Hamburg itinerary: 1 to 7 days
Plans for one to seven days in Hamburg, day by day: HafenCity, the Speicherstadt, the Elbphilharmonie and St. Michael's Church first, then the Rathaus, the St. Pauli Piers and the Old Elbe Tunnel, and the Kunsthalle, Planten un Blomen and the International Maritime Museum as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Hamburg in 1 day
Day 1
HafenCity
New waterfront district on former port land, with modern architecture, promenades and the Elbphilharmonie.
Speicherstadt
UNESCO-listed red-brick warehouse district on canals, home to Miniatur Wunderland and small museums.
Elbphilharmonie
Concert hall built on an old warehouse, with a free public Plaza at 37 m offering harbour views.
St. Michael's Church, Hamburg
Baroque Lutheran church, the Michel, whose 132 m tower has a viewing platform over the harbour.
Hamburg in 2 days
Day 1
Elbphilharmonie
Concert hall built on an old warehouse, with a free public Plaza at 37 m offering harbour views.
Hamburg Rathaus
Neo-Renaissance city hall from 1897 with an ornate facade; guided tours show the state rooms.
St. Peter's Church, Hamburg
Oldest parish church in the city, with a tower climb of 544 steps for views over the Altstadt.
Chilehaus
Brick Expressionist office block from 1924 shaped like a ship's bow, part of the UNESCO Kontorhaus district.
Day 2
St. Pauli Piers
Landungsbrücken, the floating piers where harbour cruises and HVV ferries depart, with fish snack stalls.
Elbe Tunnel
Old Elbe Tunnel from 1911, a tiled pedestrian tunnel under the river reached by lifts, with views from the far bank.
St. Michael's Church, Hamburg
Baroque Lutheran church, the Michel, whose 132 m tower has a viewing platform over the harbour.
Speicherstadt
UNESCO-listed red-brick warehouse district on canals, home to Miniatur Wunderland and small museums.
Hamburg in 3 days
Day 1
Elbphilharmonie
Concert hall built on an old warehouse, with a free public Plaza at 37 m offering harbour views.
Hamburg Rathaus
Neo-Renaissance city hall from 1897 with an ornate facade; guided tours show the state rooms.
St. Peter's Church, Hamburg
Oldest parish church in the city, with a tower climb of 544 steps for views over the Altstadt.
Chilehaus
Brick Expressionist office block from 1924 shaped like a ship's bow, part of the UNESCO Kontorhaus district.
Day 2
St. Pauli Piers
Landungsbrücken, the floating piers where harbour cruises and HVV ferries depart, with fish snack stalls.
Elbe Tunnel
Old Elbe Tunnel from 1911, a tiled pedestrian tunnel under the river reached by lifts, with views from the far bank.
Rickmer Rickmers
Restored 1896 sailing ship moored at the Landungsbrücken, now a museum ship with a restaurant.
Bismarck Monument
Huge granite statue of Otto von Bismarck in the Old Elbe Park, completed in 1906 and recently restored.
St. Michael's Church, Hamburg
Baroque Lutheran church, the Michel, whose 132 m tower has a viewing platform over the harbour.
Day 3
Speicherstadt
UNESCO-listed red-brick warehouse district on canals, home to Miniatur Wunderland and small museums.
Kunsthalle Hamburg
Major art museum by the main station, spanning medieval altars, Caspar David Friedrich and contemporary art.
Hamburg in 4 days
Day 1
Elbphilharmonie
Concert hall built on an old warehouse, with a free public Plaza at 37 m offering harbour views.
Hamburg Rathaus
Neo-Renaissance city hall from 1897 with an ornate facade; guided tours show the state rooms.
St. Peter's Church, Hamburg
Oldest parish church in the city, with a tower climb of 544 steps for views over the Altstadt.
Chilehaus
Brick Expressionist office block from 1924 shaped like a ship's bow, part of the UNESCO Kontorhaus district.
Day 2
St. Pauli Piers
Landungsbrücken, the floating piers where harbour cruises and HVV ferries depart, with fish snack stalls.
Elbe Tunnel
Old Elbe Tunnel from 1911, a tiled pedestrian tunnel under the river reached by lifts, with views from the far bank.
Rickmer Rickmers
Restored 1896 sailing ship moored at the Landungsbrücken, now a museum ship with a restaurant.
Bismarck Monument
Huge granite statue of Otto von Bismarck in the Old Elbe Park, completed in 1906 and recently restored.
St. Michael's Church, Hamburg
Baroque Lutheran church, the Michel, whose 132 m tower has a viewing platform over the harbour.
Day 3
Planten un Blomen
City-centre park with a Japanese garden, rose garden and free water-light concerts on summer evenings.
Museum of Ethnology, Hamburg
Now called MARKK, a museum of world cultures with collections from Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas.
Day 4
Soviet submarine B-515
Cold War Soviet submarine, also known as U-434, open as a museum near the Fischmarkt.
Speicherstadt
UNESCO-listed red-brick warehouse district on canals, home to Miniatur Wunderland and small museums.
Hamburg in 5 days
Day 1
Elbphilharmonie
Concert hall built on an old warehouse, with a free public Plaza at 37 m offering harbour views.
Hamburg Rathaus
Neo-Renaissance city hall from 1897 with an ornate facade; guided tours show the state rooms.
Bucerius Kunst Forum
Exhibition hall by the Rathaus showing changing art exhibitions from antiquity to the present.
Jungfernstieg
Elegant promenade on the Inner Alster lake, with shops and the jetty for Alster boat trips.
St. Peter's Church, Hamburg
Oldest parish church in the city, with a tower climb of 544 steps for views over the Altstadt.
Day 2
St. Pauli Piers
Landungsbrücken, the floating piers where harbour cruises and HVV ferries depart, with fish snack stalls.
Elbe Tunnel
Old Elbe Tunnel from 1911, a tiled pedestrian tunnel under the river reached by lifts, with views from the far bank.
Rickmer Rickmers
Restored 1896 sailing ship moored at the Landungsbrücken, now a museum ship with a restaurant.
Bismarck Monument
Huge granite statue of Otto von Bismarck in the Old Elbe Park, completed in 1906 and recently restored.
St. Michael's Church, Hamburg
Baroque Lutheran church, the Michel, whose 132 m tower has a viewing platform over the harbour.
Day 3
Speicherstadt
UNESCO-listed red-brick warehouse district on canals, home to Miniatur Wunderland and small museums.
Chilehaus
Brick Expressionist office block from 1924 shaped like a ship's bow, part of the UNESCO Kontorhaus district.
Deichtorhallen
Two former market halls now used for large contemporary art and photography exhibitions.
Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg
Museum of art and design with decorative arts, fashion, photography and a Japanese tea house.
Day 4
Soviet submarine B-515
Cold War Soviet submarine, also known as U-434, open as a museum near the Fischmarkt.
Beatles-Platz
Small square on the Reeperbahn with steel figures of the Beatles, who played their early gigs in Hamburg.
Day 5
Planten un Blomen
City-centre park with a Japanese garden, rose garden and free water-light concerts on summer evenings.
Museum of Ethnology, Hamburg
Now called MARKK, a museum of world cultures with collections from Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas.
Hamburg in 6 days
Day 1
HafenCity
New waterfront district on former port land, with modern architecture, promenades and the Elbphilharmonie.
Hamburg Dungeon
Actor-led horror show in the Speicherstadt covering plague, fire and floods in Hamburg's history.
Miniatur Wunderland
The world's largest model railway, in the Speicherstadt, with miniature countries, cities and a working airport; book a time slot.
Day 2
St. Pauli Piers
Landungsbrücken, the floating piers where harbour cruises and HVV ferries depart, with fish snack stalls.
Elbe Tunnel
Old Elbe Tunnel from 1911, a tiled pedestrian tunnel under the river reached by lifts, with views from the far bank.
Rickmer Rickmers
Restored 1896 sailing ship moored at the Landungsbrücken, now a museum ship with a restaurant.
Bismarck Monument
Huge granite statue of Otto von Bismarck in the Old Elbe Park, completed in 1906 and recently restored.
St. Michael's Church, Hamburg
Baroque Lutheran church, the Michel, whose 132 m tower has a viewing platform over the harbour.
Day 3
Speicherstadt
UNESCO-listed red-brick warehouse district on canals, home to Miniatur Wunderland and small museums.
Chilehaus
Brick Expressionist office block from 1924 shaped like a ship's bow, part of the UNESCO Kontorhaus district.
Deichtorhallen
Two former market halls now used for large contemporary art and photography exhibitions.
Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg
Museum of art and design with decorative arts, fashion, photography and a Japanese tea house.
Day 4
Soviet submarine B-515
Cold War Soviet submarine, also known as U-434, open as a museum near the Fischmarkt.
Beatles-Platz
Small square on the Reeperbahn with steel figures of the Beatles, who played their early gigs in Hamburg.
Day 5
Planten un Blomen
City-centre park with a Japanese garden, rose garden and free water-light concerts on summer evenings.
Museum of Ethnology, Hamburg
Now called MARKK, a museum of world cultures with collections from Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas.
Day 6
Elbphilharmonie
Concert hall built on an old warehouse, with a free public Plaza at 37 m offering harbour views.
Hamburg Rathaus
Neo-Renaissance city hall from 1897 with an ornate facade; guided tours show the state rooms.
Bucerius Kunst Forum
Exhibition hall by the Rathaus showing changing art exhibitions from antiquity to the present.
Jungfernstieg
Elegant promenade on the Inner Alster lake, with shops and the jetty for Alster boat trips.
St. Peter's Church, Hamburg
Oldest parish church in the city, with a tower climb of 544 steps for views over the Altstadt.
Hamburg in 7 days
Day 1
HafenCity
New waterfront district on former port land, with modern architecture, promenades and the Elbphilharmonie.
Hamburg Dungeon
Actor-led horror show in the Speicherstadt covering plague, fire and floods in Hamburg's history.
Miniatur Wunderland
The world's largest model railway, in the Speicherstadt, with miniature countries, cities and a working airport; book a time slot.
Day 2
St. Pauli Piers
Landungsbrücken, the floating piers where harbour cruises and HVV ferries depart, with fish snack stalls.
Elbe Tunnel
Old Elbe Tunnel from 1911, a tiled pedestrian tunnel under the river reached by lifts, with views from the far bank.
Rickmer Rickmers
Restored 1896 sailing ship moored at the Landungsbrücken, now a museum ship with a restaurant.
Bismarck Monument
Huge granite statue of Otto von Bismarck in the Old Elbe Park, completed in 1906 and recently restored.
St. Michael's Church, Hamburg
Baroque Lutheran church, the Michel, whose 132 m tower has a viewing platform over the harbour.
Day 3
Speicherstadt
UNESCO-listed red-brick warehouse district on canals, home to Miniatur Wunderland and small museums.
Chilehaus
Brick Expressionist office block from 1924 shaped like a ship's bow, part of the UNESCO Kontorhaus district.
Deichtorhallen
Two former market halls now used for large contemporary art and photography exhibitions.
Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg
Museum of art and design with decorative arts, fashion, photography and a Japanese tea house.
Day 4
Soviet submarine B-515
Cold War Soviet submarine, also known as U-434, open as a museum near the Fischmarkt.
Beatles-Platz
Small square on the Reeperbahn with steel figures of the Beatles, who played their early gigs in Hamburg.
Day 5
Planten un Blomen
City-centre park with a Japanese garden, rose garden and free water-light concerts on summer evenings.
Museum of Ethnology, Hamburg
Now called MARKK, a museum of world cultures with collections from Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas.
Day 6
Elbphilharmonie
Concert hall built on an old warehouse, with a free public Plaza at 37 m offering harbour views.
Hamburg Rathaus
Neo-Renaissance city hall from 1897 with an ornate facade; guided tours show the state rooms.
Bucerius Kunst Forum
Exhibition hall by the Rathaus showing changing art exhibitions from antiquity to the present.
Jungfernstieg
Elegant promenade on the Inner Alster lake, with shops and the jetty for Alster boat trips.
St. Peter's Church, Hamburg
Oldest parish church in the city, with a tower climb of 544 steps for views over the Altstadt.
Day 7
Internationales Maritimes Museum Hamburg
Large private maritime museum in a Speicherstadt warehouse, with ship models across ten floors.
Kunsthalle Hamburg
Major art museum by the main station, spanning medieval altars, Caspar David Friedrich and contemporary art.
Watch: Hamburg in 3 days
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Hamburg
May to September has the mildest weather for harbour trips and outdoor terraces, though rain is common in any month. Winter is cold and grey, but Christmas markets fill the centre from late November to late December. The Hamburger DOM funfair takes place three times a year, in spring, summer and winter, and the Port Anniversary is held in May.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Hamburg on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Hamburg on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Hamburg on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- From the airport: a private transfer in Hamburg with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Germany from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Hamburg with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Hamburg
- The Elbphilharmonie Plaza viewing deck is free, but book a timed ticket online in busy periods.
- Ferry line 62 from Landungsbrücken is part of the HVV network and makes a cheap harbour tour; a Hamburg Card covers public transport.
- The Kunsthalle and the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe are closed on Mondays.
- The Old Elbe Tunnel is under long-term renovation; usually one tube is open to pedestrians and cyclists, free of charge.
- Visit the Fischmarkt early on Sunday morning (from about 05:00, until 09:30) near the St. Pauli Piers.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Beatles-Platz: Henry Mühlpfordt, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bismarck Monument: Sigismund von Dobschütz, CC BY 3.0
- Bucerius Kunst Forum: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chilehaus: Esther Westerveld from Haarlemmermeer, Nederland, CC BY 2.0
- Deichtorhallen: Jean11, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
- Elbe Tunnel: Wolfgang Meinhart, Hamburg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Elbphilharmonie: Hackercatxxy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- HafenCity: Jean11, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
- Hamburg Dungeon: Photo: Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0
- Hamburg Rathaus: Arnoldius, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Internationales Maritimes Museum Hamburg: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Jungfernstieg: Tscherno from Germany, CC BY 2.0
- Kunsthalle Hamburg: Alchemist-hp ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Miniatur Wunderland: Bildersindtoll, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg: Lorenz Teschner, CC BY-SA 2.0 de
- Museum of Ethnology, Hamburg: Carol.Christiansen 13:04, 15 May 2007 (UTC), Public domain
- Planten un Blomen: Hinnerk Haardt, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Rickmer Rickmers: Pauli-Pirat, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Soviet submarine B-515: Afflex, Public domain
- Speicherstadt: Thomas Wolf , www.foto-tw.de, CC BY-SA 3.0
- St. Michael's Church, Hamburg: unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- St. Pauli Piers: Wolfgang Meinhart, Hamburg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- St. Peter's Church, Hamburg: unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
