14+ best places to visit in Hamburg

What to do and where to go in Hamburg? – the famous bustling port city of Germany? Let Klook tell you about famous Hamburg tourist attractions, so that visitors can enjoy their trip in a different way. Now, let’s discover 14+ best places to visit in Hamburg as follows!

Known as Germany’s “gateway to the world”, Hamburg is a beautiful port city that attracts visitors from all over the world. When you set foot in Hamburg, you will immediately be drawn into the vibrant atmosphere of bustling festivals, with a series of colorful street parties, along with the special appeal of this port city.

This famous port city also makes you fascinated with its delicious food and many bustling shopping areas, promising to bring a great experience. Let’s explore this wonderful city with top places to visit in Hamburg below!

Reeperbahn Night Street – St.Pauli In Hamburg

To feel the hustle and bustle of the port city of Hamburg, don’t miss the St.Pauli neighborhood. This place harmoniously combines vibrant nightlife, inspiring music with a maritime history. Reeperbahn, a neon-lit street, is an ideal stop for those who loves nightclubs, bars, theaters or live music performances.

You should not miss Beatles Platz – the place where the legendary band The Beatles first conquered the world. Besides, you can also participate in the Reeperbahn Festival held every September, or the Schlagermove festival, and the lively Hamburg DOM entertainment festival.

If you want to enjoy a relaxing moment, take a leisurely stroll along the Elbe River, where the scenery blends peace and vibrant life. Cruise ships glide gently on the water, alongside giant containers moving slowly.

When you need to find a quieter space, Planten un Blomen park will be the perfect stop. There are many meticulously maintained Japanese gardens, creating the ideal “background” for a beautiful check-in photo.

Speicherstadt Warehouse District in Hamburg

Speicherstadt, the world’s largest contiguous warehouse complex, is a unique destination in Hamburg. Located between Deichtorhallen and Baumwall, this district was built in the late 19th century, bearing the mark of Gothic architecture with strangely shaped roofs and tall towers reflecting on the canal surface.

Speicherstadt stands out with a canal running between ancient buildings, creating a special traffic network, completely dependent on the rhythm of the tide. The feeling of floating on small boats, drifting through narrow canals, will make you amazed!

Not only that, Speicherstadt is also home to many attractive attractions such as Miniatur Wunderland – the world’s largest miniature model, Hamburg Dungeon – a place to recreate a creepy historical story, or unique museums such as the Spicy Spice Museum, Burg Coffee Museum, and especially the extremely new Flussschifferkirche floating church.

Lange Reihe Shopping Street – St. Georg In Hamburg

If you want to explore an artistic neighborhood in Hamburg, visit St. Georg located right on the east side of the Central Station. Strolling along Lange Reihe, the main street of St. Georg, you will come across a series of cafes, bars, restaurants and fashion stores. This is also a vibrant area for the LGBTQ+ community.

Lange Reihe, the main shopping street of St. Georg, is home to cafes, bars, restaurants and fashion stores. This area is also famous for its vibrant and colorful LGBTQ+ community.

Not only that, St. Georg is also a center of art and culture with many prominent destinations such as St. Mary’s Church, Kunsthalle Hamburg, MKG Museum of Arts and Crafts, Deichtorhallen, Deutsches Schauspielhaus and Ohnsorg Theaters.

St. Georg is also a testament to Hamburg’s cultural diversity. Along the Steindamm shopping street and Hansaplatz square, you will have the opportunity to enjoy cuisine from many countries such as Turkey, India, Iran and Afghanistan.

Port of Hamburg

When coming to the port city, of course you cannot miss Germany’s “gateway to the world”, the port of Hamburg. This is the second largest seaport in Europe, with more than 8,000 ships from all over the world docking at the port every year, bringing with them the taste of freedom and many stories from faraway lands.

Explore the port of Hamburg by taking a guided tour around the area. You can also visit the famous Hamburg fish market. The fish market has been operating since 1703 and sells everything from fresh seafood to antiques and household items.

If you want to learn more about Hamburg’s maritime history, visit the International Maritime Museum, the BallinStadt Emigration Museum and the Port Museum to see the four-masted ship “PEKING” on display.

Altonaer Fischmarkt Fish Market in Hamburg

Opened in 1703, the Altonaer Fischmarkt fish market allows you to experience the life of Hamburg people in the most authentic way. The highlight of the fish market is the bustling atmosphere and many unique activities taking place here.

When the new day begins, dramatic fish auctions will take place. Sellers will call out prices for fish and compete with each other, creating an extremely interesting scene. Every Sunday morning, the fish market also organizes Jazz, Skiffle, Country & Western music performances. What’s better than enjoying a delicious breakfast while feeling the joyful music atmosphere, right?

Alster River In Hamburg

Did you know that Hamburg also attracts tourists by its romantic river beauty. The Alster River, with two lakes Außenalster (Outer Lake) and Binnenalster (Inner Lake), is a “green tourism” destination for you to experience in the port city.

Binnenalster Lake is located near the city center, surrounded by historic buildings along the Jungfernstieg, the town hall and many ancient churches. In particular, in the evening, the city lights reflect on the water, creating an extremely “eye-catching” scene.

The larger Außenalster Lake is located between lush gardens and luxurious villas in Winterhude, St. Georg and Rotherbaum. This is an ideal place for outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, jogging or rowing. When summer comes, the park around the lake becomes an ideal destination for barbecues, sunbathing or exercising. Trying out water sports or rowing is also a good idea for you when visiting Außenalster Lake.

Planten Un Blomen Park in Hamburg

Planten un Blomen Park is another green tourist destination right in the center of Hamburg for those who love “virtual life” and outdoor activities. It is home to a botanical garden with a tropical greenhouse and the largest Japanese garden in Europe.

The park is a green recreational area that stretches from St. Pauli to Alster. You can walk or cycle on the green paths, participate in recreational activities, and enjoy romantic water and light shows in the evening. If you love Japanese culture, visit the Japanese garden to participate in tea ceremonies, learn calligraphy, watch a Taiko drum performance, or learn about Japanese perfumes.

In addition, the rose garden with more than 300 varieties of roses, the botanical garden with a tropical greenhouse, and the alpine garden with alpine flowers, mosses, and lichens are attractions for nature lovers. The park is also very suitable for children with many play areas, playgrounds, and various entertainment activities such as puppet shows, circuses, and children’s festivals.

Alter Elbtunnel in Hamburg

Built in 1911, the Alter Elbtunnel is a particularly important architectural work of the city. This is the first river tunnel in Europe and was an important traffic route connecting the two banks of the Elbe River, contributing to the development of the port of Hamburg.

The tunnel is 426.5 meters long, leading to a depth of nearly 24 meters under the Elbe River. The two ends of the tunnel are decorated with ceramic tiles with images of marine life and traditional patterns. In 2003, the Alter Elbtunnel was recognized as a “Historic Architectural Work of German Civil Engineering”. After exiting the tunnel, you will enjoy a panoramic view of the port of Hamburg, St. Michaelis (Michel) Church and the Rickmer Rickmers ship from the south bank of the Elbe River.

Hamburg Dungeon

Famous as a port city with a long history, Hamburg always contains many fascinating anecdotes. Hamburg Dungeon is a thrilling experience that takes you on a journey to discover the city’s dark history.

Through impressive light and sound shows, you will be taken through the story of many horrifying events that took place in the past. 13 different exhibition areas, with the participation of professional actors, will recreate “bloody” events such as the plague, wars, great fires and a series of horrific crimes that happened in Hamburg.

Hamburg Dungeon is not only a place for you to find dramatic entertainment, but also a place where you will learn more about the city’s history in a very visual way. However, please note that children under 10 years old are not allowed to visit, and children between 10 and 14 years old must be accompanied by an adult!

Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall

In Hamburg, there is one architectural landmark that catches the eye of every visitor – the Elbphilharmonie. It is not only an international music center, but also a cultural symbol of the city.

The Elbphilharmonie has three concert halls, a large public area called the Plaza and a luxury hotel. The Plaza, which is 37 meters high, offers a stunning 360-degree panoramic view of Hamburg. The world’s longest curved escalator (80 meters) will take you to the top of this observation point.

Kunsthalle art museum in Hamburg (#best places to visit in Hamburg)

If you love art and are looking for an interesting destination in Germany, Kunsthalle Hamburg is a great choice. This famous art museum, built in 1869 with three separate buildings, creating an impressive architectural complex.

Here, you will admire a rich collection of art, from the medieval to modern periods. Kunsthalle Hamburg’s collection includes works by masters such as Rembrandt, Lucas Cranach the Elder, Rubens, Paul Cezanne, Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Max Beckmann and Edvard Munch.

Don’t miss the opportunity to “see” artworks from the Impressionist, Expressionist, Cubist, and many other styles. In addition, Kunsthalle Hamburg also organizes special exhibitions that attract a lot of visitors every year.

St. Michael Church In Hamburg

St. Michaeliskirche, built in the 17th century and renovated many times, is a must-see destination for those who love Baroque art.

Step inside and you will be overwhelmed by the magnificent interior with exquisite white gold decorations. Don’t forget to look up at the soaring ceiling, which is filled with many extremely “captivating” murals and delicate sculptures.

A special experience at St. Michaeliskirche is climbing to the 106-meter-high observation deck. From here, you can look far away, admiring the whole city of Hamburg, from the vast seaport, the old town Speicherstadt to the modern HafenCity area.

Hamburg Townhall

Located in the heart of Hamburg, this magnificent sandstone town hall is the seat of the city government and parliament.

After the old town hall burned down in 1842, the city had to use a temporary location for 55 years. The new town hall was inaugurated in 1897, with 647 rooms and built on over 4,000 oak piles. The building’s ornate facade features 20 statues of emperors against a simple Hanseatic backdrop. The Latin inscription above the main door reads: “The descendants will be worthy to maintain the freedom won by their ancestors”.

Inside, you’ll find the main hall with 16 sandstone columns and 68 portraits of Hamburg’s most respected citizens. Along with that, you’ll admire the Sardinian marble staircase, a symbol of the flow of life. Or you can learn about the history of Hamburg through rooms such as the Kaisersaal, the Mayor’s Chamber, the Phoenix Chamber, and the Senate Chamber.

Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg

With over 1,100 trains, 137,000 trees, 289,000 figures, 10,250 cars and 47 planes, Miniatur Wunderland is a miniature world of technical and artistic wonders for you and your family to explore.

Miniatur Wunderland is constantly expanding, now featuring new areas such as Patagonia with its majestic mountains and glaciers, Rio de Janeiro with its beautiful beaches and Carnival, Bella Italia with its historic architecture, and Monaco with its dramatic Formula 1 racetrack. In addition, you can also explore many other regions such as Harz, Scandinavia, Switzerland, France, the United States, and the history of civilization from the Neolithic period to the 20th century.

Rickmer Rickmers Ship Museum Hamburg

The Rickmer Rickmers, a majestic three-masted ship built in 1896, once crossed the vast ocean, experiencing many storms and challenges on a series of journeys spanning the world. Today, permanently moored in the port of Hamburg, Rickmer Rickmers has become a unique floating museum, opening the door for visitors to explore ancient life at sea.

From the spacious deck, the cramped crew room to the luxurious officers’ quarters, the kitchen and even the control engine room, each space holds many traces of the past, telling the story of the brave crew who lived and worked on this ship.

(*) After having fun, you can visit the restaurant on the Rickmer Rickmers ship to enjoy a delicious menu with a strong taste of the sea.

Hamburg, the gateway connecting Germany and the world, is an attractive destination that adventure lovers should not miss. Coming to Hamburg, “go all out” in the vibrant life at Europe’s bustling seaport.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Hamburg you can refer to

• Private Hamburg Airport (HAM) Transfers for Hamburg
• Hamburg City Pass
• Miniatur Wunderland Entry Ticket With Priority Entrance in Hamburg
• Hamburg Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour
• Hamburg Discovery Walking Tour
• Hamburg St. Pauli and Harbor Evening Walking Tour
• International Maritime Museum Entry Ticket in Hamburg
• Wax Museum Panoptikum Admission Ticket in Hamburg
• Hamburg: 1.5-Hour Harbor and Speicherstadt Day Cruise
• St. Pauli: Reeperbahn Bars & Red Light District Walking Tour with Drink
• Hamburg: Port of Hamburg Cruise Tour
• Hamburg: 1-Hour Harbor Cruise
• Hamburg: Line A Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour
• St. Pauli: Reeperbahn Walking Tour by Drag Queen or Local Celebrity
• Hamburg: Harbor Evening Lights Cruise
• Hamburg: Hamburg Dungeon Admission Ticket
• St. Pauli: Reeperbahn Walking Tour with Zur Ritze Entry & Drink (18+)
• Hamburg: Ticket to the Panoptikum Waxworks
• Hamburg: 1-Hour Harbor Cruise
• Hamburg: City Center and Speicherstadt Bike Tour

Are you looking for more top things to do in Hamburg: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here. And Germany travel guide here.