Are you looking for the best tips for experiencing Hamburg in a new way? Whether you live in the Hanseatic city or want to go exploring as a guest – we’ll show you what you have to see in Hamburg.
Sights, natural spectacles and places of worship – in this list we show you what you have to see in Hamburg. Your visit is guaranteed to be an unforgettable highlight.
We present special leisure activities here because we offer one ourselves. With its Escape Room Theater, OPOLUM is the future of escape rooms in Hamburg. Because we haven’t just strung together tricky puzzles and wrapped them up in an exciting story. We have made our escape rooms in the Speicherstadt as realistic as possible and taken them to a whole new level. By using actors who actively intervene in our stories, you completely forget that it’s just a game. Our size is also unique: we are the largest escape room in Hamburg.
1st memorable sensation - on foot through the old Elbe tunnel
The St. Pauli-Elbentunnel was opened in 1911 and was considered a technical sensation at the time. Today, the tunnel is a listed building. The plaque commemorating the historic landmark is located at the northern entrance. When you enter the 426-metre-long, tiled vaulted tunnel, you will feel a very special charm due to its dim lighting.
A special highlight is the Elbe Tunnel Marathon, which always takes place on the last Sunday in January. Participants have to pass through the tunnel 48 times in total.
Crossing under the Nordelbe is free for pedestrians and cyclists – and once you’re through, you’ll be rewarded with an idyllic view of the Landungsbrücken.
2. above the clouds - see the city of Hamburg from above
In Hamburg, there are many different ways to enjoy the view over the rooftops of the city. The most famous church building in the city is probably the tower of the main Protestant church, St. Michael’s (Michel). It is located in the southern part of Neustadt between Ludwig-Erhard-Straße, Krayenkamp and Englischer Planke. The characteristic church tower is over 130 meters high and offers a tower platform that provides a sweeping view over the city.
On some evenings, you are lucky enough to experience a 360° panoramic view from the Michel. The unique view is breathtakingly spectacular!
For a quick coffee and an unmistakable panoramic view over the Elbe, the harbor and the Landungsbrücken, head to “Deck & Deli” on the Plaza, the viewing platform of the Elbphilharmonie, at a height of almost 40 meters. For those who want to accompany their view with culinary variety, Hamburg’s cafés and bars at a certain height with panoramic windows or roof terraces are a varied way to enjoy a good time with a view of the harbor or Alster. For example, we recommend the Clouds and the Heavens Nest roof terrace on the top floor of the Dancing Towers, which are located at the eastern entrance to the Reeperbahn in Hamburg. Be sure to reserve a table by the window – that way you can enjoy the best view in the city without any restrictions!
3. a beach day in the big city - the Elbe beach
If you long for sand under your feet and a cool breeze, you’ve come to the Hamburg Elbe beach is just right for you. There are several stretches of beach along the banks of the Elbe, such as Oevelgönne in the Othmarschen district, the less crowded Hans-Leip-Ufer, the dog beach on Falkensteiner Ufer and Wittenbergener Strand. The latter is considered by many to be the most beautiful section of Hamburg’s Elbe beach, as it is the last natural beach in the Hanseatic city and offers a picturesque panorama with its red and white striped lighthouse.
However, it should be noted that the Elbe is not a designated bathing water. Although the cool water is particularly inviting for swimming in warmer temperatures, the strong currents are treacherous in many sections and are exacerbated by shipping traffic. However, if you take good care, nothing should stand in the way of an extended sunbath.
4th Animal entertainment - Hagenbeck Zoo
The Hagenbeck Zoo was opened in May 1907 and was the first zoo in the world whose enclosures were built without bars. Special highlights of the zoo include various animal worlds such as the Arctic Ocean, the Africa Panorama, the Tropical Aquarium, the Elephant Free-Range Hall and the Orangutan House. These enclosures are a sight to behold! Very close to the natural habitat and particularly species-appropriate, the enclosures for the individual animal species have been designed with exciting architectural solutions. An adventure for young and old.
5. burger heaven and other feasts - Otto's Burger
If you love burgers, you should definitely visit one of the Hamburg restaurants of Otto’s Burger in Hamburg. Here, burgers are served the way they should be – fresh, juicy and cheesy!
Particular emphasis is placed on high-quality food with handmade ingredients without a lot of fuss! The burgers are always served with a warm smile in a cozy atmosphere.
All burger stores are designed with a lot of love and always individually and stylishly adapted to the conditions of the premises and the neighborhood. This gives you the chance to rediscover Otto’s time and time again.
6. artistic moments - The Kunsthalle Hamburg
The Hamburger Kunsthalle is one of the largest and most important art museums in Germany. The Kunsthalle Hamburg is not only committed to contemporary art, but also focuses on the preservation of ancient art. The developments in art from the Middle Ages to the present day are shown in the presentation of the renowned collection. More than 700 works are on permanent display here. The focus is on North German medieval painting, Dutch painting of the 17th century and German painting of the 19th century. Thanks to the high-caliber special exhibitions and extracurricular learning opportunities, the museum’s content is accessible to all age groups.
A museum store, the Liebermann” museum café and the restaurant “The Cube” invite you to linger after exploring the museum. From here you can also experience one of the most beautiful views over the Inner Alster and the Hanseatic city!
7. love of nature for all - "Planten un Blomen" park
Over 200 years ago, the park “Planten un Blomen” was created on a section of the former Hamburg ramparts. “Planten un Blomen” was created over 200 years ago. The name is Low German and means – as you can guess – plants and flowers. For nature lovers, this 47-hectare park in the center of Hamburg is a must-see. As one of the greenest attractions in the Hanseatic city, the park invites you to sunbathe and relax. Every summer, public theater performances for children, water light concerts and musical performances take place here – and best of all: admission is free!
Independent of the events the park is also a popular excursion destination for families thanks to the numerous playgrounds on offer. And if you prefer peace and quiet, Hamburg’s green lung offers wide lawns, idyllic streams and small lakes as well as unique themed gardens.
8. an eerily beautiful time - The Dungeon Hamburg
If you like scary things, this is the right place for you! The Hamburg Dungeon is a unique and exciting attraction that takes its visitors back to the dark past of the city of Hamburg. Here, true stories of the bad old days are brought to life by real actors and gloomy characters. Immerse yourself in another world and experience a special kind of history lesson! The 90-minute tour of the Dungeon offers eleven live shows and two rides that will give you a spooky good time like you’ve never experienced before. Guaranteed.
9th nightlife street for night owls - the Reeperbahn
The Reeperbahn got its name from the rope makers and rope makers, the so-called Reepschlägern, who needed a long, straight track to make ship ropes. The Reeperbahn runs for almost a kilometer from Millerntor in a westerly direction to Nobistor (Hamburg-Altona). It is home to numerous restaurants, nightclubs, bars and discos. This has earned it the nickname “the most sinful mile in the world”. Attractions on the Reeperbahn include the famous Café Keese, the windowless pub “Zur Ritze” and a wide variety of venues that continue into the side streets. Various theaters such as the St. Pauli Theater and the famous brothel alley “Herbertstraße” are located parallel to the Reeperbahn.
The Spielbudenplatz with the most famous German police station, the Davidwache, the Panoptikum wax museum, the Schmidt Theater and the Operettenhaus are definitely worth a visit.
10. small but beautiful - The Miniatur Wunderland
The Miniature Wonderland in Hamburg’s Speicherstadt warehouse district is unique in terms of its landscape design and the technology behind it. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it is the largest model railway layout in the world.
New standards have been set here in various areas of model building technology. You can discover the model railroad layout from many different perspectives. Just like on a treasure hunt, you have to be prepared for a few surprises. There are various special events in the program for this purpose: the layout can be experienced in a small group at “Night in Wonderland” or with many different culinary highlights at the “Culinary World Tour”.
Visitors can control processes on the layout using around 200 buttons. For example, a mine train starts up, wind turbines turn, the next goal is scored in the Volkspark stadium, a space shuttle takes off, a helicopter lifts off or Pinocchio’s nose starts to grow. These push-button actions are a highlight for many visitors – and I’m sure you will be too!
On certain guided tours, it is also possible to take a look behind the scenes, which cannot be seen from the normal public area. This is simply fun for young and old.
Our conclusion:
No matter how old you are, whether you live in Hamburg or not – this top 10 offers you exciting variety and lots of fun. Here you can find everything at a glance:
1. old Elbe tunnel
2. View the city of Hamburg from above
3. Elbe beach
4. Hagenbeck Zoo
5. Otto’s Burger
6. Kunsthalle Hamburg
7. Park “Planten un Blomen”
8. Dungeon Hamburg
9. Reeperbahn
10. Miniature Wonderland
These were the “10 things you must have experienced in Hamburg”. We wish you lots of fun!
PS: Because we are so modest, the most important thing is not on the list, but it should be mentioned here anyway: If you are looking for an unforgettable experience with your friends, be sure to visit us! OPOLUM is the Escape Game Theater in Hamburg. We bring the classic escape game to life with highly motivated actors. Come along – we look forward to seeing you!