Hamburg/Neustadt-Altstadt

Most visitors to Hamburg will probably enter the city via Hamburg Hauptbahnhof, the city's main train station on the northeastern edge of the district. This is where all the long-distance and regional trains stop, and the city's S-Bahn and U-Bahn lines converge, connecting it to the other parts of the city. If you arrive at Hamburg Fuhlsbüttel airport, S-Bahn line S1 connects the airport directly to the Hauptbahnhof.

Should you decide to drive into central Hamburg, there are parking lots on and around Deichtorplatz a few blocks south of Hauptbahnhof and the shopping district.

Central Hamburg has five Lutheran churches bearing the title of Hauptkirche, or "main church". They stem from various ages and are some of the most recognizable landmarks and orientation points, scattered across the centre with their tall steeples, easily visible from afar.

• 🌍 Hauptkirche St. Michaelis (Michel). May-Oct: 09:00-20:00; Nov-Apr: 10:00-18:00. The youngest and most famous of the five is also the only baroque church. This building is not the original St. Michaelis - that one (built 1647-1669) was destroyed by a lightning strike in 1750. It was not until 1786 that the present church was erected on the site. From the tower (450 steps, or take the elevator) you'll have a great view over the city. Entry to the church is free, but the tower and the crypt cost extra (around €5/person). (updated May 2018)
• 🌍 Hauptkirche St. Jacobi, Jakobikirkhof. St. Jacobi has been a parish since the 12th century, when it was not even within Hamburg's then city walls. The present-day church is a reconstruction of the late medieval one from the 15th century, which was destroyed during the Second World War. The reconstruction afforded St. Jacobi with a visibly modern roof and steeple. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Hauptkirche St. Petri, Bergstraße. St. Petri was a cathedral as early as the 12th century or possibly even earlier. As with other Hauptkirchen, the present version is one of many successive, and was only completed in 1878 after the great fire in 1842 consumed its predecessor. In turn, however, St. Petri survived the Second World War relatively intact. Of note are the large ornate door handles in the shape of lion heads, which have survived both the fire and the war, and the bells, several of which date back to the 16th century. The tower can be climbed for a fee and offers a great view of Hamburg, but the climb is long and not recommended for people suffering from high anxiety. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Hauptkirche St. Nikolai. All five main churches of Hamburg were damaged in World War II. But in contrast to the other four, St. Nikolai has not been re-erected making it a memorial against war. The steeple is still standing and visitors can take an elevator to the top for a view of the city The price to take the elevator is €5 for adults and €4 for groups of at least 10 people. 
• 🌍 Hauptkirche St. Katharinen. Situated on an island, it traditionally served as the church of the seamen. The base of its spire, dating from the 13th century, is the second oldest building preserved in the city. The church is also famous for its centuries-old organ, played by Bach when he was visiting the city. The instrument was actually destroyed to a large extent by the wartime bombings, but has been meticulously rebuilt and is playable again. (updated Mar 2015)

Altona, which was a separate city until the 20th century, has its own Hauptkirche as well.

• 🌍 Hulbe-Haus. Dating from the beginning of the 20th century as most buildings around, but looking much older. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Radio Hamburg. Under the building you can visit the remains of the bishops tower, from the 11th century. On the other side of the road, you can see excavations in progress, seeking the remains of the small fortress Hammaburg, which was erected in the 9th century giving Hamburg its name. 

• 🌍 Rathaus (city hall), Rathausmarkt 1. Closed during official events. Hamburg's impressive city hall was built in 1897 out of sandstone in neo-Renaissance style, including a 112-m tower. The square in front of the city hall is the Rathausmarkt, hosting many events especially in summer. Inside there are several magnificent halls used for representative purposes and sittings of government and parliament. These can be visited in guided tours (M-Th 10:00-15:15, F-Su 10:00-13:15, half-hourly in German, hourly in English and French. €7 for adults, €5,50 for Hamburg Card holders and free for children under 14. (updated Sep 2018)
• 🌍 Hamburger Börse (House of Commerce) (The building behind the city hall). Between the buildings, there is a little courtyard called Rathaushof with its fountain, Hygieia-Brunnen. 

Following the canal to the right and crossing the traditional shopping road, Jungfernstieg, you quickly get to the artificial lake 🌍 Binnenalster. Boat tours take you to the even bigger artificial lake, 🌍 Außenalster, directly behind he Binnenalster with lots of sailing boats in summer.

• 🌍 Wall-Anlagen (S+U-Bahnhof Landungsbrücken, U1 Stephansplatz and S21 + S31 Dammtor). The western part of the former city wall is nowadays a park area surrounding the inner city as a semicircle, ranging from the Landungsbrücken (Helgoländer Allee) up to Binnenalster. In the Wallanlagen there's a big playground and in the winter an ice rink. There also the impressive Hanseatic Courthouse building. (updated Jun 2019)
• 🌍 Patriotische Gesellschaft. The building of the Patriotic Society was erected following the great fire of 1842 on the former site of the old town hall of Hamburg. Built using the most modern technology at that time, including concrete substructure, and featuring modern techology such as flush toilets, it was nevertheless kept in a style that was an interpretation of the surrounding medieval architectural heritage. Of note inside is the large hanging clock by Aloys Denoth. 
• 🌍 Trostbrücke. It has statues of Graf Adolf III and Bishop Ansgar on both sides. 
• 🌍 Zollenbrücke. Hamburg's oldest remaining bridge from the 17th century 

• 🌍 Chilehaus (Chile House) ( U1  Meßberg). The house, depicting the form of a ship, is probably the best example of the 1920s style of "Kontorhaus" architecture. Large office buildings are displayed in the typical, northern red brick style. 
• 🌍 Hopfenmarkt. The hop market with its fountain Vierländerinbrunnen 
• 🌍 Alte Deichstraße. Ensemble of traditional half-timbered merchant houses. 

• 🌍 Nicolai Fleet. This is the site where Hamburg's harbour was some centuries ago. 
• 🌍 Kleiner Michel. Built after the reformation, it's functioned as a Catholic church since the 19th century. (updated Jun 2019)

The city also offers a free audio tour of the Nikolai Quarter both in German and English, available here.

At the southern end of the Alte Deichstraße, you see where the harbour moved afterwards. There is a canal called Zollkanal. Looking to the left, you see the 🌍 Speicherstadt, a large district of warehouses from 1888. Some are still in use, but others have been converted to apartments. In 2015 the Speicherstadt was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

• 🌍 The Hamburg Dungeon, Kehrwieder 2 ( U3  "Baumwall", Bus: 6, 111). A live-action presentation of the "darker times" of Hamburg. It is probably mostly suited for a younger, easily impressed audience. But it might not be suitable for young children. Tickets €23, kids under 10-14 €19. 
• 🌍 The Miniatur Wunderland, Kehrwieder 2, info@miniatur-wunderland.de. The world's largest model railway layout. The panoramas include parts of Hamburg, the Alps, the American west, and a Scandinavian exhibit which features automated ships on a body of water. It also has an airport exhibit with automated planes which taxi and fly. Tickets €20, kids under 16 €12.50. (updated Oct 2021)

• 🌍 Viewpoint towards the water castle. One of the more famous photo spots in Hamburg on Poggenmühle bridge. (updated Jul 2018)

Behind the warehouse district Speicherstadt a totally new quarter, the HafenCity, is being shaped and erected on unused industrial ground, nerved by channel, docks and basins. It is Europe's largest project of city development, creating a whole new quarter from scratch in a former harbour region.

• 🌍 Elbphilharmonie (Take the ferry 72 from Landungsbrücken, or walk through the Speicherstadt / HafenCity). Daily 09:00-24:00 (Plaza). New 'architectural lighthouse' of Hamburg. On the top of a huge old warehouse a 110 metres tall modern philharmonic hall with glass façade and wave-shaped roof. It also includes a fancy hotel, restaurant, as well as private apartments. Access to the observation deck (called "Plaza") is free (although you need to get a ticket to prevent overcrowding), and offers a great view of Hamburg. On days of long queues in front of the ticket booth for the Plaza get your ticket at the 🌍 visitor's centre instead. Normally there are very few people. Free. (updated Jul 2018)
• 🌍 HafenCity Kesselhaus InfoCenter, Am Sandtorkai 30. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00. Here you can find information about the new buildings and the whole district. The InfoCenter also provides free guided tours. 
• 🌍 HafenCity View Point. Look at the erecting process from an orange observation tower, which allows nice views on the HafenCity, the harbour, and the river. Free admission. 
• 🌍 Magellan-Terrasse. 
• 🌍 Hanseatic Trade Centre, Am Sandtorkai 74-77 (Kehrwiederspitze). 

• 🌍 City und Sportboothafen (opposite of the metro station "Baumwall"). Hamburg's city and yacht harbour. (updated Mar 2015).
• 🌍 Feuerschiff LV 13. The big red lighthouse ship hosts a restaurant today. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Überseebrücke. This is where big cruise liners used to dock when coming to Hamburg. (updated Mar 2015)
• Gruner + Jahr. Hyper-modern building of the publishers. 
• 🌍 Krameramtswohnungen (close to the Michel, off the road Krayenkamp). The shopkeeper-office-flats are the last example of a typical 17th-century housing estate. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Flussschifferkirche. Germany's only floating church in Rothenburgsort. 
• 🌍 Alter Botanischer Garten. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Tropengewächshaus (tropical greenhouse) (in the park 'Planten un Blomen' near Dammtor railway). Mar–Oct: M-F 09:00–16:45; Sa Su and bank holidays 10:00–17:45; Nov–Feb: M-F 09:00–15:45; Sa Su 10:00–17:45. Free. 
• 🌍 Portugiesenviertel (Portuguese Quarter). Especially during the warmer months the area around Ditmar-Koel-Straße has a very special flair. Lots of restaurants and shops invite one to linger. (updated Jul 2018)

• 🌍 Kunsthalle (art museum), ☏ +49 428 131-200, fax: +49 428 54-3409, info@hamburger-kunsthalle.de. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00, Th 10:00-21:00. Glockengießerwall north of Hauptbahnhof. The museum houses an important collection of paintings from the 19th century with works from Max Liebermann, Lovis Corinth, Philipp Otto Runge, Caspar David Friedrich, Adolf Menzel, and modern arts. It rises on both sides of a paved court. The Baroque building on one side has the older works. The areas under the courtyard and the other, modern looking building house an extensive collection of very modern art. There are some extremely fine pieces, but the quality is uneven and the curacy curious at times. For instance, in a far back corner with minimal climate control and no observation are four or five gorgeous French Impressionist paintings which are among the finest in the museum. Adults €14, concessions €8, family day ticket €18, under 18 free admission. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Deichtorhallen. The Deichtorhallen is one of the best known exhibition galleries worldwide. The historical buildings are divided into an exhibition hall for contemporary art and the "House of Photography". Together the two buildings organize a highly diverse program of changing exhibitions. (updated Mar 2015)

• 🌍 Hamburg Museum (former: Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte). Holstenwall, close to Underground station "St. Pauli". This is the museum of city history, bringing the past to life with a lot of models showing the development of the harbour and the city. The club "MEHEV" is showing a 40-year-old and one of the largest scale model railroads here. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Internationales Maritimes Museum, Koreastraße 1, HafenCity ( U4  Überseequartier, Bus 6 to the Bei St. Annen stop or Bus 111 to the Osakaallee stop.), ☏ +49 403 0092 300, info@imm-hamburg.de. Daily 10:00 - 18:00. This private museum in near the Speicherstadt district houses Peter Tamm's collection of model ships, construction plans, uniforms, and maritime art,. It opened in 2008 in the refurbished Kaispeicher B (quay warehouse B), which is the oldest preserved warehouse in Hamburg, having been built in 1879. Covering ten floors it is one of the most comprehensive maritime museums in the world with 1,000 large and 36,000 miniature models, 50,000 construction plans, 5,000 paintings and graphics, more than 2,000 films, 1.5 million photos, 120,000 books and numerous nautical devices, historic uniforms, militaria and maritime objects. About two thirds of the collection is on permanent display. Adult €13, concession €9.50. Discounts apply. (updated Jun 2020)
• 🌍 Speicherstadtmuseum (Dockland Museum). Branch of Museum of Labour in docklands warehouse. History of the district and tea and coffee trade. €3.60, discounts apply. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Traditionsschiffhafen (Sandtorhafen in HafenCity). 
• 🌍 Cap San Diego. 10:00-18:00. One of the last generation of pre-containerisation cargo ships (built in the 1960s), now semi-permanently moored halfway between Landungsbrücken and the Speicherstadt, and is the largest functional cargo museum ship in the world. The ship has been restored and is maintained in full working order by volunteers (who take it out a few times a year, notably during the Hafengeburtstag celebration). You can visit the ship and walk around most areas, including the crew quarters, cargo compartments, and engine room. The ship also hosts a number of other minor attractions, including an exhibit on emigration and an escape room. The ship also has a few guest rooms for overnight stays. €7 adults, €4 children. (updated Feb 2018)
• 🌍 Automuseum Prototyp, Shanghaiallee 7 (HafenCity). Tu-Su 10:00-18:00. Museum of car prototypes, nice shop inside. Tickets €9, kids <14 €4.50. (updated Mar 2015)

• 🌍 Deutsches Zollmuseum (German Customs Museum). Admission €2. 
• 🌍 Bucerius Kunst Forum, Rathausmarkt 2. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Spicey's Gewürzmuseum (Spice Museum). Located in the Speicherstadt. They claim to be the world's only spice museum. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Chocoversum Hachez Schokoladen-Museum, Meßberg 1 (U1 Meßberg), ☏ +49 40 41 91 230-0. Daily, including Sundays 10:00-18:00. The Chocoversum is a "museum" run by chocolate manufacturer Hachez from Hamburg's fellow Hansestadt Bremen. Rather than focus on exhibiting historic artifacts, it presents the process of making chocolate from the plantation up to the finished confection. There is also a studio where visitors can try their hands at being a chocolatier. 90-minute guided tours are provided everyday. €14, discounts for children, disabled, families and large groups. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Rickmer Rickmers. 10:00-18:00. A museum sailing ship (three-masted bark) from 1896, permanently moored off the Landungsbrücken. On board is a museum, a small restaurant, and an escape room. Adults €5, students €4, children €3. (updated May 2018)
• 🌍 Dialog im Dunkeln, Alter Wandrahm 4 (U1 Meßberg). Sighted people get to experience the everyday life of blind people. In completely dark rooms blind people guide the sighted through the exhibition. (updated Jun 2019)

• 🌍 Hamburgische Staatsoper. Hamburg is home to the Hamburg State Opera House, one of the leading opera houses in Germany. It holds great historical significance, as in 1678 the first public opera house in Germany was built in Hamburg at Gänsemarkt Square, which is where the opera house is still today. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Laeiszhalle. The Laeiszhalle is the main classical music hall in Hamburg, with two halls: the kleiner Saal and großer Saal. You can see the schedule on their website. For online ticket purchases, use Ticket Online. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 The Rover Rep Theatre, Großneumarkt 8, ☏ +49 40 317 31 41. At the Irish Rover. English language pub theatre under the Irish Rover at the Großneumarkt. High class professional productions in a special atmosphere. 
• 🌍 Thalia Theater, Alstertor 1. New directors and the continuing cooperation with young important writers based on the confidence in a strong and vital company lead to international acknowledgment. (updated Mar 2015)

• 🌍 Club Olympus Spa & Fitness, Park Hyatt Hamburg Hotel, Bugenhagenstraße 8, ☏ +49 40 3332-1234, hamburg@hyatt.de. 

• In the central station, you can get all kinds of snacks, including the fast food chains. But also fresh fish — Hamburg or Sushi style.
• As elsewhere in Germany, the Galeria and Karstadt department stores have a restaurant on the top floor. Open from morning to afternoon, you can have a decent meal at an affordable price.
• 🌍 Altstädter Stube Willig, Altstädter Str. 17. (updated Sep 2022)
• 🌍 Fischfeinkost Delikatessen des Meeres, Colonnaden 104. (updated Sep 2022)
• 🌍 Erdapfel Hamburg, Burchardstraße 10. (updated Sep 2022)
• 🌍 Soup & Friends, Valentinskamp 18. (updated Sep 2022)
• 🌍 La Croque, Markusstraße 17. (updated Sep 2022)
• 🌍 Nasch, Caffamacherreihe 49. (updated Sep 2022)
• 🌍 Casa Rita, Herrengraben 72. (updated Sep 2022)

• 🌍 Kartoffelkeller, Deichstraße 21. Large range of dishes with potatoes at their heart, including lots of traditional German dishes, e.g. Herring and Potatoes. Mains €10-15 (March 2015). (updated Sep 2022)
• 🌍 Parlament, Rathausmarkt 1, ☏ +49 40 70383399, fax: +49 40 70383398, gastro@parlament-hamburg.de. Traditional local food in the amazing basement of the Rathaus. Mains ca €20. 
• 🌍 Cafe Paris, Rathausstraße 4, ☏ +49 40 32527777, info@cafeparis.net. 09:00-11:30. Classic French bistro in a beautiful historical building. Good place to get a coffee and pastry, or enjoy a leisurely lunch. Ground floor is very loud, crowded and busy. Upstairs (when entering turn right) is a quiet restaurant with a small bar (all food is also served at the bar). "Tartar" and "steak frites" can be strongly recommended. (updated Sep 2022)
• Vapiano (three locations within Hamburg). A chain, Vapiano serves Italian food, in a trendy, friendly atmosphere. By the entrance you will get a "credit card", you show when you order food in the different kitchens. You pay when you leave. Fill your boots for around €20. 

🌍 Kurze Mühren 20

🌍 Hohe Bleichen 10

• 🌍 Fleetschlösschen, Brooktorkai 17 (Metrobus 3 + 6: at St. Annen, U1 Messberg, 3 min towards Hafencity). Fish dishes, frikadellen and labskaus on the menu, in other words local cuisine. (updated Sep 2022)

• 🌍 Old Commercial Room (Rauch's Restaurant), Englische Planke 10, ☏ +49 40 366319. Founded in 1795, this upscale restaurant is best known for fish dishes and labskaus (Northern German variant of hash). (updated Sep 2022)

• 🌍 Jugendherberge Hamburg - Auf dem Stintfang, Alfred-Wegener-Weg 5, ☏ +49 40 313488, fax: +49 40 315407, jh-stintfang@t-online.de. Priceless river/harbour view and in walking distance to the Reeperbahn. 

There is a Church mission on the West side of the main train station, mainly for homeless people and people with problems. But it's very clean, people are friendly, and if one is humble and polite, there is a good chance you can enter to chat (even in English) and sleep there on the floor in your sleeping bag. The night shift opens the place at midnight and everyone has to leave before seven in the morning.

Nevertheless, as a traveller, you should contribute some money to run the volunteer's service or at the very least offer some help. Remember: This is not a place for the unprepared traveller and definitely not a hotel!

• 🌍 Barceló Hamburg, Ferdinandstraße 15, ☏ +49 40 2263620, hamburg@barcelo.com. Thoroughly modern business hotel in the second row of buildings to Binnenalster, which is visible over the rooftops of neighbouring buildings from the hotel's top floor. All the facilities you may expect, but the gym is an extremely small and narrow room. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 AMERON Hotel Speicherstadt, Am Sandtorkai 4, ☏ +49 40 6385890, info@hotel-speicherstadt.de. A comfortable, modern hotel with interesting interior appointments right within Speicherstadt (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Lindner Hotel Am Michel, Neanderstraße 20, ☏ +49 40 3070670. Lindner is a chain of German upscale'ish hotels with nothing particularly special, but solid service standards and well-appointed rooms. The hotel's name is a bit of a stretch, as it is not immediately next to St. Michaelis church. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Scandic Hamburg Emporio, Dammtorwall 19, ☏ +49 40 4321870, hamburg@scandichotels.com. One of the Swedish chain's southernmost outposts is an all-new hotel opened in 2014, with an architecturally interesting building and Scandinavian flair throughout, meaning minimalist but tasteful appointments and lots of wood. Relatively large rooms, but most with views of opposite walls. Location on the edge of Neustadt is quite convenient for those visiting the CCH. (updated Mar 2015)

• 🌍 JUFA Hotel Hamburg HafenCity, Versmannstraße 12-14, ☏ +49 40 794167660, hamburg@jufa.eu. Child-friendly hotel with family rooms of different sizes and playgrounds both indoors and outdoors. dbl from €169 excl. breakfast. (updated Apr 2018)
• 🌍 Hotel Baseler Hof, Esplanade 11, ☏ +49 40 35 90 60, fax: +49 40 35 90 69 18, info@baselerhof.de. Opened in 1907, the hotel was remodeled in 2000 to its current form. Wi-Fi is available. The hotels has many conference rooms for up to 200 persons, a sauna and a fitness studio. There's also a restaurant; Kaffee- und Weinhaus Kleinhuis. sgl from €89, dbl from €145, both incl. breakfast. (updated May 2016)

• 🌍 Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Neuer Jungfernstieg 9-14, ☏ + 49 40 3494 0, hamburg@fairmont.com. Complementing the Atlantic on the other side of the Kennedybruecke as one of Hamburg's finest and oldest hotels, Vier Jahreszeiten has been overlooking the Binnenalster since the early 20th century, expanded and refurbished many times since. Today it is managed by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts and provides most comforts and amenities a contemporary luxury hotel can, but be aware that it has no swimming pool and the fitness/wellness offering is limited in comparison to its competitors. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Park Hyatt Hamburg, Bugenhagenstr. 8, ☏ +49 40 3332 1234, hamburg.park@hyatt.com. The Hyatt took residence in an exquisitely-decorated historic building, and provides an oasis of relaxed tranquility in the busy area neighbouring the Hauptbahnhof. Rising to the challenge of fellow luxury hotels in Hamburg, the Park Hyatt offers no less than 1000 sqm of spa and fitness facilities. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Marriott, ABC Straße 52, ☏ +49 40 3505-0. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. 4-Star hotel with 270 guest rooms and 8 suites, also has a Body Care Centre with indoor pool and whirlpool as well as 416 m² conference facilities. Restaurant and piano bar with live music. 
• 🌍 SIDE, Drehbahn 49, ☏ +49-40-30 99 90, info@side-hamburg.de. Under the unassuming name you will find one of Hamburg's finest design hotels, rivaled perhaps only by the Sofitel. Rooms are kept in minimalist white and are protected from any outside interference by a double facade. The SkyLounge on the 8th floor features a unique view of the city. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Sofitel Hamburg Alter Wall, Alter Wall 40, ☏ +49 40 369500, H5395@sofitel.com. Quite nondescript on the outside, the Sofitel shines inside with perfectly balanced and tasteful minimalist design, and of course great service standards. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Steigenberger Hotel Hamburg, Heiligengeistbrücke 4, ☏ +49 40 368060, reservierung@hamburg.steigenberger.de. Situated right on the Alsterfleet, the Steigenberger is housed in a building made to look in line with Hamburg's traditional canal architecture. Inside you will find the usual German idea of Gemuetlichkeit combined with the chain's usual high standards of service. Of note is the gym and spa area with views over the neighbourhood. (updated Mar 2015)
• 🌍 Renaissance Hamburg Hotel, Grosse Bleichen, ☏ +49 40 349180. The Renaissance is located in an interesting early 20th century building, which is a part of the Hanseviertel. Inside a bit dated, but with the usual Marriott quality. (updated Mar 2015)