19 fun things to do in Hamburg that make it one of a kind

Whether you’re looking for fun things to do with kids or romantic date ideas, Hamburg offers many fun activities that cater to all interests. Dive into Hamburg’s coastal heritage or try the ship simulator at the International Maritime Museum. Delight your tastebuds with unique things to do for foodies, like designing your own chocolate bar at Chocoversum, a coffee tasting at the Speicherstadt, or sampling Medieval beers from historic breweries. Party at the Reeperbahn, or take it easy with a wine and cheese cruise. These are our picks for the top 20 fun things to do in Hamburg.

Top fun things to do in Hamburg at a glance:

Fun things to do as a couple: A romantic wine and cheese cruise or a sunset stroll along the Elbe River.

Fun activities for kids and families: The Miniatur Wunderland or the interactive exhibits at the International Maritime Museum.

Fun things to do on your own: A walking tour to discover the city's rich history or a coffee-tasting session at Speicherstadt.

Fun food experiences: Design your chocolate bar at Chocoversum, taste Medieval beers from historic breweries, or savor local delicacies at the Fish Market.

Fun things to do in Hamburg as a couple

1. Delight in delicious chocolate at the Chocoversum

Dive into the rich world of chocolate at Chocoversum, a museum dedicated to all things chocolate. Get hands-on and design your very own chocolate bar, making it a perfect activity for couples.

Highlights:

• No need to queue for tickets, a tour of the Chocoversum includes entry and chocolate bar making.
• Chocoholics can buy some treats at the store after the tour.

Address and opening hours:

Meßberg 1, 20095 Hamburg. Open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Tour times vary.

2. Cruise through the evening lights of Hamburg

Hop on an evening cruise and watch the city light up. The port and waterfront come to life as you pass the historic Speicherstadt warehouse district.

Highlights:

• Enjoy live commentary as you cruise through Hamburg’s illuminated harbor.
• Snuggle up close on your barge adventure while learning about the harbor’s history.

3. Drive around Hamburg’s sights and into the sunset

Discover Hamburg’s history and local gems on a private sunset tour. Experience the historic Speicherstadt at golden hour, with the light gently dancing off St. Michael’s Church.

Highlights:

• Marvel at the beauty of Speicherstadt and St. Michael’s Church bathed in golden light.
• When the tour is done, let the driver drop you off in the hip Schanzenviertel district for dinner or St. Pauli for nightlife.

4. Achieve #couplegoals with a private photoshoot

Capture your love story with a professional photoshoot in front of Hamburg’s most iconic landmarks. Walk away with 20 stunning, professionally edited digital photos to cherish forever.

Highlights:

• Learn valuable tips and tricks for taking better pictures in the future from your professional photographer.
• Create remarkable memories with beautiful photos set against Hamburg’s historic and scenic locations.

5. Tour the romantic medieval city of Lübeck

Head on a private tour of Lübeck, a dreamy 12th-century town northeast of Hamburg. Its well-preserved center contains rows of medieval merchants’ homes and scenic waterfront reflections for romantic photo opportunities.

Highlights:

• Book a day trip to Lübeck from Hamburg by train for a romantic day out by rail.
• Your guide will pick you up from Lübeck station and share fascinating anecdotes and legends as you tour the medieval sights.

Fun things to do in Hamburg with kids

6. Sail the seven seas aboard the Cap San Diego

Explore the MS Cap San Diego, now docked on the harbor as a walk-on museum ship. Kids will enjoy scampering through its nooks and crannies, from the captain’s cabin to the galley.

Highlights:

• You can explore every corner of this historic vessel with an entry ticket to the Museum Ship Cap San Diego. This is an exciting adventure for kids of all ages.

Address and opening hours:

Überseebrücke, 20459 Hamburg. Open Monday-Sunday, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM.

7. Climb up the rigging of the Rickmer Rickmers

The Rickmer Rickmers is a beautiful windjammer ship: a large, traditionally rigged sailing ship, often used during the 19th and early 20th centuries for long voyages. With the restored sleeping quarters of the original crew and a museum about the history of the ship below deck, you’ll experience what life was like on board.

Highlights:

• Make sure you visit on a Saturday so you can climb up the ship's masts for an amazing view.
• Get a Rickmer Rickmers entry Ttcket to explore the entire ship.

Address and opening hours:

Bei den St. Pauli-Landungsbrücken 1a, 20359 Hamburg. Open Monday-Sunday, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM.

8. Meet the scary prisoners in the Hamburg Dungeon

Explore the most gruesome chapters of Hamburg’s history with interactive live performances by professional actors. Take the “Elevator of Doom” into the dungeon and wonder if any of your companions make it out alive.

Highlights:

• Experience thrilling and immersive performances that bring Hamburg’s darkest history to life.
• Get to know the infamous pirate Klaus Störtebeker with a Hamburg Dungeon ticket.
• Encounter eerie characters and spine-tingling scenes that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Address and opening hours:

Kehrwieder 2, 20457 Hamburg. Open Sunday-Friday, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM, and Saturday, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM.

9. Pet the farm animals in a medieval village

Take a day trip to the past and discover idyllic life in the German countryside. With a dozen reconstructed village buildings, such as barns and a smithy, this unique thing to do in Hamburg offers an immersive experience of life in the past. At the right time of year, you can attend one of the village festivals or workshops.

Highlights:

• Children will love the farm at the Volksdorf Museum Village. With horses, sheep, chickens, and ducks, there will be something for every child to feed and pet.
• The picturesque setting also provides a perfect backdrop for family photos and a fun day out in nature.

Address and opening hours:

Im Alten Dorfe 46-48, 22359 Hamburg. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM.

Fun things to do in Hamburg on your own

10. Step through nautical history at the International Maritime Museum

Fans of sea adventures should hop aboard Hamburg’s Maritime Museum, laid out across nine “decks” of an old warehouse. Discover charming model ships in bottles, centuries-old sea clothes, or try out the immersive sailing simulation.

Highlights:

• Take all the time you need to explore 3,000 years of sea travel with the International Maritime Museum entrance ticket.
• For those wanting to test the ship simulation, experiences are available Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday at 2:00 PM.

Address and opening hours:

Koreastraße 1, 20457 Hamburg. Open daily, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM.

11. Immerse yourself in the New World migrant experience at BallinStadt

The BallinStadt is a fun and interactive museum that transports you back to the 19^th century. Millions of migrants have stepped foot here in Hamburg to board ships for the Americas and beyond, and their stories are collected in this former processing center, which has immersive exhibits.

Highlights:

See what it was like on a passenger ship to America with an Emigration Museum BallinStadt entry ticket.

Learn more about Albert Ballin, the shipping magnate who provided passage and accommodation for the emigrants.

Address and opening hours:

Veddeler Bogen 2, 20539 Hamburg. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM.

12. Stroll the world’s largest cemetery park, Ohlsdorf Cemetery

Head to Ohlsdorf Cemetery for a tranquil walk through history. This leafy park is also a civilian cemetery with some poignant memorials to Nazi victims. You can spend countless hours exploring the impressively crafted graves or spotting busy birdlife in action.

Highlights:

• Make sure you don’t miss out on the essential sights with the Ohlsdorf Cemetery self-guided Angel Walk.
• Take in the noted graves of famous figures like Hans Albers and Wolfgang Borchert.

Address and opening hours:

Fuhlsbüttler Str. 756, 22337 Hamburg. Open Monday-Sunday, 9:00 AM-9:00 PM.

13. Expand your horizon at the Dialogue House

Experience something completely new at the Dialogue House, where you will meet people you might not normally have a conversation with. Step into the world of people with visual or hearing impairments and learn what challenges they face in their lives and how to overcome them.

Highlights:

• A guided tour through the Dialogue in the Dark® Exhibition will lead you into completely dark rooms full of challenges, such as crossing a busy street.
• You must trust your borrowed cane and visually impaired guide to make it to the other side.

Address and opening hours:

Alter Wandrahm 5, 20457 Hamburg. Tour times vary.

14. Join the Party in the famous Reeperbahn

Visit the world-famous Reeperbahn for evening entertainment and vibrant drag culture. This is where the career of The Beatles took off. You will be thoroughly entertained between nightclubs, bars, and cabarets until the early morning.

Highlights:

• Get a proper introduction to St. Pauli with an Insider Tour of the Reeperbahn.
• Choose from a variety of local celebrities and drag queens as your guide for a memorable experience.

Fun things to do in Hamburg if you like food and drink

15. Keep it classy with a cheese and wine cruise

Board a Hamburg dinner or lunch cruise ship, sip a glass of wine, and sample local cheeses while you learn about the city’s rich history from your guide.

Highlights:

• You will see all the famous sights along the Hamburg port, including the impressive Elbphilharmonie and historic Speicherstadt.

16. Wake up your taste buds with a coffee tasting tour

Go on a coffee tasting tour and learn more about how coffee was imported to Hamburg through the Speicherstadt. Visit stores distributing other traded goods, such as Eastern carpets and spices.

Highlights:

• Enjoy an immersive coffee tasting experience led by 2-time European Coffee Roasting Master Erik.
• Stroll through the picturesque Speicherstadt, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and soak in its unique architecture and charm.

17. Sample international appetizers in the HafenCity

Walking around the port of Hamburg will show you the contrasting worlds of the historic Speicherstadt and the modern HafenCity project. Taste this unique character of the city with a mix of traditional Hamburg food and international appetizers.

Highlights:

• Explore HafenCity, one of Europe's most ambitious urban development projects, and learn about its modern architecture and design.
• Savor a variety of delicious local foods on the HafenCity Food Tour, sampling culinary delights from some of the best eateries in the area.
• Experience the thrill of riding the longest escalator in Europe, taking you up to the Elbphilharmonie Plaza.

18. Have a taste of the trendy Schanzenviertel

Explore this trendy district of Hamburg full of diverse and alternative stores and bars. Try five delicious local treats while you learn more about the history and current problems in the district. Though the Schanzenviertel is one of the smaller districts of Hamburg, it has lots to offer.

Highlights:

• Sample one of Germany’s most famous street foods, the Currywurst, during the Schanzenviertel culinary tour.
• Enjoy bite-sized sausage slices smothered in flavorful curry ketchup, perfect for a quick and tasty snack on the go.
• For more mouth-watering experiences, check out other amazing options for food in Hamburg.

19. Last but not least: Try the local beers

Of course, you must have some German beer before you leave. Go on a guided beer tasting and brewery tour to find the very best local breweries where no two beers are the same. Learn what processes are used for brewing and what gives the local beers unique flavors.

Highlights:

• Try some medieval beer and learn how Hamburg got the nickname “The Brewing House of the Hanseatic League.”
• The craft beer tasting tour will lead you through 1,000 years of beer brewing history in Hamburg.
• Discover the evolution of beer brewing techniques and traditions in the city.

FAQs

What are some fun things to do in Hamburg at night?

You will find many fun things to do at night in Hamburg’s Reeperbahn. From nightclubs and bars to an exciting cabaret and walking tours with drag queens. There is plenty to keep you entertained. If you would rather have something more romantic and relaxing at the end of the day, you can watch the city lights during a late-night cruise through the port.

Are there any fun day trips from Hamburg that I should consider?

Fun day trips from Hamburg include a city trip to Lübeck, which is full of medieval architecture. For fun with the whole family, the Heide Park Resort amusement park features one of the largest wooden roller coasters in the world, and it is not far.

What are some popular festivals or events in Hamburg?

The largest public festival in Northern Germany is held thrice a year in Hamburg. The Hamburger Dom will deliver all you could possibly want from a fun fair. At the start of May, you can also celebrate the anniversary of the Hamburg port.

What are some family-friendly fun activities to do in Hamburg?

Some family-friendly fun activities in Hamburg include the permanently docked museum ships on the port that you can explore. For older children, a trip to the Hamburg dungeon will certainly delight with dark tales of the past.

What are some fun outdoor activities to do in Hamburg?

Some fun outdoor activities in Hamburg include walks through the Planten un Blomen Park or scenic strolls along the Alster Lake. You can also travel a bit further to visit the Volksdorf museum village, which has many farm animals to see.