Whether you want to see Romanesque churches, Art Nouveau mansions or modern, sleek office buildings, Hamburg offers plenty of attractions. Here are some of the top places to visit in this fascinating city!
The Speicherstadt, a 19th-century warehouse district that consists of a maze of Neo-Gothic red-bricked buildings, is one of the best sights in town. It is reputed to be the world’s largest such district and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.
St. James’s Church
Located directly in the centre of Hamburg, St. James’s is one of the city’s five principal Lutheran churches. It has a 125 m tall tower and features a famous organ by Arp Schnitger from 1693.
It was bombed during World War II, but luckily the valuable religious artifacts were saved. Today, three medieval winged altars sehenswürdigkeiten hamburg and the church’s famous organ are some of the many reasons to visit St. Jacobi.
Visitors can explore the halls for free and listen to regular choir and organ recitals. There’s also a changing selection of special exhibitions in the southern nave. Those who’re interested can also join the church’s numerous activities, including Our Daily Bread meals to the homeless and the Summer Bible study program.
Speicherstadt
The Speicherstadt is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hamburg and is also home to some of its best museums. The area is famous for its massive red brick warehouses that are criss-crossed with canals, giving it a romantic and nostalgic feel.
This district was built in the 19th century to house imported goods. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed district and offers plenty of activities to keep visitors entertained.
The German Customs Museum shares stories of customs and smuggling, while the Internationales Maritimes Museum showcases thousands of model ships. There’s also the Automuseum Prototyp museum with rare prototypes from 70 years of automotive history, and a former coffee warehouse turned cafe called Kaffeerosterei where you can enjoy freshly brewed coffee.
New Elbe Tunnel
The New Elbe Tunnel was built to connect Hamburg’s docks and shipyards on the south side of the river with the city centre. It is a fascinating historical landmark, worth taking the time to see!
Construction began in 1907 with around 4,400 workers toiling on site. The tunnel consists of two tubes that run 24 m beneath the surface, and is accessed on both sides by a staircase or elevator.
To ensure the safety of people using the tunnel, it is monitored around the clock by video from the operations center. In the event of an emergency, announcements are made via loudspeakers or by radio if needed.
Museumshafen
Located in Oevelgonne, the Museumshafen houses a number of historic vessels that have been carefully restored. These are a great way to learn about the history of Hamburg’s shipping industry.
There is a lot to see and do at Museumshafen, so take your time. The museum has a variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy, including a model railway layout.
The museum also has an excellent chocolate workshop where guests can make their own sweet treats. There is also an impressive collection of vintage German race cars as well as Porsche and Volkswagen models from the early postwar period.
Ohlsdorf Cemetery
Located in Hamburg’s Ohlsdorf, Ohlsdorf Cemetery is Europe’s largest cemetery and has a long history of being used as a tourist attraction. With its impressive mausoleums, rhododendron bushes, ponds and birds, sculptures and funerary museum it attracts about two million visitors from all over the world every year.
During World War I over 400 Allied prisoners-of-war were buried here, as were sailors whose bodies had washed up on the Frisian Islands. Further dead Commonwealth soldiers from World War II and the post war period were buried here too.
The cemetery is a scenic green oasis in the middle of the city and has an interesting history spanning over 100 years. Guided tours are available, highlighting landscape gardening and art historical aspects of burial culture.
