5 Things You Must Do In Hamburg

Germany’s second-largest city, Hamburg is an underrated European hub of history, style, food, and culture all zigzagged by romantic canals. For an idea of just how many waterways make up Hamburg, consider this: It’s home to 2,500 bridges, which is more than Amsterdam and Venice combined.

And while Berlin might be the coolest city in Germany, Hamburg is a close second with its trendy Reeperbahn (red-light district), delectable international eateries, and world-war historic sites turned into art exhibits. Some of the best things to do in Hamburg are little-known hidden gems thanks to the fact that this is an often-overlooked German city for travelers.

# Wander Around Inside the Elbe Philharmonic

If there’s one Hamburg site that embodies the city’s storied past and vibrant present, it’s the Elbe Philharmonic. Visible from most parts of the Old Town, the ultra-modern concert hall built atop a converted warehouse is a striking reminder of the city’s industrious past and artistic present. Music is a major part of Hamburg; the Beatles played some of their first successful shows in Hamburg’s seedy Reeperbahn (more on that below) while they were living there in the years leading up to their first album. One of the world’s largest and sophisticated music halls in the world, the Elbe Philharmonic also houses some of the city’s most expensive luxury apartments.

For travelers, Elbphilharmonie’s main draw is a 360-degree observation deck that costs just a few dollars to enter. But the building’s unique interior design is also a must-see, including the series of cavernous escalators (although elevators are also available) that access exhibits and open-air viewpoints. The Elbe Philharmonic also offers both free and affordable concerts and events so you can get inside the massive concert hall without paying the usual hefty fee for a symphony performance.

# Cruise the Canals of Speicherstadt

Waterfront Hamburg affords many opportunities to take a scenic cruise, whether it’s on the River Elbe, the Alster Lakes, or the Hafen (Port of Hamburg). But perhaps the most scenic option is to take to the UNESCO-designated Speicherstadt (or warehouse district) canals. The Speicherstadt dates back to the 1880s when brick warehouses were built on narrow islands in the River Elbe. Today, it’s the largest complex of historic port warehouses in the world, and makes for Instagram-worthy photos of brick-facade designs dotted with sculptures, ivy, and metalwork.

# Stroll the Bridges of Hamburg Port

As quintessential as the Speicherstadt, the Port of Hamburg is a good example of the many footbridges that cross the city’s seemingly endless channels and canals. And it’s a mecca of some of the best things to do in Hamburg; from the port area you can easily hop off a river cruise, visit the world-famous Hamburg fish market, and take advantage of vendors, food trucks, and live music acts that assemble here in the warm months as well as around Oktoberfest and Christmas. The entire area is a grand convergence of bridges and neighborhoods that comes alive with seasonal things to do.

# Check Out Reeperbahn

Even if you know nothing about Hamburg, you’ve probably heard of Reeperbahn, its red-light district. Much more than just that, though, the Reeperbahn is a popular nightlife area for Hamburg’s younger crowd thanks to its surprisingly eclectic array of restaurants and bars. It draws plenty of tourists too, not just for its raunchy reputation but also for its history as the neighborhood the Beatles constantly played early in the career. Some of the first bars and theaters to host the Beatles still remain (the most famous being Indra Club 64), and the Reeperbahn now has its own Beatles-Platz, with silhouette statues of the bandmembers marking the main square.

# Walk Saint Pauli’s Underground Tunnel

In Saint Pauli, the neighborhood that’s home to the Reeperbahn, lies one of the most hidden things to do in Hamburg: the Old Elbe River Tunnel, which was built to connect central Hamburg to its massive shipyards on the other side of the river. A quarter-mile-long technological feat when it opened in 1911, it’s now a walk through the past that’s still used by locals (often cyclists), but also sometimes to host exhibitions. It’s worth a stroll for the view of Hamburg’s skyline from the other side, and you can get a boat shuttle back across to the port area.