Hamburg is the cultural capital of Germany. Yet many travelers skip Hamburg for Bavaria, the Rhine, or the Black Forest. But if you like seafood, history, the arts, partying, or water activities, then this is a must-visit city for you.

Here are the top things to do in Hamburg!

Follow in the Beatles’ Footsteps

Contrary to popular belief, the Beatles got their start in Hamburg, not Liverpool. The Beatles played an estimated 273 shows in the city from 1960-1962. John Lennon even said that “I might have been born in Liverpool, but I grew up in Hamburg.”

Beatles-Platz is the most famous place that pays homage to the group. This plaza is in the St. Pauli neighborhood at the crossroads of Reeperbahn and Große Freiheit, and it’s designed to look like a vinyl record.

You can retrace the Beatles’ footsteps by visiting the clubs where they played. The first club they played in was the Indra Club, which is still open on Grosse Freiheit street

The Reeperbahn is Europe’s longest party street, as well as a world-famous red-light district.

Peak times for the bars, clubs, and discos along the Reeperbahn and its surrounding streets and squares are after midnight until the sun comes up.

If you’re in Hamburg at the end of September, you can attend the Reeperbahn Festival, one of the largest club festivals in the world.

Visit the First Modern Zoo

Hamburg’s zoo is the Tierpark Hagenbeck. Before it opened in 1907, animals were generally kept in small cages where visitors could get close and touch them.

But when Carl Hagenbeck Jr. founded the Tierpark Hagenbeck, he was concerned about animal care and welfare. He had the animals moved to large open enclosures – to better simulates the animals’ natural habitats – separated from the public by moats instead of cages.

Walk Through the Elbe Tunnel

The Elbe Tunnel opened in 1911, and it was an architectural marvel for its time. Today, it’s still a pedestrian and vehicle tunnel that runs underneath the Elbe River. Giant lifts on both sides of the tunnel operate 24 hours a day to ferry cars, bikes, and pedestrians to and from the tunnel.

The tunnel walls are lined with glazed terra cotta ornaments displaying items related to the Elbe, and the tunnel is often a venue for art exhibits and running events.

Do a Walking Tour

Robin and the Tourguides offers two free walking tours of Hamburg, and I recommend doing both of them. The Historic City Center Tour leaves from the Town Hall (pictured above). It takes you around the historic city center where you’ll learn about the 1,200-year-old history of Hamburg from Charlemagne to bombardment in World War II to the present day.

The Harbour, St. Pauli, and Reeperbahn Tour includes a river cruise, how and where the Beatles became famous in the 1960s, and the eclectic neighborhood of St. Pauli.

I LOVE doing walking tours, especially in Europe. So I’ve done many many many walking tours, and these are two of my all-time favorites.

Other tours you can do are a pub crawl, food tour, and bike tour.

Visit the Oldest Opera House In Germany

The Hamburg State Opera opened in 1678, and it recently underwent extensive renovations to preserve and continue its artistic legacy. This opera has hosted classical artists such as George Frederick Handel and Gotthold Ephraim Lessing and modern-day artists such as Pavarotti and Plácido Domingo. Even if opera isn’t “you thing,” this building is an architectural feat, and it’s worth a tour.

But Hamburg’s art “scene” extends beyond opera. The Tourism Department Of Germany ranks Hamburg as the country’s top cultural destination. Hamburg has more than 50 museums, 45 theaters, and 100 music venues, making Hamburg the third largest musical city in the world behind New York and London.

Every Sunday morning from 5 am – 9:30 am (or 7 am – 9:30 am in the Winter), the Hamburg Fish Market attracts thousands of locals and tourists – some who’ve gotten up early and some who’ve stayed up all night. You can find almost anything at the Fishmarkt – seafood, fruit, flowers, clothing, and souvenirs. And this market has been happening since 1703!

But if you don’t need or want to buy anything, the Fischmarkt is still worth and early morning because next to the outdoor market stalls is the Fischauktionshalle (the Fish Auction Hall), which has live music, tables, food, and drinks.

I know this makes for an early morning, but it’s one of the best cultural experiences in the city. And you can always take a nap later!

See the City from the Top of St. Michael’s Church

St. Michael’s Church is one of Hamburg’s five main Lutheran churches, and it’s the most famous and recognizable church in the city. This church has been named one of the most beautiful Hanseatic Protestant baroque churches in Europe.

The church’s bell tower gives you spectacular panoramic views. I think this observation deck has the best views of the city. Entry to the bell tower is €5, and it’s accessible by elevator and stairs. I recommend taking the elevator up and (if you’re able) taking the stairs down to see more of the interior of the church.

Do a Water Activity

Hamburg is home to the Alster Lakes, 22 canals, and three rivers. This is why Hamburg is called the ‘Venice of the North.’

So you should take a boat tour, or two or three, and you should go swimming, kayaking or sailing. If you’re in Hamburg in the Winter, then you can ice skate on many of the city’s waterways.

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