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The 5 best day trips from Hamburg

Don't miss out on charming medieval towns, storybook castles and more hidden gems just an hour or two from Hamburg

Should the brisk north winds leave you in the mood for a day trip out of town, you’re in luck. While big, proud Hamburg is no doubt the major North German metropolis brimming with attractions and things to do , there are several superb destinations just an hour or two from the city – not least its Hanseatic sisters of Bremen and Lübeck, and picture-perfect Lüneberg, one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the country. For a dose of fresh air and forest, don’t miss the fairytale lake Schloss of Schwerin, or hire a bike and pedal through the apple, pear and cherry trees of the Altes Land, the North German answer to agri-tourism.

RECOMMENDED:  📍 The best things to do in Hamburg 🐟 The best restaurants in Hamburg 🛏 The best hotels in Hamburg 💡 Hamburg travel tips every first-time visitor needs to know

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Day trips from Hamburg

The Schwerin Schloss, nicknamed the ‘Neuschwanstein of the North’, counts among the most spectacular of Germany’s famous castles. Set on an island in the Schweriner See (not a misspell of ‘Sea’ – this is how the Germans say Lake Schwerin!), the palace is as stunning in its location as in its vast and gilded grandeur. A lavish example of Romantic historicism, it was built between 1847 and 1851, though there are traces of earlier fortresses on the same site dating back to 942. Long the stately residence of the dukes and grand dukes of Mecklenberg, the Schloss today houses the state parliament, but leaves several of its historic rooms, as well as its impressive formal gardens, open to the public. You can reach Schwerin in one and a half hours via regional train. 

For an elegant light lunch and fine array of Kuchen, look no further than Café Prag , a classic café just five minutes’ walking distance from the Schloss.

Enjoy a glass of wine with a fairytale view at the Ruderhaus , a sleek bar and bistro with one of the best views over the lake and island castle.

STAY: 

A former eighteenth-century wine store house, Weinhaus Uhle  combines historic charm with pristine contemporary comfort. Its restaurant, beneath a coffered and vaulted ceiling, is one of the best in Schwerin.

Schwerin’s Galerie Alte & Neue Meister  is an eye-popping testimony to the city’s historic prosperity. Its collection boasts a dazzling run in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Dutch and Flemish painting, important pieces by Caspar David Friedrich and Max Liebermann and no less than 90 works by Marcel Duchamp.

If you do just one thing...  

Have a coffee at the Schloss Orangery . It’s got plenty of palatial elegance and great views over the lake and gardens.

Charming little Lüneburg is one of those rare, extremely well-preserved German towns that recall quite how much the country lost architecturally in the ravages of the Second World War. Sat serenely on the river Ilmenau, just a 30-minute train ride south east of Hamburg, Lüneburg made its money by mining salt, which also explains the tilt and warp of many of its medieval buildings—the ‘white gold’ industry made Lüneburgers enough money to build beautiful houses, but the mining also created serious subsidence. While the wobbliness is closely monitored for health and safety, it generally adds to Lüneburg’s charms, with almost every corner of the inner Altstadt a picture-perfect run of cobbled alleyways, half-timber houses and volute gables. 

A slick newcomer to Lüneburg’s medieval stage, Bell & Beans offers tasty sandwiches and proper third-wave coffee. 

DRINK: 

Get a pintful of tradition at Krone , Lüneburg’s oldest pub dating back to 1485.

See the impressive fourteenth-century church of St. Michaelis . Johann Sebastian Bach was a pupil and chorister here between 1700 and 1702.  

With an idyllic waterfront setting, Hotel Bergström matches its top Altstadt location with four-star comfort, including pool and spa.

Admire the Lüneburg Town Hall, a remarkable composite of buildings from the thirteenth to the eighteenth centuries. The Great Council Chamber is a Renaissance masterpiece, featuring astonishing carved wood paneling and paintings by Daniel Frese.

Historic ‘Queen of the Hanseatic League’, the proud port of Lübeck is today a Unesco World Heritage site, renowned in particular for its Brick Gothic architecture. Beyond the imperious Holstentor city gate, the Old Town is a network of narrow lanes and gabled houses, with seven historic churches including the towering Church of St Mary. Lübeck is also the setting of Thomas Mann’s Nobel-prize-winning novel Büddenbrooks , which intricately details the nineteenth-century Lübeck bourgeoisie. ­The Buddenbrooks Museum pays detailed tribute to the life and work of both Thomas and Heinrich Mann. 

Don’t miss the lunch menu at Vai , offering supremely fresh and Michelin-starred cuisine at excellent value.

Dating back to the sixteenth century, Im Alten Zolln is a Lübeck Kneipe (pub) institution. It has a great run in beers, a pleasant terrace and plenty of communal table jollity.

One of the oldest buildings in town, Hotel Anno 1216 matches its historic stucco, floorboards and wooden beams with pared-down contemporary luxury and an organic breakfast. Some rooms have river views, while the more opulent suites feature lavish fresco and panel paintings.

Taste the city’s marzipan .  Some attest that Lübeck invented the sweet almond stuff, though there are rival origin stories from Hungary , Italy , Turkey and China . In any case, it’s delicious, with some of the finest at the classic Café Niederegger , where you’ll find exotic flavors from mirabelle plum to rum cracknel.

Call in at the church of St. Mary , a towering paradigm of the North German Brick Gothic style which set a new architectural standard for dozens of other churches in the Baltic region. It has the tallest brick vaulting in the world.

For those who fancy a rustic retreat from the city, the verdant meadows and orchards of the Altes Land offer real bucolic abundance. Just one hour from Hamburg city center via train to Jork, this fertile tranche is Germany’s largest fruit-growing area, with some 10,000 hectares of apple, pear and cherry trees. It’s particularly delightful in blossom season, but makes for a picturesque day trip throughout the year, with diminutive half-timber farms and cottages set among the orchards, and an excellent network of bike paths.  

It’s a real plate-to-table idyll at the Hofcafé Ottilie , an organic farm and café particularly cherished for its home-made cakes and seasonal ice cream, not to mention the truly cosmopolitan cappuccinos.

For a cooling pint of beer, loop up to the quaint village of Stade where the historic Stader Ratkeller  serves its home brew.

Call by at Jork’s charming church of St. Matthias .

The Hotel Altes Land in Jork offers simple, light and clean rooms, as well as an on-site restaurant which prides itself on local ingredients.

Call in on one of the area’s delightful farm stores and bring home some fresh fruits, honey, cured meats or cheeses.

Another Hanseatic stronghold, Bremen remains one of Germany’s most important economic and cultural hubs. Emerging out of the Second World War relatively unscathed, the city has some outstanding historic architecture, not least in the central Marktplatz, or market square, and in the maze of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century half-timber houses that make up the city’s oldest quarter, Schnoor. The Unesco World Heritage town hall is the jewel in the Marktplatz crown—another lofty example of the Brick Gothic style, with a Renaissance façade added in the seventeenth century. To the east of the Old Town, the illustrious Bremen Kunsthalle spans 600 years of Western art history with works by Rubens, Rembrandt, van Gogh and Paula Modersohn-Becker through to Wolfgang Tillmans, Cindy Sherman and Martin Honert.

The legendary Bremer Ratskeller was originally the council wine cellar of Bremen Town Hall. Today its vast, vaulted halls make for an excellent, tavern-like meal, including the world’s most extensive selection of exclusively German wines.

Down the road from the Kunsthalle , Heldenbar has a relaxed, student-friendly atmosphere and a great run in craft beers.

The Hotel Classico is a convenient and quirky choice, with 27 themed bedrooms just a couple of minutes’ walk from Marktplatz.

St. Stephen’s Church was built in 1139, destroyed by bombing in 1944, and rebuilt in 1950. Since 2007, it has been run as a ‘cultural church’, promoting dialogue between faith and the arts with regular concerts, readings, screenings and exhibitions.

Indulge in some local folklore and check out the bronze statue of the Bremen Town Musicians—the dog, cat, donkey and rooster of Grimm Fairytales fame.

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What are the 15 BEST DAY TRIPS from Hamburg?

The port city of Hamburg has a lot to see. With its riverside location, historic buildings, definitive party areas, hipster hangouts and even a nearby lake, this German city is filled to the brim with culture.

But even more culture can be found within the surrounding area. The area of the Hanseatic League is dotted with impossibly charming towns and natural beauty that’s just waiting to be explored.

So with our guide to the best day trips from Hamburg, we want to help you get out of the city and into the surrounding region of North Germany.

Whether you’re visiting as a family, a couple, or if you’re on a budget, there’ll be something for you.

Editor’s note – Check out our 15 best hostels in Hamburg and find an epic place to stay!

Quick Answer: Best Day Trips from Hamburg

• Day Trips from Hamburg by Train –  Berlin
• Romantic Day Trips from Hamburg for Couples –  Hamburg: guidance on the river island Wilhelmsburg
• Best Day Trips from Hamburg with Kids –  Hamburg: Elbe Riverside Tour
• Best Cheap Day Trips from Hamburg –  Altes Land

Best Places to Stay in Hamburg

Staying in Hamburg is all about its areas. Get crazy on the lively Reeperbahn, stay in cool St Pauli, or opt for the more suburban feel of Altona. Either way, the transport system will be able to connect with the main hubs and out into the surrounding area for some awesome day trips!

• Best Hostel in Hamburg •

Pyjama park schanzenviertel.

• Near to cool nightlife

Located in the trendy Sternschanze district, this cool hostel in Hamburg is surrounded by trendy bars and restaurants, vintage shops and cafes. Inside the hotel is pretty chic too: think monochrome dorm rooms, beds with privacy curtains and tiled bathrooms. The dorms only sleep 8 people so you should be able to get a good night’s sleep.

Price anxiety? We get it too, so we made an article for the best budget hostels in Hamburg!

• Best Budget Hotel in Hamburg •

• Spacious private rooms

Big spacious rooms and colourful modern decor make this place a no-brainer if you’re looking for a budget hotel in Hamburg. There’s a range of rooms to fit different budgets – from shared bathroom to family rooms with en suites. Staff here are really welcoming and will help you with your travel plans too.

• Best Luxury Hotel in Hamburg •

Grand elysee hamburg.

• Close to public transport

This rather gorgeous luxury hotel in Hamburg is located a few minutes walk from Hamburg Dammtor S-Bahn station. Rooms at this hotel are super plush rooms so expect marble bathrooms and huge beds. There’s even suites on offer with living rooms. In the evening treat yourself to dinner at the fine-dining restaurant and cocktail bar – of course!

Looking for the Party? We’ve got you covered with our guide to the best party hostels in Hamburg !

#1 Best Day Trip from Bamburg – Berlin

Day trips from hamburg by train.

• Visit the German capital
• See some sights
• Explore its cool districts

Yes, you can easily explore Germany’s capital on a day trip from Hamburg to Berlin by train – it takes under two hours to get there, which makes it easily doable in a day. Great if you fancy seeing a different side to a big German city.

Grab the train from Hamburg’s Central Station and travel all the way to its Berlin equivalent and then prepare yourself for a day of hitting up the sights.

For one thing, there’s the Berlin Wall Memorial to check out, where sections of the wall that divided East and West Berlin still stand. Daubed in graffiti, they make for a sombre experience that’s also worth at least a dozen photos.

Or you could visit Berlin’s hipster paradises, for which it is well known. There’s the area of Kreuzberg, where you can hang out in one of its many cool coffee shops with Instagram worthy interiors.

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#2 – Lüneburger Heide

• Ride a classic train
• Picturesque scenery

The town of Lüneburg might be famous itself, thanks to its collection of beautiful old houses, narrow streets and traditional food; but nearby is a breath of fresh air from all the chocolate box towns and the city of Hamburg itself: Lüneburger Heide.

This little gem of a natural wonderland – full name Naturschutzpark Lüneburger Heide – is a great place to spend some time walking the well-marked hiking trails of this heather soaked heathland (‘heide’ is German for heath).

But this is one of the best day trips from Hamburg by train since you get to ride the Heide Express – a collective name for several old-timey 1950s trains that run from Lüneburg to the park itself, which is pretty much a must for any train enthusiast.

The trains come complete with buffet cars where you can order meals and drink beer – all with the beautiful natural scenery rushing by.

#3 – Schwerin

• Quick train ride
• Incredible castle to explore
• Lots of culture to soak up

One of the easiest day trips from Hamburg by train you could make (it takes just 50 minutes from Hamburg Central Station), visiting Schwerin is something a cultural whirlwind. There’s a lot to see here, but the star of the show is its castle.

Sometimes referred to as the “Neuschwanstein of the North”, Schwerin Schloss is located in the middle of the lake. Already a fairytale looking castle, the reflects of its curves and spires in the glassy lake give it an even more magical feel. Elsewhere there’s the very tall brick built Schwerin Cathedral.

When you’ve had enough of looking up head to the Staatliches Museum Schwerin where you can look at some art instead. This art gallery hosts 17th-century paintings by Flemish and Dutch painters, and features work by such artists as the famous Rubens.

#4 – Lübeck

• Historic old town
• Impressive landmarks
• Birthplace of marzipan (maybe)!

When people refer to towns being ‘Hanseatic’, it means they were part of a defensive (and economic) collective of towns and cities in northeastern Europe. Lübeck was at the forefront of the League and the reminders of its rich past are rife in the city.

Like many Hanseatic towns and cities, Lübeck is steeped in history and comes complete with a set of beautiful old buildings and a charming old town to amble around. Its star attraction, though, is the imposing Holstentor. This old medieval gate, part of the city’s old fortifications, was built in 1464 and is a masterpiece of Brick Gothic style.

So for history fans, the simple day trip from Hamburg to Lübeck by train makes perfect sense. But for foodies, there’s another claim to fame.

The city is also (allegedly) the inventor of marzipan. You’ll find a museum dedicated to it on the second floor of Café Niederegger.

Staying Safe in Hamburg

While Hamburg is super safe, no matter where you are traveling, you NEED to have great travel insurance . We have personally tested TONS of travel insurance companies, and World Nomads is our favorite (and most affordable!).

Fill out the form below to get a quote so you can have a stress-free time traveling around Germany!

#5 – Wilhelmsburg

Romantic day trips from hamburg for couples.

• Not far from the city centre
• Cycle around interesting areas
• Ecological projects

For an easy day trip for couples from Hamburg, travelling to the island of Wilhelmsburg – just out of the city centre in the Port of Hamburg area – couldn’t be easier.

This Hamburg day trip is something that’s going to suit you if you and your partner are interested in all things ecological, sustainable and social-minded. And that’s not just because Wilhelmsburg is home to a veritable house of tomorrow, in the form of a ‘Seaweed House’ – a house that’s powered entirely by algae.

There’s also a high rise apartment building which has been entirely crafted from wood.

You can cycle around the island, taking in the multicultural atmosphere as well as the bleak romance of this industrial area.

On this romantic day trip from Hamburg, you’ll be learning all about how a formerly run-down district is turning into an area with a focus on an social and environmental consciousness.

#6 – Heligoland

For those truly wanting to get away from the city for a day, making the trip to Heligoland is well worth your time. This North Sea island is car-free, making it a quite literal breath of fresh air.

If that’s what you and your partner are looking for, then you should definitely consider going on a day trip from Hamburg to Heligoland. It’s also blessed with a mild climate and beaches, making it a fantastic place to visit in summer.

The dramatic shape of Heligoland is cool too: the side you approach is all steep red cliffs, which all slopes down into lovely fields and inviting beaches. For all you outdoorsy types out there, this couples day trip from Hamburg is also a good option: the island is crisscrossed with hiking paths, making it easy to explore the island.

The ferry there and back directly from Hamburg makes it super easy, too.

#7 – Harbor light tour

• World’s largest warehouse complex
• Illuminated city skyline
• Chilled boat ride

A world away from the city itself, jumping on a boat and seeing what the city looks like when it lights up is bound to make for a romantic day trip from Hamburg.

But one of the coolest things about this evening excursion is cruising through the Speicherstadt – the world’s largest complex of warehouses.

But these aren’t just any old warehouses: the 19th-century brick buildings are beautiful, and stand on wood foundations, helping it to earn the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The captain of the boat you’re on will tell you more about the background of this cool area.

When it comes to the illuminated city itself, all you and your partner need to do is relax with a drink, soaking up the ambience. And you’ll be in back in Hamburg ready for a delicious dinner.

#8 – Blankenese

• Stately homes
• Charming location
• Great views

Tranquil hilltop location – check. Beautiful riverside views – check. Charming town to walk around – check. All of these things, and more make the day trip from Hamburg to Blankenese a pretty romantic day out.

Set along the banks of the Elbe River, Blankenese is an affluent neighbourhood and this is evidenced in the mansions and houses of the well to do overlooking the river itself.

You and your partner will be particularly charmed by the Treppenviertel – literally ‘stairs quarter’ – which, with its mini-mansions and lovely looping lanes is as picturesque and postcard perfect as you’re going to get on a romantic day trip from Hamburg.

There’s even a beach you can discover here, on the shore of the Elbe, which is especially refreshing to paddle in when it’s summer.

And to round it all up, stroll to the top of the Süllberg hill and laze around with views of Hamburg in the distance before making your return.

#9 – Riverside Elbe Tour

Day trips from hamburg with kids.

• Double-decker bus ride
• See sights along the river
• Learn about fruit

When you feel like you’ve had enough of the city, and you’ve seen the old town and all its attractions, you might want to head out of the city on an easy family day trip from Hamburg, right?

Of course. And so you can make this one completely stress-free, you don’t have to worry about train times, or renting a car and navigating the roads. Nothing like that. All you need to do is hop aboard a red double-decker bus (just like the ones in London) and you’ll be driven along the Elbe River and out of Hamburg.

It’s a great day trip from Hamburg with kids – especially young children because what child doesn’t like sitting on the top deck of double-decker, pointing out all the sights you whizz by. You’ll go all the way to Altes Land (North Europe’s largest fruit producing region) where they can have fun learning about all the different fruit that’s grown here.

#10 – Bremen

• Amazing old buildings
• Streets right out of a fairytale
• Easy to reach

Many Hanseatic towns feature typically beautiful buildings that make for a wonderful atmosphere (and great for photo opportunities), but none can quite captivate young minds as the fairytale-esque Bremen.

And located just an hour away by train, it’s a great family day trip from Hamburg.

Once you’re here you’ll have a lot to explore, but you can take it at your own pace, of course. Historic architecture abounds – mainly in the grand Market Square: there’s the 600-year-old City Hall, which now features a high-end restaurant and the absolutely towering Romanesque giant that is the Bremen Cathedral for your children to gawp at in wonder.

But nothing quite satisfies active imaginations as the rambling area known Schnoor. This extra historic part of town has held onto its medieval character and, complete with leaning buildings and narrow cobbled lanes, it’ll have kids thinking they’ve jumped right into a bedtime story!

#11 – Sailing on Alster Lake

• Learn about Hamburg’s history
• Have fun as a family
• Go sailing!

Alster Lake might technically be in the city itself, and seeing it from the shore is all well and good, but getting onto the lake and trying out a bit of sailing for yourself makes it feel like a proper day trip from Hamburg.

With a surface area of 164 hectares, there’s a lot of lakes to explore as you and your family embark on a sailing voyage to the lake. How about that for a Hamburg family day trip!

You’ll get to sail with a knowledgeable skipper. Not only will they guide you in steering the boat yourselves (don’t worry: it’s specially equipped to be very hard to capsize!) but the skipper is also full of information about the maritime history of Hamburg.

So for a lot of fun, even if you’ve never been sailing in your lives, this is a great option for a day trip from Hamburg with kids in tow.

#12 – Heide Park

• Close to the city
• Exciting rides
• Fun day out!

Nothing says a family day out quite like a trip to a theme park, so for the quintessential day trip from Hamburg with kids you need to get yourselves to Heide Park.

Naturally, there’s something for everyone at this park, which is handily located less than an hour’s drive south of the city.

You’ll find thrill rides like roller coasters – like the huge Big Loop 360 – and vertical drops, as well as much less thrilling (but still fun) attractions for smaller children, like Peppa Pig Land. All of it spread across themed zones, like the Pirate Zone and one based on Transylvania. There’s even a village here that’s built to look like the houses you’d encounter at Lüneburger Heide!

They even boast an incredible wooden rollercoaster, the Colossos, which is being renovated at a cost of 12 million Euros and will be open for the 2019 summer season.

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#13 – Altes Land

Best cheap day trips from hamburg.

• Natural scenery
• Charming villages

Getting to Altes Land is simple and affordable. Just west of the city, it’s one of the best cheap day trips from Hamburg you could possibly make.

We previously mentioned that Altes Land is the largest fruit producing region in North Europe. This is great fun in the summer months, of course, when all that fruit is coming to… fruition. But what really makes this an almost supernaturally picturesque place to visit is the blossom in springtime.

Particularly the cherry blossom, as well as the apple blossom, season give this already tranquil area an extra floral boost.

The beautiful blossom combined with the natural surroundings, as well as the quaint houses in the charming villages along the way – like Steinkirchen, for example – makes this one of the most photogenic places to visit near Hamburg.

#14 – Stade

• Quaint town
• Historic buildings
• Charming atmosphere

Another Hanseatic town on the popular ‘German Timber-Frame Road’ – named for the numerous towns featuring historic timber-frame buildings, of course – Stade is around an hour away from Hamburg by train, making it a pretty simple journey.

Like all historic Hanseatic towns, Stade is a complete wonderland of historic buildings and artefacts. So if historic architecture is your game, or you love to soak up the charming atmosphere of an old town – and you also happen to be on a budget – this cheap day trip from Hamburg will suit you very well indeed.

Buildings aside (there’s the Old Town Hall, the charming Insel Museum, St. Willehadus Church and the Swedish Warehouses) one church in particular, St Cosmae, is home to an incredible piece of music history: an ornate, centuries-old Schnitger organ.

But the order for the day here is finding a peaceful cafe and feeling glad no bombs ever fell here.

#15 – Ahrensburg Castle

• Close to Hamburg
• Learn about history
• Great for design lovers

For a glimpse into an amazing slice of history, head to Ahrensburg Castle on an easy (and cheap) day trip from Hamburg. All it is to get there is a short train ride, a bus ride, and the price of a tour around this sumptuous former home.

Whilst it’s actually a Herrenhaus – or mansion – the beautiful building at Ahrensburg is referred to as a castle because, well, it sort of looks like one: its Renaissance-style gives it an ornate exterior, complete with four towers.

But the best thing about this cool Hamburg day trip is that you get to explore inside this wonderful mansion, too. It’s so lovely inside that you have to take your shoes off and wear only your socks.

And it makes sense: the parquet floors in here are polished to perfection. The decor, needless to say, is incredible – from the delicately painted wood panels to the immense plasterwork and decorative vases, it’s pretty much a dream home.

Bonus Trip! – Lüneburg

• Canalside charm
• Old buildings to admire
• Quaint atmosphere

We’ve learnt about the beautiful Lüneburger Heide, which is just a stone’s throw from Lüneburg, but what about his Hanseatic city itself? Well, it’s as picturesque as you can imagine – and with it being such an easy train journey, it’s one of the best cheap day trips from Hamburg.

Complete with a large selection of houses lining a number of quaint streets for you to amble through, Lüneburg boasts beautiful slices of canalside houses that make it easy to see what this place would have been like a few hundred years ago.

For history lovers and fans of architecture, Lüneburg is a veritable dream come true. Soak up the ambience at the old river harbour, take hundreds of photos from the Brausebrücke bridge, or sit in a pretty cafe with some tasty pastries admiring the views.

For grander samples of architecture, head to the Baroque style Lüneburg Town Hall.

Conclusion to the Best Day Trips from Hamburg

So there you have it. From visits to nearby Hanseatic towns dripping with charm and oozing history to surprising natural beauty spots like North Sea islands and dramatic heathlands, we hope you’ll find a day trip from Hamburg to suit you.

Couples might want to consider a trip to the unique Heligoland (try the lobster!), whilst families will almost definitely want to have fun at the theme park of Heide Land or get lost in storybook Bremen…

There’s just so much to choose from in this fascinating area of Germany.

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The 11 Best Day Trips From Hamburg, Germany (by Train!)

Created On: July 23, 2023   |   Updated: July 12, 2023   |   1 Comment

Looking to escape Hamburg for the day? Here are the best day trips from Hamburg by train. All are easy to reach and make for an awesome day out! 

Hamburg is one of the gems of northern Germany. And although you can live in Hamburg for years and still not see all that this beautiful port city has to offer, sometimes it’s nice to escape the hustle and bustle and see another area in the region.  

There are so many wonderful day trips out of Hamburg, and many of the best ones can be reached by train! I don’t own a car, so I’ve limited this list of Hamburg day trips to ones that are easily accessed with public transportation. 

And because you’re my favorite readers on the Internet, I’ve ordered this list of day trip ideas by travel time — you’re welcome! 

I’ve visited every Hamburg day trip destination shared in this post, so I can vouch for each and every one of them being awesome. Be sure to read my ultra detailed city guides linked within each section to make planning your day trip even easier! 

Table of Contents 

Click “show” to see the full table of contents for this post. You can jump around the post as desired by clicking on the individual sections listed below. 

Day Trips From Hamburg by Train

The maximum travel time for these Hamburg day trips is 2.5 hours. Any train trip longer than that makes for too exhausting of a day trip for me! 

I’ve listed the approximate travel time between Hamburg Central Station and the central train station of each day trip destination. The ICE and IC high-speed trains will always be the fastest options, but the RE regional trains are typically more budget-friendly. Choose whichever travel option is best for you. 

Travel time: 45 min (RE)

Handmade marzipan, a beautiful Old Town, great museums — and did I mention the marzipan? 

Lübeck is a history lover’s dream day trip destination. Believe it or not, this small city in northern Germany played a BIG role in shaping the politics and trade routes of the region. 

During the reign of King Frederick II, Lübeck became a free imperial city, created its own system of laws, and was self-governed. The “Laws of Lübeck” that the city used were adopted by over 100 cities in the area!

Some of the best things to do during your day trip from Hamburg to Lübeck include: 

• Visiting the St. Annen Museum (housed in a former priory)
• Touring the Behnhaus Drägerhaus Museum
• Window shopping in the Old Town

For even more recommendations, be sure to read my complete guide on what to do in Lübeck . 

Ludwigslust

Travel time: 50 mins (ICE) / 1 hr 30 mins (RE) 

Ludwigslust is a sleepy castle town southwest of Hamburg. There’s not a lot to do here, but if the weather is nice you can fill an entire day visiting the baroque castle, wandering around the castle park, and visiting the main church.

Note that Ludwigslust is famous for its papier-mâché decorations, called Ludwigslust Board. This special material was created as a substitute for stucco or wood. Ludwigslust Board can be found throughout the castle, and the cathedral also has a massive altar made out of this unique material! 

Travel time: 55 min (ICE or IC) / 1 hr 25 min (RE) 

Castle lovers have to visit Schwerin! Schwerin Castle is the crowning jewel of the city. It’s perched on an island within Lake Schwerin, and the views of the water from the castle gardens are spectacular. 

The top things to do in Schwerin in one day are: 

• Tour Schwerin Castle 
• Explore the castle gardens and park 
• Window shop in the Old Town
• Visit the Cathedral 

Personally, I think this is the best day trip from Hamburg , both because Schwerin has lots to offer in terms of history, architecture, and charm, and also because it’s less than an hour away if you take the ICE train! 

Travel time: 56 min (ICE) / 1 hr 9 min (RE) 

Bremen is yet another maritime city in northern Germany with a beautifully restored Old Town, Gothic cathedral, and more! Once upon a time, Bremen was one of the most important trading centers in Germany, and its port is still active to this day. 

Avid readers might recognize Bremen from the Brothers Gimm fairytale, “The Town Musicians of Bremen.” There’s actually a statue dedicated to the fairytale by the Town Hall and is a must-see site in the city! 

Other favorite things to do in Bremen include: 

• Exploring historic Böttcherstraße
• Touring the Renaissance Roselius House
• Visiting the Bremen Christmas markets (a favorite of mine in Germany!)  

Travel time: 1 hr 20 mins (RE)

The perfect beach day trip destination near Hamburg is Travemünde. It’s a popular seaside resort that’s just 40 minutes further from Lübeck. 

The white sand beach has always been clean on my visits, and the water chilly but refreshing (it is the Baltic Sea, after all!). 

Travemünde’s Old Town has lots of shops and restaurants, as well as a sweet little port that makes for a great photo. It’s easy to see why Germans have loved this Baltic Sea getaway since 1802! 

Tip: You must pay a small fee to use the beach at Travemünde. There are machines along the boardwalk that spit out a ticket after you’ve paid the fee. People actually do come around to check your ticket, so don’t forget to buy one! 

Travel time: 1 hr 20 mins (ICE) 

Hannover is a university city in northern Germany that goes largely unnoticed by tourists. The Old Town area is lovely, although the farther you are from the city center, the more industrial it gets. 

During your day trip to Hannover, I recommend the following activities: 

• Touring Herrenhausen Palace and its gardens
• Visiting the Marktkirche (the city’s main church) 
• Climbing the tower of the New Town Hall
• Walking along the banks of the Machsee 

For more recommendations, here are the top things to do in Hannover.  

Travel time: 1 hr 50 mins (ICE) 

A day trip from Hamburg to Berlin is definitely doable, but it will be a long day. Berlin is Germany’s capital city, and there’s lots to do and see here. It’s definitely the most ambitious day trip from Hamburg you can take! 

You can only see a fraction of what Berlin has to offer in a single day, but here are the absolute top attractions to visit: 

• Alexanderplatz 
• Museum Island 
• Berlin Cathedral OR Humboldt Forum 
• Unter den Linden 
• Brandenburg Gate 
• Holocaust Memorial 

I have a detailed 3-day Berlin itinerary that you’re welcome to reference for even more activities, areas to explore, and general recommendations. I’ve called Berlin home since 2019, so I know a thing or two about what to do here! 

Travel time: 1 hr 55 mins (combination of ICE and RE) 

Another quaint city along the coast of the Baltic Sea that’s worth visiting is Wismar. The town truly looks like it came from a postcard! 

This is one of the best Hamburg day trips, as it’s easy to see all of Wismar’s main attractions in a single day (and on foot, no less!). Be sure to visit the following sites: 

• Church of the Holy Spirit
• Market square
• Karstadt (This well-known department store chain was founded in Wismar!)

Here are even more things to do in Wismar during your day trip. 

Travel time: 2 hr 15 mins (ICE) 

Rostock has always been a bustling maritime city, and it most recently served as the largest port in East Germany. 

It’s easy to see most of Rostock’s city center in a single day. I highly recommend visiting St. Mary’s Church to see its 14th century astronomical clock — it still plays every day at noon and is hand wound twice per day! 

Other attractions in Rostock worth visiting include the old city gates, the Neuer Markt, and the main shopping streets. 

Oranienburg 

Travel time: 2 hr 27 min (ICE) 

One of the more sobering day trips from Hamburg is the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, now an open-air museum and memorial. 

The site of the former concentration camp is located within a northern suburb of Berlin, called Oranienburg. Between 1936 and 1945, it’s estimated that more than 200,000 people were imprisoned at Sachsenhausen. 

Entrance to Sachsenhausen is free. The exhibits detail the history of the camp and the personal histories of the prisoners who lived and died there. The historic prison building has been almost wholly preserved and is open to visitors.

Tip: There’s also a former concentration camp-turned memorial much closer to Hamburg, called Neuengamme . It’s much closer to Hamburg (approx. 1 hour away). However, I’ve never personally visited so I didn’t include it on this post. I thought I’d mention it though, should you want an alternative to Sachsenhausen that’s easier to reach.

Travel time: 2 hr 32 min (ICE) 

Kassel holds a special place in my heart, as I lived here for a month during an exchange program in high school. Oh, the memories! 

This typical German suburban city might not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of day trips from Hamburg, but it’s absolutely worth visiting. 

Kassel’s city center doesn’t offer much to write home about, but the nearby Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe is incredible. Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe is a hillside park with a massive Hercules monument at the top of a man-made water cascade. In the summer, the park puts on an impressive water show. I wish I had photos from it, it was unlike anything I’d ever seen! 

Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe also contains two castles: the Löwenburg and Wilhelmshöhe Palace . As such, I recommend spending the majority of your day trip to Kassel exploring Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe! 

More Hamburg Day Trip Ideas! 

There are many more Hamburg day trips you can take, but I only ever recommend destinations I’ve visited personally. However, a few more day trips that are on my bucket list include: 

• Lüneburg 
• Stade 

Enjoy Your Hamburg Day Trip! 

These are just a few of the many wonderful places to visit near Hamburg by train. Feel free to leave me a question or comment below, and let me know if there are any other day trips you recommend! 

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram to keep up with my daily adventures in Berlin and beyond!

Even More Cities to Visit in Germany:

• 15 Fun Things to Do in Nuremberg’s Old Town
• What to Do in Weimar (Home of Goethe and Schiller!)
• The Top Things to Do in Bonn
• Favorite Things to See & Do in Heidelberg
• All of my Germany recommendations!

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February 1, 2024

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21 Best Day Trips from Hamburg, Germany

Updated on  January 20, 2024  

Looking to escape the city hustle? Discover the best day trips from Hamburg that offer a perfect blend of relaxation and exploration. Whether you're into historic towns, scenic landscapes, or coastal retreats, this guide has you covered with straightforward recommendations for a memorable day away from Hamburg.

21 Best Day Trips from Hamburg

Lübeck is a sweet spot for anyone wanting to step out of Hamburg for the day. Known as the "marzipan city," this place treats your eyes with its famed City of Seven Spires skyline.

You might find yourself walking through the Old Town , where each turn uncovers something new. Picture tall red-brick buildings that tell tales from centuries ago when Lübeck was a big deal in the Hanseatic League.

You can make your own adventure here, choosing spots that catch your fancy. Maybe you'll peek inside historic churches or unwind at a cozy café with marzipan treats—a sugary nod to the city's reputation.

This charming town wraps up history and culture into one neat package, making it an ideal getaway from Hamburg any time you like.

Ludwigslust

If you love grand buildings, Ludwigslust is a must-see. This town has a big baroque castle that people call the "Versailles of the North." You can walk around its huge gardens and see how beautiful they are.

Inside the castle, there's a lot to learn about old times.

Ludwigslust is not crowded and noisy like Hamburg. It's quiet and pretty. You have lots of space to walk around and enjoy nature. On a sunny day, you could spend hours here just looking at all the neat things in the castle and taking it easy in the gardens.

It's a great place to take it slow and enjoy some history without rushing.

Schwerin is a must-see on your day trip list from Hamburg. Just an hour and a half away by train, it's easy to get to and perfect for a quick getaway.

Picture this: the grand Schwerin Palace stands tall, nestled between sparkling lakes, with vast gardens stretching around it.

Here, you can spend time wandering through these stunning landscapes or touring the castle itself.

Visiting Schwerin gives you a taste of fairy-tale magic without having to go far. You might walk in the lush castle park one moment and gaze at the impressive architecture of the palace next.

And don't worry about running out of things to see; cities like Luebeck and Rostock are close by for even more exploration.

When visiting Hamburg, plan a day trip to Bremen for a unique historical experience. Known for its association with the famous German fairy tale "The Bremen Town Musicians," this city offers an engaging and relatively untouched glimpse into history.

Unlike many other cities in Germany, Bremen has remained unscathed during various events, making it an ideal destination for those seeking an authentic and preserved historical setting.

Sharing the title of "Free and Hanseatic city" with Hamburg, Bremen presents similarities that make it a must-visit location while exploring the surrounding areas from Hamburg.

Travemünde, a popular seaside resort close to Lübeck, is known for its clean and friendly atmosphere.

Situated alongside the Baltic Sea, it offers stunning coastal views and a relaxing ambiance.

The town's picturesque architecture adds to its charm.

Only about 1 hour away from Hamburg, Travemünde is easily accessible and boasts a beautiful beach, making it a sought-after destination for visitors of all ages.

Hannover is a gem worth exploring with its array of activities and sights. Hannover, boasting diverse activities, promises a memorable getaway.

Discover the charm of Herrenhausen Garden, a picturesque gem in the city. Take in historic sites or savor local cuisine, ensuring there's something for every taste.

With just a day, plan strategically to make the most of your visit. Consider a private guide for an insightful exploration of Herrenhausen Garden, adding depth to your journey.

Whether strolling through greenery or immersing in local culture, a day trip to Hannover offers a refreshing escape from the bustling streets of Hamburg.

Consider a day trip to Berlin from Hamburg for a taste of Germany's vibrant capital city. Berlin, a city rich in history and vibrant culture, welcomes you with iconic landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate and Berlin Wall. Explore the dynamic atmosphere of Alexanderplatz and savor local cuisine at bustling food markets .

Delve into the city's past at the Berlin Wall Memorial or the DDR Museum. Efficient train connections make it feasible to absorb Berlin's essence in a day.

Uncover the juxtaposition of historic charm and modern energy, ensuring a memorable excursion that reveals the heart of Germany's capital city in just a day.

Wismar, a popular day trip from Hamburg, offers sandy calm bays for relaxation and enjoyment. The town is easy to navigate, making it convenient for a day trip. Visitors can explore attractions such as Nikolaikirche, Welt-Erbe-Haus, and Tierpark Wismar.

Known for its gorgeous architecture and historic ties to the Hanseatic League, Wismar is an ideal destination from Hamburg.

Visitors can also enjoy activities like sailing, surfing, and diving at the beaches near Wismar. Its deep historical significance makes it a must-visit spot for those interested in history and culture.

Rostock, just a two-hour journey from Hamburg, is a coastal gem worth exploring. The region boasts charming medieval towns, captivating castles , and unique landscapes – all within an hour or two away.

Easily accessible by train, Rostock serves as an ideal starting point for day trips from Hamburg.

Visitors can explore attractions like Schwerin Castle and other popular destinations nearby, making it a must-visit spot for those seeking history and natural beauty on their day excursion.

Oranienburg

Oranienburg, known for the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, serves as an open-air museum and memorial. It's a great addition to your day trips from Hamburg.

The city offers historical significance and gives you the chance to pay your respects while learning about an important part of Germany's past.

This spot provides a somber yet educational experience that adds depth to your exploration of the region.

Plus, it complements other nearby attractions, making it a meaningful stop on your journey through northern Germany.

Kassel, nestled in the heart of Germany, boasts a rich cultural tapestry and historical allure. Delve into the city's charm by exploring iconic landmarks like the Hercules Monument and the Wilhelmshöhe Palace.

Immerse yourself in the art world at the renowned Documenta exhibitions, showcasing contemporary masterpieces. Indulge in local flavors at traditional eateries, savoring regional delicacies.

With its seamless blend of history, art, and gastronomy, a day in Kassel promises a fulfilling excursion. Optimize your visit by planning efficiently, ensuring a memorable journey from Hamburg.

Stade, a small city with Hanseatic history, is an ideal day trip from Hamburg. Nestled along the Elbe River, it boasts a blend of history, art, culture, and nature that caters to diverse tastes and budgets.

Visitors can immerse themselves in the charm of this Hanseatic pearl while surrounded by picturesque landscapes. Stade provides an authentic glimpse into the region's rich past and offers a delightful escape beyond the bustling streets of Hamburg.

Surrounded by the lovely Elbe River and filled with historical significance from its Hanseatic roots, Stade is a versatile day trip for those seeking a break from urban life.

Whether it's exploring historical sites or enjoying leisurely walks through beautiful scenery, Stade has something to offer every kind of traveler looking to experience an enriching day outside Hamburg.

Lüneburg is a charming town with a rich history dating back to the Neanderthals, known for its salt production and well-preserved Hanseatic buildings.

Visitors can enjoy strolling through the picturesque streets, exploring the German Salt Museum, visiting churches and abbeys, and indulging in the ornate architecture and local pastries.

It is an easily accessible and worthwhile day trip destination from Hamburg.

Heligoland, an island in the North Sea, is a fantastic day trip option from Hamburg. It's just a 3-hour high-speed ferry ride away. The island has diverse attractions including Wadden Sea mud, luxury resorts, countryside hamlets, and beaches .

Also, its WWII history is captivating with bunker tours showcasing its historical significance.

Moreover, Heligoland is appealing all year round – each season offering different charms making it versatile for day trips from Hamburg. You will find something unique to explore no matter when you visit!

Cuxhaven, a charming maritime town at the mouth of the Elbe River, beckons with its picturesque beaches and coastal vistas. Divided into Duhnen, Dose, and Sahlenburg, Cuxhaven features kilometers of beautiful sandy beaches in Duhnen.

Here, you can feast your eyes on large container ships sailing by and embark on mesmerizing mudflat hikes. As the gateway to Wadden Sea National Park, Cuxhaven offers an array of activities for nature enthusiasts as well as numerous dining spots to relish local flavors.

Situated along the North Sea, Cuxhaven draws visitors with its scenic coastal landscapes and vibrant atmosphere. It's home to approximately 52,000 residents and is an ideal day trip destination from Hamburg. [ 1 ]

Buxtehude, a historical former Hansa city near Hamburg, is perfect for a half-day trip. With its population of around 40,000 inhabitants, it offers charming and peaceful surroundings.

The town's picturesque landscapes have earned it the reputation of being a "village of fairy tales". Easily accessible from Hamburg with a half-hourly train connection, Buxtehude provides a leisurely escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

The town's proximity to Hamburg makes it an ideal destination for those seeking a break. Its tranquil ambiance and captivating scenery offer visitors an opportunity to unwind amidst idyllic surroundings.

Altes Land, with its lush meadows and fruit orchards, offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. You can immerse yourself in the picturesque countryside setting, strolling through blooming apple trees or taking a leisurely bike ride along scenic paths.

The region is also known for its charming half-timbered houses that add to the quaint atmosphere. Additionally, you can visit traditional farms and taste delicious local produce while learning about traditional farming practices.

While in Altes Land, don't miss out on the opportunity to admire the stunning Elbe River flowing gracefully through this idyllic landscape. Whether you're seeking a serene day trip or an immersive cultural experience, Altes Land provides a delightful retreat just a short distance from Hamburg.

Glücksburg Castle

Glücksburg Castle is a picturesque destination near Flensburg, offering a rich historical and cultural experience. The castle houses fascinating treasures and artifacts, providing insight into its storied past.

Visitors can embark on guided tours to learn about the castle's history and the distinguished dukes who once lived there. Within the castle, visitors can explore rooms like the Red Hall and chapel, gaining a deeper understanding of its significance.

Surrounding the castle is its own enchanting lake, enhancing its already captivating appeal as a day trip from Hamburg.

The Wadden Sea is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its mudflats and islands. [ 2 ] The Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park encircles a small cluster of islands located in the Elbe estuary near Cuxhaven.

Along the coast, you can enjoy activities such as sunbathing, biking, walking, and hunting for amber.

Numerous exquisite day trips from Hamburg offer opportunities to explore different cities and natural wonders like Lübeck, Ludwigslust, Schwerin, Bremen and much more. For nature enthusiasts or those seeking a day filled with adventure and relaxation, the Wadden Sea presents an ideal destination.

Schaalsee, located east of Hamburg, is part of the Schaalsee Biosphere Reserve. It offers a peaceful and natural escape with picturesque landscapes for hiking and wildlife spotting.

Known for its tranquil atmosphere, it's an ideal spot for a relaxing city break . The lake's proximity to Hamburg makes it easily accessible for both tourists and locals alike.

Surrounded by serene beauty, Schaalsee provides an opportunity to unwind in nature while also exploring other nearby attractions like castles and medieval villages. With its location near Hamburg, it's no wonder why Schaalsee has become a favorite day trip destination.

Fehmarn Island

Fehmarn Island, also known as the Sunshine Isle, is a top choice for sun-seekers. It's Germany's third largest island and a hotspot for windsurfing. The 963m-long bridge connects it to the mainland and serves as a gateway to Denmark.

This island offers unique food, history, and landscapes for visitors to explore. With 78km of broad beaches, it's one of Germany's sunniest spots.

Boasting a separation from the German peninsula of Wagria in Holsatia by the Fehmarn Sound and from Denmark's Lolland by the Fehmarn Belt, this locale provides an opportunity for both relaxation and exploration.

Conclusion: Day Trips from Hamburg

For an unforgettable day out, explore the enticing day trip options from Hamburg. Beyond the vibrant activities in Hamburg , discover destinations that cater to every interest. 

Whether you're seeking a wholesome day with the family or a romantic escape , these day trips offer a perfect balance. 

From charming villages to scenic landscapes, each excursion promises a memorable experience that complements the dynamic offerings of Hamburg itself. Enjoy the best of both worlds – the lively urban atmosphere and the tranquility of nearby destinations.

Key Takeaways

• Hamburg is near many cool places like Lübeck, Ludwigslust, and Schwerin which are great for quick trips.
• There are lots of things to see close to Hamburg, such as castles, old towns, beaches, and even a zoo.
• Places like Berlin and Heligoland take longer to get to but they're worth it because there's so much to do there.
• You don't need a lot of time for some spots. Buxtehude is just 30 minutes away by train!
• The Wadden Sea is a special spot where you can play in the mudflats and it's not far from Hamburg.

References:

1: About: Cuxhaven, retrieved from https://dbpedia.org/page/Cuxhaven 2: Wadden Sea - UNESCO World Heritage Centre, retrived from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1314/

About the Author

Stephan Drescher

Stephan Drescher, founder of germanytravel.blog, is a German travel expert and insider, providing trusted tips and advice for a perfect trip to Germany. Born & bred German.

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From Hamburg to Lüneburg 

Small and funky: the Cab20

A Harbour in the Harbour

From Hamburg: Off to the green countryside

Anyone traveling to Hamburg, a metropolis of almost 2 million people, may feel the need to spend a few hours outside the city. But where to go? funkyGERMANY presents six day trips from Hamburg.

Amazon feeling in the Duchy of Lauenburg

For more than forty years, the river Wakenitz formed the inner-German border. Because the eastern bank, with its belt of marshes several hundred meters into the country, was so inaccessibly distant for decades and was hardly ever entered by humans, a unique mangrove landscape has developed there. Trees uprooted by storms or those of decrepit age were not felled and removed, and forestry was not practiced. Kingfishers and many rare species of ducks have found a home here, on the “Amazon of the North” . From the excursion boats that sail from Rothenhusen to Lübeck during the season, this magnificent idyll can be taken in quite calmly. Those who prefer a more sporty approach can climb into a canoe and paddle at their own pace. 

Boßeln in der Wilstermarsch

How about putting your skills to the test in the typical North German sport behind the Elbe dike ? Traditionally, boßeln is played in autumn and winter, but you can also show what you are made of in the Wilstermarsch in summer. The meeting point is the parking lot on the B 431 at the Störsperrwerk near Wewelsfleth . There you will be welcomed by the boßel guide and his equipment, who will give you a short introduction. The group starts at Achtern Diek and the goal is to cover a certain distance with as few throws as possible.

After a lot of exercise in the fresh air and a lot of boßel fun, a stop at a restaurant is just the right thing to regain strength. In the cold season, a hearty kale meal is traditionally offered. 

Brenner Moor in Stormarn

The Brenner Moor in Stormarn is the right place for everyone who wants to forget everyday life. Just take a deep breath and listen to nothing but the wind whistling over the grasses. The Brenner Moor is Schleswig-Holstein’s largest inland salt marsh and one of the nicest day trips from Hamburg. The high salt content of the water corresponds in some places to that of the North Sea. This is why plants such as beach trident and spring occur here, which are otherwise only found near the coast. Walking through the area, you can see many species of birds, such as gray herons and reed buntings, as well as a variety of floral beauties.

Day trips from Hamburg: Kids paradise in Lauenbrück

See, hear, feel, smell and taste – experience nature with all your senses. This is what the non-profit Landpark Lauenbrück – an animal and landscape park between Hamburg and Bremen – wants to offer its visitors. It is ideally suited for a day trip. Whether riding a donkey for children or petting one of the hand-tame animals. he comfortable trot of the donkey while walking through the park causes relaxation and deceleration from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Dogs are also allowed in the park. Especially for them there is even a fairly large forest to romp in. Play and fun in harmony with nature is also in the foreground in the play landscapes. But where to go first? To the deep ropes course, the swing forest, the knight’s castle or the giant dune … 

Heath blossom in the Lüneburger Heide

It is considered the fifth season in the region. And according to the usual rule of thumb, it blooms every year between August 8 and September 9 – the purple-colored common broom heather (Calluna Vulgaris) in the Lüneburger Heide , the largest area of heath in Europe. It then shows itself in a very special color splendor: Strong purple, interrupted by the rich green of the gnarled junipers and pines alternate with the silvery white of the birches. Then the beekeepers also set up their colonies.

The heath then literally smells of heather honey – it just honeys, says a guide from Schneverdingen, describing this natural spectacle in which several hundred bee colonies collect the nectar from millions of heather blossoms. 

For a good six weeks, one of the largest nature parks in northern Germany is transformed into a purple mecca for nature and hiking enthusiasts. Hikers who want to take it a little easier will certainly find a suitable path among the 30 or so circular hiking trails. For example in the Pietzmoor, around the Wilseder Berg, with its magnificent sunsets, or in the Büsebachtal.

Pick yourself an apple in the Alte Land

They hang bright red on the apple trees and tempt you to take a bite. When crisp apples delight eyes and palates in numerous farm stores, farm cafés or at one of the colorful farm festivals, it is harvest time in the Altes Land orchard . This is the largest contiguous fruit-growing area in northern Europe and the eponym for the Altes Land vacation region on the Elbe River . As many as 18 million fruit trees line the banks of the Elbe. The fresh apples are picked until November and thanks to offers such as apple sponsorships, trips with the apple crate express or apple tours, the apple harvest becomes an interesting experience, especially for families.

Especially at harvest time, it is exciting for apple lovers and other fruit connoisseurs to learn about the path the fruit takes from the tree to the consumer and how a fruit tree develops over the course of its life. That is why numerous fruit farms offer guided tours of the farm, apple crate express rides through the orchards or an apple diploma with knowledge questions. Guests can pick their own apples at various farms.

Best Day Trips from Hamburg in 2024

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If you’re visiting Hamburg be sure to save a day or two for day trips! Whether you travel by train or car, there are several easy trips you can make to see more of beautiful northern Germany.

In this guide we show you easy and popular, as well as more off-the-beaten path day trips from Hamburg.

• 1 Where Can I Travel On A Day Trip From Hamburg?
• 2 Where Can I Find The Above Map?
• 3 What’s The Best Way to Get Around Northern Germany?
• 4 Best Day Trips from Hamburg
• 6 Lüneburg
• 7 Schwerin Castle
• 8 Sankt Peter Ording
• 9 Altes Land
• 10 Cuxhaven
• 12 Bremerhaven
• 13 Heligoland (Helgoland)
• 15 Hamburg Day Trip FAQ

Where Can I Travel On A Day Trip From Hamburg?

Hamburg is close to all sorts of amazing destinations that are perfect for day trips.

You have, for example, islands, beaches, or coastal towns like Sylt, Heligoland, Cuxhaven, and Sankt Peter Ording.

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If you’re more into beautiful historic cities, Lübeck, Stade or Bremen are great options. There are also smaller towns like Lüneburg and Bremerhaven or the Altes Land countryside.

I lived in Hamburg when I was younger and traveled around northern Germany any chance I got. I still love returning to my favorite places and exploring new ones. The good new is that no matter what you choose, you can’t go wrong because they’re all great!

Where Can I Find The Above Map?

It’s part of our Germany Travel Planner , and it’s your Germany travel planning BFF! Using our custom interactive planning map you’ll be able to quickly see the best sights, castles, hotels, day trips, and more – along with our photos and up-to-date insider tips. Seeing where these things are in relation to each other makes it much easier to plan your overall itinerary, as well as each day of your trip. If you don’t yet have it, click here to get access.

What’s The Best Way to Get Around Northern Germany?

Option 1: car.

The most flexible option is by rental car since you can customize your itinerary and hit multiple spots in a day on your own timeline. If you want to visit some beaches or smaller villages, driving can be easier. That said, you can reach all of the day trips in this guide by train (except for Heligoland) so don’t feel like you need to rent a car, just to do a day trip.

Option 2: Train

Trains are an efficient way of traveling around the area because of how well connected the German rail system is. For some day trip destinations you can take a high speed train, for others a regional train or the local Hamburg S-bahn.

If you plan to use regional transport, you can save money on unlimited travel on one day by using the Schleswig-Holstein Day Ticket for trips in the state north of Hamburg and the Niedersachsen Day Ticket for trips in the state south of the city (Hamburg is both a city and a state).

There’s also the Deutschland Ticket , which is valid nationwide and allows you to travel on regional public transit all over Germany. We used it on a 3 month trip and loved the flexibility it gave us. If you want to know more about this ticket and how to use it on your trip, read our guide here.

Keep in mind that these tickets are only valid on regional trains. High speed trains, which are usually the quickest and most comfortable way to travel by rail, are not part of these day tickets.

Option 3: Boat

Some coastal or island destinations can also – or only – be reached by ferry.

Best Day Trips from Hamburg

Lübeck.

Lübeck is one of the most popular and easy year-round day trips from Hamburg. Known as both the “marzipan city” and the City of Seven Spires due to its many Gothic churches, the city of Lübeck has remained a hub for maritime trade over the centuries.

Despite the damage that the Old Town section of Lübeck sustained during World War II, the basic footprint of Old Town Lübeck, with its 15 th and 16 th century churches, salt storehouses, and public monuments remains unchanged. 

What To Do And See In Lübec k

Holstentor (Holsten Gate ) Created in the 15 th century, this gate straddles the Trave River and is a symbol of the city.  Take a walk up one of its spiral staircase to get a view of the city and ships below. Tip : Lübeck’s tourism website mentions that the best time to photograph the gate is in the afternoon. But don’t worry, even if you visit on a cloudy day like the last time we were there, it’s still beautiful.

The Altstadt & Courtyards While there is no shortage of attractions to visit in Lübeck, some of the best sights can be found by chance, just by strolling the alleys and streets of the Old Town.

Not only can you window shop or stop at a cafe or restaurant, you can also explore the courtyards found in the well-preserved Kober area in the north along Engeslwisch, Glockengießerstraße and Engelsgrube, and in the south around the cathedral.

If you’d rather not leave discovering Lübeck’s Altstadt to chance, check out this guided walking tour through the Lübeck’s courtyards and alleys!

Church of St. Mary’s The Church of St. Mary’s is Germany’s third largest church and sits on the highest part of the old town in Lübeck.  It is a model for countless other brick Gothic churches in the country.

Inside, two bells lie broken on the ground remaining where they fell after an Allied attack during World War II. Don’t miss the Danse Macabre stain glass window that pays tribute to a medieval mural that was destroyed during WWII. Just outside the church, be sure to look for the devil statue sitting on a stone slab.

Enjoy All Things Marzipan Lübeck is famed for its marzipan! Stop by Café Niederegger across from the Rathaus. This is the flagship store of this famed producer of marzipan. This location is a shop, café, and has a museum.  There are two other locations in Lübeck.  One is a marzipan factory and the other is a shop.

You’ll find marzipan everywhere, e.g., marzipan covered in chocolate, marzipan shaped like fruit, marzipan covered cake, and even Marzilade – a marzipan fruit jam! You’ll also find a wide variety of delicious cakes so it’s a great place to stop for Kaffee und Kuchen.

Hospital of the Holy Spirit Located at Koberg square in the Jakobi Quarter, the Hospital of the Holy Spirit is one of the oldest social institutions in the world.  It was founded in 1286 and continued in operation until the 1960s.  At Christmastime, the hospital welcomes an international arts & crafts market.

St Peter’s Church Go to St Peter’s for an excellent view of Lübeck from its 50 m. high viewing platform. St Peter’s was initially built between 1227 and 1250 and then expanded in the 15 th and 16 th centuries. Nowadays, the church is no longer used for religious services and is now a center for events and exhibitions. A large arts and crafts market occurs in St Peter’s during Christmastime. There’s also a cozy cafe at the entrance.

An der Obertrave Take a stroll along this promenade, which follows the Trave River along the southwest curve of Old Town Lübeck. Along the An der Obertrave, you will see homes decorated in Medieval and Renaissance architecture.

How To Get From Hamburg to Lübeck

Lübeck is 45 miles (72 kilometers) from Hamburg. By regional train it takes about an hour to get to Lübeck. You can use the Schleswig-Holstein regional day ticket for up to 5 people traveling together. By car it takes about an hour to reach Lübeck from Hamburg (depending on traffic).

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From the 13 th to 17 th centuries, Stade was a prominent member of the Hanseatic League, a commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in northwestern Europe. It has previously been a part of Sweden and Denmark. Exploring Stade is a delight!

Things To Do And See In Stade

Old Town & Harbo r The Old Town of Stade is home to historic buildings and churches like the Rathaus Hansestadt Stade (town hall), the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, and St. Wilhadi Church. The harbor or Stadthafen Stade along the River Schwinge was once a trading hub but now features a charming waterfront ambiance with a scenic promenade. Restaurants and cafes line the harbor and it’s a lovely place to relax and enjoy a drink or meal.

Schwedenspeicher Museum (Swedish Warehouse) Shortly after the end of the Thirty Years’ War, the Swedish conquered Stade and began constructing a supply house from 1692 to 1705.  Today, the former warehouse contains exhibits on the history of Stade as well as the Hanseatic period.

Freilichtmuseum (Stade Open Air Museum) The Freilichtmuseum is an open air museum where visitors can get a glimpse of rural life of the past through preserved objects from everyday life. The museum also hosts craft and weaving workshops as well as guided tours twice a month. It’s a small yet interesting museum, so it’s easy to fit into a day trip.

Kunsthaus (Art Gallery) The Kunsthaus is an exciting art gallery constructed within a merchant’s house from the Hanseatic period.

St. Wilhadi Kirch e For centuries, this church has overlooked the city of Stade.  Interestingly, its history includes multiple lightning strikes to the tower! St. Wilhadi also contains an organ by the master by the master organ builder Erasmuc Bielfeldt from 1731 to 1736.

How To Get To Stade From Hamburg

Stade is 34 miles (56 kilometers from Hamburg). Stade is part of the Hamburg transit area so you can reach Stade using a Hamburg transit ticket in about 60 minutes. By car it takes about 1 hour to reach Stade.

L üneburg

Having survived World War II relatively untouched, Lüneburg has a medieval charm that draws visitors from around the world. This city was a bustling trading hub in the Middle Ages and owes its long and prosperous history in part to the production of salt, known as “white gold.” Even if you only have a couple hours to enjoy Lüneburg, it’s worth visiting.

Things To Do And See in Lüneburg

Am Sande Market Square To best experience Lüneburg’s medieval charm, go directly to the Am Sande market square. The square is surrounded by the beautiful architecture of St John’s Church. Fun Fact: in the Middle Ages, the plaza was covered in sand rather than cobbles to help merchants maneuver their horse and ox carts within the market.

Historic Harbor, Stintmarkt Now a vibrant waterside district filled with a high concentration of bars and pubs, the historic harbor of Luneburg was previously a shipping center and fish market. Try out one of the pubs for a great view of the historic harbor and cityscape of Lüneburg.

Highlight: At the harbor stands the Old Crane (Alte Kran) which previously loaded ships. You can see the inside of the crane on a guided city tour. (There’s one just like it in Stade, too.)

Old Town Hall (Rathaus) Construction of the town hall begun in 1230 but took centuries to complete.  The baroque façade of the town hall is something special to behold but the true beauty lies within with murals, frescoes, and intricate wood carvings. Outside of the Rathaus is a large market square.

Lüneburg Abbey & Textile Museum Approximately a 15-minute walk from the city center, the Monastery Lüne (Kloster Lüne) was founded in 1172 by Benedictine monks as a nunnery and is inhabited to this day!

Textile Museum The Textile Museum explores the art of weaving and exhibits the textile works of art made by nuns over the centuries.

St John’s Church (St. Johannis) Luneburg’s oldest church dates to 927 and is known for the crooked steeple. Whoops! While you’re exploring St John’s, keep a look out for the elegant high altar and ornate Baroque organ inside. The composer, Johann Sebastian Bach himself learned to write and compose here while his uncle worked as the choirmaster.

Salu Saltztherme Luneburg’s saltwater thermal spa! Relax in a eucalyptus sauna or a steam bath. There’s even a water park for children called “Kinderbadeland.”

How To Get To Lüneburg From Hamburg

Lüneburg is 34 miles (56 kilometers) from Hamburg. It’s part of the Hamburg transit area so you can reach Lüneburg using a Hamburg transit ticket in about 50 minutes. By car it takes about 40 minutes to reach Lüneburg (depending on traffic).

Schwerin Castle

Walking through the gardens and rooms of Schwerin Castle, it would be an understandable mistake to think you’d become lost in a fairy tale! The oldest parts of the castle date back to the 16 th century. Make sure to take some extra time to explore the lakes and gardens nearby!

Schwerin is sometimes called “Neuschwanstein of Northern Germany” relating it to the neomedieval castle in the Bavarian mountains that became world famous. They were both built to remind and imitate ancient and medieval castles. Neuschwanstein was constructed about 20 years after Schwerin Castle.

Discover the most important sights of the old town of Schwerin in this 90-minute city tour.

How To Get To Schwerin From Hamburg

Schwerin Castle is 68 miles (111 kilometers) from Hamburg. By regional train, it takes a little over an hour. Depending on which train you take, you can purchase individual tickets or a day card. You can use the Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket for up to 5 people traveling together from Hamburg to Schwerin, which is in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. By car it takes about an hour and a half to reach Schwerin (depending on traffic).

Sankt Peter Ording

Sankt Peter Ording is a popular beach destination on the North Sea. This picturesque seaside town is known for its expansive sandy beaches perfect for a relaxing day away from the city or doing outdoor activities.

There are rental beach chairs available so you can spend the day enjoying sunbathing, swimming or walking on the boardwalk by the ocean. You can also do water activities like kiteboarding and windsurfing depending on the weather. 

One of Sankt Peter Ording’s most iconic features is its stilt houses. One of them houses a restaurant and another has toilets! These traditional beach houses give Sankt Peter Ording a charming coastal feel. I’ve been to this beach in various seasons and always enjoy walking up and down the beach on a sunny day.

How to Get to Sankt Peter Ording from Hamburg

Sankt Peter Ording is 87 miles (140 kilometers) from Hamburg. This day trip is best done by car and takes around 1.5 hours from Hamburg to Sankt Peter Ording (depending on traffic).

Altes Land is an area located to the south of Hamburg on the southwestern side of the Elbe River. This area is known for being one of the largest fruit-growing regions in Northern Europe, specifically apples and cherries. Altes Land has beautiful natural landscapes, especially during the harvest season.

The scenic countryside is lined with quaint villages and half-timbered farmhouses. It’s the perfect day trip from Hamburg for those looking for a quiet, lesser known destination.

How to Get to Altes Land from Hamburg

Altes Land is around 28 miles (45 kilometers) from Hamburg. Altes Land is part of the Hamburg transit area so you can reach Stade, Buxtehude or Jork using a Hamburg transit ticket in about an hour. By car, it also takes around an hour from Hamburg to Altes Land (depending on traffic).

Located at the mouth of the Elbe River, Cuxhaven is a maritime town known for its picturesque beaches, piers, and coastal landscapes. We did a day trip here from Stade (via train) but you could also visit on a day trip from Hamburg.

Things to Do and See in Cuxhaven

Kugelbake This tall tower is a historic landmark that used to be a navigation aid for ships navigating the River Elbe and the North Sea. From here you can see huge ships sail by and then walk to the nearby beach.

Wattenmeer ( National Park Wadden Sea ) Located in the estuary of the Elbe in the North Sea, Wattenmeer is a national park made up of mudflats, shallow creeks, dunes, and sandbars. When the tide it out you walk out pretty far – though it is muddy so wear appropriate shoes or boots. I tried walking in an area that was still pretty wet and my shoes got stuck in the mud a few times.

Windstärke 10 Museum A maritime museum that showcases the region’s seafaring history, with exhibits on the dramatic challenges of seafaring in the North Sea.

Schloss Ritzebüttel A historical 14th-century brick mansion used as a cultural venue for exhibitions and concerts located a short walk from the city center pedestrian zone. You can also stay in the well-preserved castle rooms or visit the gardens and restaurant. There’s also a nice park with walking trails and a small river flowing through it. We enjoyed a relaxing stroll through this area.

Cuxhavener Küstenheiden A coastal heath or natural reserve ideal for walking or biking.

How to Get to Cuxhaven from Hamburg

Cuxhaven is around 80 miles (129 kilometers) from Hamburg. Cuxhaven is around 1.5 hours away by regional train using the Niedersachsen Ticket. By car, it takes about 2 and a half hours from Hamburg to Cuxhaven (depending on traffic).

Bremen is one of oldest and most important port cities in northern Europe. It has a rich heritage and trading legacy which is reflected on many of its historic landmarks and medieval architecture. We were invited to join a guided English tour of the city and Beck’s brewery and highly recommend both experiences. Book a guided tour so you don’t miss out on the must-see sights of Old Town Bremen!

Things to Do and See in Bremen

Town Musicians of Bremen A landmark made of bronze depicting the donkey, dog, cat and rooster from the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tale. It’s a popular selfie spot!

Bremen Market Square The Market Square in Old Town is home to the beautiful and intricate UNESCO World Heritage Town Hall, the statue of Bremen Roland, the first Holy Roman Emperor, and the St Petri cathedral. It’s especially beautiful at night.

Schnoor Quarter This district is a must-see and one of the only parts of the city that has preserved its medieval character. Explore the narrow, winding streets and discover all the historic buildings through this guided walking tour .

Beck’s Brewery Tour We were invited to join an English tour of Beck’s brewery, which was a lot of fun. During the first part we learned about Beck’s brewing process, and during the second we got to sample several types of Beck’s beer. I only recommend this tour if you don’t have to drive back to Hamburg!

How to Get to Bremen from Hamburg

Bremen is around 77 miles (125 kilometers) from Hamburg. Bremen is around an hour by high speed train. You can also take a regional train, which takes about 1.5 hours. By car, it takes about 1.5 hours  from Hamburg to Bremen (depending on traffic).

Bremerhaven

Bremerhaven is a small coastal city and important international port. It’s full of interesting museums and research institutes dedicated to not only preserving its maritime heritage but covering a wide range of interesting topics. We visited Bremerhaven on a day trip from Bremen but you can easily visit from Hamburg.

Things To Do And See In Bremerhaven

The German Emigration Center Museum This is the largest theme museum about emigration in Europe. It documents the experience of emigrants leaving for North America through personal artifacts, interactive exhibits, and short documentaries. I really enjoyed this immersive museum!

The Klimahaus Bremerhaven This unique museum takes visitors on a climate journey along the eighth longitudinal line around the world. As you proceed, you get to experience how it’s like to live in different places like Switzerland, Sardinia, Niger, Cameroon, Antarctica, Samoa, Alaska, and back to Bremerhaven. Aaron visited this museum and enjoyed his visit.

How to Get from Hamburg to Bremerhaven

Bremerhaven is around 112 miles (181 kilometers) from Hamburg. Bremerhaven is around 1 hour and 40 minutes by taking a combination of the high speed train and regional train. By car, it takes about 2 hours from Hamburg to Bremerhaven (depending on traffic).

Heligoland (Helgoland)

Heligoland is a small archipelago made up of two islands: the main island called Hauptinsel and a smaller island called Düne. The main island is where the harbor is located. It’s known for its red sandstone cliffs, like the famous Lange Anna, pristine beaches, and colorful coastal houses.

How to Get to Heligoland from Hamburg

Heligoland is around 96 miles (155 kilometers) from Hamburg. Heligoland can be reached by ferry or catamaran . From Hamburg it takes about 3.5 hours (from Cuxhaven it takes about 2.5 hours). This is a day trip that would need to be planned out in advance and is best done in the summer when you have lots of daylight.

Sylt is a popular island destination in the North Sea. Its natural beauty is characterized by its long, vast beaches, dunes, and mudflats. The main town of the island, Westerland, attracts tourists with its upscale spas and resorts, shops, and seafood restaurants.

There are also several landmarks worth visiting like the Sylt Aquarium and Musikmuschel music pavilion. I recommend spending an hour in Westerland and then going north or south via bus or rented bike to see more of this beautiful island. If you head north you can visit the most northern spot in all of Germany.

How to Get to Sylt from Hamburg

Sylt is around 134 miles (216 kilometers) from Hamburg. Sylt can be reached by regional train from Hamburg in a little over 3 hours. This is a day trip that would need to be planned out in advance and is best done in the summer when you have lots of daylight.

Hamburg Day Trip FAQ

What’s the best day trip from hamburg.

If you’re looking for a picturesque small town: Stade or Lüneburg. Larger town: Bremen or Lübeck. Interesting museums: Bremerhaven. Beaches: Cuxhaven or Sankt Peter Ording. Island: Heligoland or Sylt. Castle: Schwerin. You really can’t go wrong with any of them!

What’s the most beautiful city near Hamburg?

Lübeck, Bremen, Stade, and Lüneburg are all beautiful cities just about an hour away from Hamburg.

What cities are near Hamburg by train?

There are so many! You can reach Lübeck, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven, Stade, Lüneburg and more all by train.

Is Hamburg worth visiting?

Most definitely! Hamburg is a beautiful and vibrant city in northern Germany with a lake, canals, and harbor…not to mention fun museums, gorgeous parks, and tons of great restaurants. I lived in Hamburg for a while and it’s in my top 3 favorite German cities. Click here to see the best things to do in Hamburg.

How many days is enough in Hamburg?

Ideally 3 nights, which gives you 2 full days . If you can add another 1 or 2 days you can see more, enjoy a more relaxed sightseeing pace and add 1 or 2 day trips.

What to do in Hamburg in 1 day?

If you only have 1 day in Hamburg I recommend doing the HOHO bus so you get to see a lot of the city in a short amount of time. Check out our what to do in Hamburg guide and choose 2-4 things from that list to add to your day.

Where to stay in Hamburg?

To find the best hotels in the most convenient locations, check out our where to stay in Hamburg guide here.

Cate has been traveling to Germany for 30+ years. She has lived in Germany, taught college German, and has a PhD in German Applied Linguistics. She loves helping travelers plan their dream trips to Germany!

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Here’s how we can help you plan your perfect trip in 2024.

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The 20 Best Day Trips From Hamburg, Germany

The port town of Hamburg is a city where modern meets historic. You may be tempted to stay within city limits and spend your days enjoying daily walks along the canals, seeing all the sites, or cozying up in the riverside cafes – but Hamburg is just the gateway into some of the country’s most charming medieval towns, fairytale-like castles, and idyllic countryside. There are even some breathtaking coastlines within driving distance of the city! 

Keep scrolling to see our guide to the top 20 day trips from Hamburg.

Table of Contents

1. Lüneburg

One of the closest (and therefore most popular) day trips from Hamburg is the ancient city of Lüneburg. It’s extremely easy to get here on public transportation if you are traveling without a vehicle. 

The town miraculously survived the second world war without a whole lot of damage, and much of the medieval architecture has been impeccably preserved. You’ll feel like you stepped back in time as you marvel at the half-timbered houses and gabled facades that line the streets. 

Back in the day, this wealthy little town traded in white gold, these days known as salt. Today that fact is visible in the beautiful houses that lean slightly, due to the hollow salt mine they were built on. 

Be sure to check out the Lüneburg Town Hall with its impressive wood-carved paneling, and the ancient Church of Saint St. Michaelis. 

Once you’ve had enough sightseeing, you can soak in the saltwater thermal baths or pop into one of the many pubs that dot the town. Krone is the town’s oldest pub, dating all the way back to 1485!

The nearby city of Lübeck is another popular day trip from Hamburg and is just as easily reachable by public transportation. The moment you step out of the train station you’ll come face to face with the brick Gothic architecture that has made Lübeck a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The first building you’ll see is the Holstenor , the ancient city gate-turned-museum. From there on you’ll be treated to sights of more impressive architecture, which is a result of the Hanseatic League Trading Federation that made this city their capital. 

The Old Town is where you’ll see the most noteworthy buildings, including the 14th-century Church of St. Mary , the town hall , and the gable facades that line the riverfront. 

Lübeck is fabled to be the birthplace of marzipan, so don’t miss out on sampling some of this sweet almondy treat while you’re in town.

If you loved the Hanseatic architecture of Lüneburg and Lübeck, then you should definitely consider taking a day trip to Bremen while in Hamburg. This town is quite literally the stuff of fairy tales; if you’re familiar with the Brothers Grimm, you’ll remember the Bremen Town Musicians – which locals insist actually existed. 

But it’s not just adored stories that make this town enchanting. The old architecture was mostly left alone during World War II, and the old quarter of Schnoor is as charming as it is historic. Some of the most noteworthy edifices can be found in the Marktplatz , specifically the town hall that has been dubbed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Other popular activities in Bremen include relaxing along the Schalchte promenade , visiting the illustrious Kunsthalle for some art history, and taking a tour of the Becks Brewery . If you’re visiting in the winter, don’t miss one of Germany’s best Christmas markets held in the Marktplatz. 

Don’t leave the city without stopping by the Bremen Town Musicians sculpture to rub the donkey’s leg for good luck!

4. Schwerin

If a castle in the middle of a lake doesn’t warrant a day trip from Hamburg we don’t know what will. The Schwerin Palace is actually situated on an island between two lakes, and is surrounded by lush, verdant gardens.

Often considered to be the “Neuschwanstein of the North”, this majestic castle was once the seat of the Dukes of Mecklenburg, and today is home to the state parliament. The palace maintains some of the historic rooms, and spending the day exploring this historic building and the lavish gardens that surround it is an experience that should not be missed. 

Just outside of the palace you’ll find Market Square , filled with even more historic buildings, shops, and cafes. There are also quite a few museums in Schwerin and various festivals that are held throughout the year.

5. Altes Land

For those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of Hamburg, a day trip to the Altes Land is a must. The “old country” is made up of lush meadows, fields, and orchards that constitute the largest fruit-growing area in all of Northern Europe. 

You’ll see groves of apples, pears, and cherries, and if you’re in the area during the fall you’ll get to experience (and taste!) the harvest. Spring is also a lovely time to visit, as this is when the trees are in full bloom. 

The Altes Land is also full of idyllic villages that are bursting with picturesque medieval architecture, farm stores selling stores of meat, cheese, and honey, and cafes serving up delicious local delicacies. 

One of the best ways to explore this area is via bicycle, and there are plenty of well-constructed paths to make your trip as easy as it is scenic.

Taking a full day to explore this lovely city is a no-brainer. This small town was once in competition with Hamburg to become the main port city in northern Germany, however Stade has remained a sleepy river city bedecked with beautiful and historic buildings. 

This ancient town is one of the most picturesque in the country, and because it’s not as well known as some of the other city’s in the area it’s never overly crowded with flocks of tourists. 

You could spend the whole day here ambling along the harbor and ducking into quiet side streets. Stop by the historic Stader Ratskeller for a traditional homebrew or have some brunch at any one of the numerous cafes.

7. Travemünde

Those who are keen on enjoying a beach day while visiting Hamburg should take a day trip to the coastal city of Travemüde. Located on Germany’s northern coast, this small resort town looks over the Baltic Sea and offers visitors a sandy stretch of beach. 

Other attractions that bring visitors to Travemünde include a historic brick lighthouse – Germany’s oldest one along the Baltic – and a ferry that will take you all the way up to the Swedish city of Malmö if you want to turn your day trip into a weekend getaway. 

Cycling along the coast is also a popular pastime, and once you work up an appetite, head to the Fisherman’s Harbor and grab a fresh fish sandwich.

Continue east along the Baltic coast and spend some time in the city of Wismar. This historic town is also a Hanseatic city.

The most noteworthy areas include the old town and the equally as old harbor. Old Town is full of ancient relics from bygone areas, many of which can be spotted from the market square. There are also a number of beautiful churches in Wismar, most notably the Georgenkirche . 

The harbor is extremely picturesque, and you’ll be able to see even more historic buildings in addition to the old city gate that dates back to medieval times.

Northern Germany is full of charming old towns, and the village of Mölln is no exception. The city is surrounded by several small lakes, making it a great spot to cool off during the warm summer months. 

You can swim, rent a boat, or enjoy a picnic along one of the verdant shorelines. The town itself is bedecked with well-preserved medieval architecture, and the old doors and windows are equally as charming as the half-timbered buildings that they sit on. 

There aren’t a ton of other things to do Mölln, which is likely why it often flies under the radar, but the quietness of the town makes it a great spot to escape the crowds of some of the more touristy areas around Hamburg.

10. The Wadden Sea

One of the more unique day trips from Hamburg is a visit to the Wadden Sea , or Wattenmeer in German. It is the largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mudflats in the world, earning it a UNESCO World Heritage title. 

This scenic area is comprised of sandbars, dunes, seagrass meadows, and salt marshes, allowing it to support a wide variety of marine animals including seals, porpoises, and many of unique bird species. 

When the tide is low, you can actually walk out to some of the nearby islands. When the tide is in, you can sail, swim, or try your hand at kitesurfing. 

The cities of Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven are common entry points into the Wadden Sea, both of which are around two hours from Hamburg.

11. Ludwigslust Castle

Located about an hour north of Hamburg, the stately Ludwigslust Castle makes for a great day trip. This castle has been used as a hunting lodge, a ducal capital, and a center of government, but today is simply a magnificent monument that is open to the public. 

The castle has remained virtually unchanged since the 18th century, and you’ll find plenty of impressive artwork and antiques as you roam the halls. 

The outside of the castle is surrounded by a lovely park complete with canals, fountains, and even a church. The Saint Helena and Andreas Church is a beautiful old building that is definitely worth popping into while you’re exploring the castle grounds.

12. Heligoland

Heligoland, or Helgoland in German, is an archipelago located in the North Sea – and is one of the most thrilling day trips from Hamburg. Those looking for adventure would be hard-pressed to find a better spot. 

Start with a speedy catamaran ride from the mainland. Once on the island, you’ll be treated to incredible nature views of the surrounding sea and the monumental red cliffs that the archipelago is famous for. There’s lots of wildlife to be seen as well; you’ll likely see a variety of rare sea birds and maybe even a few seals. 

If you’d like to breathe in the fresh, clean air for more than just a few hours, Heligoland is a popular resort destination. Foodies may also be tempted to extend their trip and indulge in some of the fresh seafood that is available at the restaurants here.

13. Schaalsee

Schaalsee is located just 40 minutes from Hamburg, and this massive forest is a great place for a day trip, especially if you’re looking to get away from the big city hubbub nd get a dose of nature. 

Hike around the forest, or head straight for the lake and relax on the sandy beach. You can also rent canoes and stand up paddle boards from the nearby campground. If you want to stay the night, you can pitch a tent or book a room in the nearby youth hostel.

14. Fehmarn Island

Another great spot to soak up some sun on a day trip from Hamburg is Fehmarn Island, known locally as the “sunshine island”. This small town is known for its sunshine and water sports, and is a great place to simply lay out your towel on the sandy beach and spend the day working on your tan. 

Other points of interest on this lovely island include the Maritime Center , the U-11 U-Boat Museum , and the Fehmarn Butterfly Garden.

Although technically an island, you can drive out to this area or even take the train if you plan on visiting during a weekend.

15. Lüneburger Heide

Those looking for a unique day trip should head to the Lüneburger Heide, or heath. This protected nature area is most beautiful when it blooms (From August through September), but it is lovely no matter what time of year you visit. 

One of the most common ways to explore the heath is via bicycle, and once you work up an appetite, there are plenty of restaurants along the trail where you can grab a bite to eat. There are also plenty of hotels if you want to turn your day trip into a multi-day expedition.

16. Cuxhaven

If you enjoyed the northern coastline near the Wadden Sea, you can stay in the area and explore the beautiful city of Cuxhaven on a day trip from Hamburg. 

The main attractions can be found along the coastline near the resort, and those looking for a good spot to soak up some sun can park themselves on Grimmershörn Beach . Head down to Cuxhaven Beach , which is a great spot for beachcombing once the tide goes out – just be sure to make it back to the shore before the tide comes back in because it is possible to get stranded at sea. 

Don’t miss the Kugelbake , a historic navigation tower made completely out of wood located on the city’s northernmost point. 

17. Glücksburg Castle

The third and final castle on our list of the best day trips from Hamburg can be found along the Danish border on the banks of Schlossteich Lake . 

Dating back to the 16th century, this stark white castle was once home to Danish kings and the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein. Today it is a museum, and you can take a guided tour to learn all about the history of this stately structure. 

After your tour, you can wander around the grounds or walk a bit further down the lakeshore to get the best views of the castle.

18. Ratzeburg

The city of Ratzeburg boasts an entire town out on its island. The most notable structure is the massive cathedral, but the most fun can be had out on the four lakes that surround the city. You can spend the day at one of the beaches, or rent a boat and laze around on the top of the water. 

Ratzeburg is not on the radar of most tourists, so those looking for a quiet reprieve from the busy city of Hamburg will find that this city makes for the perfect day trip.

Another little-known town not far from Hamburg is the city of Wedel. Although it doesn’t offer much in terms of activities or jaw-dropping architecture, it is a peaceful place to enjoy a sunny afternoon. 

You can watch the ships go by from one of the cafes along the river, or bring a picnic and relax on the verdant grassy area in front of the water.

20. Fischbeker Heide

More nature awaits in the Fischenbeker Heide, just outside of Hamburg. Walk or bike through both forests and heaths. One route will lead you through archeological sites and teach you about the former residents that lived in this area thousands of years ago. 

Be sure to check out the information center before your hike to get some more information about the region.

Related posts:

Private 5-Hour Hamburg Countryside Tour in a Large SUV

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• Sal4ro 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great way to see Hamburg for the first time! This was a fantastic way to see Hamburg!!! Heiko was a superb guide. The can was comfortable and clean. Heiko took the 4 of us to some great sites!!! I’d highly recommend this tour. Read more Written May 6, 2024
• Peter702 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Personalized, 5 Star Service Heiko was our tour guide and he was amazing! He is a native from Hamburg and knew everything about the city. He took us everywhere, gave us not only the rich history, but also tips on where to go eat and drink. We rode in his luxurious Range Rover. The ride was very comfortable and he attended to our needs to make sure that we were comfortable during the entire tour. I recommend studying the weather and dress appropriately. There are several stops along the tour and if you want to be comfortable, dress for outdoor weather conditions. This tour was worth it and I would highly recommend to my friends and family. Read more Written March 25, 2024
• GrandTour08687671773 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Would recommend The guide was professional, informed and all-round pleasant. I would recommend anyone to kick off their visit to Hamburg with this tour to get the full experience and understanding of this city's past and present. Read more Written January 12, 2024
• G665CUrohitk 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Highly recommend Organized. Efficient. Informative. A former security officer, very safe. Clean. Personable. Highly recommend. Read more Written December 25, 2023
• Jessica E 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Perfect way to see Hamburg Guide was very informative and friendly. Was able to customize our stops to our preferences. Communication was easy. We had a wonderful time. Read more Written December 4, 2023
• Q2197CFdianab 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful trip Great tour, really interesting and a brilliant way to see all that Hamburg has to offer, thanks to such a great tour guide. Read more Written October 11, 2023
• 629patc 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Easy relax way to see the city! Great easy relax way to get a feel for the various parts of the city before setting off on your own. Highly recommended! Read more Written October 10, 2023
• nejbiii 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Tour Of Hamburg Hieko was so good that it was like s friend driving you around their home town. Finding parts of Hamburg that most tours miss. Great time and always felt secure that the knowledge of Heiko was genuine. Take this tour again anytime Read more Written August 22, 2023
• amydT1148RZ 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Tasty pastries! Really lovely tour with excellent communication. Heiko was warm and friendly and great communicating before the tour. He knew all the quiet spots and best photo opportunities. We loved the champagne and squashed croissant (a Hamburg speciality) on the lake! Read more Written August 14, 2023
• JanWilliamR 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Perfect Tour Perfect from A to Z. I'm from Hamburg myself and that is a tour I'd recommend to everybody who visits my city. Read more Written June 4, 2023
• LynnT186 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Can't praise high enough! We just wanted to extend our grateful thanks for the city tour and for accommodating my husband’s mobility needs so well. You have a beautiful city and we were delighted that you shared it with us. We are back in Hamburg next April and will certainly make contact with you closer to the time to book our next tour and would highly recommend to anyone considering making a booking. We were met at the cruise terminal and given delicious local pastry and the offer of beer/champagne. Heiko your recommendation to visit a Five Guys has also been followed up! It was utterly delicious. Thank you once again! Read more Written May 5, 2023
• jorgecK9481JB 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful stay and tour of Hamburg! We booked our tour to celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary while visiting Hamburg for our first time. Our tour guide, Heiko, made it very special. Not only he did an outstanding job sharing his insights about the city, but he went the extra mile in helping us celebrate with photos and champagne by the Alster Lake. The quality of his tour details was unparalleled. He gave us time to by chocolates, visit other stores of interest, and patiently waited for us while we visited some of the sights. We have traveled around Europe quite a bit and really appreciate the uniqueness of this tour operator in a big-city environment…which we highly enjoyed. Read more Written April 22, 2023
• Dizzycurlycat 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Perfect, relaxing and interesting tour Our tour guide Heikel was so knowledgeable, this was a fantastic tour seeing key sites & learning cool facts about this lovely city. Visiting Hamburg for one day, we met the car directly outside the cruise terminal, waiting outside ready for us. So easy to book and communication was excellent. The tour was great with a number of stops to take in different parts of the city. Dropped off near the Rathaus and also treated to many sights not part of a standard tour. We also had local treats! Helbing schnapps, pink fizz, “French bread” (my fave!) and a “fish sandwich”. I cannot recommend this tour enough, a perfect introduction to Hamburg and not to be missed. We had a lovely memorable time! Read more Written April 3, 2023
• W2224OMwilliamj 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Definitely recommend this group Take this tour! Vehicle was spotless clean and comfortable. Our train was delayed and we didn't get to our hotel for pickup. My hubby and the driver had great contact and he picked us up from the train station to begin the tour right on time. Traffic was an issue so we did walked some of the tour which was a real easy walk, all flat ground. Tour guide made sure we were ok about some walking instead of waiting on traffic to clear and we were glad to walk and stretch our legs after being in a train for a few hours. Guide was very knowledgeable and knew his city, he was born there and his family dates back several generations in Hamburg. No better way to get a GREAT overview and hear all about Hamburg. The guide asked us what we were interested in at the beginning, we are history buffs and we left with a good knowledge of Hamburg, it's history and it's importance in Germany and a taste of the best Currywurst we had in ALL of Germany. Read more Written March 28, 2023
• TravelMember59 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles One of the best tours we’ve ever done Excellent 3 hour tour visiting several great points of interest you just wouldn’t see with the big tours. Lots of sights to during the drive around the city. German beer and Schnapps at the lake was a nice touch. Communication was excellent before and on the day, picking us up from the ports terminal. Heiko was great tour guide, friendly with a good sense of humour. Your also very safe as he was previously a police man and head of a security company. The large 4X4 Volvo was very comfortable for 4 of us. One of the best port tours we’ve ever done and we really loved Hamburg. Read more Written January 19, 2023

More to explore in Hamburg

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Private 5-Hour Hamburg Countryside Tour in a Large SUV provided by Big Black Car Tours

• Highlights of the Month
• Restaurants
• Hamburg DOM

Nature and Activities

Explore on Foot, by Bike or in a Canoe

The beautiful landscapes of Northern Germany unfold just beyond Hamburg's doorstep,

Metropolitan Region Bike Traffic Routes in the Region

Explore the region by bike: plans for nine convenient routes will connect Hamburg with surrounding rural areas.

Day Trips Altes Land Region

Despite being Europe's largest single orchard, this popular wedding destination maintains its medieval farmhouses and charm!

Autumn in and Around Hamburg Apple Picking

There are plenty of fruit farms in and around Hamburg where you can pick delicious fruit yourself.

Day Trips Bike Rides in the Region

Cycle along the old Salt Road, the Elbe river or through romantic forests ─ here are the region's most beautiful bike routes.

Day Trips Elbmarschen

Cycle through the Marsh west of Hamburg and experience Germany's smallest ferry, numerous birds and fascinating geological sites.​​​​​​​

Day Trips Holsteinische Schweiz

Paddle the Schwentine river through the unique landscape and see the romantic towns & castles of 'Little Switzerland'.

Day Trips Lüneburger Heide

Boasting the most theme parks in Europe, the romantic heath is home to roller coasters, lions, tigers, bears, carts and even indoor skiing.​​​​​​​

Outdoor Fun Strawberry Picking

Summer is strawberry season. Here are the best fields and farms around Hamburg for picking strawberries yourself.

Day Trips Wendland

Surrounded by ancient forests and heathland, guests can discover the diverse nature and enjoy one of the many local festivals!​​​​​​​

Copyright owners of the images

• Visitors : © www.mediaserver.hamburg.de / Andreas Vallbracht
• Nature & Activities: © www.mediaserver.hamburg.de / imagefoto.de
• Bike Traffic in the Region: © Thomas B. / Pixabay
• Altes Land Region: © Tourismusverein Altes Land e.V. / Diana Asbeck
• Strawberry Picking: © IMAGO / agefotostock
• Bike Rides in the Region: © www.mediaserver.hamburg.de / imagefoto.de
• Elbmarsch Region: © www.mediaserver.hamburg.de / Unterelbe Tourismus e.V.
• Holsteinische Schweiz: © www.mediaserver.hamburg.de / Ostsee-Holstein-Tourismus e.V.
• Lueneburger Heide Region: © www.mediaserver.hamburg.de / Heideregion Uelzen e.V.
• Strawberry Picking: © imago images / Cavan Images
• Wendland: © Elbtalaue-Wendland Touristik GmbH

24 Hours in Hamburg – Itinerary, Map & Travel Tips

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What To Do in One Day in Hamburg

Hamburg is a modern and progressive port city with a fascinating history. The second city of Germany, Hamburg is criss-crossed with canals and boasts more bridges than London, Venice and Bruges combined. Explore the historic districts, edgy culture and extraordinary commercial past with our one day Hamburg itinerary.

In this Hamburg one day travel guide, you’ll find a complete itinerary of all the most important must see Hamburg attractions, with an interactive map, organised to make the best use of your time.

We also share recommendations for central places to stay, ideas about where to eat local food, and tips about how to make the most of your 24 hours in Hamburg.

When to Visit Hamburg

The best time to plan your Hamburg trip is from May to September when northern Germany reaches balmy temperatures of 70°c.

Hamburg in summer is delightful, but it’s also the northern hemisphere’s high season, so expect accommodation and travel rates to be up there.

Early spring and late autumn can also be good times to visit, when costs will be lower. The weather may be a little more unpredictable and could also be quite cold or wet, requiring coats and boots.

Visit Hamburg in winter for Christmas markets and possibly snow, lending a typically Germanic feel to the city. 

Is this your first time visiting Germany? Get all the information you need in our Germany Travel Guide , including what to pack, the best time of year to go, getting there and practical tips to help you have the best trip!

Hamburg Trip Resources

Fly into Hamburg Helmut Schmidt Airport.

Drive in from Europe or hire a car in Germany

Travel Insurance

Medical costs, delays and lost luggage

Getting to Hamburg

If you’re flying in, Hamburg Helmut Schmidt Airport is around 8.5km from the city centre. The best way to get into the city is by train, directly from the airport.

The S-Bahn line S1 takes you from the airport to Hamburg Central Station and runs every 10 minutes and takes only 25 minutes to get to the Central Train Station. You can find the S Bahn Station from both arrivals terminals, accessible by lifts and escalators. Tickets can be purchased from the booths at the station.

There are also buses available, however, they will only take you so far before you will need to transfer to take a train or the subway to get to the centre. You will need to locate bus stop C and look for either the 274 or 392 which will get you to US Olsdorf Station or the 292 which with get you either to Langenhorn Market or U Ochsenzoll.

You can also take a taxi, however, this will be the most expensive route.

RELATED POST – Five Unmissable Germany Road Trip Routes

Where to Stay in Hamburg

Luxury: Tortue Hamburg – Schöner als die Fantasie – Booking.com | Agoda

Mid-Range: The   Henri Hotel – Booking.com | Agoda

Budget: Prizeotel Hamburg Hotel – Booking.com | Agoda

Hostel: Mac City Hostel – Booking.com | Agoda

Things to See & Do in Hamburg

Hamburg is a modern industrial city, the northern powerhouse of Germany due to its North Sea position on the River Elbe, in an almost landlocked country.

This easily walkable city is not always an easy visit though, with difficult history from World War II jarring against Hamburg’s development to being the culturally open and modern city it is today.

Follow our one day itinerary for an introduction to the essence of this sophisticated and culturally important city, and see Hamburg’s history and progress side by side.

If you don’t want to organise the day yourself, a  guided tour  or day trip is a good way to manage your Hamburg sightseeing, get a taste of the city and see all the important landmarks and things Hamburg is famous for.

Interactive Map of Your Hamburg Itinerary

How to use this map – Use your fingers (or computer mouse) to zoom in and out. Click or touch the icons to get more info about a place, and click the arrow in the box top left to open the index. To add to your own Google Maps account, click the star next to the title of the map.

Visit the Rathaus

Hamburg is a city state and is one of sixteen federal German states. The  Rathaus , or town hall, is the seat of the government of Hamburg.

Constructed between 1886 and 1897, Hamburg town hall is a hulk of a building with a fantastic verdigris copper roof, ornate detailing and statues along the frontage. This large and imposing building dominates the Rathausmarkt and Hamburg town centre.

The Rathaus was constructed on 4,000 wooden poles drilled into the muddy shores of the Alster lake. There is a rich history in Hamburg of building on mud and marshland, bought to Germany by their neighbours the Dutch, who excel in this building method. 

TOP TIP: Take a tour of the Rathaus and learn about Hamburg and the fake document which gave ‘free city’ status and allowed Hamburg to pay no trade taxes until 2003!

Look out for Stolperstein

Stolperstein , literally stumbling blocks, are sett-size (10x10cm) concrete cubes bearing a brass plate, inscribed with the names and life dates of victims of Nazi extermination or persecution. 

Since 1992, there have been more than 70,000 such stones laid by artist Gunter Demnig, across 1,200 cities in 24 countries, in Europe and Russia.  

Seeing the stones and reading the inscriptions was an incredibly moving experience, knowing they had been laid outside the last known place of residence of the individual’s choice. 

They shine up from the drab (and often wet, this is Hamburg) paths and pavements of the city, telling the story of the person they commemorate and making sure they, and the genocide of six million people, is not forgotten. 

One particularly poignant grouping is the  stolperstein  laid outside the  Patriotische Gessellschaft  on Trostbrucke, an organisation developed in 1765 for the good of Hamburg, epitomising working together as a society – the exact oppositie of Nazi doctrine.

Not everyone in Germany agrees with the concept of s tolperstein.  This excellent article in  The Guardian  explains why and shares more insight into the project.  

Visit the Memorial of St Nikolai

Destroyed in Allied bombing raids in 1943, this Gothic church is now a museum and observation deck. It was decided after the war to not return  St Nikolai  to a parish church as it had been before, but to create a memorial where Hamburg could remember their dead and the atrocities of the war.

The air-raids were known as ‘Gomorrah’ because the locals felt as though fire and brimstone was raining down from the sky. Over one week, the fatal combination of using high explosive and incendiary bombs resulted in unprecedented devastation. 

First ‘blockbusters’ were dropped which cracked open houses, then incendiaries containing phosphorus raised a firestorm which at times reached an altitude of 6,000 metres. The entire city turned into a volcano, a gigantic stack in which hurricane-like winds drew the hot air upwards causing low pressure on the ground, which in turn sucked in oxygen, thus acting as an accelerant. 

The air-raids annihilated the city and left over 34,000 Hamburgers dead.  

There are two very different modern sculptures by Edith Breckwoldt at this historic site. One predicts the struggle of Hamburgers to pull themselves back to humanity after the Allied bombings. In perfect irony, the other depicts a prisoner of war in despair.  

The second sculpture, aptly called ‘The Ordeal’, is set atop a pile of bricks, representing the factory close to Hamburg where prisoners of war died in the production of bricks. 

It was not realised until many years after rudimentary repairs were made to the remains of St Nikolai, that the bricks used were from the very factory where German citizens were detained and worked to death. 

This is a deeply moving place where the lose-lose outcome of the war are palpable. St Nikolai really is one Hamburg must-see on your tour.

Visit Deichstrasse

A fine example of Dutch building methods can be seen on Deichstrasse, in the Altstadt (old town), where some of the oldest houses in Hamburg drunkenly lean on their neighbours. 

These houses, built backing onto the Nikolaifleet canal (which was once a port) survived the great fire of 1842 and date back to the second half of the 17th century.

Wander Through the Speicherstadt & HafenCity

In 2015, Hamburg’s 19th century warehouse district ( speicherstadt  means city of warehouses) became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of Germany’s most famous landmarks , the area is a reminder of the rich Hanseatic history of the city. 

The entire district is built on thick oak piles, which create a warehouse complex of over 300,000 square metres, which stored goods shipped to Hamburg from the rest of the world.  

The oldest warehouse in the Speicherstadt is Kaispeicher B. At eleven storeys high, with an arresting gabled facade, it is a fitting home for the International Maritime Museum, where you’ll find artefacts such as Admiral Nelson’s letters and Ernest Shackleton’s lifeboat.

In close proximity, Europe’s first ever office district emerged to manage the growing import and export market. The Kontorhaus district can be seen between Steinstraße and Meßberg and is characterised by large red brick buildings with ornate facades, in the style of early 20th century brick expressionism.

As you wander south from here you will come to the historic dock area, which gradually became redundant due to the increase of size in ships visiting the harbour city, and is now the regenerated HafenCity. 

There are some interesting modern buildings here and a nod to the past with the old cranes remaining in situ. 

TOP TIP: Hamburg is now on its fourth port iteration. From the tiny Dutch build ‘drunk’ houses on Nikolaifleet to the current vast (and growing) modern container port on the Elbe – why not see them all in your 24 hours in Hamburg?

Visit the Elbphilharmonie

The  Elbphilharmonie   sits proudly shimmering on the banks of the Elbe river. This uber-modern landmark and concert hall has divided Hamburg, and not only because of its striking architecture, but because of the cost and complete mismanagement of its build.

Not only is Hamburg the second city of Germany, it is the second wealthiest too. Wealthy cities are such because they manage their money well, so the shock and anger at the cost of building this landmark was felt far and wide. 

With an original budget of €86m, a lengthly (two years) row with the contractors, frequent changes of design and spec and a total lack of oversight, the final cost was €886m. Yep, you read that right – 10 times as much as the original, signed off, costs.  

Hamburg was in uproar, being a federal state of Germany there was no money forthcoming from elsewhere, so Hamburger tax payers had to suck-up the additional costs, with a calculation of 150 years before the building pays for itself. 

If you are a resident of Hamburg, you can see the special concerts played for the locals, costing only €5 a ticket. 

For the rest of us, grab a free ticket and go up to the observation deck for un-rivalled views of the harbour and city skyline, whilst admiring this most expensive, and controversial, of buildings.

TOP TIP: It is totally free to enter the Elbphilharmonie and tour the building and observation decks. You are required to queue and get a ticket, but there is no requirement to pay for that ticket. Touts hang around the entrance trying to sell tickets to unsuspecting tourists, don’t get sucked in.

Take a Boat Trip

Hamburg is the biggest seaport in Germany and has one of the largest harbours in the world. Their maritime trading past is the bedrock on which Hamburg has grown and developed over the centuries, and no trip Hamburg is complete without a foray onto the water. 

There are a number of boat trips available. You can cruise the Alster Lake on a historic steamboat or take a tour of the canals of the warehouse district. You can head out onto the Elbe river for a tour of the docks and marvel at the enormous cargo ships carrying 10,000 containers, and see the historic sailing ships in permanent dock. 

You’ll have by far the best view of the Elbphilharmonie from the harbour too. 

Party in St Pauli

St Pauli, just east of the centre and meandering to the Elbe, is down to earth and a bit rough around the edges, but thrums with live music, street art, energy and life.

It’s most infamous street, the Reeperbahn, with its sex shops, window displayed prostitutes and strip clubs is an eye-opener to the uninitiated. Visit the famous red light district of Hamburg at night, when the area wakes up and shows its best side.

This is also the part of Hamburg connected with The Beatles, three of whom played here in the early 60s. A guided tour is the best way to see all the important bits of this loud, gritty and occasionally kitschy district.

Where to Eat in Hamburg

Grab a traditional lunch.

For lunch in Hamburg, one of the the top things to eat is a  fischbrötchen  (fish roll), you are after all in a sea city, famous for fish. The humble fischbrotchen is a simple snack, typically made with pickled herring, onion, pickles and remoulade sauce. 

However, in modern day Hamburg there are many options – you can choose which fish, how it’s prepared, the type of roll and so on. Don’t pay any more or less than €5-7, you will either be ripped off, or be served a fischbrotchen of dubious quality. These are our favourite places for Hamburg’s most traditional lunch…

Goedekens Kombüse

On the doorsetp of Hamburg’s fish market, Goedeken’s Kombuse serves their fresh and delicious fish sandwiches every day but Sunday. Try one and you’ll realise why they have been voted the best fish sandwiches in the city several times!

This is the place to go if you’re visiting Hamburg on Sunday – yes, they are open every day! With a fantastic view of Hamburg harbour, the small bistro Brucke 10 serves one of the best crispy fresh fish rolls (with a beer) you’ll ever try.

Fisch & Co

Fisch & Co is a small bistro in Hamburg’s altstadt. They not only serve a mean fischbrotchen, they also offer classic German dishes like currywurst (curried sausage) or labskaus , all at really reasonable prices. It’s a bonus that they’re open on Sunday’s too.

Just along from the wonky houses backing onto Nikolaifleet is the  Deichgraf  restaurant. Serving a variety of Hamburg specialities, the restaurant is best know for its  Labskaus,  a tasty meat, fish and potato stew common in the region.

With a traditionally decorated restaurant and long street side tables, this is a great place to sample local produce sourced from the region.

Top Five Hamburg Travel Tips

• With the Hamburg Card, you have unlimited travel on all Hamburg public transport (HVV) including the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, bus and ferry routes, as well as more than 150 discounts at many of the city’s museums, restaurants and stores. Even if you’re visiting Hamburg in a day and don’t intend to do any museums, it’s great value for money. A one day card is valid until 6am the following morning and costs €10.50 for one adult. Get your Hamburg Card here – original ticket delivered digitally.
• For one of the less expensive things to do in Hamburg, take a tour of the docks using public ferry 62 (with your Hamburg Card) from Landungsbrücken, a great way to see the harbour although you won’t get the commentary of a paid tour.
• Sunday’s are a serious matter in Germany, with almost all shops and some restaurants remaining closed, even in tourist areas. Sunday in Hamburg city is no different, if possible pick a different day of the week to visit.
• Only visit  Miniatur Wunderland if you really, really like small things. Even though it has the largest model railway in the world, this twee museum is a little …odd.
• Explore Hamburg on two wheels and sign up for the city’s public bike system,  StadtRAD Hamburg . Perfect for bike-lovers and an ideal way to get about, there are 120 hire points around the city.

Other Germany Travel Ideas & Guides

• Six Unmissable Germany Road Trip Routes
• Berlin in One Day – Itinerary, Map, Tips & Guide
• Romantic Road Germany: Itinerary, Map & Tips
• Visit Zugspitze Germany – Find Out How!
• Deutsche Alpenstrasse: Route, Map & Highlights
• Motorhome Germany – A Complete Touring Guide
• Germany Motorhome Itinerary
• 18 Magical Castles in Germany to Add to Your Bucket List
• Deutsche Märchenstraße: Germany’s Fairy Tale Road
• Beautiful Cities in Germany: 27 Picturesque Cities to Visit

More Than One Day in Hamburg?

Are you looking for a two day Hamburg itinerary, or do you have another half a day to spend in Hamburg?  Why not add these attractions to your itinerary?

Planten un Blomen

Planten un Blomen  is one of Europe’s top urban parks, with 47 hectares of gardens, ponds, greenhouses and botanical plantations of verdant space. Head for the old Botanical Garden, which was planted on the site of the city wall in 1821 and has glasshouses with plants from Mediterranean climes including laurels, olive trees, palms and eucalyptus.

Hamburger Kunsthalle

Visit the  Hamburger Kunsthalle , one of richest art museums in Germany. With art from Rembrandt, Gauguin, Goya, Rubens, Klee, Picasso and Canaletto, there’s something here for everyone.

Old Elbe Tunnel

Walk under the Elbe, using the old Elbe Tunnel. Opened in 1911 and 24m below the river, the tunnel transformed the lives of Hamburg’s harbour workers commuting from the left to the right bank. The northern entrance is at Landungsbrucken, obvious because of it’s bright green dome. If you go on foot take your time and enjoy the Jugendstil architecture, vintage signage and maritime motifs.

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Sightseeing Tour Hamburg Linie A

Information on timetables and current restrictions – CLICK HERE!

• Die Roten Doppeldecker | Hamburg | EN

The Classic

Sightseeing Tour – Line A

Hop on – Hop off with the Red Double-decker day pass on the Line A city tour. The classic amongst sightseeing tours!

Sightseeing and harbour tour

Combine the Line A city tour day pass with a 1-hour or 2-hour harbour tour for unbeatable value. Pure Hamburg, guaranteed!

Hop on - Hop off

Line A & Schedule

Put together your visit to Hamburg just the way you want. Hop on – Hop off at 20 stops – plan your stops here:

Discovery tour

The discovery tour combines the Line A city tour with a harbour and an Alster tour. The complete Hamburg experience!

Tickets & vouchers bookable online

You can purchase your tickets or gift vouchers easily in our online shop.

Mobile home parking in Hamburg

You're coming in a mobile home to Hamburg to discover this great cosmopolitan city. Our mobile home parking area is in the heart of the city.

Heinrich´s Hamburg Bräu

The original Hanseatic beer! Available from us.

Makens Hoff

The convivial farmhouse for rental with its legendary pancake Monday for everyone. When are you coming?

Line A City Tour – the Red Double-deckers

The Red Double-deckers have been offering sightseeing tours in Hamburg since 1978 – first with the Hamburg Hummelbahn vehicles and then with the famous and well-loved open-top double-decker buses that are today part and parcel of the Hamburg city landscape. Open-top tours in particular are a special thrill in all seasons and offer fantastic all-round views from a height of 4 metres. The mission of the Red Double-deckers is as simple as it is clever: To tour Hamburg is to experience Hamburg. The Line A tours feature a Multilingual Audio Guide with a choice of 11 languages, providing English, Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, French, Japanese, Danish, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese and German.

Discover Hamburg – on land and on water

The Landungsbrücken, the breath-taking harbour, the historical Speicherstadt, the modern HafenCity with the new concert hall “Elbphilharmonie”, the famous Reeperbahn, the 'Michel', the Alster, the Hamburg City Hall, the museums, the magnificent villas along the genteel Elbchaussee, the Blankeneser Treppenviertel, Planten un Blomen – the list of sights in Hamburg is long and diverse. You'll discover the most beautiful side of the city with the sightseeing tours from the Red Double-deckers. If you want to see where the heart of Hamburg beats, you have to take to the water. So, alongside the Line A city tour, the tours of the harbour and of the Alster are must-dos when on a discovery trip through Hamburg. The tours on a barge or Alster steamer can be combined easily with our city tours and are an absolute must for every visit to Hamburg.

Hop on – Hop off and charter

With the day pass, you have the opportunity to break and continue your tour at any of the 20 stops all day long and as often as you want (Hop on – hop off). Whether you're in Hamburg for the first time as a visitor or live in the city and want to show it off to friends, family and colleagues, whether you are planning an unusual family event or a corporate event is coming up – our range of services is just as diverse as the wishes of our guests. Scheduled and individual sightseeing tours, special trips as well as transfer and shuttle services are integral components of the Red Double-deckers.

Red on the outside but green on the inside!

All of our Red double-deckers have the latest drive technology – powered by Mercedes-Benz. A slow-driven sightseeing tour bus has special technical requirements in order to keep emissions and fuel consumption as low as possible. Daimler Ag has developed the optimal solution with Euro 5 motors and Blue Tec EEV. This drive system is still the best and most ecological possibility for offering sightseeing tours, since the EEV technology paired with the Euro 5 motor still achieves the best emission values, the lowest fuel consumption and the best exhaust gas treatment!

38 Insider Tips & Things to do in Hamburg: the ultimate Hamburg Guide!

I'm living in Hamburg for over 14 years and put together the best things to do in Hamburg as well as insider tips by locals in this comprehensive travel guide which gets updated regularly. Apart from my personal tips I used recommendations from my friends and hamburg experts to offer a wide selection of activities and must see places in Hamburg you can use for your visit.

As Hamburg is my hometown I put a lot of effort into creating and maintaining this post which means it get's updated on a regular base – considering your comments, recommendations and new things I discover!

This guide is part of a selection of city guides, make sure to check out my Europe overview page . [divider] Things to do in Hamburg – Quick Navigation 1) Sights & Things to do in Hamburg 2) Guided Tours 3) Museums 4) Restaurants & Cafés 5) Beach Clubs 6) Theatre & Entertainment 7) Nightlife – Pubs, Bars & Clubs 8) Accommodation & Transportation [divider]

1) Sights & Things to do in Hamburg

In this section I show your the highlights of the hanseatic city. I tried to find the right balance between major tourist attractions and off the beaten path recommendations.

If you are planning to stay for more than just one day you should consider the Hamburg Card , with this you get discounts for all major sights and museums as well as a day pass for the public transportation system including harbour ferries!

a) See the major sights – my tour for you

No matter if you're in Hamburg for the first time or just want to show your friends around: this route is the best way to see the top attractions . Depending on how long you want to spend at each stop it'll take you between 2-4 hours to complete it.

I always start at the Jungfernstieg : enjoying the view to the inner alster and the fountain before heading over to the Rathausmarkt. The Rathaus (town hall) itself is very impressive, also the inner courtyard with the fountain is worth a visit. Afterwards we continue to the St. Nicholas' church where you can opt in for the ride to the top of the memorial (5€ admission).

Next stop is the historical Deichstraße where you can find carefully restored 17th–19th-century houses, all that is left of the old harbour district. If you are hungry the restaurant “Zum Brandanfang” is a great spot to have lunch!

At the end of the Deichstraße we go for a side trip to the old warehouse district “Speicherstadt” by using the wooden footbridge leading to the warehouses across the inner harbour. If you continue you can also have a look into the HafenCity district. Now we head in the direction of Baumwall and go up to the St. Michael's church . The so called “Michel” is extraordinary and you should use the chance to go up to the platform to enjoy one of the best views in town (5€ admission).

Before we continue we go over to the Krameramtsstuben (Grocers' Apartments) around the corner. Similar to the Deichstraße these houses are the last of its kind in Hamburg.

Now our way leads us through the Portuguese quarter to the Landungsbrücken, simply follow the promenade where you come to see the white Cap San Diego and the green Rickmer Rickmers vessels. The last stop is the viewpoint on top of the Landungsbrücken station – for this simply go over the bridge to the station, turn immediately left and head up the stairs next to the station to the top level and enjoy the view!

b) Harbour tour with harbour ferries

The cheapest and one of the best ways to get to know the harbour is to use the harbour ferries starting from Landungsbrücken. Due to the fact that they are part of the public transportation network you can use them with your standard day pass. The only downside: you won't have a guided tour and chances are high that it is quite crowded on sunny weekends.

If you want to go for the big tour you should take the ferry number 62 to Finkenwerder which runs every 15mins. The route leads to the fish market, Dockland, the museum harbour of Övelgönne and finally to Finkenwerder. On this 30min ride you come to see all the important spots such as the dry docks of Blohm & Voss, the big container terminals, big container ships, the Köhlbrand Bridge, the elbe beach and the mansions of Blankenese. After arriving at Finkenwerder you can simply stay on the boat as it goes back the same route to the Landungsbrücken after a short break most of the times.   Maybe you don't have the time for the big tour, then you should take the ferry number 75 to Steinwerder which is just across the river. The viewpoint over there is a great spot for pictures and not as packed as the Landungsbrücken. If you take the ferry number 72 from the Landungsbrücken you'll have a short ride to the new Elbphilharmonie Hamburg (one of the largest construction projects of the city, costing about €789 million).

c) Old Elbe Tunnel

d) Modern architecture at the Hafencity

e) Streetart at the Schanze & the Karoviertel

The quarter at the Sternschanze and the Karolinenviertel are the hippest spots in town although it's quite controversial (due to the gentrification taking place). Beside alternative shops and restaurants you can find some really cool street art in many variations .   From Paste-ups, tiles and stencils over to styrofoam cut outs you are able to spot some great pieces. The most popular local street artist are Zipper die Rakete (cool styrofoam cut outs in form of rockets), Los Piratoz, Tona and Rebelzer – but also international artists like Banksy, Boxi, El Bocho and Alias left their marks here.   I already guided some tours and recommend following the self-guided tour suggestions of Björn. Though the articles are in German you can use the maps he created to walk the tours on your own:

• Streetart-Route Schanzenviertel
• Streetart-Route Karoviertel

f) Paddle the canals

One of the best things to do in Hamburg when it's sunny is to rent a boat – be it a canoe, a paddleboat or a rowboat. Hamburgs inner city is home to many waterways and canals making it possible to discover the city by boat. You'll get a map of all canals handed out when renting a boat, the only thing you should take care of is sunscreen and some cool drinks.

If you come well rested you can go for a big trip through the canals on to the Outer and Inner Alster. Beside the many boat rentals at the Outer Alster my favorites are:

• Bootsvermietung am Stadtparksee (U-Bahn station Borgweg or U-Bahn station Saarlandstraße)
• Bootsvermietung Dornheim, Osterbek-Kanal (U-Bahn station Saarlandstraße)
• you can find all boat rentals listed in this overview

g) BBQ & Relax at Stadtpark or Schanzenpark

h) Go for a walk or a run at the Outer Alster

i) Water Light Concert and Fountain Show at Planten un Bloomen

j) Go for a bike tour in the city & the urban hinterland

k) Elbe Beach

l) Enjoy great views

m) Explore the Neustadt & Gängeviertel districts

n) HSV & St.Pauli

2) Guided Tours in Hamburg

You can find a wide range of guided tours in Hamburg. Though I prefer to explore the city on my own I opt-in for a guided tour every once in a while – this way you get to know many facts and stories behind in a relatively short time and get to see places you wouldn't have access to otherwise.   I selected a few recommendable activities in this list and included links to the tour operators and their online booking options via GetYourGuide.

a) Hamburger Unterwelten (Bunkers of Hamburg)

Even most locals don't know about this place: right next to the central station there is a huge underground bunker. The Tiefbunker Steintorwall has been built as a nuclear shelter during the WWII and has been even renovated during the time of the cold war.   The non-profit association Hamburger Unterwelten is researching and documenting the subterranean buildings in Hamburg and offers guided tours from time to time. The most interesting one ist the mentioned shelter which covers 2700 square meters (approx. 29,063 sq. ft.) – at the tour you get to know more about the history, the function and you'll see many rooms including the technical equipment.   As the tours are very rare they are often sold out but you're able to book individual group tours:

• Information & Tours in english
• individual tours (german website)

b) Harbour Tours

Apart from the free options mentioned above you can go for a few guided tours at the harbour – from the classical version over to interesting combined tours you can find various options from local tour operators via GetYourGuide:

• Traditional Harbour Tour in Hamburg
• City & Harbour Tour With Hop-On, Hop-Off Ticket
• Hamburg Shore Tour: Warehouse District, HafenCity and Harbour
• Port of Hamburg: High-Speed Boat Ride

c) Red Light District Tours

As a local it's quite weird to go for a tour like this but they are very popular amongst visitors to get introduced to the history of Hamburgs red light district around the famous Reeperbahn. The following 3 tours are the most popular ones:

• Reeperbahn 2.5-Hour Guided Tour
• Sex and Crime in St. Pauli – tour for ages 18+
• St. Pauli Ahoy – Nighttime Tour – Plus Beer and Shot
• St. Pauli Tour

3) The best Museums in Hamburg

The list of museums in Hamburg seems to be endless – therefore I forced myself to select the best ones for you. If you want to visit more than just one I highly recommend to get the Hamburg Card , a city pass which gives you up to 50% discount to most of the museums and will safe you a lot of money this way.

a) Miniatur Wunderland

This is by far one of the most popular things to do in Hamburg. The Miniatur Wunderland is considered to be the worlds largest model railway attraction and full of interesting details.   Apart from the trains also cars, trucks, cable cars and even planes come alive in this huge miniatur world. As the exhibition spans 6,400 square metres you should plan to spend some time there. Due to its popularity you should be aware of long waiting lines – if you want to skip this you should buy your ticket online:

• Skip the Line: Miniatur Wunderland Tickets

b) International Maritime Museum

c) Hafenmuseum (port museum)

d) Deichtorhallen (House of Photography)

e) Chocolate Museum

f) Holsten Brewery & Beer seminars

g) Rickmer Rickmers

h) BallinStadt – Port of Dreams

i) Hamburg Dungeon

The Hamburg Dungeon is located next to the Miniatur Wunderland and is an exciting way to experience the dark side of Hamburgs history with a mix of horror chamber, show and fun rides.   Similar to the Miniatur Wunderland it is very popular amongst tourists, therefore you should consider booking your tickets online to prevent long waiting times:

• Fast-Track Entry to the Hamburg Dungeon

j) Hamburg Museum

k) Hamburger Kunsthalle (Art Gallery and Gallery of Contemporary Arts)

l) Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe (Museum of Art and Industry Hamburg)

l) Dialog im Dunkeln (Dialogue in the dark)

4) Restaurants & Cafés in Hamburg

During your time in Hamburg you shouldn't miss out on the local dishes: beside fish I highly recommend trying the “Franzbrötchen” (sweet pastry, baked with butter and cinnamon) from the Hansebäcker bakery , the traditional Hamburger “Labskaus” (isn't as bad as it looks like !) at the Old Commercial Room and of course the best Hamburger in Hamburg from Most Wanted Burger .   By the way: the Hamburger has its roots in Hamburg with the traditional dish called “Rundstück warm” ( read the whole story here ).   Beside restaurants where you get those traditional dishes you will find all my favorite places to eat very soon here in a very own article.

5) Beach Clubs in Hamburg

6) Theatre & Entertainment

7) Nightlife – Pubs, Bars and Clubs

8) Accommodation & Transportation

Hamburg has some very cool accommodation options for each kind of traveler. Following I list my favorite Hostels/Hotels in each category.

Budget & Design Hostels

• Generator Hostel – this is one of the biggest Hostels in Hamburg and is perfectly located (next to the central station), offers great value for the money spent and has various room options. Rates are starting as low as 13€ (Dorm) but there are also privates with bathroom ensuite.
• Superbude in St. Georg or Superbude St Pauli – the 2 hostels by Superbude are one of the coolest places to stay in Hamburg. This Design Hostels have their very own style and are a true attraction itself, even though the prices are a bit above the average Hostel prices.

AirBnB (+ Promo Code) If you want to stay a few days in the city AirBnB could be another great option for you as the selection for Hamburg is very big and you can find some very nice apartments in the area.

• With this link you'll get a 35€ discount on your first booking on AirBnB!

Hotels (mid-range, 3*)

• MyPlace – this cozy family owned hotel is popular for its individually designed rooms, good prices and central location inside the cool Schanzenviertel district.
• Motel One Alster – Motel One is known for its stylish design concept and low rates as well as a wide breakfast selection – great package!

Design / Boutique Hotel (4*)

• East Hotel – if you are a fan of upperclass design hotels you'll love the East, plus it is located perfectly for those who want to enjoy the legendary nightlife of Hamburg!
• 25h Hafencity – the 25h is known for its outstanding interior design concepts, the Hafencity property is another great example as it connects the maritime flair with modern, urban design. A great place to stay in style!

Luxury Hotels (5*)

• Hotel Atlantic (Kempinski) – this 1909 opened Grand Hotel is a true institution in Hamburg. Its excellent location right at the Alster lake led to many appearances in movies e.g. in “James Bond – Tomorrow Never Dies” with Pierce Brosnan.
• Vier Jahreszeiten (Fairmont) – also the four seasons looks back on a 100 year history in the city and is located right at the banks of the Inner Alster lake. Many well known actors, rock stars and politicians happened to stay a this elegant hotel in the beautiful inner city!

Hamburg offers a wide selection of accommodation options for each budget – use the filters and recommendations at the Hamburg-Overview page of Booking to find the right one for you!    

Get in As germanys „gate to the world“ getting to and around Hamburg is easy and convenient

by plane – the main airport (HAM) is located right in the city and has a direct connection to the SBahn. A lot of low-cost carriers fly to and from here regularly. Check the cheapest connections via Skyscanner .

by train – the main station is called „Hauptbahnhof“, located in the very center where you‘ll find most hotels/hostels, there are lockers as well – you can start exploring right away! Check the best connections with RailEurope or the local carrier Deutsche Bahn .

by bus – recently long-distance bus services are available, they are the cheapest way to get around in Germany. Flixbus is one of the largest companies. (Book a Flixbus ticket online )   local transport The public transportation network in Hamburg is called “HVV” and is one of the best in Germany – on friday, saturday and if the next day is a public holiday all S and U Bahn lines are running all night long (apart from that you have nightbuses during the week ensuring connectivity).

You can find a PDF of the whole network plan here . If you want to check your connection you should use the Geofox or download the HVV App .

Your favorite Tips & Things to do in Hamburg?

I wrote this guide for you based on my experience living in Hamburg for 12 years. My goal is to provide one of the best guides about my hometown with the help of friends and the community. If you know any cool tips & things to do in Hamburg I should checkout and list here: simply leave a comment below!   If you found this guide to be useful feel free to link to it from your website, share it with your fiends and give it a Like!     Disclaimer:  This post contains Affiliate Links for services and products I’m using on my travels – therefore I can highly recommend using them. By using this links you won’t pay any additional fees!

About The Author

Steve Hänisch

How To Spend 2 Days Hamburg! Perfect Weekend in Hamburg Itinerary!

Categories Europe , Germany , Itinerary

On a very cold February weekend, I visited Hamburg with my best friend. Although tourists have been visiting Hamburg for a long time I feel that Hamburg is a bit of an ‘up and coming city’ thanks to it having a bit of edge and coolness! There are plenty of things to do in Hamburg to keep you busy for 2 days in Hamburg at least, making it a great weekend city break destination.

Here is my Hamburg itinerary and Hamburg travel tips that I recommend you follow for your 2 days in Hamburg too!

2 Days in Hamburg

Hamburg Itinerary

Day one in hamburg.

We arrived late on a Friday night so we were ready to explore on Saturday morning and spend 2 days in Hamburg!

Hamburg is very walkable and if you’re in the centre and happy to walk you probably won’t end up even using the transport apart from getting to and from the airport, however if you are staying further out or like to use public transport, I would recommend getting the Hamburg Card which will cover all transport and give discount on sight-seeing trips, museums etc.

You can find out about the Hamburg card here ! Also, there are no barriers to any of the stations so if you do get on remember to buy a ticket, we didn’t get our ticket checked but it would be typical that you forget to buy a ticket, jump on a train because you can, and then get fined!

Hamburg Town Hall

We got off at Jungfernstieg Station which is right in the City and I was pleased to see the very impressive Town Hall building sticking out above the other, more corporate buildings I, of course, headed there to get some snaps of this very German architecture!

The water was what had really drawn me to want to visit Hamburg, I love being by water and Hamburg has so many canals and rivers and actually feels like it’s right on the ocean, so we naturally drifted away from the Town Hall and down towards Hafen City , an area of the city that sits by the river and many canals and one of the popular places to visit in Hamburg.

I also found myself heading towards the red brick buildings , I had seen so many photos of these online, and I do love a red brick building, so pretty soon we were in the area I had seen so many photos of on Instagram and whilst crossing a bridge and looking down between the buildings and a long the canal I even said out loud ‘ooh I think this is the famous Hamburg Instagram spot!!’ What do you think??

I was also really surprised by just how many bridges there were! Every few meters there seemed to be a cast-iron bridge, and I later found out that Hamburg has over 2,500 bridge which is more than Amsterdam, Venice and London combined and more than any other city in Europe! Crazy!

Elbphilharmonie Building

We walked around Hafen City, spotted the very impressive Elbphilharmonie Building which we had tickets for the next day and generally just took in the beautiful blue skies and the atmosphere of a very chilled city!

Tip: You can get a guided tour of the Elbphilharmonie Building  during your 2 days in Hamburg which is a very popular thing to do and way to see this really impressive building. Buying a ticket like this will also save you trying to reserve one as you do need to get one in advance.

We were in need of coffee so headed back across the canals and back towards the city centre, it’s as if the coffee gods were on our side as I saw a place called Nord Coast Coffee Roastery on my phone and thought it sounded cool so we headed there.

On arrival, with people queuing out of the door we realised that this must be one of Hamburg’s popular coffee and brunch spots! Luckily the queue was just for brunch so we grabbed a coffee and sat outside with the blankets provided and planned our next step.

Tip: I would really recommend adding  Nord Coast Coffee Roastery  to your Hamburg itinerary for a coffee or brunch in Hamburg! If you go on the weekend and want brunch, book a few days in advance as the waitress said they book up quick!

Hamburg Boat Trip

I was really keen to head out on the water so after our very good coffee we headed towards the harbour and enjoyed walking a long the promenade.

I visited Hamburg with Come to Hamburg which is a blogger initiative to show off what Hamburg has to offer and their recommended boat trip partner was Barkassen Meyer which is on bridge 6, just up from the Hard Rock Cafe.

We got to their pier just before 1:00pm which was perfect as the boats depart every hour, on the hour. A ticket is €18.00, the boat was really nice, the windows were nice and big and even the ceiling was see-through so we had lots of light and heat, however the only down side was that the whole tour was in German!

We were given phones with English audio but the guy doing the tour in German was very loud and drowned out the sound of the audio a bit, plus he seemed to talk a lot more in German than what our English audio guide was so I felt like I wasn’t getting the best of what a tour can offer.

Tip: I would definitely suggest doing a boat tour on your Hamburg itinerary and during your 2 days in Hamburg as it was amazing to see the city from the water, it was so good to see all of the container boats on the other side of the river too as its something we just don’t see in day to day life, but make sure that you do a tour with an English guide or a tour where everyone has an audio guide and can switch it to their preferred language! If you have a Hamburg Card, see where you can get discounts with that.

These boat tours around Hamburg look great:

That being said, I did learn a lot about Hamburg from the tour, for example –

Hamburg is the largest city for musicals after New York and London!

The Elbphilharmonie was estimated to cost 75 Million Euros but ended up costing 789 Million Euros!

The area of Reeperbahn, known as the sinful mile is where The Beatles started their world career!

And the City of Hamburg dates back to the 9th Century!

Our next stop of the day was Lunch and it was well needed by 2:00pm. I had been told about Ban Canteen , a Vietnamese place with Vegan options so we headed there via the St Pauli area. St Pauli is where the Reeperbahn is which is now the red light district part of the city.

It was pretty strange seeing sex shops and bars in the middle of the day but once we came off the main street and further into St Pauli we were so surprised by this side of the city. It felt cool, rundown, up and coming but safe, which is a weird combination! We liked it anyway and past lots of cool bars and places to eat!

Tip: To help understand the Reeperbahn, check out Man Vs Globe’s post – Don’t Fear the Reeperbahn !

I actually wish I had done a tour of the Reeperbahn area  on my Hamburg itinerary, I didn’t know they were a thing until I got back, these tours sound really intriguing!

Ban Canteen is only a small restaurant but its menu and its portions are huge! We shared the Summer Spring Rolls to start, followed by a huge bowl of Tofu Pho each, finished by sharing the Mango & Coconut Panna Cotta.. all of it was Vegan and all of it was delicious!

Tip: Ban Canteen may seem like a bit of a walk away depending on where you are in the city as its to the top of St Pauli but I really recommend going! If you’re not Vegan, don’t worry, it’s meat based too, if you are Vegan, check it out as there are lots of options! Also check out these Vegan places in Hamburg by Veggie Visa!

Tip: For more great places to eat in Hamburg check out this Hamburg Food Guide .

StrandPauli

After our late lunch, we slowly walked back towards the Reeperbahn but at this point we felt a bit stuck with what to do next. We wanted a drink but the bars in St Pauli all looked a bit too dingy for this time of day so we headed back to the River where we came across StrandPauli . We were drawn in because of its beach bar vibe which in 0° which seemed very random but also very cool!

We were so surprised to see an outdoor deck area with sand on the floor and lots of people huddled in blankets, looking over the water and I couldn’t believe that we had found another gem which I recommend adding to you 2 days in Hamburg and Hamburg itinerary!

I was sooo happy to see that the bar is pretty much West facing and the sun was due to set in about an hour so we sat outside with a glass of red wine, a blanket covering our legs, music in the background and watched the sun slowly go down. We headed inside afterwards and the bar tender mentioned that come Summer this place is so busy!

Obviously, it will be a lot more pleasant in the Summer weather wise but I felt lucky that we got to sit in peace and watch an incredible sunset without the crowds and it reminded me that often, the random places you find in new places are the best!

Tip: You have to go to StrandPauli, no matter what the weather is like and ideally for sunset!

Dinnertime came round quickly, once again we ended up on the Reeperbahn which was a lot busier now, we snuck off into the streets of St Pauli though and found an Italian place to eat. We did struggle with finding somewhere for dinner and kind of wished we had stayed in StrandPauli as they serve food too but the pizza’s were good!

Day Two in Hamburg!

The best thing to do on a Sunday morning in Hamburg is to go to the Fischmarkt aka the Fish Market ! I have woken up many times on a Sunday morning to look on Instagram Stories and see someone I follow at the fish market in Hamburg. I’ve seen live music, people dancing, drinking beers and all before 9:00am, so I knew I had to go!

The Fish Market starts at 5:00am and finishes up at around 9:30am. We got to Landungsbrucken train station for about 8:30am which was the perfect time  (considering the weather, more on that soon). Lots of people were heading to the markets at this time, although we noted that most of them seemed like tourists and that the locals were the people passing us leaving with baskets full of fruit and veggies!

We walked through an area of outdoor stalls selling lots of fish and fish sandwiches of course, but also cakes and fruits and clothes. It would have been really easy to get caught up in this and stay out here but I knew we needed to head further down to the inside market and I wasn’t disappointed when we got there!

Live music was blaring, people were dancing, the beers and Jaeger were out, some people looked like they had been up since last night, but luckily there was coffee on offer and seats for us who were still feeling sleepy from a night in bed! We didn’t get inside until about 9:00am so we only listened to about 30 minutes of music before it stopped and everyone slowly started leaving. For us this was a good amount of time, especially as it was a very cold morning and it had just started snowing, and settling!

Tip: I would recommend getting to the fish market for about 8:00-8:30am for a fuller experience, especially if you are visiting in Spring or Summer!

St Nicholas Church

We headed back towards the City Centre, passing St Michael’s and St. Nicholas Church . Both of these churches have viewing platforms which I had hoped to go up, however it was really snowing by this point and the visibility was terrible so I knew there was no point.

Tip: I would recommend going up at least one of these churches, both cost €5.00 to enter the viewing platform. I saw that St Nicholas Church (second photo below) has a lift all the way to the top!

International Maritime Museum

We were booked in for the Elbphilharmonie today so we headed back towards Hafen City however first we visited the International Maritime Museum . I’m not a huge museum fan but I did find this museum really interesting, we read a few bits about slavery which was awful to read but a good reminder, and on a more fun note we saw a huge lego cruise ship which was impressive!

Hafen City seemed very quiet on the weekend, I assume its busier during the week and office hours (or maybe it was because it was seriously snowing now as you can tell by my photos!). However across the canal and street from the International Maritime Museum is Wildes Fraulein Cafe so we popped in here for a coffee and once again, we came across a gem!

The cafe is Alpine style I believe and has a gondola car inside it which proved fun for the children, we had a good coffee but most importantly they offer awesome brunches and food in general!

Tip: If you’re in Hafen City and looking for a cool cafe, head to Wildes Fraulein for coffee, brunch or lunch!

Elbphilharmonie

Finally we headed towards the very impressive Elbphilharmonie ! We took the ‘Tube’ aka a cool escalator towards the top and then headed out onto the balcony. The balcony runs all the way around the building. Due to the weather we didn’t get to see much but luckily we had had the blue skies the day before so we had an idea of what was hiding behind the cloud! I really enjoyed going in here, its such an iconic building of Hamburg and Europe now its kind of a must visit!

Tip: Tickets are free however they are limited to a number of slots each day so it is advisable to book online, you can book here . There is a €2.00 booking fee and the tickets are emailed. The ticket says to print it out but I forgot and no one even looked at the ticket anyway so try to print it out but if not, you should be ok!

Lunch time called for a Burger at Better Burger Company , another place I had been recommended by Come to Hamburg. We headed back towards the Town Hall which we had seen the morning before, it really surprised us how quiet the city was, all the shops were shut which I guess is still normal for a lot of Cities (living in London for makes me forget that Sunday should be a quiet day!) and the snow was probably keeping people inside too!

Better Burger Company offers a few different types of beef burgers, a veggie burger and a vegan burger. You choose the burger, choose up to 5 toppings or sauces, add a side of fries and you’re in for a pretty awesome meal!!

Tip: Better Burger Company is a great place for lunch as its quick and relaxed so I would recommend heading there for lunch over dinner.

With the cold really setting in and the city being so quiet we decided to retreat into a bar.. again! We had searched beer tasting the day before and Barley & Malt had appeared. This is another thing that surprised me about Hamburg, we thought there would be a lot more pubs and we would see steins of beer everywhere but so far we really hadn’t, I guess this isn’t as common in Northern Germany?

Barely & Malt turned out to be an Irish Bar (trust us to find an Irish Bar!), but we were still tempted by its €7.00 craft beer tasting and I’m really glad we did head inside. It was quiet but we enjoyed sitting with a window view of the street, tasting 5 different beers!

Tip: I would really recommend doing the Craft beer tasting in Barley & Malt, especially if you’re on a budget as €7.00 for 5 small beers is good! It probably gets quite busy later on but they don’t allow stag parties which is good. Barley & Malt is also on the same street as Nord Coast Coffee Roastery!

Soon it was dinner time (we definitely lived for meals in Hamburg), the city was still very quiet so we headed randomly in the direction of Landungsbrucken station where we had started the day.

Around St Michael’s church we noticed that a lot of restaurants seemed open. We really wanted a true German meal since we hadn’t had one yet, but all of the restaurants seemed to be Portuguese, Spanish, Brazilian and Italian which we thought was strange but as it was so cold we decided to jump into one that looked good. Luigi’s on Ditmar-Koel-Straße street caught our attention for some reason but I’m so glad it did!

Luigi’s is an Italian restaurant, it’s quite dark inside and has pumping music which seemed very out-of-place, especially on a Sunday considering we had experienced such a sleepy Hamburg all day!

The rooms weave all the way back and the walls are full of graffiti and art and it’s all very random! The staff were so good and fun – cheeky and charming comes to mind, and the food was rally good, so all in all, we found another gem!

Tip: As I mentioned, we find it really hard to come across what I think of as German food (me being Vegan probably doesn’t help), so I would suggest embracing food from other Countries whilst in Germany, for example Vietnamese from Ban Canteen and Italian from Luigi’s!

And that was the end of our 2 days in Hamburg! We headed back to the hotel, relaxed in the spa for a bit, went to bed and flew back to London Monday morning!

Hamburg Travel Tips

Because Hamburg is on the water, it does get cold! If you can, I would suggest going outside of Winter!

As I mentioned, Sunday was so quiet in the City so heading to Hamburg during the week or a Friday and Saturday might provide a fuller experience. If not, a weekend is fine and maybe its busier on a Sunday when it’s not snowing!

Flights to Hamburg can often be so cheap! We flew there with Ryanair from London Stansted and back with Easyjet to London Luton, our flights were about £50.00 return in total but I have seen flights much cheaper on Skyscanner !

Staying in the centre of Hamburg is best, 25Hotels Hotel in Hafen City is a really good central hotel in Hamburg I have heard!

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I visited Hamburg with Come to Hamburg but all thoughts and opinions are my own! 

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Mark & Glenda

Wednesday 3rd of July 2019

Thanks very much for your tips for two days in Hamburg

Sunday 1st of July 2018

Love your post! Thanks for this. Great itierary.

TheWanderingQuinn

You’re welcome, thank you for reading and commenting! :)