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The city’s maritime charm and waterfront position make Hamburg irresistible. Find the right hotel in Hamburg and experience first-hand what else the Hanseatic city has to offer.
The fantastic city on the river Elbe has a lot to offer. Hamburg has more canals than Amsterdam and Venice combined, not to mention the most bridges in Europe! There are many activities and sights awaiting you in the port city. Beautiful theatres, trade fairs and congresses, the imposing city hall, the famous Reeperbahn and the Hagenbeck Zoo. Hotels in Hamburg are ideal for both business and pleasure stays. Find your perfect location in the city and choose a comfortable hotel based on your wants and needs. Discover your perfect stay in our ALL – Accor Live Limitless collection.
Hamburg has the largest port in Germany and one of the largest ports in Europe. The port of Hamburg extends over 14 districts, welcoming around 13,000 ships from around the world each year. The international port is a trade centre for paper, carpets, coffee, spices and tea. Because of this, the Hamburg locals fondly refer to it as the 'gateway to the world'. The best way to get an impression is to take one of the many harbour tours offered by longboats and passenger ships. Looking for an alternative to a regular harbour tour? Board the Harbour Ferry Line 62 at St. Pauli Piers. This will take you comfortably to Finkenwerder – an idyllic quarter of Hamburg – and back. For a detour to the Elbstrand (Elbe Beach), get off at the Museumshafen Oevelgönne. Discover famous sights from the boat, relax and make your plan for the day. Before you set sail, start the day with a tasty fish sandwich. It's one of the best ways to eat like a local. Whether made with fresh fish or fishcake, salad, onions and various sauces – enjoy the delicious speciality before the sightseeing begins.
The Harbour Birthday (Hafengeburtstag) is celebrated every year in May, commemorating the legend of the founding of the Port of Hamburg in May 1189. Large ships, maritime arts, crafts and culinary specialities from Hamburg make this lively event special, setting up along the promenade and on the water. If you are looking for a hotel near Hamburg Harbour for the event, be sure to book early! This is one of the busiest celebrations of the year. Accommodation is always popular and quickly booked up for the Harbour Birthday.
The next tip is perfect for early birds – this one is worth getting up early. The Hamburg Fish Market (Hamburger Fischmarkt) is open every Sunday from 05:00, attracting many locals and tourists to Altona, the westernmost borough of Hamburg. With its diverse stalls, longstanding tradition and quick-witted market criers, the fish market is one of Hamburg's highlights. You will find fresh fish, fruit, vegetables, plants and curiosities. The best time for the fish market is from around 08:00 when traders estimate how much produce they have left and things start to get livelier. The fresh fish is advertised dramatically, making the atmosphere fun and unique at this peak time of day. Be sure to visit the historic fish auction hall, recognisable by its domed roof and stained-glass windows. The Sunday brunch with live music is popular after a long night of partying on the Kiez or for early morning revelling. Time to get into the hustle and bustle!
The Elbphilharmonie is easily one of the top things to see in Hamburg, a colossus of glass and steel towering above the cruise ships in the harbour. From the Elbphilharmonie plaza, enjoy an unobstructed view of the contrasts between tradition and modernity that are shaping Hamburg's future. Enjoy a stunning view of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall from St. Pauli Piers or our 4-star hotel in Hamburg, the 25hours Hotel Hamburg HafenCity. The Dancing Towers offer an equally fantastic view. This skyscraper in St. Pauli houses the highest roof terrace in Hamburg! On the 24th floor, a panoramic rooftop bar awaits you with the Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg Harbour and the St. Michael's Church as a backdrop. Iced drinks and delicious snacks are a perfect way to enjoy it.
Hamburg's Speicherstadt (warehouse city) is a complex of redbrick Gothic warehouses crisscrossed by canals and waterways. Iron bridges connect the banks of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of Hamburg's most visited highlights. The historic Deichstraße is another must-see, the last remaining ensemble of old Hamburg townhouses. If you're travelling with family, take a detour to the nearby Miniatur Wunderland, the largest model railway in the world. On over 16,000 metres of track, various worlds have been recreated with loving attention to detail, including Austria, America and Scandinavia, and of course, Hamburg itself.
Time to explore Hamburg's legendary nightlife! When looking for after-dark activities in Hamburg, make the Reeperbahn your go-to. This less-than-a-kilometre stretch is always abuzz after dark. Once the working centre for ropemakers (Reeperbahn means ropewalk), the Reeperbahn is Europe's largest red-light district today. The party atmosphere in this part of Hamburg is irresistible. The street has numerous clubs, bars, shops and live entertainment venues. The legendary music club Große Freiheit 36 is not to be missed – The Beatles made music history here! Our ibis budget Hotel Hamburg St Pauli Messeoffers affordable rooms not far from the Reeperbahn. When you choose this hotel, a short walk separates you from the Reeperbahn, St. Pauli Piers and the harbour. It's not much further to the Jungfernstieg, an urban promenade, and the Inner Alster Lake, an artificial lake in the middle of Hamburg.
In Hamburg, many things happen on and near the water. The Elbstrand is a great place to enjoy the ships' steady movement. This beloved stretch of coast begins at the former fishing village of Övelgönne, ending near Schleswig-Holstein, the most northern state of Germany. Encounter historic ships, picturesque houses and beautiful gardens, including the old pilot house (Altes Lotsenhaus) or the museum harbour (Museumshafen). In summer, you can sunbathe on the beach. In winter, walk with a beautiful view of the Elbe. Keep your eyes peeled for a unique attraction! Directly on the bank lies The Old Swede (Der Alte Schwede), an enormous rock discovered in 1999 during excavations on the Elbe.
Not only can you explore Hamburg on foot, but also from the water. The whole diversity of the city awaits you on a canal trip across the Alster! Board at St. Pauli Piers and sail from the Inner Alster Lake (Binnenalster) towards the Outer Alster Lake (Außenalster), discovering winding canals and charming sights. The river guides you along noble villas, rustic parks and hidden cafés. At the same time, your captain shares stories about Hamburg's Blue Centre. Ask to stop at Café Canale in Winterhude, directly connected to the Mühlenkamp Canal. Ring the bell once, and you'll be served coffee and homemade cake on the boat. Follow the watercourse to the Oberalster, where the canals become narrower, willows entwine over the water and locals cycle along the banks. It's hard to believe that this peaceful haven lies in the middle of a big city. Alternatively, rent a canoe and paddle to the Barmbeker Branch Canal (Barmbeker Stichkanal) to reach the city park lake (Stadtparksee). You can see the large festival meadow and the planetarium from here. From the city park lake, sail straight along the Goldbekkanal to the Rondeelkanal, which ends in the Rondeelteich (Rondeel pond).
Foodie visiting Hamburg? Try one of the city's typical dishes: fish sandwiches (Fischbrötchen), pan fish (Pannfisch), Labskaus, Franzbrötchen and coffee! The traditional Hanseatic cuisine is varied and characterised by the international influences of seafaring. First and foremost is pan fish – a fried fish dish with fried potatoes and mustard sauce. Potatoes are also a must for Labskaus, a plate of salted meat and mashed potatoes with onions, beetroot and fried egg. Looking for a restaurant that serves the best traditional food and drinks? The Old Commercial Room is one of the top restaurants in Hamburg for Labskaus. Many locals debate the best spot to eat Franzbrötchen, a sweet pastry made of yeast dough with plenty of cinnamon and sugar, found on almost every corner. Some like it fluffy, while others prefer it to be sticky. Sample plenty and decide for yourself. Café Luise or Mutterland are a favourite for their Franzbötchen, but most bakeries serve this sweet treat. Good coffee is everywhere in Hamburg. The steamy brew goes perfectly with the typically rainy weather in the city, so cosy up with a cup whenever you can. Hamburg's famous weekly open-air market is considered one of the largest in Europe. Every Tuesday and Friday, around 200 exhibitors sell their goods under the elevated railway line between Hoheluftbrücke and Eppendorfer Baum. The market is stocked with local produce, including some of the best things to eat in the city.
Hagenbeck Zoo is a perfect day out for families in Hamburg, first opening its doors over 100 years ago. Home to more than 1,000 creatures from all four corners of the world, this vast zoo includes many habitats and a tropical aquarium. It's hard to believe that it all began in 1848 with six seals brought in by a fish wholesaler. Locals showed up in droves to see the sweet sea creatures. Hamburg SV Football Club can also look back on a long history from their home at Volkspark Stadium (Volksparkstadion) in Altona. Tickets for the Hamburg City Derby are particularly sought-after. The city goes into a frenzy when Hamburg SV and FC St. Pauli play in the same league. Sports fans visiting should always try to bag tickets. Three times a year, the Heiligengeistfeld, an area in St. Pauli, is transformed into a colourful folk festival. There is a lot for children and families to explore: the Wild Mouse, the Ferris wheel and the Power Tower are among the top attractions at this Hamburg funfair. Whether you prefer thrills or sweet treats, there's something for everyone here.
There are around 60 museums in Hamburg, including something to pique every interest. Want to learn about the city? the Museum of Hamburg History is the best place to go. Opened in 1922, it now has Germany's most extensive urban history collection. Whether shipping, emigration, living culture or the Great Fire of 1842, the museum presents the past of the proud Hanseatic city for anyone to see. The Bucerius Kunst Forum is something like the MoMA of Hamburg, where curated exhibitions are sometimes straightforward, modern or avant-garde and yet always inspiring. Hamburg is also home to two more unmissable art museums: Hamburger Kunsthalle and the Deichtorhallen. Check out the building's architecture before heading inside to discover more treasures.
Looking for a hotel in Hamburg? The Hanseatic city on the Elbe is the ideal destination for a weekend trip or longer. We have perfect hotels to suit every visit.