It’s been three years since I moved to Hamburg, and this is the first article on my blog about the city that has become my home. But I am ready to fix this oversight and share with you all the best things to do (and, more importantly, to eat) in one day in Hamburg.
I wrote this itinerary to include some major attractions, a few hidden gems, and lots and lots of delicious food. One day in Hamburg is not much, but this guide will help you make the best of it!
Tips for Spending One Day in Hamburg
- This guide has time stamps. They are only for you to have an idea of how long each attraction takes. They are not written in stone, feel free to switch things up and spend more or less time at each spot if you feel like it.
- I planned this itinerary for one day in Hamburg so you can walk the whole way from start to finish. However, if it proves difficult, you can use public transport or a bike. There are many spots in Hamburg where you can rent a city bike.
- If you want to take public transport, use HVV or HVV Switch app. There are vending machines in the metro and at some bus stops, but the app is the easiest, most convenient way to buy tickets. If you are taking more than 2 rides in a day, buy the all-day ticket (8.18 EUR) or 9-am-day-ticket (6.98 EUR).
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you buy something by clicking the link I will earn a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you.
One Day in Hamburg Itinerary
9.00 — Breakfast at Cafe Paris
It may sound strange that I am sending you to a French bistro to start off your one day in Hamburg, but you have to trust me on this one! Cafe Paris is a Hamburg institution, located on a little side street near Hamburg City Hall. First opened in 1882, it is beautifully decorated in Art Nouveau style. To paint you a picture: white-tiled walls, green leather banquettes, and the star of the show — the tiled ceiling with a beautiful painting.
Despite the cafe being French, I’d say the breakfast is typically German: eggs, bread with butter and jam, cheese and cold cuts selection. Probably, the most popular item on their menu is breakfast for two served on a 3-tier platter. It includes croissants, eggs, lox, and champagne to name a few. At 27EUR per person, it’s not cheap, but definitely worth it.
Insider tip: They are open all day, but breakfast is when they are busiest. It’s best to make a reservation. (I was able to get a table without a reservation a couple of times, but if I had only one day in Hamburg, I wouldn’t risk it).
Alternative: Another good breakfast place nearby is Marshall Street Coffee. It’s a bit further away from the City Hall (where we are going next), but has a more relaxed atmosphere and is a bit less crowded.
10.00 — A Walk around City Hall, Alster Lake, and Surroundings
A minute’s walk from Cafe Paris
From Cafe Paris walk to Rathausmarkt, the central square of Hamburg. Here’s what to see here!
City Hall (Rathaus)
The City Hall dominates the square in front of it to the point of barely fitting into a picture, even a horizontal one. It is 133 meters (436 feet) long and 112 meters (367 feet) tall. The Neo-Renaissance building was meant to express the wealth and prosperity of the city of Hamburg. According to the Hamburg City website:
“Construction started in 1886 when 4,000 wooden poles were drilled into the muddy shores of the Alster Lake in order to support the weight of the building.”
Apart from being extremely photogenic, it actually plays an important role in the city’s life: Hamburg’s parliament and senate assemble here.
You can only go inside on a guided tour.
Alster Arcades (Alsterarkaden)
You will see the Alster Arcades from the main square (Rathausmarkt). If you are facing the City Hall walk to your right, you won’t miss them. The arcades, reminiscent of Venetian architecture, were built over a hundred years ago. Here you can sit on the steps and watch swans or walk through the arcade to take a picture of the City Hall framed by an arch.
The Hübner House (Das Hübner Haus)
This is a hidden gem I discovered only recently via this amazing Instagram account (it’s in German). Hamburg has many beautiful altbau buildings (direct translation is old-built). Inside those buildings, real treasures are sometimes hidden. Walk into the building at Neuer Wall 20 that houses Cartier shop and you are in for a treat.
Inside, you’ll find exquisite mosaics on the walls, a little doorman’s booth equipped with an old-school telephone, and a spiral staircase. Take the elevator up to the 4th floor to take a look down.
The building that provides office space now used to house a popular cafe, frequented by Hamburg’s elite. Apparently, the cafe’s clientele was so exclusive that women could meet there without a male companion, which was unheard of at the time. The cafe sadly closed in 1961.
Tip: the entrance is to the left of the Cartier main entrance and leads to offices and medical practices.
Mellin Passage
From the Hübner House walk around the streets of the Neustadt neighborhood in no particular direction. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, and beautiful buildings at every turn. But do make sure to stop at the Mellin Passage, the oldest shopping arcade in Hamburg built in 1864.
The most amazing thing about it is the gorgeous ceiling covered in Art Nouveau paintings in the style of Alphonse Mucha, a Czech painter and illustrator. The passage connects the Alster arcades with the famous shopping street, the Neuer Wall.
Probably, the most famous shop here is Felix Jud & Co, a bookshop specializing in first editions, antiques, and art. Karl Lagerfeld, who was born in Hamburg, made it a point to visit the shop and buy books every time he came back to his hometown.
Tip: there’s a little street named after Karl Lagerfeld nearby, Karl-Lagerfeld-Promenade.
Inner Alster Lake (Binnenalster) and Jungfernstieg
Finally, walk to the lake. Inner Alster Lake is one of the two artificial lakes in Hamburg (the other being Outer Alster Lake). Jungfernstieg is a promenade right by the lake. You can sit on the steps and watch the boats. If the time allows, you can take a boat tour yourself.
Insider tip: you can grab amazing coffee at Elbgold inside the Alsterhaus department store (it’s on the ground floor, right by the entrance), then cross the road to the lake and enjoy the coffee on the steps.
11.30 — Beautiful Architecture of Kontorhausviertel
A 15-minute walk from the Alster Lake
If you have only one day in Hamburg, visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Speicherstadt and Kontohausviertel is a must! The two are some of my favorite parts of the city.
The Kontorhausviertel is one of the most architecturally unique and historically significant neighborhoods of Hamburg. Surprisingly, it’s never crowded. You get the feeling of exploring it almost all by yourself.
In order to understand what the Kontorhausviertel is I have to tell you about the Speicherstadt first because the two are connected. Speicherstadt translated from German means “a city of warehouses”. It is the largest warehouse district in the world, originally built on a group of islands in the Elbe River between 1885 and 1927. Located in the port of Hamburg, the Speicherstadt (along with the Kontorhausviertel) received the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.
Now the Kontorhausviertel (“office building quarter” translated from German) was built in the first half of the XX century to provide space for port-related businesses. It is exactly what the name suggests: a group of office buildings, albeit really unusual.
There are 8 main buildings to see: the Chilehaus, Messberghof, Sprinkenhof, Mohlenhof, Montanhof, the former Post Office at Niedernstraße 10, the office building at Burchardstraße 19-21, and Miramar-Haus. All of them are built in the so-called brick expressionism style, which is a branch of expressionist architecture that relies on bricks as the main building material.
You can explore all of the buildings one by one or simply walk around the neighborhood and admire your surroundings. If you do the latter, make sure to stop by the Chili Haus which is probably the most popular office building in this area.
Insider tip: Sprinkenhof building has two entrances that will lead you to gorgeous spiral staircases. The doors are normally closed, but since it’s an office building it usually doesn’t take long till someone walks in or out. Sprinkenhof also has a beautiful, picture-perfect inner courtyard.
12.30 — Speicherstadt, UNESCO World Heritage Site
A 10-minute walk from the Kontorhausviertel
Once you are done exploring the Kontorhausviertel, cross the busy Willy-Brandt-Straße and you’ll find yourself in the Speicherstadt. The first time I visited Hamburg, I had absolutely no idea what a warehouse district might look like. What you’ll find here are multiple enormous red-brick buildings, cobblestone streets, canals, hidden courtyards, and many bridges. Despite its UNESCO World Heritage Site status, the area is tranquil, with few people on its narrow streets.
Some buildings are still used as warehouses, others house museums and popular tourist attractions, like Miniatur Wunderland, the world’s largest model railway (I highly recommend it, but if you only have one day in Hamburg you might have to skip a few stops on this itinerary to visit it) and Hamburg Dungeon, an interactive experience that takes you on a journey through Hamburg’s dark past.
Here’s what to see in the Speicherstadt!
Poggenmühlen Bridge (Poggenmühlenbrücke)
This should be your first stop after the Kontothausviertel. From this bridge, you can take possibly the most popular photo of the Speicherstadt and all of Hamburg. The view you get is of Wasserschloss, which should be your next stop.
Wasserschloss
Literally translated from German, Wasserschloss means “moated castle”. It was built in the early XX century and used as both a workspace and home for hydraulic winch technicians. If you have no idea what a hydraulic winch is (I, for one, had to google it), it’s a mechanism used to reel in or let out a rope. Winches are used in ports for securing ships in place to make loading and unloading of the cargo possible.
In 2011, a century after its construction, Wasserschloss reopened to provide space for a restaurant and a tea shop.
*Miniatur Wunderland
Miniatur Wunderland is the largest model railway in the world, according to Guinness World Records. But it is so much more than that. Apart from the railway, what you’ll see here are precise, extremely realistic models of cities and countries. The cars are riding, the planes are flying, and the lights come on and off in the buildings. You can easily spend several hours here.
*Important: this one day in Hamburg itinerary doesn’t include visiting the Miniatur Wunderland. If you decide to do so, you’ll have to skip something else. And book your tickets beforehand — it’s extremely popular.
*Hamburg Dungeon
Hamburg dungeon is a Hamburg-themed scary room, in short. The experience is made possible with the help of professional actors, special effects, stages, and rides. Just like Miniatur Wunderland, it is a very popular tourist attraction.
*Important: this one day in Hamburg itinerary doesn’t include visiting the Hamburg Dungeon. If you do so, you’ll have to skip something else later. Book your tickets beforehand, you can’t buy them on-site.
Speicherstadt Coffee Roastery (Speicherstadt Kaffeerösterei)
You don’t usually expect coffee right near major tourist attractions to be good, but this place is an exception to the rule. It only makes sense, given that the port and the Speicherstadt were the center of the European coffee trade back in the day. It’s not just a cafe but a full-on roastery that focuses on sustainable practices while serving some of the best coffee in Hamburg.
I’d recommend taking a cup of coffee to go since the next stop on our itinerary is lunch!
13.30 — Lunch at Ti Breizh
A 5-minute walk from the Speicherstadt Coffee Roastery
Ti Breizh is a French crêperie. Ok, I know, I know! “Yulia, why are we going to all the French places if we are in Hamburg, Germany?!” you probably want to ask me. There are multiple reasons.
First, the crepes (and gluten-free galettes) are soooooo good here. Lacey, buttery, made to order, and filled with all kinds of delicious things from goat cheese with onion confiture to smoked salmon with crème-fraîche to homemade caramel sauce.
Second, the restaurant is located on a beautiful little street that we are going to explore next. Third, there are only a handful of restaurants that I truly love in this area, possibly because it’s quite touristy. And last, but not least — the view! If you manage to get a table near the window, you’ll have a beautiful view of the canal.
Tip: You can usually get a table without a reservation, but there might be a line of people waiting. It moves fast, though, as the restaurant is quite big.
Alternative: Nord Coast Roastery is located on the same street and offers not only great coffee but delicious food, too (including gluten-free options). There’s always a line of people outside waiting for a table.
14.30 — Amazing Coffee and Pretty Views on Deichstraße
A minute’s walk away from Ti Breizh
One day in Hamburg might not be much, but we will cover a few hidden gems of the city, like Deichstraße, a small pedestrian street. Well, technically we are already here — Ti Breizh is located right in the middle of it. Deichstraße gives a great impression of what Hamburg’s city center looked like back in the XVII century, even though it has been through a lot in the years since.
To start with, the Great Fire of 1842 destroyed many houses on this street and beyond. During WWII, Hamburg was heavily bombed, but luckily, most buildings on Deichstraße survived. Then in the 1970s, the street was almost demolished to give way to a new road, but a referendum saved the day. Today, you will find many shops, restaurants, and art galleries on this street.
Here’s what you shouldn’t miss!
Nord Coast Roastery
Nord Coast is one of the best coffee roasters in Hamburg. There’s always a line of people outside the cafe, but if you want a coffee to-go (which I highly recommend), you can just walk in and order at the counter. There’s an amazing view of the canal from the coffee shop that you can admire (and take photos of) while waiting for your coffee.
Nikolaifleet Viewing Point
Once you reach the top of Deichstraße, turn right onto Holzbrücke where you’ll find the viewing point of Nikolaifleet, one of the prettiest canals in Hamburg. This is also the spot where construction of the port of Hamburg began in 1188.
15.30 — Back to the Port
A 15-minute walk from the Nikolaifleet Viewing Point
From the Nikolaifleet viewing point walk back to Hamburg Hafen, or the port of Hamburg. The port is where you can take a Harbor and Speicherstadt cruise (there are also options to do in at night to see the lights).
Here’s what you need to see here at the Port!
Elbphilharmonie
The first stop is the famous Elbphilharmonie. It is easily the most recognizable building in Hamburg, with its glass exterior and a roof that resembles a wave.
The construction of the Elbphilharmonie started in 2007 with a proposed budget of 200 million euros and finished in 2016 at a cost of 866 million. The first official concert took place the very next year. The base of the building was originally one of the Speicherstadt’s warehouses. The brick exterior was retained, and a massive glass structure was built on top. There are 3 concert halls inside, a hotel, and a plaza that provides incredible views of the port.
Tip: it’s up to you to admire Elphi, as it is affectionately called by locals, from the promenade or walk up to the plaza to get a view of the port. You can buy entrance tickets at the official website for 3 EUR. If you didn’t book ahead, you should still try your luck. Any remaining tickets are issued on-site free of charge.
Promenade
From Elbphilharmonie, walk the promenade by Elbe River towards Landungsbrücken (Landing Bridges). It will take you about 20 minutes. On the way, you’ll see two ships-turned-museums: Cap San Diego and Rickmer Rickmers. The former was a cargo ship built in 1961. The latter — a XIX-century sailing ship. You will also see many kiosks selling Hamburg’s favorite snack — fish buns. But don’t buy it just yet, I’ll tell you the best place for a Fischbrötchen in just a second.
Landing Bridges (Landungsbrücken)
At the end of the promenade, you will find Landungsbrücken. Literally translated as “landing bridges”, it is the gateway to the port of Hamburg. Landungsbrücken is almost 700 meters long and consists of 10 floating pontoons the first of which was built in 1839.
The pontoons are connected to the land by bridges numbered from 1 to 10. Keep in mind Brücke 10 (or Bridge 10), this is the next stop on our one day in Hamburg itinerary.
While Landungsbrücken used to serve as a terminal for steamships, today, it’s a floating pier for boats that take tourists on harbor tours.
Brücke 10
Brücke 10 is a little unpretentious restaurant that offers Hamburg’s famous fish buns (or Fischbrötchen). It’s located on the very last landing bridge and is named after it. The buns are always fresh and delicious which makes this spot extremely popular with both tourists and locals. You can pair a Fischbrötchen with a glass of beer and enjoy the harbor views. My favorite is Der Backfisch, a bun stuffed with deep-fried fish.
17.00 — Old Elbe Tunnel
A few minutes walk from Brücke 10
From Brücke 10, walk back to the entrance of the Old Elbe Tunnel (Alter Elbtunnel) which connects the Landungsbrücken with theshipyards on the south side of Elbe. It was built in 1911 to provide direct access to the southern bank for port workers. When a new modern tunnel was built in the 1970s, this tunnel became more of a tourist attraction (hence the name Old Elbe Tunnel).
Take the elevator down and walk under Elbe River to the other side. The tunnel was a technical innovation at the time, but what’s even more mind-blowing for me is that it’s actually pretty. The arched tunnel walls are covered with white tiles. And you will find ornaments showcasing fish and crabs here and there.
Once you come out on the other side, walk to the observation platform. From here, you will get a great view of the Landungsbrücken. When you take enough pictures, walk back through the tunnel to St. Pauli, the neighborhood where Landungsbrücken is located.
Tip: the walk through the tunnel will take about 20 minutes one way. Make sure you stay on the sidewalks, the space in the middle is meant for bicycles.
18.30 — Dinner at Liberté
A 15-minute walk from the entrance to the Old Elbe Tunnel
Once you are out of the tunnel, keep walking towards the Fischmarkt, and in no more than 15 minutes, you will reach Liberté, a classic French bistro. Ok, I just wrote that and realized what I did. I swear it was not my plan to take you to all the French places when you only have one day in Hamburg. But! While the menu might be French, the atmosphere is very much classic Hamburg.
You see, the restaurant is located right on a ferry dock by the Elbe River. So you can watch the passing ships while sipping wine and eating mussels. It is one of the most charming and atmospheric places in all of Hamburg. I chose it for my 34th birthday, and everything from views to food to service was impeccable. The prices are a bit steep, though.
Insider tip: beware that the restaurant is located on a functioning dock. During your dinner ships will be parking at the dock from time to time. It creates a bit of a jolt so you might have to hold on to your glass of wine. People also embark and disembark. You can see it as a slight inconvenience or as part of the charm of this place.
Alternative: if you prefer a simpler (and more affordable) place, Mexiko Strasse in St. Pauli (a 12-minute walk from the entrance to the Old Elbe Tunnel) makes great tacos.
20.30 — Explore the Reeperbahn at Night
Finish your one day in Hamburg at the Reeperbahn, a famous party street in the heart of the St. Pauli neighborhood, full of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. It is here that the Beatles honed their skills in the early 1960s. If you want to visit some of the clubs where the Beatles performed, head to Indra Club 64 or Kaiserkeller. John Lennon famously said: “I might have been born in Liverpool – but I grew up in Hamburg”.
I can’t say that I am a regular on the Reeperbahn (2 little kids mean early bedtime for everyone), but I asked around, and here are the most popular places to visit! Mojo Club and Große Freiheit 36 are legendary live music venues. The Rabbithole Bar and Collab Bar are great choices for creative cocktails. The Baby Goat Barn is a modern pub and pizzeria where you can take part in a pub quiz.
A guided tour through St. Pauli is also an amazing idea. There’s a tour Sex and Crime in St. Pauli that starts quite late (at 7 pm and 9.30 pm) and will be perfect to conclude your one day in Hamburg!
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