Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and the most populous non-metropolitan city in the European Union. Hamburg is known under the informal names "Venice of the North" and "Gateway to the World". Every year the metropolis is visited by millions of tourists seeking to see the many attractions of Hamburg.
Brief information summary
The history of Hamburg goes back to the 4th century BC. NS. It is to this period that the remains of the first structures discovered in the course of archaeological research belong.
During the period of its existence, it rather quickly turned into a commercial port city and a major transshipment point for the transportation of goods.
The Free City of Hamburg is famous not only for its highly developed industry and economy, but also for interesting places for a pleasant pastime. Museums, temples and cathedrals, theaters and art galleries will bring aesthetic pleasure.
Coffee shops and restaurants for every taste will delight you with both culinary delights and familiar, but no less delicious dishes.
This port city is a great place to have fun, as various youth events take place here, bars are open from late evening until dawn, and clubs attract tourists with a modern music program.
The most popular sights of Hamburg
Arriving in Hamburg, every tourist is obliged to see the maximum number of attractions of this city.
- Not only adults, but also children will love the luxurious Botanical Garden, which has existed since the 19th century. The area of the garden is 24 hectares, and on its territory there are many places where you can sit and relax.
- The Museum of History is definitely worth a visit. Here you will find detailed information on how Hamburg turned from a fortress into a modern metropolis. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00.
- Art lovers should visit the Gallery of Contemporary Art, which opened in 1997. The first attention is drawn to the cubic shape of the museum building. The gallery's expositions are represented by works of contemporary artists. Opening hours: from Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00, on Thursday the gallery is open to visitors until 21:00.
- Adults will be interested in visiting the Museum of Erotic Art. The exposition is located on four floors and presents a variety of erotic objects and paintings. It is surprising that most of the exhibits date back to the 16th century.
- Another famous attraction is the Zoological Museum - one of the best natural research museums in the country. The exposition includes more than 10 million various items and objects.
Musicians and audiophiles will certainly want to visit the Beatles-Platz, which reflects the fact that the group's first overseas concert took place in Hamburg.
| Sight | Visit cost | Address | How to get there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical Garden | Is free | Marseiller Str. | Take subway U3 to Hallerstraße station. By trams S21, S11, S31 to Dammtor station. |
| History museum | For an adult - 9.50 euros, a reduced ticket - 6 euros | Holstenwall 24 | Take bus line 112 to the stop of the same name. |
| Gallery of contemporary art | For an adult - 14 euros, group ticket - 12 euros | Glockengieberwall | Take underground line U2 to the Hauptbahnhof Nord stop. |
| Museum of Erotic Art | 5-8 euros | Bernhard-Nocht-Straße, 79 | Take tram S1, S3 to the Hamburg Reeperbahn stop. |
| Zoo museum | Is free | Bundeßtraße 52 | Take metro U2, U3 to Schlump station. |
| The Beatles Square | Is free | Beatles-Platz (Reeperbahn) | Take the S11 tram to the Holstenstraße stop. |
The Pearl of Hamburg - City Hall
The City Hall is the center of political life, the seat of the mayor's office and the Senate, which embody the executive and legislative branches of government.
The town hall building seems to be very old, but it was built relatively recently - in the period from 1886 to 1887.
The building had many predecessors, which were destroyed by fires. The construction of this building was marked by a competition for the best construction project, during which 128 options were considered.
The City Hall is a neo-renaissance building. Its graceful tower rises 112 meters. The building is decorated with numerous sculptures, columns and architectural elements.
Guided tours are provided for visitors; the cost of an admission ticket for an adult is 3 euros, a ticket for children under 14 costs 50 cents.
Opening hours on weekdays from 7:00 to 19:00, on Saturday and Sunday the building opens for tourists at 10:00, and closes at 18:00 and 17:00, respectively.
The attraction is located on the Rathausmarkt square. You can get there by metro line U2 or by trams S1, S2, S3, you need to get off at the Jungfernstie stop.
Kunsthalle Hamburg
The Hamburg Kunsthalle, which means “art gallery”, is housed in an attractive building that combines different styles.
Hamburg's Kunsthalle is renowned for having an outstanding collection of 19th century French and German painting. The exhibition includes unique works such as the altars made in 1383 by Bertram and in 1424 by the master Franke.
Miniature wonderland
One of the most visited attractions in Hamburg and unique of its kind is the Miniature Wonderland. This special museum houses hundreds of miniatures that recreate large-scale pictures of the real world.
A miniature museum should be on the must-see list of every tourist; especially children will like it, but adults also admire the ability to manage layouts on their own, because most of them are interactive.
The main exhibit of the museum can rightfully be called the world's largest model of a railway. Its dimensions reach 1499 m2.
Alster lake
In the center of Hamburg there is a huge artificial reservoir - the Alster lake. There are parks, picnic areas, jogging or cycling trails near the lake, so locals and tourists can have a pleasant and active time ..
The length of the path around the lake is six kilometers. On the coastline there is a recreation area and a residential area for wealthy people. If you wish, you can ride a boat on the lake.
A special impression and mixed feelings are caused by the lady's head and bare knees sticking out of the water right out of the water. This is nothing more than the famous scandalous monument "Woman in the Water". It is known under a different name - "Monument to the Bather", and the locals call it "Mermaid".
You can get to Lake Alster by city tram lines S11, S21, S31. The stop where you need to get off is called Hamburg Dammtor. You will also get on the blue subway line U1, you need to go to the Hallerstraße or Stephansplatz station.
District and port of St. Paul
One of the most notable historical areas of the city is named after St. Paul. This is because several centuries ago, on the outskirts, located on the site of the modern street Hamburger Berg, there was the Church of St. Paul, which is now completely destroyed. Now this street, adjacent to the port, is full of life.
The St. Pauli area is home to hundreds of entertainment venues, bars, pubs, nightclubs and even brothels. All of its streets lead to the city's main port and the dock of St. Pauli.
This famous port occupies one tenth of the city's territory. More than twelve thousand ships visit it annually, including ocean liners and huge merchant ships.
The port of St. Paul captivates with its landscapes. It is here that you can book a boat or ferry ticket to ride around the harbor, watch the active life of the city and the pier from the side. This tour will cost between 10 and 20 euros, but it's really worth it.
While in the St. Pauli area, it is worth seeing with your own eyes the tallest monument in Hamburg - the Bismarck Monument. The attraction is located on a hill and towers 95 meters above the Elbe.
You can get to the port of Hamburg by tram lines S1, S2, S3, get off at the Hammerbrook, Veddel or Wilhelmsburg stops. Alternatively, you can take the metro: the yellow line U3 will take you to Mönckebergstraße, and the blue line U1 to Meßberg or Steinstraße.
Opera House Hamburg
The Hamburg Opera House is the oldest musical theater in Germany. It was built in 1678 and over the course of three and a half centuries managed to endure wars, economic crisis and many reconstructions.
A feature of the Opera House is that it operates throughout the year. Performances, opera or ballet can be visited even in summer. Ticket prices start at 7 euros, thus providing an opportunity for tourists with different financial situations to enjoy the art.
To find out the schedule of performances, as well as familiarize yourself with the location of the theater, we recommend visiting its official website. The information presented is available in two languages: German and English.
The theater is located at Große Theaterstraße, 25.
You can reach it on the red U2 metro line, stop Gänsemarkt and on the blue line U3, get off at the Stephansplatz stop.
There are many other theaters in Hamburg, among them: Theater on the Elbe, Operetta House, New Flora, Hamburg English Theater. The choice of performances is so diverse that everyone can find something for themselves.
Ancient and unique - Bergedorf castle
Unlike other cities in Germany, Hamburg cannot boast of castles and fortresses.
The only and unique castle of the city and land is Bergedorf. According to historians, this structure was erected in the XII century. The exterior of the castle has no stylistic features, its design is simple and restrained. Presumably, it served as a water fortress, as evidenced by the double moat surrounding the castle and the drawbridge. At the moment, the castle houses one of the branches of the Historical Museum.
Bergedorf Castle is located at Bergedorfer Schloßstraße 4. To get to it, you need to take the S21 city train at the Central Railway Station, choosing the direction "Bergedorf" or "Aumüle".
Working hours: Tuesday - Sunday, from 11:00 to 17:00.
Popular museums in Hamburg
It is not at all surprising that the International Maritime Museum is located in the port city. Its dimensions are impressive, because the expositions are located on 9 decks, the area of which is 16 thousand m2. The number of exhibits is 36 thousand various models of ships, boats and vessels.
The attraction is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00. On Thursday, the museum is open longer - until 20:00.
Entrance fee: for adults - 12 euros, for schoolchildren, students, pensioners - 8.5 euros.
The most convenient way to get to the Maritime Museum is by metro lines U1 and U3, you need to get off at the Hauptbahnhof Süd station.
In Hamburg, it is worth visiting the Panopticon or the Wax Museum, which houses 140 figures of famous personalities from different eras and periods.
Opening hours: Monday - Friday from 11:00 to 21:00, Saturday from 11:00 to 24:00, and on Sunday the museum receives visitors from 10:00 to 21:00.
The cost of an admission ticket for an adult is 5.50 euros, for a child (from 6 to 18 years old) - 3.50 euros, children under 6 years old can visit the museum for free.
You can get to the Wax Museum by train S3 to Reeperbahn station, or by metro line U3 to St. Pauli station.
The best temples and cathedrals in Hamburg
Hamburg is not only a city of museums, bridges and entertainment venues, it is home to a significant number of ancient churches and cathedrals, whose spiers proudly rise above residential and industrial areas.
The most famous is St. Peter's Cathedral, which is 8 centuries old. The building of the shrine is made in the Gothic style, and the tower houses the best observation deck, which offers stunning views.
The Church of St. James attracts tourists with an ancient baroque organ, the sound of which can still be heard today.
Another shrine is the Church of St. Michael. Its most notable feature is the architectural design, made in the fusion of two styles - baroque and classicism. The gold-decorated clock that crowns the tower is the largest in Germany. The clockwork hand alone weighs over 100 kilograms.
Where to go with children in Hamburg
If you are planning a trip with children, it is worth knowing in advance which attractions are best for families.
The first step is to visit the Hamburg Zoo. It is located on a huge area of 25 hectares. Here you can see more than 15 thousand representatives of the animal world. The peculiarity of the zoo is that its inhabitants are kept in conditions as close as possible to natural ones.
Excellent places for educational recreation with children are also: the Chocolate Museum, entertainment centers Spielstadt Hamburg XL and JUMP House Hamburg-Stellingen, where you can jump on a variety of trampolines.
What other sights to visit in Hamburg
We reviewed a significant number of attractions in Hamburg and its surroundings. Unfortunately, not all interesting tourist spots were mentioned.
Finally, we recommend visiting and seeing a few more bright places of the city.
An interesting place that works exclusively on Sundays is the Fish Market. It operates from 5 to 10 am, until the service in the churches begins.
The fish market has retained its authenticity since the Middle Ages, where anyone can buy a variety of fresh products, bargain with vendors and drink fresh beer.
You can get to the Fish Market by trams S1 and S3, get off at the Reeperbahn station.
The Chilihaus office building is definitely worth seeing. This is an 11-storey structure built in the shape of a huge sea liner. The name was given to him by a customer-merchant, who made his fortune by supplying not spices, but minerals of saltpeter from Chile. You can get to the building on the blue U1 metro line, getting to the Maßberg stop.
Those who are attracted by history will be interested in the Luftwaffe Anti-Aircraft Tower - Heiligengeistfeld - a massive military structure.
Now within the walls of the tower there is a nightclub, a music school and a shop. You can get to it on the red U2 metro line (go to the Meßehallen station) or the yellow U3 line (go to the Feldstraße station).
Conclusion
We have considered the most striking and most visited sights of Hamburg. It is not only a center of economic, commercial and industrial life, but also a center of culture and recreation. Every traveler should definitely visit Hamburg to feel the atmosphere that reigns in this unique city-state.
