Hamburg 3-Day Itinerary

In the past a major port city, today Hamburg is a destination rich in history, art, and entertainment, especially in the St. Pauli district, which hosts the famous Reeperbahn red-light area. It is also ideal for a weekend visit, exploring every facet and side, from the cultural to the more adventurous. Here's what you need to know to organize a 3-day itinerary for Hamburg.

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Visiting Hamburg for the first time? Let someone guide you: Discover the city aboard a panoramic bus or join a guided walking tour.

Start your day in the Innenstadt, which is the historic center of Hamburg. Here you can enjoy a stroll through its charming streets while discovering the key buildings that characterize it.

The first stop is the magnificent St. Nicholas Church, or rather the remains of the old church ((Get directions). It was partially destroyed by British bombings in 1943, but it's a must-see, especially for the chance to climb the bell tower and admire the panoramic view from above.

Visit duration: 30 min

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To reach this stop: 5 min walk (Get directions).

From St. Nicholas Church, you can reach one of the most beautiful buildings in Hamburg: the magnificent Hamburg Town Hall (Hamburger Rathaus) in just 5 minutes on foot. This building houses the City Council and the Senate of Hamburg and is distinguished by its unique architectural style, combining Gothic, Baroque, and Neo-Renaissance elements. Some of its rooms are accessible to the public.

Rathausmarkt, known as the Red Square for its paving, is famous for being the site of major political and labor demonstrations in Hamburg. Built after the fire of 1842, the square is inspired by St. Mark's Square in Venice, overlooking the waterfront. During the Nazi period, it was renamed Adolf-Hitler-Platz (Adolf Hitler Square).

Visit duration: 1 hour

Grab a coffee under the Alsterkaden: these are the porticos that surround the entire area of the town hall. A continuous stream of small cafes offers a spectacular view of the town hall and its square.

To reach this stop: 5 min walk (Get directions).

Finally, conclude your morning along Jungfernstieg, the most famous street in the city, a luxury shopping destination located just 5 minutes on foot from the town hall.

Enjoy a stroll among the window displays and high-fashion boutiques. If you visit Hamburg during Christmas, you should know that this is one of the most beautiful areas of the city, with a large Christmas tree and plenty of lights.

Also follow the promenade overlooking the artificial Alster lake, formed by the river of the same name. From here, several lake cruises depart to get a close view of the Alsterfontäne, the large fountain that shoots up to 60 m high! An activity we recommend doing.

Visit duration: 30 min

To reach this stop: 1 min walk (Get directions).

Walking along the shopping street, you will admire the Alster river, a tributary of the Elbe, which opens up into two lakes. You can explore these lakes by taking a ferry! The further one is the Außenalster, while the closer one to the center is the Binnenalster.

In the heart of the Binnenalster lies one of Hamburg's most fascinating attractions, the Alsterfontäne, a large fountain that sprays water up to 60 meters high! With the ferry, you can get up close and take beautiful photos with the city and Town Hall in the background.

Visit duration: 30 min

Discover the area by bike: if you want to enjoy half a day in nature and discover the entire Alster river, you might consider a bike tour in the Alster area. Keep in mind that the experience lasts 3 hours, with departures at 10:00 or 14:00, so you'll need to organize your itinerary accordingly.

To reach this stop: 15 min walk (Get directions).

In the early afternoon, reach one of the most cherished buildings by locals, the Protestant Cathedral of St. Michael, known in German as Hauptkirche St. Michaelis. It is just a 15-minute walk from Jungfernstieg.

The church's major attraction is its bell tower which, since 1658, has also indicated the right direction for sailors returning to the harbor via the Elbe. Don't miss the climb to the top, choosing between the experience of ascending 453 steps or taking the elevator. Inside, you can visit the beautiful crypt as well.

Visit duration: 1 hour

Take advantage of the combined admission: by purchasing both the bell tower and crypt tickets, you will save on the total cost.

To reach this stop: 15 min walk (Get directions).

Finally, dedicate the rest of the afternoon to visit the famous St. Pauli district, the port area of Hamburg. You can move around on foot: cross the Alter Elbpark park and arrive in about 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can take the number 16 bus that connects the two areas.

The harbor area has always been frequented by seamen from around the world, and the most famous area of this district is certainly Reeperbahn, known as the red-light district! Here you can find bars, clubs, restaurants, casinos, and much more! But don't worry, it's a completely safe area thanks to the police surveillance of Davidwache.

Before immersing yourself in the atmosphere of Reeperbahn, we recommend enjoying a panoramic harbor cruise to admire the entire city from the water, also passing through the Speicherstadt and HafenCity districts that you will visit on the second day. Cruise departures are located along the St. Pauli pier and the experience lasts about 1 hour.

Visit duration: 2 hours

Spend the evening here: Reeperbahn is full of venues of all kinds and there are plenty of activities to do! You can join a St. Pauli night watchman tour or a tour about sex and crime in St. Pauli, reserved for adults only. If you love the Beatles, don't miss the venues along Große Freiheit, where the band performed. Alternatively, you can also choose to skip the boat trip in the afternoon and enjoy a cruise through the harbor's evening lights.

Start your day at the Museum of Ancient, Modern, and Contemporary Art, located in a wonderful building that merits a visit in itself. The Hamburger Kunsthalle houses the famous painting "The Wanderer above the Sea of Fog" by Caspar David Friedrich, along with many other masterpieces of European art from the Middle Ages to the present.

Moreover, it holds masterpieces by various Italian artists (Tiepolo, Lorenzo Lotto, Bernini, Pontormo, and Parmigianino, just to name a few), French Impressionism, German Expressionism, as well as works by Rembrandt, Edouard Manet, Edward Munch, Otto Dix, Max Beckmann, and many others. A true paradise for art lovers. (Get directions)

Visit duration: 2 hours

As an alternative stop, if you love the sea and navigation, we suggest a visit to the International Maritime Museum of Hamburg: this museum has a collection of over 40,000 pieces including ship models, uniforms, construction plans, and over 1,000,000 photographs. A must for sea navigation enthusiasts. (Get directions)

Visit duration: 2 hours

If you are traveling with children: head to Speicherstadt in the morning and visit Miniatur Wunderland, a small amusement park dedicated to the miniature world, where you can admire Hamburg and other parts of Europe recreated on a 1:87 scale.

To reach this stop: 20 min walk (Get directions).

For lunch, head to the Speicherstadt district, part of the larger area of Hafencity, the modern and redeveloped part of Hamburg! It's a truly magical place where we recommend spending the entire afternoon among attractions and activities.

In Speicherstadt, which literally means "warehouse city", all the goods of the Hamburg port used to be stored and it represented the largest warehouse complex in the world. Today, the entire area has been completely redeveloped and the old warehouses have been converted into museums, shops, cafes, and restaurants. Enjoy part of the afternoon strolling through its streets and admiring the wonderful views. Make sure to also stop by the Kaffeemuseum Burg, a coffee roasting place, with exhibits, shop, and tastings!

Visit duration: 1.5 hours

Take a photo at the Chilehaus: it is a brick building that, with its shape, resembles the bow of a ship, truly unique! Today it hosts restaurants, bars, and shops.

To reach this stop: 15 min walk (Get directions).

It's time to visit a district that has emerged from the revitalization of a port area. Its beauty comes from the great contrast between still-abandoned areas and areas with bike paths, green spaces, and modern buildings. It also houses the famous HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU). You can also participate in a guided tour of Speicherstadt and Hafencity to discover all the secrets of this part of the city.

Visit duration: 1 hour

To reach this stop: 5 min walk (Get directions).

Then continue your walk in the district and visit the Elbphilharmonie, one of the largest and most beautiful concert halls in the world, inaugurated in January 2017. Like the Chilehaus, its shape also resembles a ship ready to sail and can be admired from different points in the harbor, especially during a panoramic cruise!

Inside there are three concert halls: the Great Concert Hall, the Recital Hall, and the Kaistudio, which are unfortunately very difficult to visit without attending the scheduled performances. If you want to visit it inside as well, book well in advance, at least 6 weeks ahead.

Visit duration: 1.5 hours

Spend the evening in Jungfernstieg: for dinner, return to the historic center to admire Jungfernstieg also at night, fully illuminated. This area is also very lively in the evening and you can spend time in numerous venues, such as Jahreszeiten Bar, Meyer Lansky's, or Le Lion - Bar de Paris.

Start this third and final day at one of the most famous attractions in Hamburg, the Fish Market (Get directions). This fish market has been active since 1703. Here you won't just find fish, but also numerous products like clothing, flowers, and souvenirs. Enjoy a stroll through the stalls in the morning, when the market is liveliest, and immerse yourself in the city's daily life.

Visit duration: 2 hours

To reach this stop: 4 min walk (Get directions).

Then head to the U-Boot Museum Hamburg, located in the Hamburg harbor just steps away from the Altona Fish Market, which is a museum housed inside a Soviet submarine U-434, one of the largest non-nuclear submarines ever built, used during the Cold War for military espionage. The visit will allow you to explore it from the inside, experiencing life aboard the submarine and understanding the conditions and challenges faced by the crew. The museum offers guided tours that explain in detail the history and technologies of the submarine as well as the historical context in which it operated.

Visit duration: 1 hour

Alternative for those traveling with children: you can spend most of this day visiting the Tierpark Hagenbeck, which is Hamburg's zoo. Located 6 km from the center and easily accessible by metro, you can spend a day with the whole family.

To reach this stop: 20 min by metro (Get directions).

In the afternoon, reach Planten un Blomen, one of the most beautiful parks in Hamburg, a true oasis. From the Fish Market and St. Pauli area, the best option is to first reach the historic center by taking the S1 train to Jungfernstieg (6 min) and from there take the U2 metro to Messehallen (3 min). From here the park is less than a 10-minute walk.

This wonderful park covers 45 hectares and includes paths, ponds, tree-lined avenues, and exquisite gardens. It is the perfect place to relax a little after these busy days of sightseeing. Visit the Japanese garden Japanischer Garten & Teehaus, admire the beauty of the Wasserlichtkonzerte lake, where you can walk across platforms, and stop for a drink at one of the many venues amidst the greenery. Here, in the nice weather, events and concerts are also organized and the park becomes a real meeting place for locals and tourists.

Visit duration: 3 hours

Spend the evening in Schanzenviertel: the alternative district of Hamburg. Here you can find hipster and vintage shops, restaurants serving cuisines from around the world, pubs, and numerous venues to spend the evening. Check out Goldfischglas, a place famous for its aquariums made entirely of illuminated plexiglass. You'll also have many alternatives, like Katze, the pub Galopper des Jahres, or Oma's Apotheke.

Alternatively, you can dedicate this third day to exploring the surroundings of Hamburg. There are several alternatives, and you can choose based on your interests.

If you want to visit another German city, you can opt for Bremen, a wonderful town located 105 km from Hamburg, accessible by direct train (Get directions). Another option is Lübeck, a small town in northern Germany with one of the most beautiful medieval historic centers in Europe, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and perfect for a day visit (Get directions).

If you wish to spend a day in nature, we recommend visiting the Wattenmeer National Park of Schleswig-Holstein, protected by UNESCO (Get directions). Here, the landscapes vary from woods to wetlands, from fields to the sea, making it a truly unique territory. In this case, the best option is to have your own transportation.

Visit duration: 8 hours Also see: Excursions from Hamburg

Hamburg is not a cheap city, but it is also not too expensive; with a little attention, you can find excellent options suitable for all budgets. Additionally, it is well connected to Italy with several flights, including low-cost options, landing at Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel Airport (compare flights).

When it comes to accommodation, the best choice is to stay in the Innenstadt, or the historic center. Here you will be in the heart of the city and can move around easily. In any case, moving on foot is a winning solution to visit individual districts, but you will necessarily need to use public transport. The best option is the metro (U-Bahn), and to get acquainted with the city, we recommend the panoramic bus. Finally, food costs vary greatly based on your needs: you can find stands selling the fischbrötchen (fish sandwiches typical of Hamburg) or Michelin-starred restaurants with wonderful views of the harbor or the city.

Let's take a detailed look at the costs for a weekend in Hamburg: