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Hamburg, Germany
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Túrelio at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Altona and St. Pauli are west of central Hamburg. Altona used to be an independent city and emerged as fisherman's village in the 16th century. It existed under Danish rule west of Hamburg (downstream on the Elbe), competing with it in trade and militarily. Because of a liberal regime Jews, Calvinists, Mennonites and Catholics settled there. Altona was the second biggest harbour for Denmark after Copenhagen and an important port for Danish trade. During its widest reach the Danish crown ruled a vast area from Altona to North Cape to Iceland. Altona became part of Prussia (Germany) in 1864 and absorbed into Hamburg in 1937. Between them stood Hamburgischer Berg, a buffer zone that became Hamburg's borough of St. Pauli (named after the parish) in the 19th century. St. Pauli absorbed a part of the former fortifications of Hamburg, which were replaced by a ring of parks along the border of Neustadt.
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Dedicated to Altona's, Hamburg's and northern Germany's cultural history.
Rathaus Altona
Built in 1898, when Altona was still a separate city. It's an impressive building with influences of Italian Renaissance.
Walk 136 steps to the roof of this building to get a wonderful view of the harbour. The six-storey glass and steel building has the shape of a parallelogram and is reminiscent of a ship bow.
This used to be the city park of the independent town of Altona. Unlike Hamburger Stadtpark, this park has been left in a more natural state. On the northern edge of the park is Volksparkstadion, the home stadium of the football team HSV, as well as the multi-purpose Barclaycard Arena.
St. Pauli Piers
The most touristy part of Hamburg's harbour, close to the metro station with the same name. Piers connected with several bridges swim on the water adapting to the tide. There tourist boats land and you will find souvenir shops, restaurants, and snack bars. The sailing ship Rickmer Rickmers can be visited. The old passenger docks, from which (among many others) many of the emigrants to the Americas from eastern Europe left in the 19th century. Today they are a tourist hotspot, as the departure point for harbour tours and many public transport ferries. The stroll eastwards along the water from the S-Bahn station "Landungsbrücken" all the way to the HafenCity is very pleasant.
One of the biggest non-nuclear Soviet submarines, moored near to the Fischmarkt. Guided tours are possible.
St. Pauli Elbe Tunnel
Completed in 1911, it links both sides of the river Elbe. A lift or stairs bring you the 24 m down into the tunnel. You then walk through one of its two 427-m-long pipes having 12 m of water over your head. At the other side, you again walk up the stairs or take a lift. The tunnel is decorated with ceramic arts of maritime motifs (e.g. fish, mussels, seals, old boots). For pedestrians and bicycles it is free and open all day and night, every day. Even cars can pass through the tunnel (only M-F 05:30-20:00 for €2) being brought down with four lifts.
Historical boats.
A large fair held at Heiligengeistfeld fair ground. With three fairs (spring, summer and winter) per year it is the biggest and the longest fair throughout Germany and attracts every one approximately ten million visitors per year.
A street and entertainment district in Hamburg's St. Pauli district, one of the two centres of Hamburg's nightlife (with Schanze) and also the city's major red-light district. In German it is also called die sündigste Meile (the most sinful mile) and nicknamed Kiez. The Reeperbahn Festival is among the largest club festivals.
A wax cabinet with a history of over 125 years and as such the oldest in Germany, though it has been in its current location since the 1950s. Not as big and famous as Madame Tussauds in London, nevertheless the figures have been created with love for details. Some of the older figures aren't as detailed, though that's because there were less tools and knowledge about working with wax figures back then.
Feldstraße Bunker
Right at the Heiligengeistfeld is a World War II bunker, visible from far away due to its size. Nowadays the building houses different media companies and agentures, and there's a dance club on the upper floor.
Archive for the city district and history workshop. Arranges very interesting themed walks around St. Pauli.
The street was a place for squatters in the 1980s and was well known by the media when there were "battles" between the Autonomous movement and the police. Some squats still exist there, though the "80s-Myth" is dead. You can go to the Punksbar "onkel otto" or eat at the "VoKü" ("Volxküche" - a group cooking event, at which the meal is served free of charge or at cost).
Beatles Square
There is a sculpture honouring the Beatles. Also in the Reeperbahn area are clubs where the Beatles played at various times from 1960 to 1962, including the Indra club and Star Club.
Great Freedom
In the pedestrian street there are a lot of bars and clubs - a great place to go in the evening, although it's very crowded and it may get a bit dangerous in the weekend. On weekdays, it is harmless here - a low-budget tip is, 99 Cent Bar, which offers really many drinks for basically €1. On the weekend, you will have to pay an entrance fee of €1 but it's still the best place to go drinking on a budget. The street was named in 1610 after the fact that Count Ernest of Schaumburg and Holstein-Pinneberg had granted religious freedom to non-Lutherans such as Mennonites and Roman Catholics to practice their faith here and commercial freedom for handcrafters not enrolled in the else compelling guilds. Today it is part of the red light district.
Between Reeperbahn and Herbertstraße there's a memorial for an actor who was advertising the Kiez (Reeperbahn). Especially the movie Große Freiheit Nummer 7 helped making the Kiez famous.
The epicenter of the red-light district, this short street runs parallel to Reeperbahn is closed off by gates from both ends. Adults only and photography is strictly banned.
The place got its name from the entertainers putting up shows here for sailors from all over the world back in the day. For example Mr. Hagenback (who opened the zoo park in the city) showcased his sea lions here. Today it is surrounded by several venues including St. Pauli theater, Schmidt's Tivoli , Schmidt's Theater and Operettenhaus.
This building used to be the last squatted house in Hamburg, it's now left to the squatters for free by the owner. During the week, it is turned into a café, concerts of various styles or other events may also take place. On some days there is cheap (mostly vegan) food available. You can sometimes find fantastic parties for small prices on Friday and Saturday.
Baroque church in Ottensen.
The halls were built in 1857 for the Zeise company manufacturing ship parts. The company went bust in 1979, and nowadays the cultural heritage building is used as a cultural center with a movie theater.
This park is partially on the old city wall of Hamburg. Already in the 1930s the former zoological park was remodeled into a bird and entertainment park for the Lower German Garden Exhibition (Niederdeutsche Gartenschau). Afterwards it was rebuilt for three international garden shows in 1953, 1963 and 1973. The botanical garden was turned into a park landscape, and was moved to Klein Flottbek in Altona in 1979. The tropical greenhouses built in 1962/63 are still there. ;In the summer months there are daily shows for kids with clowns, magicians and circus artists as well as theater. In the music pavilion there are concerts every evening.
The oldest landscaped park in Hamburg. Two museums, Jenisch House and Ernst Barlach House, are in the park. Flottbek River flows through the park and into the Elbe at Teufelsbrück.
Nice park with views to the Elbe river.
Botanischer Garten der Universität Hamburg
For a century and a half, the botanical garden was situated in the current Planten un Blomen park, where the tropical greenhouses still remain. In 1979, the botanical garden was relocated to its current place in the Klein Flottbek district. In the southern part of the park there are several themed gardens with medical plants, farm plants, plants featured in the Bible, conifers, fragnant plants, poisonous plants, threatened plants, crops, roses and a desert garden. The central part is dedicated to the science categorizing plants. There you can see plants from temperate parts of the world; Eurasia, North America and far southern South America. In the Alpinium there are plants from the high mountain areas of Europe. The park is named Loki Schmidt garden after the biologist Loki Schmidt, wife of the former German federal chancellor Helmut Schmidt.
It opened in 1841 as the Urania Theater and took its present name in 1941.
Schmidt Theater is a private theater at Spielbudenplatz. It consists of two venues, the Schmidt Theater itself and the Schmidts Tivoli (also known as Grosses Haus), which is just a stone's throw away.
Theatre, variety, cabaret, concerts, and satirical revues.
Grosses Haus
Avant-garde shows and high-class musicals. The world-famous musical Cabaret and the successful musical compendium Fifty Fifty were staged here.
Travestieshow
From Landungsbrücken, you can make boat tours into the harbour, available from various companies and take around an hour. Big ships provide more comfort, but smaller ships also go through the Speicherstadt. Both are well worth the money. Inquire about English language tours.
A low-budget alternative for a boat tour on the river Elbe. A part of Hamburg's public transport system (HVV). If you have already bought a HVV day ticket, the ride is free. Most tourists take ferry 62 from Landungsbrücken to Finkenwerder, via Neumühlen with the museum harbour Oevelgönne. The whole ride to Finkenwerder and return takes about an hour, and on weekends with good weather this ferry will be very full. In Finkenwerder, you can continue with another ferry to Teufelsbrück (Line 64 which is also part of the HVV) or just walk around on this island, which is a quarter of Hamburg. It has nice old houses, some places to eat and a great view of the harbor business as it is close to the container terminal. Another route from Landungsbrücken is the ferry line number 72 in the Hafencity to the station Elbphilharmonie. You have a good view to the harbour with the Überseebrücke and Sandtorhöft.
Fitness center and dance studio.
Die Rothosen (The Red Shorts) were promoted in 2025 and play soccer in Bundesliga, the top tier. Volksparkstadion has a capacity of 57,000 for domestic games and 51,500 for internationals and occasionally hosts concerts. In 2024 it hosted matches in the UEFA Euro Finals.
The Kiezkicker ("Neighbourhood Kickers") were relegated in 2026 and now play soccer in 2. Bundesliga, the second tier. Millerntor-Stadion has a capacity of 29,500 and is also used for concerts.
For Germans, it's a classic to eat bread with fish on St. Pauli Fischmarkt, especially very early in the Sunday morning (meaning 05:00 - 09:30) when visiting Hamburg. If for breakfast or as an after-party snack may depend on your inner clock, but if you are a fresh fish lover it is absolutely worth it since this fish was just fished during the night in Nordsee.
Great for a quick bite before going out in the area. Try the Oriental Chicken!
Friendly local café. Light fare and local specialties, wonderful pies, and baked goods. Their Cornish tea with fresh scones is worth trying.
Cozy pub/restaurant with affordable German food and outside seating in the summer. Nice lunch menu from 12:00-16:00 on weekdays.
Sternstraße 125, three minutes from S-Bahn station Sternschanze in the trendy neighbourhood of Schanzenviertel. Pizzas start from €6, fresh pasta is around €7-10 (try Pasta Mista), the meat dishes are delicious (it is right next to the "Schlachthof"-Slaughterhouse) and the four course menu is at €19.50. From 12:00-15:00 they serve a lunch menu for €6.50. Reservations recommended.
Mexican meets Hamburg punk/alternative. Excellent fresh ingredients. Vegan & veggie options (but also meat for the carnivores), with a huge range of hot sauces. Prices are low (€10.50 or less as of April 2015) and portions are huge.
It is not without reason that a lot of Turkish people love this place. Take the S11/S31 subway and get out at Sternschanze. From there Lokmam is seven minutes away.
One of the oldest Doener stores in Hamburg. Operates a takeaway bistro and a restaurant.
There you can also get other great oriental food and smoke a shisha.
Modern and cool steak restaurant.
Surprisingly cozy atmosphere. High quality meat and fish, but the menu offers some vegetarian dishes, too. Dishes are huge and the preparation quality comes close to star-awarded locations. It is advisable to reserve a table in advance, especially on Fridays and Saturdays in the autumn and winter months.
Große Elbstraße 143. Excellent view of parts of the port and the river Elbe. Many celebs have dined here, including English royals.
People in wheelchairs not always welcome.
Irish pub.
Concert location and club.
Concert location and club
Concert location and club.
St. Pauli, ext to the Spielbudenplatz. Usually house and electro, sometimes drum'n'bass.
In a former bunker from World War II, it can be found near St. Pauli in Feldstraße. Easy to reach with the metro U3. Music used to be more hard house and electro but is changing nowadays from day to day.
If you are more into Trance, Techno and Schranz the Tunnel might be a good place.
A small cafe serving breakfast and other tidbits in a very cozy environment with friendly staff.
A tapas bar.
You will find a lot of bars and cafés here, many of Portuguese or Spanish background.
Award-winning bar (Playboy Bar of the Year 1998, Best Bartender 2000, Marcellinos Top 10, etc.), open M-Sa at 20:00.
A tiny bar that houses many different DJs. The atmosphere is very friendly and good music is played. It's opposite the house that is occupied by various leftist fractions. (The yellow building with all the graffiti, named 'rote Flora'.)
Grungy but friendly punk bar in a cellar just off the Davidstraße. Came second in Hamburg Mexikanercontest (Mexikaner is a shot drink very similar to a bloody mary), and it shows - definitely the recommended drink here.
Musik Bar
1950s, 60s and 70s rock, soul, R&B and similar in an entirely appropriate setting with cinema couches, pulp film posters and a (rather decrepit) Wurlitzer.
1960s and 1970s music in entirely period setting, with wallpaper and ceiling that seem to be completely original and at least 40 years old, and furniture to match.
Cheap & cheerful bar with minimalist decoration celebrating St.Pauli FC and other friendly clubs. It's a hangout of the St.Pauli Ultras. Outsiders very welcome, but if you don't agree with what St.Pauli stands for, this is not the place to be. After matches it can get a bit rough if the competition decides to come visit.
Relaxed bar covered in Hunter S. Thompson quotes with atmosphere to match. Small dance floor with DJ who plays everything from psychedelic jazz to German hip-hop. Excellent selection of gin&tonics.
Zur Ritze is fairly easy to find. It's near the Beatlesplatz at Reeperbahn; follow the signage down a small alley to the almost legendary door. The bar is almost always open, and it's a beautiful place to sit and talk all night. Having a nice night here won't break the bank, and it's a place to meet people who have made the Kiez the place it is today. The walls are full of photos, and in the basement there's a boxing ring where you can see local boxers training, and sometimes there are matches.
The outdoor bars and cafes of Karolinenviertel merge with those of the southern part of the Schanzenviertel neighbourhood making one of Europe's great outdoor dining areas (at least in Summer).
Pampa Bar is a great example. Plenty of relaxed lounging under the trees. Friendly table service so you don't even have to stumble to the bar to order your next drink and a good range of tasty bar meals.
Gay party called "Love Pop" on Wednesdays and every 2nd Friday in the month from 23:00.
Considered the only "true" beach club right at the Elbe river bank with undisturbed views of the passing ships.
Beachclub in Karo-Viertel. Big sand beach but no water, also family friendly.
Beachclub on different floors right at Elbe, hence great views of the river from almost all places.
Beach club right at the Elbe bank, next to Dock 3. View to Elbe just from the front row.
Beach club right at the Elbe bank, next to Hamburg del Mar. View to Elbe just from the front row.
In the middle of the trendy quarter of Schanzenviertel, 50 beds.
45 beds, provides a kitchen. Also in Schanzenviertel.
Peter, the owner has done a tremendous job of turning an old brothel into a very unique hostel. The rooms might remind you of their former purpose but are very clean and convenient.
70 beds.
Cool area with lots of hip shops, bars and near the football stadium. Large and clean, safe neighborhood.
Double rooms start at €45 per person, dormitory starts at €18. Breakfast €5.90. Distances: 0.5 km Bahnhof Altona.
One of few options in Hamburg for campers. Beautifully located right at the Elbe river. Great for ship spotters.
119 suites available in a modern style.
13 rooms.
Designer hotel with one of the best lounges/bars in town. Very trendy and stylish.
A hotel in St. Pauli designed by David Chipperfield near Reeperbahn and the harbour. Each room is designed with a floor-length panoramic window that allow for a great view from any point in the room.
4-star hotel next to the Botanical Gardens by Dammtor station, the upper floors have stunning views of the city and gardens. Connected to Conference Center Hamburg (CCH) and through it to the fairgrounds. Prices skyrocket during trade fairs.
Best assorted true vintage and deadstock clothing of the past 15 to 90 years you will be able to find at Hot Dogs.
New and second-hand.
Several S- and U-bahn lines link Altona and St. Pauli with the central part of the city. If you're coming by train from elsewhere, you will possibly find Altona railway station useful.
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