line to visit the viewing terrace for free, which offers sweeping views of the harbour.
On the way up, admire the architecture of the walls that curve inwards on the travellator.
While it’s best to come during sunset, expect to wait in the snaking long queue during this time, with admissions every hour.
Visit the Fischmarkt on Sunday Mornings
If you’re in Hamburg on a Sunday morning, you have to check out the fish market by the harbour.
The buzz begins as early as before sunrise, and usually ends before 10am.
A seemingly endless stretch of coffee trucks, fresh produce and street food stalls, the fish market on the banks of the Elbe river gets incredibly busy, even in the winter.
Cross the River Underground via the Alter Elbtunnel
The Old Elbe Tunnel opened in 1911 and was meant to provide dock workers a direct route from Landungsbrücken pier in St. Pauli to the southern banks of the Elbe river.
You’ll take a lift that plunges you 24 metres below the river’s surface, and the 426 metre long underpass features a beautifully lit art deco interior that has become a photographer’s favourite.
Make way for the hordes of cyclists on the road in the middle though!
Brunch at the Hipster Neighbourhoods of Karolinenviertel and Schanzenviertel
Neighbourhoods like these are always what I seek out in any city— think the Hamburg equivalent of Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg, or Madrid’s Malasaña.
Chock full of local boutiques, cosy cafes and well-dressed crowds looking to brunch, some of the city’s best cafes can be found here.
One of the most popular places in town is EM Breakfast Club.
If not, head to Otto’s Burgers for a wide selection of vegetarian and vegan options!
Party at Reeperbahn
Reeperbahn is Hamburg’s red light district, and premier party street— lined with clubs, bars, and of course, adult entertainment venues.
It can be seedy in areas if you look for it, but there are also more respectable establishments here.
If nothing, it’s still a huge area of interest to walk around.
Enjoy Skyline Views from St. Michael’s Church
As with many other European cities, beautiful skyline views can be had at the top of the church, and Hamburg’s best has to be St. Michael’s Church.
You can visit the church as well, but the entrance to the observation deck is located by another door.
You can go up by the lift or the stairs for the exact same fee, but unfortunately the lift was out of service during the time of my visit.
The climb up was genuinely quite gruelling as I wanted to catch the morning light over the city, so do ensure you’re in comfortable walking shoes.
Take a Trip to Portugal at the Portugiesenviertel
Portuguese and other Southern European communities settled in the Portuguese quarter just by the harbour, which resulted in a huge number of Portuguese, Italian and Spanish restaurants in the district.
This is a popular place to dine out, especially on the weekends, so expect every restaurant to be packed.
Popular ones include Olá Lisboa and Restaurant D. José.
If you fancy something a little different, there’s TA Vegan House which is a top rated vegan restaurant in the city.
Likewise, on a Saturday night, I showed up at about 7pm and was not able to get a table till way past 8pm.
I eventually settled for Ciao Ana, an Italian joint instead.
Admire the Beautiful Architecture of Townhall
Rathaus in the middle of the city, or Town Hall, features elaborate architecture in a Neo-Renaissance style.
During the run up to Christmas, you’ll find a huge Christmas market in the square just in front of it.
You can get beautiful photos of the Rathaus from Kleine Alster, which is a small canal that feels very southern European in the sunshine.
Sit by the Lake of Außenalster
When the weather’s good (which is rare in Hamburg according to locals), you’ll find many just sitting by the river and soaking up the sunshine.
The Binnenalster is the tourist site recommended, but I’d recommend walking up north of the lake along the banks, where you’ll find many benches and leafy lawns.
