How to spend the Perfect One Day in Hamburg Itinerary

Last Updated on 27th October 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

Hamburg is a vibrant and modern city with unique architecture, plenty of history, and a surprising amount of water for a city dozens of miles away from the sea. Here’s your guide on how to spend the perfect one day in Hamburg itinerary.

Introducing Hamburg

I recently visited Hamburg on a sunny yet crisp autumn day, when the leaves were at their peak golden colours. Surrounded by water, the settlement was largely flattened by bombs during WWII, meaning that many of the buildings you see today were rebuilt following the war.

Thanks to Hamburg’s position at the confluences of the Rivers  Elbe, the Alster, and the Bille, Hamburg is a city surrounded by and centred on water. A magical destination any time of the year, the most popular time to visit Hamburg is during the summer when the beaches are open and you can picnic in one of the many parks in the city.

Hamburg is particularly famous for its Red Light district, which is where The Beatles first played in the 1960s. Hamburg also has a rich medieval history as a Free City and was a key member of the Hanseatic League.

Is one day enough time in Hamburg?

One day is enough time to get a good overview of the city and see all of the main attractions. However, if you want to head off the beaten path, visit some of the more unusual museums, and lesser-known attractions, then you’ll want to spend 3 days in Hamburg.

Suggested one day in Hamburg itinerary

Walk along Binnenalster

When visiting Hamburg, one of the first things that will strike you is the sheer amount of water in the city. From canals to rivers to lakes, there’s no shortage of bodies of water, despite Hamburg’s distance some 70 miles of the sea. If you visit the city during the summer months, you can even head to the beach!

From the central train station (Hamburg HBF) walk down to Binnenalster. This is one of two artificial lakes within the Hamburg city limits and boasts beautiful views onto the TV tower. From here, you can walk along the water to reach the town hall.

Town hall (Rathaus)

Known as Rathaus in German, the town hall of Hamburg is an impressive late 19th-century building that is a must-see while in the city. The City Hall is open Monday – Sunday from 8 AM to 6 PM and there are several guided tours throughout the day.

At Christmastime, the plaza in front of the Rathaus is home to a mesmerising Christmas Market where you can buy everything from handmade jewellery to delicious treats.

St Peter’s Church 

One of the oldest churches in Hamburg is St Peter’s Church, which is just a few minutes walk from the town hall. Free to visit, the church was constructed at the end of the 12th-century at the behest of Pope Leo X.

It is widely thought that there was actually a previous church or cathedral on site thanks to the church’s position close to the Hammaburg (birthplace of Hamburg). The church you see today was largely reconstructed in the Gothic style between the 14th and 15th-centuries.

Bishop’s Tower

If you have time to spare (honestly you only need five to ten minutes to check out this pint-sized exhibition), you can head to the Bishop’s Tower. This area is free to visit and is actually located under an ice cream/ coffee shop.

Once you get down the stairs into the basement, you’ll be greeted by the sight of not only a number of tables and chairs, but also the ruins of walls which were thought to have once been a circular tower and well which were the residence of Archbishop Adalbrand of Bremen.

There was a time when many people believed that this structure, the oldest remaining stone walls in Hamburg, were the birthplace of the city. However, new evidence suggests that these walls were purely used as a defensive structure. There’s also an exhibition showcasing the history of the city.

Take a Boat Cruise

For another unique perspective of Hamburg, you’ll want to take to the water. For example, this 1 hour water cruise will take you around Hamburg’s Harbour District and Speicherstadt.

Lunch

There are a number of delicious places you can head to for lunch, though I was personally in awe with the number of vegan and vegetarian restaurants scattered across Hamburg. We personally visited Erdapfel which serves up jacket potatoes topped with salads and other veggie toppings.

Chile House 

The Chile House, known as Chilehaus in German, is a ten-storey building which towers above the surrounding area and dates all the way back to the 1920s. It’s a particularly special example of Brick Expressionism architecture and is the oldest office building in the Kontorhaus District.

Unfortunately, the interior of the Chile House is closed to visitors as it remains in use as office space. However, you can wander into the inner courtyard and the most unusual angle of the building can be found at the front (where it has ‘Flat Iron building vibes’) at the corner of Pumpen and Burchardstrasse Road.

Speicherstadt 

The largest warehouse district in the world is of such historical importance that it is actually a UNESCO World Heritage site. A group of small islands which house nothing but brick warehouse after brick warehouse, wander around to take gorgeous photos of the many bridges and buildings which date from 1883 to 1927.

St Nikolai Memorial 

For a bird’s eye view of the city, you’ll want to head to the St Nikolai Memorial. The history of the charred remains of this church date all the way back to the late 12th-century when a small chapel was erected on site.

This was replaced by a larger and sturdier brick church in the 14th-century, though this ended up burning down in the 19th-century. Eventually a Gothic Revival cathedral was built on the site in 1874.

At its completion, the ecclesiastical building was the tallest building in the world, until it was replaced in 1876 by Strasbourg Cathedral in France. Unfortunately, the building was heavily bombed during the bombing of Hamburg in WWII and all that remained was the tower.

Since September 2005, an elevator installed within the remaining bell tower has allowed visitors to ascend to a height of 70 metres in order to see Hamburg from above. You can buy a ticket at a cost of €6 on-site. At the top, there is also a small exhibition to show what Hamburg looked like after the bombings of WWII.

Coffee at Nord Roast

Just a short walk away from the Cathedral, you’ll come across Nord Roast. While they are best-known for their specialty coffee, it was a crisp autumn day during our visit and so we particularly enjoyed sipping on the warming lemon and ginger tea. Sit at the back of the café and you can enjoy uninterrupted views of the Warehouse District.

Deichstrasse 

One of the most picturesque and historic streets in Hamburg is Deichstrasse, which is just a couple of minutes’ walk away from Nord Roast Café. This street dates all the way back to the early 14th-century (it was first mentioned in 1304) and is the oldest surviving street of the Altstadt (old city).

Head here during the summer months and you can find people enjoy coffee and beers on various terraces spilling out onto the streets. This is also undoubtedly the most picturesque spot in Hamburg and so be sure to have your camera ready when visiting!

Miniatur Wunderland

If there’s one museum you should make the effort to visit while in Hamburg, it’s Miniatur Wunderland (Miniature Wonderland in English). This pint-sized museum is set over several levels and is where expert model makers have painstakingly recreated scale model replicas of cities and towns from all over the world.

There is a particular focus on Switzerland and central Germany, and you can even spy a model replica of Hamburg itself. Other notable mentions include replicas of Las Vegas (complete with an Eiffel Tower), Provence (complete with a replica of the Senanque Abbey), and even a functioning airport!

Viewpoint Elphi 

After feeling like a kid again, head to Viewpoint Elphi (on a dock at the very end of Am Sandtoraki street), where you can enjoy picture perfect views of the Hamburg Philharmonic. This unique concert hall is nicknamed the Elphi and was only opened to the public in 2017. If you want to have a look inside the Philharmonic, you can book a guided tour like this one.

Grocers’ Apartments 

If you’re a fan of historical architecture, then you’re in for a real treat when you visit the Grocers’ Apartments, which are known as Krameramtsstuben in Germany. These timber-framed higgeldy piggeldy buildings were formerly called home by widows of members of the Grocers’ Institute and date back to the 17th-century.

The exteriors are free to admire, though you’ll want to visit during the day as they are pretty much in shadow all of the time. During the daytime, there is also a small museum which functions as an outpost of the Museum of Hamburg which showcases what life within the buildings would have been like centuries ago.

St Michaels Church

A gorgeous example of Baroque architecture, St Michael’s Church is free to visit and is one of the most important churches in Hamburg today. The church was originally built between 1647 to 1669 though was expanded during the 18th-century and then again at the 19th-century.

Reeperbahn

If you have an evening to spend exploring Hamburg, then you should head to Reeperbahn, which is the Red Light District, though is not entirely as seedy as it sounds! This is actually the area where The Beatles first performed and is now known for its nightlife, theatres, and adult entertainment area.

There are also a number of restaurants in the area serving up everything from pizza slices to traditional German food. If you would prefer to dive deeper into the foodie of St Pauli scene together with a local guide, then consider booking a tour like this one.

When is the best time to visit Hamburg?

The best time to discover Hamburg is definitely during the summer months when the days are longest, the weather is warm, and there is little chance of rain. This is also a great moment to visit as you can relax on the city beach.

If you visit Hamburg during the spring, then you can enjoy the cherry blossoms (in late March) and even a cherry blossom festival in May. During the fall, which is when I visited, you can obviously enjoy beautiful fall foliage. In winter, there’s an annual Christmas Market held in front of the town hall.

Getting to Hamburg

Hamburg is home to one of the largest airports in Germany.  Flughafen Hamburg is the second largest airport in Germany and serves other major destinations including London, Paris, and beyond. The city also has great train links and can be reached in just under a two hour journey from Berlin.

We personally visited Hamburg as a day trip from Berlin, leaving mid-morning and heading back in the early evening. If you’re planning on visiting Hamburg as a day trip, be sure to reserve your train tickets ahead of time (at least a couple of weeks) as you’ll save a fair bit of money rather than booking directly on the day.

Getting around Hamburg

There is a good and affordable public transportation system in Hamburg, though we personally opted to simply walk around as all of the main attractions in the city are within easy walking distance. As with visiting any historic city in Europe, be sure to wear comfortable shoes as cobblestones can be found in abundance.

Where to stay in Hamburg

Thanks to its status as a fairly popular tourist city, there’s no shortage of places to stay in Hamburg to suit every taste and budget. Here are some of the best places to stay in Hamburg based on web-reviews and location:

Sir Nikolai Hotel: This well-reviewed hotel is nestled alongside a beautiful canal and boasts amenities such as free WiFi, a 24 hour front desk, and a bar onsite. Check prices and availability here.

Hapimag Resort Hamburg: For an unforgettable stay during your time in Hamburg, you’ll want to book yourself into this aparthotel, which boasts highlights such as a microwave, a toaster and fridge, and bicycle rental on site. Check prices and availability here.

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Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, travel, pizza, and history. A Francophile at heart, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming something sweet. She splits her time between Paris and London and travels as much as she can! Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.