Hamburg is the most populated non-metropolitan city in Europe and is famous for its countless canals and huge parks. After visiting the memorable places of the free city of Hamburg, the question of what to see in Germany will disappear by itself.
What is the first thing to see in Hamburg?
Among the many German cities, Hamburg stands out not only for the outstanding grandeur of the Elbe River, but also for its status as the largest port city in Europe. The historical sights of the city vividly reflect the greatness of the Renaissance.
1. Hamburg Kunsthalle
Hamburg Kunsthalle – Art Museum in Hamburg Fred Romero
The most visited Kunsthalle, which means “Exhibition Hall” in German, attracts with its vast collection of masterpieces from past eras. The best sights of Germany, without a doubt, have found their place here. Three buildings built at different historical times still amaze passers-by with their size from afar. So, for example, an Engraving cabinet alone contains a treasure of 100 thousand sheets. The museum’s collection consists of exhibits from the 19th century, but there are separate halls dedicated to modernism.
Official website: https://www.hamburger-kunsthalle.de
Hamburg | Hotels at competitive prices
Booking.com
2. Hamburg Town Hall
Hamburg Town Hall in Hamburg’s old town Wilhelm Joys Andersen
The sights of Hamburg, whose status is well deserved (the city is called the “Heart of Northern Germany”), are concentrated in the central part of the city. The Town Hall, which is also the main historical monument of Hamburg, is an elegant building, at the head of which stands the legendary clock tower. Due to the special celestial color of the roof of the building, the town hall attracts a huge number of visitors to the city.
3. Miniature Wonderland
Miniature wonderland Miniatur Wunderland (MiWuLa) in Hamburg alex.ch
In the course of a heated discussion, the topic of which is “where to go in Hamburg”, the Miniature Wonderland undoubtedly takes precedence. The museum, whose distinctive feature is the status of the largest exhibition center with a mock-up of a railway in the world, will provide tourists with children’s impressionability and emotionality. The Wonderland collection contains a huge number of models: trains, cars, architectural structures, railway elements, and much more. The history of this outstanding Hamburg landmark is quite ordinary. Talented design engineers, the Brown brothers, have created a real work of art, the enchanting view of which fascinates millions of tourists every year.
4. The port of Hamburg
Port in the city of Hamburg in Germany
A strategically important center, the “Gateway of Germany to the World”, a developed port station – these are the characteristics and reviews of the most popular place in Germany – the Hamburg port. Historically, it was the port of Hamburg that received priority importance during the development of the German state. For example, the number of bridges in the city exceeds that of Venice. The interesting places of Hamburg are somehow connected with the majestic Elbe. From the point of view of the port’s production capacity, it annually receives hundreds of thousands of merchant ships, as well as tourist liners plying around the world. The river gates, which combine more than 300 berths, occupy one tenth of the city. The port district of Hamburg, in turn, is divided into several blocks.
5. International Maritime Museum
The International Maritime Museum in Hamburg Fred Romero
The main sights of Hamburg are briefly characterized as outstanding monuments of the past centuries. The International Maritime Museum in Hamburg is truly the most valuable building in the whole of Germany. The opening of the museum took place in the presence of the President of the country in 2008. It is noteworthy that such an outstanding building is located in a structure that was previously used as a port warehouse. Surprisingly, the museum complex is divided into decks, each of which demonstrates to the guests the historical stages of the development of world shipbuilding, navigation technologies, secrets of marine life and much more. It is well deserved that the rating of the museum is especially high among visitors to the city.
Check out the magnificent views of Hamburg in this beautiful video!
6. Hamburg History Museum
Hamburg History Museum in Germany Martin aka Maha
Excursions in Hamburg, which undoubtedly pass through the main museum of the city, very often forget about the outstanding importance of this place. The museum, which vividly demonstrates the course of the historical development of Hamburg, is filled with exhibits, the rarity of which can compete with the elements of the exhibition in the oldest museum in Europe. The sights of Germany very rarely have their own fascinating history, however, this does not apply to the museum in Hamburg. So, the life of the great pirate Klaus Stertebecker ended in these parts. The skull of a famous historical character is still in the museum. It is said that when the pirate was about to be executed, he made a request to the mayor of the city. The essence of the appeal was that if a pirate without a head passes by several captured pirates, they will be released. However, the arrogant ruler of the city did not keep his promise, and Stertebaker could have saved 11 people.
7. St. Nicholas Church
St. Nicholas Church in Hamburg Staro1
The Church of St. Nicholas is something that is definitely worth seeing in Hamburg in 1 day. The church, whose peak rises high into the sky, is built in the most beautiful architectural style – Neo-Gothic. Unfortunately, the Second World War irreversibly destroyed the building. Nowadays, the Church of St. Nicholas is, first of all, a memorial to the victims of the devastating war of the 20th century. In 2005, an elevator was launched, with which you can climb high up under the bell of the building, from where you can enjoy a picturesque panorama of the greatest city in Germany.
Official website: https://english.mahnmal-st-nikolai.de
8. Museum-submarine B-515
Soviet submarine B-515 (U-434) – museum ship Florian Adler
Guides in Hamburg advise you to take a look at this very interesting urban object. A Soviet submarine is something that you definitely need to visit in Hamburg. A diesel-electric boat of domestic production, no doubt, will interest not only connoisseurs of history and military affairs, but also ordinary guests of the city. An overview of this place is not worth watching or reading, it is better to see the museum with your own eyes and make sure of the past and present greatness of Russian science.
9. Rikmer Rikmers Sailboat
Rikmer Rikmers Sailing Ship Museum in Hamburg
A successful trip to Germany is considered to have taken place if the sailboat in Hamburg was not ignored. The sailboat is the clearest indicator of a bygone era in the navigation business. Built at the end of the 19th century, the ship was intended for commercial and commercial purposes.
10. Heide Amusement Park
Roller coaster at Heide Park in Soltau
To the question of what to see in Hamburg with children, there is an unambiguous and direct answer – Heide Park. More than 850 thousand square meters, fifty modern, mind-blowing attractions. Several million visitors annually receive a huge portion of joy and genuine fun here.
Official website: https://www.heide-park.de
Hamburg attractions: what else to see in Hamburg?
The sights of Hamburg photos with names and descriptions have not yet come to an end. It is recommended to visit also:
11. Ekholt Wildlife Park
Wildpark Eekholt, U.Sonnenberg
The zoological heritage of the city, unique species of animals are represented in the Ekholt Park. Predators and herbivores, insects and dangerous giant animals are what it is worth visiting the attraction for.
12. The old tunnel under the Elbe
The old tunnel under the Elbe in Hamburg Thomas Wolf
An outstanding engineering masterpiece of the early 20th century will amaze tourists with its scale and internal volume. The tunnel passing under the legendary Elbe will leave visitors with vivid impressions.
13. Wax Museum Panopticon
Mark Michaelis Wax Museum
As you know, the flexibility and uniqueness of wax is used quite widely in art. The Hamburg Wax Museum will allow you to admire the “living” sculptures of outstanding people of our time.
Official website: https://www.panoptikum.de
14. CHOCOVERSUM – Chocolate Museum
One of the stages of the production of “brown gold” at the Shokoversum Museum in Hamburg An-d
A shop at the CHOCOVERSUM Museum with a large assortment of Hachez Armineaghayan brand chocolates
CHOCOVERSUM is a place where the exquisite taste of sweets is harmoniously combined with the historical secrets of chocolate. By the way, it is allowed to taste chocolate varieties in the museum.
Official website: https://chocoversum.de
15. Planten un Blomen
Planten un Blomen Botanical Garden in Hamburg Wolfgang Feld
A visit to a public park will help to dilute the tension and rhythm of city streets. Since entrance to the park is free, guests of the Northern Capital will be able to enjoy the fresh and invigorating air of the park area.
16. The Elbe Philharmonic
The building of the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg
The pearl of Hamburg’s architectural art is the Philharmonic Hall and at the same time the concert hall. The structure was built on the island and has a revealing, fascinating architectural appearance.
Official website: https://www.elbphilharmonie.de
17. Bergedorf Castle
Bergedorf Castle surrounded by a park on an island in the middle of the Bille river in Hamburg Ajepbah
The most reasonable decision when planning a trip is to explore the sights of Hamburg, their photos and descriptions in ratings, reviews and articles — this will allow you to imagine each attraction in advance and understand how interesting it will be for you. What is remarkable about Bergedorf Castle? This is the only preserved castle in Hamburg, located in the oldest part of the city, on a small island surrounded by the waters of the river Bille. The history of Bergedorf dates back to the 13th century and marks the era of Danish rule. The current appearance of the building was acquired over the years from the 16th to the 19th century. The miniature castle has modest dimensions — 30×30 meters, is equipped with protective towers, and is surrounded by a double moat with a drawbridge along the perimeter. Today, the museum of the mountain village operates within the walls of the castle and classical music concerts are regularly held.
18. Lake Alster
Lake Alster is a favorite and popular vacation spot for citizens and guests of Hamburg
Undoubtedly, the most interesting and colorful Hamburg is the old town, located in the very center. It’s just nice to walk along its streets, even without having a specific purpose. But undoubtedly, the main pearl of this historic district is Alster Lake, a place of rest beloved by the townspeople after working days. They not only walk here, but also play sports, and ride on the lake surface on small boats. The magnificent territory of the lake and the surrounding green park stretches over 160 hectares, and despite the rapid passage of time, this place has remained untouched by civilization for many centuries in a row. The history of the lake began in the 12th century, when a tributary of the Elbe was blocked here to form a reservoir. To this day, the reservoir is surrounded by a beautiful park with paths and sculptures, lawns and fountains, and with the onset of frost, a magnificent huge ice rink is arranged on the lake.
19. Jungfernstig Street
Jungfernstig Street is the best place for shopping on the southern shore of Lake Alster Tscherno
In general, the sights of Bremen and Hamburg are an opportunity to see Germany of the past centuries, visit the monuments of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, wander through the centuries—old cobbled streets. It is worth noting that not all ancient streets have preserved the typical paving stones of those times — for example, Jungfernstig became the first street in Germany to be covered with asphalt — this happened in 1838, and its occurrence was associated with the construction of a dam on one of the tributaries of the Elbe River. The tourist value of this place cannot be overestimated — the street is framed by a contrasting variety of historical buildings and modern structures, there are a number of cafes, restaurants and luxury shops. From the Jungfernstig embankment, magnificent views of the Alster Lake, the city hall unfold, and pleasure boats depart from here. And this boulevard is also part of the Hamburg business center and the most important transport artery of the city.
20. Reeperban Street
Reeperbahn Street is the center of Hamburg’s nightlife in the port district of St. Pauli IK’s World Trip
Each of the Hamburg districts is interesting in its own way. The port of Hamburg deserves special attention, the guide to which will lead to the St. Pauli quarter with Reeperbahn Street, where loud music plays in the evenings, a number of entertainment venues open and the so-called red light district begins its work. The famous Reeperbahn can rightfully be called the center of Hamburg’s nightlife — historically, sailors who disembarked from ships here in thirst for bread and circuses went to these parts in search of entertainment. Since then, the street has gained fame as a hot spot, and to this day there are a huge number of drinking establishments, nightclubs, sex theaters, cabarets, intimate shops, etc., there are even establishments for people with non-traditional orientation and a bdsm club. But in addition, the Sinful Mile has four theaters, a wax museum, and the famous Beatles once performed on the stage of the street.
21. St. Michael’s Church
St. Michael’s Church or Big Michael in Hamburg
Centuries—old squares, ancient ports, thematic museums, Renaissance buildings – all this and not only opens up to guests the historical Hamburg, the top places in which St. Michael’s Church complements. This is one of the most significant buildings of the city, which has become its symbol. The church was originally built in 1661, but the fate of this building was not cloudless — the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 20th century were marked by devastating fires for it. It was not spared by the echo of the Second World War, which turned the building into ruins. Today, the temple has been completely restored: the Baroque facade is lined with red brick, the entrance is crowned by a huge statue of the Archangel Michael, the largest clock in Germany and an observation deck are located on the bell tower. The interior is famous for its large marble altar, biblical paintings and bas-reliefs. The church hosts services and performances by church orchestras.
Official website: https://www.st-michaelis.de
22. Hamburg Opera House
The modern building of the Hamburg Opera House Fred Romero
Hamburg’s oldest theatre is the State Opera, founded in the middle of the 17th century. From the very first days, the main idea of the theater was accessibility — the Hamburg Opera never had the status of a court theater and was not dependent on the preferences of the elite. Most of the productions in those years had a religious theme, which later expanded to include themes of history and mythology. Until the middle of the 18th century, the theater was housed in a small wooden structure, and only after it was finally destroyed, the troupe moved to a new building, the opening of which was marked by the production of Goethe’s Egmont. After another reconstruction in 1955, the building acquired modern features, its facade lost its former pomposity and was decorated in a minimalist style. Today, the Hamburg Opera is a modern international theater with an extensive repertoire, with world—renowned actors performing on its stage.
Official website: https://www.staatsoper-hamburg.de
23. Museum of Arts and Crafts
Exhibition at the Museum of Fine, Applied and Decorative Arts in Hamburg –Nightflyer (talk)
The Hamburg Museum of Arts and Crafts is waiting for everyone who wants to see the European way of life of past eras. Today, it houses one of the best thematic collections in Germany, demonstrating human creativity and its manifestations in everyday objects, examples of handicrafts and works of art — in total, about half a million samples are presented in the halls. The time frame to which the exhibits belong is almost limitless — antiquity, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, Art Nouveau, and modernity are affected here. There are entire galleries dedicated to architectural styles such as Art Deco, Bauhaus, expressionism. Of particular interest to visitors is the collection of keyboard instruments collected over 5 centuries of history, as well as the porcelain department. The Christmas fair of applied arts and the collection of fashion and textiles, where the oldest samples of fabrics were found in ancient Egyptian tombs, are always popular.
Official website: https://www.mkg-hamburg.de
24. The Hamburg Dungeon
The Museum of Horrors in the gloomy dungeons of the old Hanseatic warehouse in Speicherstadt Mister No
Hamburg is a city of rivers, canals and bridges, the second Venice, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. As many names as this metropolis has, so many guises that reveal themselves to inquisitive guests. One of them embodies all the horrors of medieval Hamburg, which, fortunately, today are events of bygone days. This is how the city is represented in the Hamburg Dungeon Museum, reflecting the darkest and most unpleasant side of history. This is a real attraction that unfolds in the gloomy dungeons of the Hanseatic warehouse, with sinister characters, ghosts, executioners, frightening scenes and exhibits. Visitors can see a dozen and a half cameras, in each of which a plot is played out – here you can see torture, feel the horrors of cholera and plague, the torment of the mentally ill, feel the full scale of the misfortune that fires, floods and other tragic events in the history of Hamburg brought.
Official website: https://www.thedungeons.com
25. Planetarium
Planetarium in the center of the City Park of the German city of Hamburg FrankBothe
Hamburg impresses with a unique combination of port charm, dynamic atmosphere and richness of cultures. Of course, here you can find your own interesting places that do not fit into the typical scenario of the excursion program. For example, one of the world’s oldest planetariums is located in the very center of the City Park. It was founded in 1930 in a high 60-meter building of a former water tower, and just a few years ago it was completely renovated, and now the tour takes place in a huge hall with the highest vault, on which truly fantastic light and sound shows unfold. One of them is called “Deep into the Universe” — this is an exciting journey back billions of years, where viewers live the birth of the Universe and the events of the Big Bang. In addition to other visualizations, you can experience the feeling of flying in outer space, discover the planets and stars of the autumn sky, and from the 40-meter observation deck of the Planetarium you can see a beautiful city panorama.
Official website: https://www.planetarium-hamburg.de
26. Chilehouse
11-storey warehouse building of the beginning of the XX century in the old quarter of Hamburg J.-H. Janßen
One of the buildings in Hamburg stands out as a bright spot against the background of the usual urban layout — this is the Chili House, a building of non-standard architecture made of red brick, located just 700 meters from the City Hall. In appearance, the Chilehouse is similar to a sea liner, and this is not accidental. The house was built in 1922 by order of the owner of the shipbuilding company, Henry Sloman. Considering the tastes and occupation of the customer, architect Heger decided to erect a building in the shape of a huge ship. And the name of the House of Chile was given as a tribute to the times when the shipowner worked in South America. The unique 11-storey building in the style of North German expressionism has an elongated body, which is compressed from the sides and topped with a sharp, upturned “nose”, similar to the bow of a ship. The upper floors have the appearance of ship decks, the balustrades have a curved shape resembling sea waves.
Official website: https://www.chilehaus.de
27.The barn city or “Speicherstadt”
Red brick warehouse and administrative buildings in the port district of Hamburg
In the city port near the historic center of Hamburg, it is recommended to visit the world’s largest warehouse complex called Granary City. The original architectural ensemble consists of its buildings, which have long been the hallmark of Hamburg. It is difficult to imagine that behind these beautiful facades there are warehouses where coffee, tea, spices, tobacco, Persian carpets and much more are stored. Not only these structures are attractive, but also the numerous bridges connecting the city of warehouses with the central district of the city. In general, this is a place with a special atmosphere created by the brick architecture of the “Venice of the North” with Gothic elements — characteristic turrets, bay windows, pediments, loaded ships constantly ply through narrow channels. The history of the origin of the Barn City began in the 16th century, when Dutch merchants began to settle here, and at the end of the 19th century a customs zone was opened.
28. Hagenbeck Zoo
The former main entrance to the Hagenbeck Zoo in the German city of Hamburg An-d
To choose where to go to dilute a tour of Hamburg saturated with historical facts, it is worth paying attention to the Hagenbeck Zoo — one of the oldest zoos in Europe, opened in the early 20th century and named after its founder. Nowadays, Hagenbeck is spread over an area of 25 hectares, which are inhabited by 2 hundred species of fauna from different parts of the world. Here you can see lions, elephants, tigers, pink flamingos, turtles, and these are only a small part of the inhabitants. It is definitely worth seeing a Tropical aquarium with the most amazing creatures, from tropical insects to huge crocodiles. The contact area is a favorite place for young visitors: rabbits, goats, and sheep living here can be petted and hand—fed. The real pride of the zoo is its Chinese—style landscapes: mountains, meadows, lakes are created everywhere, there are beautiful Chinese bridges, gazebos, statues and even a small Chinese restaurant.
29. Fish market
The building of the Fish market on the banks of the Elbe River in Hamburg
Inside the Hamburg Fish Market early Sunday morning Bruce Harlick
Charming landscapes with beautiful lakes, city blocks on the banks of the Elbe, numerous channels, canals and bridges built over them — these and other features of Hamburg reflect its amazing similarity to Venice, and the abundance of reservoirs allows the city to provide the freshest products from the fish market, which has existed here since the beginning of the 18th century. This is a colorful place that is definitely worth a visit in Hamburg — in addition to the fish itself, today there is a variety of fish fast food, spices, vegetables, fruits, sweets, souvenirs and even clothes. However, it is worth noting that you should come here very early — the market opens at 5 a.m., by 7 its shopping malls are already filled with people, and at 10 it closes. This mode of operation is a kind of tribute to the past, when fishermen were forbidden to trade during the church service, which began at 10 a.m.
30. Ohlsdorferfriedhof Cemetery Park
Mass burial of soldiers at the Ohlsdorferfriedhof cemetery in the Ohlsdorf district of Hamburg hh oldman
The mausoleum of the von Schroeder family in Neo-Romanesque style at the Ohlsdorferfriedhof cemetery
The old Ohlsdorferfriedhof cemetery, founded in 1877, is the world’s largest cemetery park, where you can not only walk, but also move around by transport – of course, because its territory occupies a colossal area of 390 hectares, where there are 12 chapels and more than one and a half million graves. Like all similar places in Germany, this park has long been a place of walks for citizens and visitors. The park’s territories are so vast that a special regular bus runs through them from one end to the other. In general, the Ohlsdorferfriedhof looks more like a picturesque forest with magnificent nature, abundant vegetation, ponds, flower beds, sculptures and burials located at a great distance from each other. There is even a museum on the territory of the cemetery park, which stores diverse information about burials – historical documents, maps, old elements of tombstones, etc.
Official website: https://www.friedhof-hamburg.de
Hamburg is an ecumenical center of culture and harmony, which has preserved the treasures of the past centuries. The modern boutiques, restaurants and hotels in Hamburg are worth a visit. Read also about the sights of Cologne and be inspired to travel further in Germany.
English 
Russian 
German 
Polish