Hostelworld Guide for Hamburg

The Essentials

Climate

By Rebecca Keenan

Getting There
Known for its red light district, Hamburg is Germany's answer to Amsterdam. True, this city boasts an
incredibly vibrant nightlife that includes innumerable bars, clubs and, yes, strip joints, but there's a lot
more to Hamburg than what goes down on the Reeperbahn every night. This is a city with a diverse
collection of neighbourhoods including boho Schanzenviertel and Altstadt, which is home to some of
Hamburg's top sights. There are plenty of cultural attractions to be enjoyed in this city too, including the
Hamburger Kunsthalle as well as numerous other art galleries, museums and churches. Hamburg is also
a city with much to offer in terms of natural beauty, from parks like Planten un Blomen and the Stadtpark
to the city's impressive lakes. One of the most popular destinations in Germany, Hamburg really does
have something to suit all appetites.

In this Guide...
Useful Information
After Dark
Places to Eat
Top Attractions
Budget Tips
Where to Shop

By plane: Hamburg Airport is located a mere 8

kilometres outside the city and getting from there to
the city centre is easy. You can either catch a taxi
right outside of arrivals or you can hop on the
S-Bahn at the airport station. The trip takes around
25 minutes and services run every 10 minutes
during the day.
By train: Hamburg's Hauptbahnhof, which is the
city's central train station, is located on
Hachmannplatz. Services from a wide selection of
German and European cities terminate at the
station, including trains from Berlin, Cologne,
Munich, Copenhagen, Zurich and Prague.
By bus: Hamburg's main bus station welcomes
arrivals from all across Germany as well as various
other cities throughout Europe. Buses from Berlin
arrive at this station a number of times during the
day.

Getting Around

Due to its proximity to the German coast, Hamburg

has a temperate oceanic climate. This means that it
sees warm, wet summers and cold winters. July and
August are the hottest months in Hamburg and
usually see temperatures of around 18C. Hamburg
also experiences its wettest weather in July and
August when rainfall averages out at around 82mm
for each month. January is generally the coldest
month, with temperatures sometimes dropping
below zero.

Good to know...
Languages: German
Currency: Euro
Electricity: 220 Volts AC/50 Hz, 2-pin plug
(round)
Area code: +49 (Germany), 040 (Hamburg)
Emergency codes: Ambulance/Fire 112, Police
110
Time zone: Central European Time (GMT +1)
Central Post Office: Postbank Finance Center,
Alter Wall 38
Main Tourist Office: Landungsbrcken 4/5, St.
Pauli

On foot: Getting around Hamburg's city centre on

foot is quite easy and you'll find that you'll be able to
walk to many of the city's main attractions.

Consulates

By U-Bahn/S-Bahn: The S-Bahn is Hamburg's light

rail system, while the U-Bahn refers to the city's
network of subway trains. Six S-Bahn lines operate
across the city and there are three different
underground lines. These trains are the best way to
get to some of the great neighbourhoods and
attractions you'll find outside of the city centre.

USA: +49 (0)40 41171100

Canada: +49 (0)30 203120*
Australia: +49 (0)30 8800880*
New Zealand: +49 (0)40 4425550
UK: +49 (0)40 44803236
Spain: +49 (0)40 4146460
France: +49 (0)40 41410630
Italy: +49 (0)40 4140070
Ireland: +49 (0)40 44186113

By bike: Hamburg is a very bicycle friendly city,

with cycle lanes all over town and plenty of places
where you can rent a bike.

*Embassy in Berlin

Hamburg facts
Location: Hamburg is located in the north of
Germany and is situated on the River Elbe.
Population: The population of Hamburg is
approximately 1.7 million.
Area: Hamburg covers an area of 755 square
kilometres. It is the second largest city in
Germany.
Founded: The city of Hamburg originates from
a castle built in the area by famous ruler
Charlemagne back in the early 9th century.
Hostelworld Guide for Hamburg

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Cheap Eats
Moraba, Susannenstrasse 6, Schanzenviertel
The daily specials are especially enticing as you get
huge portions at affordable prices. Not just a good
place for dinner, it also serves up tasty breakfasts
and lunches. Comfy and welcoming, it's one of the
standouts in Schanzenviertel. Open daily 8am-late.
Caf Estrella, Neuer Kamp 25, St. Pauli If you're
looking for a good breakfast, a filling lunch or just a
daytime snack, Caf Estrella is a great choice.
Tempting tapas dishes are lined up along the
counter along with sandwiches, quiche, pastries
and more. Open Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 7am-6pm,
closed Sundays.

Filling food in a flash

Currywurst A local favourite in Hamburg,
currywurst is available at lots of different types
of eateries from restaurants to street vendors.
Basically, it's a fast food dish which consists of
a pork sausage that's cooked then cut into
slices and covered with curry powder and
sauce. Usually served with some bread, it's a
cheap and tasty way to stop your stomach
rumbling.
Tex's Bar-B-Q, Millerntorplatz 1, Reeperbahn On
the menu at this Tex-Mex themed eatery you'll find
a great selection of reasonably priced dishes
including fajitas, enchiladas, ribs, steak, burgers
and salads. Specials such as the huge portions of
nachos are particularly good value. Open
Sun-Thurs 11.30am-midnight, Fri-Sat
11.30am-1am.
Chakra, Susannenstrasse 11, Schanzenviertel
Inside this funky restaurant you'll find nightscapes
from various cities hanging on the walls and really
comfy seats. If you're in the market for brunch, the
pancakes here are lip-smacking good while other
popular dishes include burgers, pastas and salads.
Open Mon-Thurs 9am-midnight, Fri-Sat 9am-2am,
Sun 10am-midnight.

After Dark
Shooters, Groe Freiheit 14-16, Reeperbahn It
won't cost you a cent to get into this club which
attracts a mixed crowd who come to take
advantage of the Happy Hour (which lasts from
7pm to midnight), drink cheap cocktails and dance
to music provided by live DJs. Hardcore partygoers
take note; Shooters also hosts a morning club
which can go on until 11am. Open Tues-Sat
7pm-5am/6am, closed Sundays and Mondays.

Hamburger Kunsthalle, Glockengieerwall,

Altstadt If you're looking for a bit of culture, check
out this great gallery. From the Renaissance up to
the present day, works of art on display include
pieces by Van Gogh, Munch and Monet. Open
Tues-Sun 10am-6pm, Thurs 10am-9pm, closed
Monday; admission E10.

Size doesn't matter...

Gay/Lesbian Hamburg
Hamburg has an incredibly vibrant LGBTQ
scene with numerous bars and clubs to check
out, along with a wide variety of annual events
to add to your calendar. Bellini (Danzinger Str.)
is popular with men and women, La Strada
(Rostocker Str.) caters to men only and
Frauenkneipe is one of the top lesbian bars on
the scene.
Bedford Caf, Schulterblatt 72, Schanzenviertel
If you're looking for somewhere lively, this bar is a
great choice as it attracts a chattering mix of
punters. On Monday nights, check out the Blue
Monday Sessions featuring intimate performances
by a variety of live music acts. Open Mon-Thurs
noon-2am, Fri noon-3am, Sat 10am-3am, Sun
10am-1am.

Miniatur Wunderland, Kehrwieder 2-4,

Speicherstadt This miniature wonderland
boasts the largest model railway in the world.
The detailed displays are even more impressive
in the dark when some 300,000 tiny lights
illuminate the models. Open Mon & Wed-Fri
9.30am-6pm, Tues 9.30am-9pm, Sat 8am-9pm,
Sun 8.30am-8pm; admission E10.
Hauptkirche St. Michaelis, Englische Planke 1,
Altstadt The view of Hamburg from the
Hauptkirche St. Michaelis' 132-metre tower is
nothing short of stunning. As well as the tower,
have a wander inside and check out the creepy
crypt. Open Nov-Apr daily 10am-5.30pm, May-Oct
daily 9am-7.30pm; admission E5 for tower and
crypt.

Lehmitz, Reeperbahn 22, Reeperbahn A

top-notch rocker bar, Lehmitz is a good spot to grab
cheap beers and more. The big TV inside shows
sports and there's a foosball table for you to try out.
It's a great place to hear live music with rock and
metal bands performing regularly. Open Mon-Sat
2pm-6am, Sun 2pm-midnight.

Hagenback Zoo & Tropical Aquarium,

Lokstedter Grenzstrae 2, Stellingen Tierpark
Hagenbeck was one of the first zoos in the world to
start using open-air enclosures without bars. The
Tropical Aquarium on the same site is also
well-worth a look. Open daily from 9am, closing
time varies with season; admission E25 for zoo &
aquarium.

Musicals, various locations Something you

mightn't know about Hamburg is that it's one of the
top destinations in the world to go if you're looking
to see world-class musicals. Many of these are
performed in German but they're still hugely popular
with visitors to the city. Current shows include
Disney's The Lion King and Tarzan, along with
Sister Act and many more.

Rathaus Hamburg, Rathausmarkt 1, Altstadt

Splendour is one word to describe Hamburg's town
hall. Take a tour and you'll see ornate rooms with
names like the Emperor's Hall and the Phoenix Hall.
Tours depart on the hour (French/English) & on the
half hour (German) Mon-Fri 10am-3pm, Sat
10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm.

Presse Caf, Susannenstrasse 42/43,

Schanzenviertel Presse Caf attracts a great
crowd who come to sample the reasonably priced
cocktails, beers and wines. There are plenty of
comfy spots to sit inside including window seats
with a great view out onto bustling
Sussanenstrasse. Open weekdays 9am-midnight,
weekends 10am/noon-close.
Hostelworld Guide for Hamburg

Don't Miss

Mark Your Calendar

March-April - Hamburger DOM Attracting millions
of visitors each year, this month-long event features
a huge variety of carnival rides, carousels, games,
food stalls and lots more. It also takes place in July
and again in November.
May - Hafengeburtstag The Hafengeburtstag or
Hamburg Port Festival is one of the world's largest
port festivals and each year it attracts over one
million visitors.
May - Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival During
this festival, a selection of stages and tents are set
up in Planten un Blomen to showcase Japanese
culture. Martial arts and traditional Japanese art are
just a couple of the events you can enjoy.
June - Hamburg Harley Days Over the course of
three days in June, Hamburg is taken over by
motorbikes. Around 50,000 bikers attend this
festival which features stunt shows and more.
June - Hamburg Ballet Days On the go for over 35
years, the Hamburg Ballet Days are held at the end
of the ballet season each year.
August - Christopher Street Day Celebrating
Hamburg's LGBTQ community, this annual festival
is very popular. As part of the event, a huge street
party is held and a colourful procession parades
through the city.
August/September - Alstervergngen This
annual festival takes place around Hamburg's Alster
Lake. Over 500 artists, acrobats and other
performers from Germany and beyond all take part
in a wide variety of different events.
September - Reeperbahn Festival Held in
Hamburg's infamous red light district, this festival
features around 150 different live music
performances. These are held in a variety of
venues across the city.
October/November - International Boat Show
Hamburg This long-running festival has been on
the go for more than 50 years. Also known as
'hanseboot', it's the leading boat show of this kind in
Northern Europe.
November/December - Weihnachtsmrkte
Hamburg's Weihnachtsmrkte are the city's popular
Christmas markets. Here you'll be able to buy
handcrafts from the numerous stalls, sample some
local cuisine, sip mulled wine and more.
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Neighbourhood Watch
St. Pauli Home to Hamburg's infamous
Reeperbahn with its bars, clubs, strip joints and sex
shops, St. Pauli is undoubtedly the centre of the
city's nightlife. Keep in mind that there's more to this
area than just its role as Hamburg's red light district.
Here you'll find the Hamburgermuseum along with a
great variety of reasonably priced restaurants and
more.
Hafen City On a visit to this part of town you can
check out the International Maritime Museum of
Hamburg and more. As you wander around the
various harbours you'll find plenty of open terrace
areas where you can chill out for a while including
the Magellan Terraces and the Marco Polo
Terraces which are especially popular on fine days.
Altstadt Hamburg's Altstadt or Old Town is a must
when visiting this city as it features some of the
city's top attractions including the Rathaus and the
Hauptkirche St. Michaelis. From here you'll also be
able to stroll along by Hamburg's Binnenalster or
inner lake, go shopping along Mnckebergstrasse
or stop for a bite to eat at one of the many cafs,
coffeehouses and restaurants in the area.
Altona You'll probably end up paying a bleary-eyed
visit to this part of town if you're lucky enough to be
in Hamburg on a Sunday morning as this is where
the weekly Fischmarkt is held. It's worth noting that
there are some other cool attractions here too like
the Altona Museum and the Patrician houses on
Palmaille.

A neighbourhood favourite
Schanzenviertel Without a doubt one of the
coolest neighbourhoods in Hamburg,
Schanzenviertel is home to a wonderful variety
of eateries, popular drinking establishments and
funky shops. A triangle of streets, namely
Susannenstrasse, Schulterblatt and
Schanzenstrasse are at the heart of this district
which boasts a welcoming, boho atmosphere.
Hostelworld Guide for Hamburg

Retail Therapy

Shop 'til you drop

Europa Passage, Ballindamm 40, Altstadt
Europa Passage is one of the most popular
shopping centres in Hamburg. Alongside
clothes shops like Tommy Hilfiger, Levis and
Oakley, you'll find stores offering up funky
interiors, watches, jewellery, electronics and
more. Open Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, closed
Sunday.
Neuer Wall, Neustadt Shopaholics will be in their
element along this shopping stretch which boasts a
plethora of designer stores and more upscale
boutiques belonging to some of the world's top
names in fashion from Gucci to Louis Vuitton. If
you're in the market for some serious bling, Cartier,
Bulgari and Tiffany's have branches on this street.
Mnckebergstrasse, Altstadt This is the main
shopping street in Hamburg and it is filled with a
wide variety of stores selling clothing, shoes,
accessories and more. Plenty of internationally
recognisable names can be found here including
Adidas, Fossil, H&M, Esprit and Zara, while many
local brands are also available.
Fischmarkt, Grosse Elbstrasse 137, Altona Not
just a shopping experience but a top Hamburg
attraction in its own right, the weekly Fischmarkt is
a spectacle that shouldn't be missed. Along with
stalls selling fish, fruit and tempting tasty treats,
you'll also find clothes, shoes, handcrafts and plenty
more. And if that's not enough, live bands entertain
market goers in the main hall. So, set your alarm for
an early start. Open Sundays Apr-Oct 5am-9.30am,
Nov-Mar 7am-9.30am.
Marktstrasse, Karolinenviertel If you're looking for
something a bit more alternative why not check out
Marktstrasse at the heart of the Karolinenviertel
area. Funky little boutiques rub shoulders with
shops selling army gear, music stores, piercing and
tattoo places and some great vintage options.

Hamburg for Free

Visit some of Hamburg's churches There's St.
Jacobi Church on Steinstrasse, which was founded
in the 13th century and which boasts a very
impressive organ. Over on Mnckebergerstrasse,
you'll find St. Petri Church. One of the oldest
churches in the city, it features gorgeous stained
glass and a towering steeple. Open daily, opening
hours vary between churches.
Cross the River Elbe using the Alter Elbtunnel
This tunnel crosses under the Elbe at a point
between St. Pauli and Steinweder on the other side
of the river. Built between 1907 and 1911, it can
accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. If
you're walking or cycling, you can travel across for
free. Open 24 hours for cyclists and pedestrians.

Floral feast for the senses

Wander through the Planten un Blomen park
One of the most beautiful areas of Hamburg,
Planten un Blomen houses botanical gardens,
Europe's biggest Japanese Garden, numerous
fountains and plenty more. It's one of the best
places in Hamburg to take a moment to relax
and enjoy your surroundings. Open Oct-Mar
7am-8pm, April 7am-10pm, May-Sept
7am-11pm.
Go for a stroll around the Alster Lake Hamburg's
impressive lake, Alster, is one of the city's top
attractions. Activities at the lake run the gamut from
water-based fun like kayaking and boat trips to
simply walking along the banks of the lake and
appreciating the view out across the water.
Check out the Stadtpark Located just a short
subway ride from the city centre, this huge park
covers almost 150 acres and most of it can be
visited at any time free of charge. Numerous trails
wind through wooded areas, while the park also
boasts green spaces, gorgeous gardens, interesting
pieces of art and lots more.

A Day in Hamburg...
Grab a pastry and a coffee at Caf Estrella on
Neuer Kamp in St. Pauli for a good start to the day.
Hop on the subway and make your way towards the
Speicherstadt area where you'll find attractions like
Miniatur Wunderland
From there, walk to Hauptkirche St. Michaelis and
take the elevator to the top of the tower for stunning
views of the city.
Grab a currywurst from one of the numerous
eateries serving up this local favourite for a cheap
and tasty lunch.
Visit Hamburg's impressive Rathaus or Town Hall
and take the tour to see the elaborately decorated
rooms inside.

Spend some time exploring Hamburg's inner and

outer lakes (pictured above) on foot or by taking
one of the frequent boat trips offered.
Fill your cultural quota by checking out the
impressive Hamburger Kunsthalle where you can
wander around and marvel at the masterpieces.
Get back on the subway and head out to
Schanzenviertel where you'll be able to find a
delicious meal at restaurants like Moraba.
Hang around this popular neighbourhood and have
a few drinks at bars like Bedford and Presse Caf.
End the night down on the Reeperbahn where you
can dance at Shooters or go to sample one of the
more 'exotic' venues.

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