In the Hanseatic city of Hamburg, the Speicherstadt in particular has sights to offer that are incomparable. This district is the epitome of this city, which is so rich in history, charm and impressive architecture.
This blog post takes you on a tour of the best Speicherstadt sights and activities – let’s go!
What is the Speicherstadt?
The Speicherstadt is a historic warehouse district in Hamburg that was built in the late 19th century. It is the largest of its kind in the world and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The characteristic red brick facades and winding waterways give the Speicherstadt its unique charm.
What is so special about the Speicherstadt?
The special feature of the Speicherstadt is its architecture and historical significance. The buildings are built on oak piles over the Elbe river, creating a fascinating backdrop.
The Speicherstadt was once the heart of Hamburg’s trade and is now home to a mixture of museums, stores, cafés and many entertainment options.
What can you do in the Speicherstadt? The 10 best Speicherstadt sights
#1 Miniatur Wunderland
Miniatur Wunderland is home to the largest model railroad layout in the world. On several levels, visitors can marvel at detailed landscapes, cities and sights from different countries.
It is a fascinating mixture of technology, craftsmanship and creative model making – a unique miniature world that shows the beauty and diversity of the earth in miniature.
Address: Kehrwieder 2-4, 20457 Hamburg
#2 Speicherstadt Museum
To help you understand how the unique Speicherstadt was created and how things used to be there, let’s start with the Speicherstadt Museum.
In the authentic ambience of 1888, it shows how warehouse workers stored and processed the valuable imported goods of coffee, tea, cocoa, rubber, spices, etc. back then. You will also find numerous historical photos and plans of the history of the Speicherstadt and its sights.
This – according to its own definition – “largest of the small museums in Hamburg” – is also particularly child-friendly, as many of the exhibits can be played with and there is also an exciting and fun puzzle rally across the museum.
Address: Am Sandtorkai 36, 20457 Hamburg
Find out more about the 5 best museums in the Speicherstadt in this article.
#3 Coffee house and coffee roastery
Just follow the intense smell of coffee in the Speicherstadt and you will end up in the coffee house where the coffee beans were roasted. Coffee was and is one of the most important goods handled in the port of Hamburg.
In the coffee roastery, you will find historic coffee grinders and roasting plants and can experience an average of 8 coffee roasts live every day – what a wonderful aromatic experience! Here you can find out everything you need to know about the world’s most important source of liquid energy and, of course, taste the best types of coffee.
Address: Kehrwieder 5, 20457 Hamburg
#4 Spicy`s Spice Museum
We stay with the culinary and olfactory highlights of the Speicherstadt sights and now enter the Spicy’s Spice Museum.
Here you can follow the entire process of processing fine spices from cultivation to the finished product on around 350 square meters. The history of spices over the last five centuries is told on an original warehouse floor with over 900 exhibits.
Address: Am Sandtorkai 34, 20457 Hamburg
#5 Elbphilharmonie
The Elbphilharmonie – also affectionately known as the Elphi – is a modern concert hall and, since 2016, the new landmark of the Hanseatic city and one of the top Speicherstadt sights.
If you were unable to get tickets for a concert, you should at least enjoy the outstanding view of the city and the harbor from the “Plaza”. This 37-metre-high platform, which serves as access to the foyer of the concert halls and the adjoining hotel, is freely accessible. The impressive architecture and modern atmosphere make this place a must-see.
Address: Platz der Deutschen Einheit 1, 20457 Hamburg
#6 The Hamburg Dungeon
The Hamburg Dungeon is an interactive museum that takes visitors on a journey through the city’s dark past. Historical events and stories are brought to life in an entertaining and sometimes spooky way.
In the eerie ambience of the Dungeon, you can meet the legendary headless pirate Klaus Störtebecker and relive the terrible fire of Hamburg in 1842.
Here you are in the middle of the action of 11 different, hair-raising and often bloodthirsty stories, which are presented with elaborate technical effects so true to life that your breath will stop and your blood will freeze in your veins.
Address: Kehrwieder 2, 20457 Hamburg
#7 Maritime Museum
The International Maritime Museum Hamburg is one of the largest maritime museums in the world. It houses an impressive collection of exhibits – including ship models, historical artifacts, paintings and documents relating to maritime history, shipping technology and navigation.
There are more than 50,000 (!!!) ship models from the 20th century alone to marvel at in the Naval Museum. But there are also older models, plans, dioramas of naval battles and harbors, countless historical paintings, photographs and books dealing with seafaring, a huge collection of equipment, weapons, uniforms, decorations and much more.
There’s almost nothing you won’t find here on the subject of seafaring! More than 150,000 visitors a year agree – making the Maritime Museum one of the most exciting Speicherstadt attractions.
Address: Koreastrasse 1, 20457
#8 Harbor tour – Maritime Circle Line
One of the most important port cities in the world is of course best explored from the water. The Maritime Circle Line offers you a relaxed boat tour through the harbor and the canals and waters of the city past the most important Speicherstadt sights.
Address: At the St. Pauli landing stages, 20359 Hamburg
Find out more about the great Hamburg harbor cruise here.
#9 surge tank
The most beautiful and most photographed building in the Speicherstadt is definitely the famous moated castle.
A tea shop has been set up in this probably most enchanting of the Speicherstadt sights, where you should be able to find the right blend for your exquisite taste from over 250 types of tea.
Address: Dienerreihe 4, 20359 Hamburg
#10 OPOLUM: Revolutionary escape room with live acting
Don’t miss out on what is probably Hamburg’s most sophisticated escape room. In Hamburg’s OPOLUM, you can go on exciting adventures with your friends or family.
In this premium version of an Escape Room, actors repeatedly intervene in the storylines, ensuring a high adrenaline rush and absolutely unforgettable experiences!
The OPOLUM Outdoor Escape Games are ideal for tourists. These combine exciting puzzle solving with sightseeing.
Address: Alter Wandrahm 7, 20457 Hamburg
Speicherstadt sights Conclusion
As a city within a city, Hamburg’s Speicherstadt offers countless sights. To get a good overview of the most important ones, we recommend exploring this fascinating area as part of an exciting and educational “Outdoor Escape Game“. A slightly different kind of city tour that is enjoying increasing popularity and that no one is guaranteed to forget in a hurry!
