Since July 2015, the historic Speicherstadt warehouse district in Hamburg has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is naturally at the top of the sightseeing and experience program for every visit to Hamburg.
The unique warehouse complex is the largest surviving historic warehouse complex in the world and creates a very special atmosphere for young and old with its red-brown brick façades in combination with its canals – known here as “fleets”.
For your next visit to Hamburg, we have put together 5 must-dos for the Speicherstadt that you shouldn’t miss.
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.
Speicherstadt To Do #1: Harbor tour
As Hamburg is one of the most important port cities in the world and the largest port in Germany, you should get a first impression of this vibrant city from the water.
The popular harbor cruises take place every 30 minutes between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the high season and every 45 minutes in the low season.
On these informative and extremely entertaining tours you will see the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, a wealth of new and old architecture, historic sailing ships and modern cruise liners, container terminals, shipyards and, of course, the historic heart of the city on the Elbe, the fascinating Speicherstadt warehouse district.
Speicherstadt To Do #2: Miniature Wonderland
After exploring the port and the Speicherstadt from the water, it’s time to explore and experience the Speicherstadt on foot.
Over the years, the Miniature Wonderland has become an absolute crowd-puller. With around 270,000 figures, more than 1,000 trains, over 10,000 carriages and 130,000 trees, it is home to the largest model railroad layout in the world and captivates not only railroad enthusiasts, but simply everyone!
The “gigantic miniature world” was opened in 2000 and has been growing continuously ever since. New model building sections are constantly being added and the ambitious plans for the future now extend as far as 2028. So let’s go and be enchanted by the little things in life!
Speicherstadt To Do #3: Spicy’s Spice Museum
If you continue your exploration tour “always following your nose”, you won’t get past Spicy’s Spice Museum.
Hamburg’s port city has been closely linked to the global spice trade for centuries – and so it was only natural for two young Hamburg residents, who were themselves active in this industry, to set up their own museum for this branch of trade.
Since 1993, Spicy’s Spice Museum has been located in the heart of the Speicherstadt, just a stone’s throw from the Elbphilharmonie concert hall. However, this is not a museum where you just stand around and look, but one for all the senses. In addition to various utensils, you will find spices from all over the world that you can touch, grind and smell.
And of course you can buy all the spices, many of which you probably didn’t even know about before, after your visit.
Speicherstadt To Do #4: Coffee or tea?
Depending on which hot drink you prefer – there is also a museum for these two classics of world trade.
The Burg family’s coffee business and roasting plant has been in existence since 1923. From cultivation to harvesting and processing, you can learn everything about the popular beans in the museum. You can and should not only study the coffee, but also taste it in the adjoining café and – of course – buy it right next door.
If you prefer to treat your palate to exquisite teas, then visit the famous moated castle. There you will find the no less famous Teekontor, where you should be able to find the right blend for every taste from over 250 tea varieties.
Speicherstadt To Do #5: The OPOLUM
A crowning and extremely exciting conclusion to a tour of Hamburg’s Speicherstadt is, of course, the OPOLUM.
The huge escape room with live actors offers an experience that is second to none; not only in the Speicherstadt, but far beyond the city limits.
As a group, you try to solve exciting puzzles and find out what is behind the mysterious incidents. And in the middle of it all are actors who guide you and make the action even more exciting.
Only one question remains – do you even dare to go in there?
What will you be doing in the Speicherstadt?
These were our top 5 to-dos in the Speicherstadt. But this district offers much, much more – it’s best to take a stroll through the alleyways and simply let the different impressions and experiences work their magic on you.
However you do it, we wish you lots of fun discovering Hamburg’s Speicherstadt!
