Yes, Hamburg’s Speicherstadt is a fragrant place for smart Klabautermänner, cheeky seagulls and brave puzzlesolvers in the Escape Room Hamburg from OPOLUM. And if you want to know something, you usually have to ask.
That’s why we have listed the most frequently asked questions and answers about the Speicherstadt, which we are proud to call our home port. Have fun with the most interesting facts!
What is the Speicherstadt Hamburg?
The Speicherstadt in Hamburg is a historic warehouse district in the port of Hamburg, which was built at the end of the 19th century south of the old town on the former Elbe islands of Kehrwieder and Wandrahm.
The Speicherstadt is of great importance as a trading center and is known for its impressive architecture along the wide canals. Together with the Kontorhaus district, this popular tourist destination is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
How old is the Speicherstadt in Hamburg?
The Speicherstadt in Hamburg will soon be 100 years old. It was officially opened in 1927. Construction work on the Speicherstadt lasted 44 years from 1883 until its completion.
From the 16th century, residential areas had previously developed on the site, which were eventually demolished for the construction of this important transshipment point.
What was stored in the Speicherstadt?
As Hamburg’s Speicherstadt was an important trading center with international sea connections, a wide variety of goods from all over the world were stored here.
The most important goods include coffee, tea, cocoa and chocolate, exotic spices such as pepper, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon and, of course, tobacco and tobacco products. In addition, there is much more from overseas trade: rice, rubber and carpets.
How large is the area of the Speicherstadt?
The Speicherstadt warehouse district in Hamburg covers an area of around 26 hectares. It is approximately 1.5 kilometers long and 150 to 250 meters wide. The area includes the two Elbe islands Kehrwieder and Wandrahm as well as a total of 6 canals, i.e. the watercourses between the warehouse buildings.
Is the Speicherstadt still in use?
Nowadays, the Speicherstadt is only partly used as a warehouse, with other uses now accounting for the majority. Companies use offices and commercial space here.
Museums in the Speicherstadt convey history and culture. Cafés, restaurants and bars make the Speicherstadt a popular place for tourists and locals alike. It is also used for leisure activities – including the revolutionary OPOLUM escape room.
When was the Speicherstadt Hamburg built?
Construction work began in 1883 and the majority of the warehouses were completed a few years later. The Speicherstadt Hamburg was officially opened on October 29, 1888 with the laying of the keystone by Kaiser Wilhelm II at Brooksbrücke.
But even after this official opening, the building extensions continued until 1927. Although around 70% of the warehouse space was bombed during the Second World War, the majority of the buildings were rebuilt immediately after the end of the war.
How was the Speicherstadt warehouse district in Hamburg built?
Construction began with the forced relocation of around 20,000 people and the demolition of their residential areas on the two Elbe islands mentioned above. The Speicherstadt covers an area of around 26 hectares and is around 1.5 kilometers long and between 150 and 250 meters wide.
As was customary at the turn of the century, the buildings were constructed from red brick. But despite the uniform basic material, each individual storage block has a slightly different color and ornamentation.
Similar to Venice, the buildings stand on wooden piles that were driven up to 12 meters deep into the mud of the Elbe. While Venice was built on larch wood, oak piles were used in Hamburg.
Who owns the Speicherstadt Hamburg?
The Speicherstadt in Hamburg belongs to the Hanseatic City of Hamburg, is part of HHLA’s real estate portfolio and is managed by the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA).
This public-law institution manages the port and owns the majority of the Port of Hamburg. “Speicherstadt and Kontorhausviertel with Chilehaus” have become part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Which river flows through the Speicherstadt?
The River Elbe – more precisely the Norderelbe – flows through Hamburg’s Speicherstadt.
It was built on islands that lie in the river or between its tributaries. These tributaries were straightened so that ships could pass more easily. There are 6 canals within the Speicherstadt.
What can you do in the Speicherstadt?
Although the historic warehouse complex lost more and more of its importance as a goods handling site from the 1960s onwards, it became increasingly important as a tourist attraction. Museums, galleries, studios, restaurants, offices and apartments were built. The Speicherstadt Museum, which illustrates the history of this part of the city, is of course also housed in one of the historic buildings.
Since July 2015, Hamburg’s Speicherstadt warehouse district has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been a must-see when visiting Hamburg ever since. The “Miniature Wonderland”, which is home to a gigantic model train set, has proven to be a special attraction for young and old alike.
Also very popular: a boat tour through the canals of this unique district, which are called “fleets” in Hamburg.
Here you will find 5 To Do’s in Hamburg’s Speicherstadt.
What is there to see in the Speicherstadt?
The Speicherstadt consists of 15 (formerly 17) building complexes, canals and bridges, which create an impressive overall picture. There are now only partial storage areas; the majority of the warehouse complexes now have other functions:
There are museums(Speicherstadtmuseum, shipping museum, spice museum, coffee museum etc.), the moated castle, the XXL escape room OPOLUM, restaurants, cafés and bars and much more.
Can you walk through the Speicherstadt?
Yes, it is easy to get around Hamburg’s Speicherstadt on foot. There are many small alleyways, bridges and paths that are perfect for a walk, where you can experience the sights and take in the unique ambience of history and architecture. The OPOLUM Outdoor Escape Games Hamburg are a special way of sightseeing on foot.
The best thing to do is to wander aimlessly through the Speicherstadt and let yourself be captivated by one of the many extremely creative restaurants and discover many new and exciting visual impressions as well as completely unexpected taste experiences – satisfaction guaranteed!
How much does a guided tour of the Speicherstadt cost?
A Speicherstadt guided tour varies in price depending on the type and scope of service – public tours usually cost between 10 and 20 euros per person, private tours are more individually tailored and cost between 50 and 150 euros per hour. Specialized tours focus on certain aspects; an OPOLUM Outdoor Escape Game (sightseeing with a puzzle game) costs between 25 and 40 euros per person.
Which breakfast restaurants are located in the Speicherstadt?
The Speicherstadt is a great place to have breakfast in the historic, international flair of the World Heritage Site, where spices and delicacies from all over the world were the first to arrive. Restaurants such as the Kaffeerösterei, the Barrossa coffee bar, the Vlet, Schönes Leben or the Wasserschloss are ideal – we present these breakfast restaurants in Hamburg’s Speicherstadt with prices and opening times in more detail here in our blog.
Are there parking facilities near the Speicherstadt?
Yes, there are parking facilities near the Speicherstadt and in the Speicherstadt itself: In the Contipark parking garage, in Miniatur Wunderland, in Amundsen Haus, in the Contipark underground parking garage at Sandtorkai, in the Hanseatic Trade Center or in the Contipark underground parking garage Überseequartier. Prices, location and further parking tips can be found in our blog: Parking Speicherstadt Hamburg.