City break Hamburg — the gateway to the world | H-Hotels.com

Hamburg – affectionately known as the gateway to the world – is perfect for a city break. This cosmopolitan metropolis in the far north of Germany is distinguished by its Hanseatic charm and an impressive variety of tourist attractions. These include the Landungsbrücken, the Fish Market, the Elbphilharmonie (Elbe Philharmonic Hall) and the Speicherstadt warehouse district. Hamburg is located on the Elbe River and has one of the world’s largest ports. The North Sea is about 80 kilometres upriver, so you can combine your city break with a short trip to the sea. 

Hamburg has also developed into a real music hotspot and an attractive trade fair location. International events take place there all year round. There are lots of shopping opportunities and a wide-ranging culinary offering. Needless to say, a trip round the harbour on a classic boat is another essential item on your city-break schedule.

Our detailed guide to city breaks in Hamburg will help you discover this jewel on the Elbe. Plan your visit including hotel accommodation and enjoy one of Europe’s finest cities. We hope you have a stimulating trip to this Hanseatic city and would love to welcome you at our Hamburg hotel!

The Hanseatic city of Hamburg combines a cosmopolitan outlook with tradition and lifestyle. During your city break, visit Hamburg’s attractions which reveal much about its maritime history and inhabitants. Here we reveal Hamburg’s finest and most important sightseeing highlights.

The Reeperbahn is also known in German as “die sündigste Meile der Welt”, the “most sinful mile in the world”. The street is lined with nightclubs and bars. Nowadays, the entertainment district is a popular meeting point for partygoers and fun-seekers. The Reeperbahn is particularly buzzing in the evening. Want to explore the city nightlife on your trip to Hamburg? You've come to the right place!

In the Speicherstadt, which is now a UNESCO world heritage site, you will experience Hamburg’s illustrious history up close. This area is a historic warehouse complex, which has acquired lots of additional attractions over recent years. Notable excursion options include the “Miniatur Wunderland” and the “Hamburg Dungeon”. You can also explore the Speicherstadt by boat. Harbour tours generally take in the Speicherstadt area too.

The St. Pauli Landungsbrücken are a set of piers and are without question among Hamburg’s best-known landmarks. From here, you can take a harbour tour, which is an essential experience during your Hamburg city break. The passenger terminal is a listed historic building. The Pegelturm (gauge tower) at the terminal hall is also important and indicates the current tide status on the Elbe. The Landungsbrücken also represent a vital transport hub in Hamburg. There is a particularly lovely atmosphere here in the evenings.

When it comes to iconic style, there is barely anywhere in Hamburg that can rival the character of the Fish Market. Every Sunday the Fish Market is open from the early morning hours, tempting in tens of thousands of visitors. As well as delicious fish in a roll, you can also buy fruit and flowers here. The special atmosphere is boosted by live music. A trip to the Fish Market is an essential part of any Hamburg city break. Getting up early (or maybe not going to bed in the first place) will definitely be worth it.

On the southern bank of the Inner Alster lake, you will find the famous Jungfernstieg promenade. The Jungfernstieg panorama reflects the elegance of this Hanseatic city. The promenade has an impressive array of cafés, boutiques and hotels. Spend some time on the Inner Alster and enjoy the elegant hustle and bustle along this world-famous promenade. This is a particularly popular spot at the weekend with Hamburg residents, who might spend a few leisurely hours on the Inner Alster. 

Hugely controversial when it was first being established, the Elbphilharmonie is now one of the most popular visitor attractions. It is worth taking a short trip to Hamburg just to attend a concert in this futuristic building. Hamburg locals also refer affectionately to their new landmark as “Elphie”. The concert hall was only completed in 2016 and features a distinctive design that can be seen from afar. 

Inside, there are concert venues that host the very highest quality international artists. You can also visit the Elbphilharmonie building during the day. Since the visitor level has restrictions on the number of people who can visit at any one time, you will need to book free tickets in advance.

St. Michaelis (known as “Michel” for short) is one of the most famous landmarks in the Hanseatic city of Hamburg. This baroque church has a turbulent past, going back to the mid-17th century. Hamburg has had to completely rebuild the “Michel” on two occasions. The eye-catching church tower has a viewing platform, which guarantees wonderful views over Hamburg. The inside of the church is distinguished by its baroque décor and offers impressive acoustics. Concerts take place regularly here. 

During your city break in Hamburg, you should definitely take a close look at the extensive events calendar. All sorts of events from culture, sport, entertainment and art attract hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world. Good examples include Hamburg’s Harbour Birthday and the Harley Days. The Hamburg Marathon, which traditionally takes place in April, sees over 25,000 runners test their endurance skills. Hamburg has also blossomed into Germany’s number 1 musical metropolis. But more about that later.

The city of Hamburg offers spectacular views over the rooftops and the extensive harbour. You will find various viewing platforms all over the city, which you can visit during your trip. The Elbphilharmonie offers a unique view over the redesigned HafenCity and the river Elbe. This is exactly 132.14 metres high. The 360-degree viewing platform is at a height of 82 metres. You can reach the platform via the elevator or by climbing a total of 452 stairs. 

Once you arrive, you can enjoy the view over Neustadt and St. Pauli. The tower on the Stintfang is a third potential viewpoint. From up here, you get an interesting perspective over the city harbour. For example, you can see the famous Blohm+Voss docks. The tower is located on the right bank of the Elbe, on the very steep hill in Geesthang.

The Hamburg Cruise Days are a highly sophisticated cruise ship event. Every two years, the Hamburg Cruise Days attract over 500,000 visitors. Well-known cruise ships owned by different shipping companies sail into the port of Hamburg to be admired by visitors. Take advantage and link your Hamburg city break with this massive event!

Along the promenade, there are various themed islands and an abundance of culinary options to satisfy you. In the evening Hamburg and all its ships are lit up in blue. The light installation is a genuine highlight of this annual spectacle. A massive firework display rounds off the ship show. If your visit is going to coincide with the Cruise Days and you want to stay overnight in the city, you should make sure you book a hotel well ahead of time. 

Whether it’s popular theatre, a variety show or a musical: art and culture are a firm fixture in Hamburg. There are different venues all over the city, each of which has its own very individual character. If you are interested in culture, a trip to Hamburg offers an eclectic array of options.

Ohnsorg Theatre

One of the most famous theatre venues is definitely the Ohnsorg Theatre on Heidel-Kabel-Platz. There you will find regular performances in the local Plattdeutsch dialect. The Ohnsorg Theatre was founded in 1902. Lots of famous popular actors (including Heidi Kabel, Henry Vahl and Edgar Besen) have entertained the public here over many years. Some of these shows, such as “Tratsch op de Trepp” even found their way onto television. These are now among the classics that are regularly repeated. 

Deutsches Schauspielhaus in St. Georg 

The Deutsche Schauspielhaus in St. Georg not only puts on top-class theatre productions but is also an impressive building in itself. At the Hansa Varieté Theater you can enjoy light entertainment, including dance and other artistic performances. The theatre is located directly on the Steindamm in the popular St. Georg. neighbourhood. At the famous Spielbudenplatz, you can also pay a visit to the Schmidt Tivoli theatre. This hosts regular performances by well-known artists and variety stars. 

Markthalle 

Fans of alternative music genres should pay a visit to Hamburg’s Markthalle. This culture and events centre on Klosterwall in the Hammerbrock district offers a wide-ranging programme and has a unique atmosphere.

Operettenhaus Hamburg

The Stage Operettenhaus is also located on Spielbudenplatz. This venue has a turbulent history. Founded in 1841 and renamed on multiple occasions, the former Circus Gymnasticus became the Hamburg Operettenhaus in 1920. Nowadays it has a very modern design without losing touch with its roots. 

Stage Theater Neue Flora

Musicals play a very important role in Hamburg. Lots of visitors to Hamburg like to combine their trip to the Hanseatic city with going to a musical. There are various venues where new musicals are premièred, and popular shows play to thousands of people over many years. The Stage Theater Neue Flora is a case in point. The building is designed in the style of the 1920s and is now almost as famous as the “Michel” or the Landungsbrücken. Spread over four levels and a total of more than 2,300 square metres, you will find all sorts of events taking place here. The large theatre can accommodate an audience of around 2,000. This also hosts spectacular shows and events.

Stage Theater im Hafen 

The Stage Theater im Hafen was opened in 1994 and is home to one of the world’s best-known musicals, “The Lion King”. The musical theatre is located directly opposite the Landungsbrücken. From there, you can also reach the theatre by ferry over the Elbe – a wonderful memory of your city break.

Every city break in Hamburg should include plenty of shopping. The Hanseatic city has ideal options to shop to your heart’s content, whatever your taste or budget. 

Mönckebergstraße (known in short simply as Mö) is the ultimate shopping street in Hamburg. It runs between the main station and the Rathausmarkt and is the perfect place to dawdle and browse. You will find everything here from large department stores to flagship stores and small retail outlets. A guaranteed way to return from your short trip to Hamburg with bags full of shopping. 

On the Alster, you will find the height of luxury. Jungfernstieg, Große Bleichen and Neuer Wall offer lots of designer shops and outlets for top-class luxury brands. As well as clothing, you will find elegant interiors. The Neuer Wall is the hotspot for premium-quality fashion, shoes and furniture. A wide range of flagship stores for world-famous designers present their latest collections here. 

Right on the Alster you will also find Hamburg’s Alsterhaus. This is one of the best-known department stores in Hamburg, which exudes its very sophisticated charm before you even get inside. You will find lots of traditional labels geared towards a discerning clientele. Services include tailor-made suits and dresses. Große Bleichen is a classic arcade, which is also home to a range of top brands. High-quality catering options are also available here. 

A very different experience is on offer at Schanzenviertel. This rather alternative neighbourhood contains an impressive number of creative, fashionable shops and varied eating options. Products include unusual clothes in addition to accessories and books. There are lots of second-hand shops here too. The special atmosphere in the Schanzenviertel is particularly vibrant in the evening, enticing visitors until late into the night. Visit the Schanzenviertel at least once on your trip to Hamburg and celebrate the end of the day with a cool drink. 

The Karolinenviertel directly borders the Schanzenviertel. Lots of regional designers have based themselves here. The special architecture enhances the welcoming atmosphere of this neighbourhood. Small and intriguing shops, where you are bound to find unusual items, make a shopping trip to the Karolinenviertel a genuine highlight during your city break. A wide range of hip and trendy cafés offer the ideal place to take a breather. At the old Rindermarkthalle, one of Hamburg’s best flea markets takes place every Saturday. 

Private individuals and retailers sell clothes, books, bric-a-brac and lots of other items. The market is called the “Flohschanze” and offers a unique atmosphere, with plenty of hustle and bustle and all kinds of curiosities. 

As already indicated, musicals play a very important role in Hamburg. The Hanseatic city is now regarded as the third most important city for musicals after New York and London. Every year, these musicals attract around two million visitors to Hamburg. Probably the best-known musical in the city is “The Lion King”. This is based on the 1994 animated Disney film of the same name.

Elton John’s mesmerising music from the film classic and an incredible set design will leave a deep impression. The way all the animals from the film are portrayed by people wearing spectacular costumes continues to be a genuine highlight today. 

While “The Lion King” has a fixed venue (Stage Theater im Hafen), other Hamburg theatres have a regularly changing programme of high-quality musicals. One important theatre venue is the Operettenspielhaus on Spielbudenplatz. This is where the world-famous musical “Cats” celebrated its German première in 1986. 

Hamburg’s rising fame as the capital of music began with “Cats”. From “Sister Act” to “Mamma Mia” and “Tarzan”: lots of popular musicals received their German première in Hamburg. This is also where the musical “Rocky” was developed. From its origins in Hamburg, “Rocky” has become an international phenomenon. The production won a Tony Award, the musical equivalent to an Oscar. 

There seems to be no end to the musical boom, so Hamburg will continue to be a great destination for including a theatre visit in your city break.

Hamburg is a very cosmopolitan city, where people from all over the world have been meeting for centuries. Every year the port of Hamburg handles around 90 million goods. This Hanseatic city is also an important global trade fair location. The conditions in Hamburg are ideal for combining a city break with a trade fair visit.

The Hamburg exhibition centre hosts roughly 40 trade fairs per year and is a popular venue for lots of other events. The centre has eleven exhibition halls, spread over about 87,000 square metres. There are also outdoor facilities covering 10,000 square metres. At the CCH (Congress Center Hamburg), the city has an additional trade fair location immediately next to the harbour. 

This is situated with excellent transport links in the Dammtor area, and when it opened in the 1970s it was one of Germany’s first convention centres. CCH is also operated by Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH.

This very well-developed infrastructure ensures that internationally renowned exhibitions and trade fairs regularly take place in Hamburg. A good example is the Hamburg Boat Show. This event is a successor to the legendary hanseboot event, showcasing the latest innovations and products for ships and boats. The topical issue of environment and climate protection is also a central theme here. 

The Shipbuilding, Machinery & Marine Technology SMM trade fair also takes place in Hamburg. This specialist exhibition is an important industry get-together. Over 2,000 exhibitors from all over the world present new products and discuss the latest developments in the sector. 

But Hamburg can do much more than just water and boats. The varied range of changing trade fairs also reflects the city’s own diversity.  For example, there are specialist fairs for laboratory technology and a wide range of careers fairs and travel exhibitions. The event calendar is really full all year round. 

Hamburg is one of Germany’s biggest cities and has numerous attractions for its many visitors each year. As a city state, Hamburg is also one of the 16 “Bundesländer” in the Federal Republic of Germany. Roughly 1.841 million people live in an area measuring 755.22 kilometres square. Hamburg has seven boroughs and 104 districts. Among the best-known of these are probably St. Pauli, Hammerbrook, St. Georg, Blankenese and Sternschanze. Over recent years, a completely new district has been created in Hamburg with the development of HafenCity. 

In the 8th century there were gradually larger and larger settlements. The name of the city is influenced by the Hammaburg baptistry. Thanks to its advantageous position on the river Elbe, Hamburg developed into an important trading centre from the 12th century. Membership of the Hanseatic League further reinforced this status. Today, Hamburg continues to be characterised by its international, cosmopolitan and tolerant outlook. Visitors love coming to this Hanseatic city, as demonstrated by the accommodation figures. Over 13 million people spend at least one night in Hamburg, including lots of tourists on a city break or short vacation.

Lots of famous people from politics, art, sport and culture were born in Hamburg. Good examples include Angela Merkel (born 1954), Karl Lagerfeld (1933), Helmut Schmidt (1918), Hans Albers (1891), Evelyn Hamann (1942) and Uwe Seeler (1936). The famous pirate Klaus Störtebeker was also born in Hamburg in 1401. All over the city you will find little memorials, meeting places or exhibitions celebrating Hamburg’s famous children. One such place is the St. Pauli Museum. 

You can easily travel to Hamburg for your city break by aeroplane, train or car. There are several stations on the national rail network (for example Hamburg-Altona, Hamburg-Dammtor and the Hauptbahnhof). The airport is about 8.5 kilometres from the centre in the Fuhlsbüttel district and is officially called Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt. From here, a taxi to the city centre takes about 25 minutes. Alternatively, you can take the S1 S-Bahn, which runs regularly into the city.  

The A7 connects Hamburg with southern Germany, and the A1 offers connections with the west. The A24 motorway is a direct link to Berlin.