Things to do in Hamburg

Hamburg is a diverse and entertaining city with plenty to see and do, ranging from world-class museums, wonderful art galleries and an upbeat nightlife to excellent restaurants and first-class shopping. Also popular with tourists is the notorious Reeperbahn red-light district.

Many of the things to see and do in Hamburg revolve around its famous harbour. Every Sunday morning, the banks of the Elbe River are swamped with tourists at the Hamburg Fish Market, soaking up the lively atmosphere and bartering for the freshest produce. Speicherstadt, Hamburg's warehouse complex, is the largest in the world built on wooden foundations and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visitors can admire the Gothic Revival architecture and visit Miniature Wonderland, the world's largest model train system.

There are many beautiful gardens and parks in the city too. Perhaps the best of these is Planten un Blomen. Visitors looking for a break from museums and activities can stroll through the tropical greenhouse and Japanese garden, or catch a concert on the lawns in the summer months. Travellers can delve into Hamburg's past at the Museum of Hamburg History, or enjoy the extensive collection and themed exhibitions of the Hamburg Kunsthalle.

Hamburg is also conveniently located for excursions to nearby attractions. Some of the best day-trip destinations are the quaint towns of Blankenese, Lubeck and Hameln, all of which offer great sightseeing opportunities. The island of Sylt, Germany's most northern point, is also extremely popular and a great spot for coastal weekend getaways.

A Hamburg holiday offers something for everyone, from children who will revel in attractions such as the world's largest model railway to raucous groups of young travellers heading for the risque streets of the Reeperbahn.

Hamburg Warehouse Complex photo

Hamburg Warehouse Complex

The world's oldest warehouse complex, built of red brick with Gothic gables and turrets, is a century old and still in use for storing exotic goods from around the world, such as t…

Hamburg Warehouse Complex

The world's oldest warehouse complex, built of red brick with Gothic gables and turrets, is a century old and still in use for storing exotic goods from around the world, such as tea, cocoa, silk and oriental carpets. Known as the Speicherstadt in German, this historic section of the Free Port between the Deichtorhallen and Baumwall has been turned into a tourist attraction by the addition of an open air theatre, a spice museum, and an old Russian submarine open for exploration, as well as a few other little museums and some regular art exhibitions. Another popular attraction in Speicherstadt is the 'Hamburg Dungeon', an interactive museum showcasing the more unpleasant and gory aspects of the city's history.

Just wandering through the narrow cobblestone streets and exploring the small waterways lined by old warehouses is fun, and taking a boat out into the harbour is also a treat. The Speicherstadt is illuminated at night by light shows that create an enchanting spectacle, particularly viewed from a boat on a harbour night tour. The harbour has played a huge role in Hamburg's identity and history and exploring this area is insightful.

Hamburger Kunsthalle photo

Hamburger Kunsthalle

Hamburg's premier art gallery offers the chance to view works from the Middle Ages through to the present day. The Kunsthalle's mission is to educate the public rather than showcas…

Hamburger Kunsthalle

Hamburg's premier art gallery offers the chance to view works from the Middle Ages through to the present day. The Kunsthalle's mission is to educate the public rather than showcase particular art treasures, with exhibitions constantly changing to introduce new art forms. The museum now actually occupies two buildings: the Galerie der Gegenwart, a modern structure exhibiting contemporary art, while the famous old building showcases the older works, most dating back to the 14th, 16th and 17th centuries.

Website www.hamburger-kunsthalle.de

Blankenese photo

Blankenese

The quaint and affluent town of Blankenese sits upon the banks of the Elbe River, and is adored for its pre-war villas, gorgeous hotels and stunning views. Visitors can explore nar…

Blankenese

The quaint and affluent town of Blankenese sits upon the banks of the Elbe River, and is adored for its pre-war villas, gorgeous hotels and stunning views. Visitors can explore narrow alleys between picturesque houses, enjoying an abundance of cafes and restaurants from where patrons can gaze down at the ships cruising in and out of the harbour. Pedestrian streets and nearly 5,000 stairs crisscross the charming hillside, while there is also a Roman garden, two lighthouses and more than half a dozen peaceful parks and walking trails.

The Hamburg Museum photo

The Hamburg Museum

The Hamburg Museum gives a detailed description of the city of Hamburg from the 8th through to the 20th centuries. Scale models have been used to illustrate the changing shape of t…

The Hamburg Museum

The Hamburg Museum gives a detailed description of the city of Hamburg from the 8th through to the 20th centuries. Scale models have been used to illustrate the changing shape of the city's famous harbour. Exhibits include reconstructions of various typical rooms, such as the hall of a 17th-century merchant's home to an air raid shelter from World War II. Actual features from old buildings have been moved into the museum creating an exciting architectural space. The museum is crowned by a tower designed to look like a lighthouse and dating back to 1922 when the museum opened. The gorgeous central courtyard is covered with a glass ceiling and the space is now used for exhibitions and concerts.

Website www.hamburgmuseum.de

Sylt photo

Sylt

The island of Sylt boasts some lovely sandy beaches and stunning views, and its main town, Westerland, has become a popular seaside resort. In recent years, it has become the seasi…

Sylt

The island of Sylt boasts some lovely sandy beaches and stunning views, and its main town, Westerland, has become a popular seaside resort. In recent years, it has become the seaside destination of choice for the rich and famous of Germany, with celebrities regularly spotted on its shores.

Sylt offers plenty of entertainment for tourists, including shops, spas and exclusive restaurants, with miles of bicycle paths in pine forests, horse riding trails and golf courses. The Ellenbogen Nature Reserve is lovely for walks, with two lighthouses set against wonderful dunes.

Although most visitors come to enjoy the beaches and outdoor activities, other popular attractions include the Sylt Aquarium, and the small but historically interesting Lutheran Church of St Severin. Sylt is easy to get to and trains arrive several times a day from Hamburg, with the island connected to the mainland by the six-mile (10km) Hindenburgdamm Bridge.

Hameln photo

Hameln

Hameln is the setting of the Pied Piper fairytale, and its old town centre is filled with reconstructed Renaissance buildings and wood-frame houses that bring the legend to life. S…

Hameln

Hameln is the setting of the Pied Piper fairytale, and its old town centre is filled with reconstructed Renaissance buildings and wood-frame houses that bring the legend to life. Set beside the River Wester amid beautiful mountain scenery, it's a popular tourist destination in northern Germany. Most of the tourist attractions in Hameln are close together, so it's easy to see everything on foot before enjoying a meal at one of the town's many cafes and beer gardens. Hameln also hosts a popular Christmas market from late November through December that is a great place to do some shopping for those back home.

Website www.hameln.de

Lübeck photo

Lübeck

Not only was Lübeck home to Nobel Prize winners Willy Brandt and Thomas Mann, it's also a living monument to the wealthy Hanseatic merchants of the 13th century. A UNESCO World He…

Lübeck

Not only was Lübeck home to Nobel Prize winners Willy Brandt and Thomas Mann, it's also a living monument to the wealthy Hanseatic merchants of the 13th century. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lübeck's architecture consists of steeples, spires and high-gabled houses, strong towers, massive gates and a lovely Old Town. The town is also popular for its marzipan, with locals adamant that their hometown is where the delightful confection was first devised. Samples are freely available in Lübeck, along with the tastes of the region's fine wines. There are also some great cafes and restaurants to enjoy in this beautiful town, which feels quite unlike any other.

Website www.luebeck-tourism.de

Planten un Blomen photo

Planten un Blomen

In the middle of Hamburg is an oasis of green lawns and trees, with colourful flowers and fountains providing a lovely backdrop to relax in. Visitors stroll around the Japanese gar…

Planten un Blomen

In the middle of Hamburg is an oasis of green lawns and trees, with colourful flowers and fountains providing a lovely backdrop to relax in. Visitors stroll around the Japanese garden and enjoy the tropical flower collections and teahouse, while children will enjoy its playgrounds, pony rides, miniature golf and ice skating rink. In summer, there are evening concerts and plays, with wonderful light shows at the fountains, but the park is beautiful in autumn and spring too, when the colours are spectacular. Right in the heart of Hamburg, it's easy to access and ideal for blowing off some steam and taking a break from the traditional sightseeing.

Website plantenunblomen.hamburg.de

St Michaelis Church photo

St Michaelis Church

St Michaelis began as a humble church in 1647, eventually expanding to become the grand building which today is one of Hamburg's most recognisable landmarks. Visitors can take tour…

St Michaelis Church

St Michaelis began as a humble church in 1647, eventually expanding to become the grand building which today is one of Hamburg's most recognisable landmarks. Visitors can take tours of the 270 foot (82m) tower; the crypt, which contains the bodies of Johann Mattheson and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach; and view an interesting presentation on the history of Hamburg. The tower has a magnificent viewing platform, reached either by elevator or by climbing the 452 steps that rise past the bells and the famous clock machinery.

Website www.st-michaelis.de

Miniatur Wunderland photo

Miniatur Wunderland

Train enthusiasts will love Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg but so will almost everybody else. With more than 4,000 square metres of floor space, there is much to admire in the tiny…

Miniatur Wunderland

Train enthusiasts will love Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg but so will almost everybody else. With more than 4,000 square metres of floor space, there is much to admire in the tiny models, which are based on various regions, both local and international. The largest of its kind in the world and the most visited permanent exhibit in Northern Germany, there are 900 trains with 12,000 carriages, as well as 300,000 lights, 200,000 trees and 200,000 human figures. Sections include Southern Germany and the Austrian Alps, Hamburg, the Coast, America, Scandinavia and Switzerland.

Address Kehrwieder 4 Block D

Website www.miniatur-wunderland.com