Hamburg

Day 1: Water, brick and the harbour

Hamburg reveals itself best from the water and among its red‑brick canyons. Start with the old port heart, then ride the Elbe to feel the city’s maritime pulse before rounding off in St. Pauli’s legendary nightlife.

• Morning: Take a tide‑dependent Fleetfahrt through the Speicherstadt and historic Fleete on a low barge; if tides don’t cooperate, walk the quarter instead, hitting Poggenmühlen‑Brücke for that postcard shot of Wasserschloss. Tip: book a Fleetfahrt specifically (not a general harbour tour) and ask about the tide window the day before.
• Midday: Stroll the UNESCO Speicherstadt and the neighbouring Kontorhausviertel to admire Chilehaus and Sprinkenhof; grab lunch and a coffee at a roastery in Speicherstadt. If you’re with kids or a rail fan, Miniatur Wunderland is next door (pre‑book to avoid queues).
• Afternoon: Pre‑book timed entry to the Elbphilharmonie Plaza for city and river views, then wander HafenCity’s promenades towards Überseequartier. From Landungsbrücken, hop on HVV ferry 62 (public transport) for a budget “cruise” to Finkenwerder and back; bring a windproof layer even in summer.
• Evening: Eat around St. Pauli (from fish sandwiches to modern bistros), then sample pub culture at a classic Kneipe like Zum Silbersack or catch forward‑thinking sounds at Golden Pudel Club. Weekends are lively; on weeknights, side streets off the Reeperbahn feel more local—keep an eye on your belongings in crowds.

Day 2: Art, Alster and city life

Today mixes world‑class art with lakeside calm and a taste of Hamburg’s elegant shopping streets. You’ll finish in green space with seasonal surprises.

• Morning: Choose one anchor on the Kunstmeile: Hamburger Kunsthalle for Caspar David Friedrich and German modernism, or Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe for design and Jugendstil. Tip: the 3‑day Kunstmeile Pass is great value if you’ll visit more than one.
• Midday: Head to the Außenalster for fresh air: walk or jog part of the 7.4 km loop, or rent a canoe/SUP in summer (stick to the right and give tour boats space); in cooler months ride an Alster steamer from Jungfernstieg. Lakeside kiosks make easy lunch stops with benches and views of sails and swans.
• Afternoon: Browse Passagenviertel and Neuer Wall (window‑shop works too), then detour to Nikolaifleet and Deichstraße for the city’s oldest street frontages. If it’s raining, swap in Deichtorhallen for photography and contemporary art.
• Evening: Unwind in Planten un Blomen: from May–Sept the free water‑light concerts start after dusk; in winter, the huge open‑air ice rink replaces them (skate hire on site). Later, head to Sternschanze for a relaxed dinner and craft beers at Altes Mädchen or a neighbourhood pub—perfect for a low‑key night.

Day 3: Elbe beaches, villa parks and village steps

Discover Hamburg’s western riverbank—beaches, stately parks, and the hillside lanes of Blankenese—before a sunset finale on the Elbe. If it’s a Sunday, start early at the Fish Market and fold breakfast into the plan.

• Morning: Ride ferry 62 again to Övelgönne and wander the Museumshafen’s vintage tugs before a sandy walk along the Elbe beach. On Sundays (summer 5:00–9:30, winter 7:00–9:30), the Fish Market thumps with live music and breakfast inside the old auction hall—great after a late night or as a dawn adventure.
• Midday: Continue riverside to Jenischpark for a picnic under grand trees and views of passing container ships; art lovers can visit Jenisch Haus or the Ernst Barlach Haus tucked inside the park. Alternatively, bus or S‑Bahn to Blankenese and fuel up before the stair workout.
• Afternoon: Explore Blankenese’s Treppenviertel: climb narrow stairways between whitewashed houses for river panoramas and hidden cafés (wear good shoes). If you prefer something flatter, rent bikes and loop Wilhelmsburger Inselpark’s gardens and waterways, a legacy of the 2013 garden show.
• Evening: Time sunset at the Dockland rooftop (free) for a wide Elbe outlook, then dine in Ottensen’s cosy streets—great for modern gastropubs and classic Kneipen alike. Fancy a finale? Check what’s on at the Elbphilharmonie or catch a harbourfront night view from Stintfang above Landungsbrücken.

By Air

• Hamburg Airport (HAM, “Helmut Schmidt”), 8–9 km north of the centre.
  • S-Bahn S1 runs every 10 min to Hauptbahnhof in about 25 min (continue in the front car from Ohlsdorf; rear cars go to Poppenbüttel).
  • To Jungfernstieg ~28 min; to Altona ~35 min.
  • Taxi to central Hamburg typically 25–40 min depending on traffic.
• Nearby alternatives:
  • Bremen (BRE): Tram 6 to Bremen Hbf (~11 min), then train to Hamburg (~1 hr); total ~1 hr 20–1 hr 30.
  • Hanover (HAJ): S-Bahn to Hannover Hbf (~17 min) + ICE to Hamburg (~1 hr 15); total ~2 hrs.
  • Berlin Brandenburg (BER): Airport express to Berlin Hbf (~30 min) + ICE to Hamburg (1 hr 45–2 hrs); total ~2–2.5 hrs.

By Train

• Main stations: Hamburg Hauptbahnhof (central hub), Hamburg-Altona (major long-distance terminus), and Hamburg Dammtor (for CCH/exhibition).
• Typical ICE/IC journey times (direct or very frequent):
  • Berlin 1 hr 45–2 hrs (twice hourly).
  • Bremen ~1 hr; Hannover ~1 hr 15; Lübeck 40–50 min; Kiel ~1 hr 15.
  • Cologne ~4 hrs; Frankfurt (Main) ~3 hr 45–4 hrs; Munich ~5 hr 45–6 hrs (usually 1 change).
  • Copenhagen ~4 hr 40–5 hrs (EC via Jutland).
• Night trains:
  • ÖBB Nightjet to Vienna/Innsbruck/Zurich (seasonal patterns may apply).
  • SJ EuroNight to Stockholm (direct overnight, selected days/seasons).

By Coach/Bus

• Central Bus Station (ZOB Hamburg) is next to Hauptbahnhof.
• Major operator: FlixBus with frequent services to Berlin (~3–3.5 hrs), Bremen (~1.5–2 hrs), Copenhagen (~5–6 hrs), Amsterdam (~6–7 hrs), and many German cities.

By Car

• Motorways:
  • A7 (north–south, Denmark/Flensburg ↔ Hannover); passes through the Elbtunnel (expect congestion at peaks).
  • A1 (Lübeck/Baltic coast ↔ Bremen/Ruhr).
  • A24 (to/from Berlin).
  • A23 (towards Schleswig/North Sea).
• Notes:
  • No motorway tolls for private cars in Germany.
  • City-centre parking is limited/expensive; consider P+R and public transport.
  • Occasional local diesel restrictions exist on short street segments; follow on-street signage.