Located in northern Germany, Hamburg is the country’s largest port city. Tall industrial brick buildings reflect in the canals that snake throughout the town. Boats bob in the harbor, and people watch the sunset (or even sunrise) with fish sandwiches in hand. Old meets new in the city where Vikings once walked, and today serves as a major cultural and commercial hub in Europe. Lots of people pass through on business and weekend getaways.
For me, Hamburg was a good stopping point between Düsseldorf and Copenhagen. Brandon and I spent three chilly December days there and were surprised by how much the city has to offer! Whatever your reason for visiting the port, here are 9 experiences in Hamburg, Germany that you shouldn’t miss.
Immerse yourself in nautical history at the International Maritime Museum
Located in HafenCity, the IMM houses everything you can imagine that is nautical related. There are 38,000 miniature ships, oil paintings, interesting nautical instruments, over one million pictures, and thousands of books. You can easily spend hours exploring the impressive museum’s collection, which is spread over 9 levels! My favorite parts of the museum were the information on pirates, the bone ships, the naval weapon collection, and the ship apothecary display. I LOVE the room with all of the old maps.
You can find the hours and pricing information for the museum HERE.
Wander the canals
Hamburg is a truly beautiful city. A large part of that beauty is because of the many canals with picturesque bridges going across them. If you’re visiting any of the museums in HafenCity (which you should), then you will inevitably walk along these waterways. Take your time though and enjoy the reflections of the industrial buildings that once served as warehouses. Today, they are home to trendy shops, restaurants, hotels, and residences.
Eat a hamburger in Hamburg
It is no coincidence that the word hamburger contains the name of the German city, Hamburg. History tells us that in the 19th century, Germans began mincing their meat with spices and onions and eating them in a patty form that came to be known as the Hamburg Steak. Because Hamburg was such a large port town, many immigrants traveled through Hamburg before going on to America. They took the idea behind the Hamburg steak with them, and it was in America that someone decided to place the Hamburg steak between two slices of bread. Thus, the HAMBURGer was born.
You can still find Hamburg steak on traditional restaurant menus, or you can visit one of the city’s many hamburger joints. We opted for a quieter place near the train station called Buck’s Burgers. If you go there too, have your burger with a fritz-kola and get a chocolate dipped ice cream for dessert!
I like to blog about food. If you’re a fellow foodie, check out my posts on The Best Places to Eat in Edinburgh and The Top 10 Places to eat in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Explore 80 Years of German Auto History at Automuseum Prototyp
Also located in HafenCity, this museum goes over the history of German racing and cars made after WWII. I enjoyed the original VW Beetle from the movie Herbie (one of my favorite movies as a kid), the VW Transporter T1 that had a past life as a firetruck, and I actually liked the old race cars too despite not knowing anything about the sport. The museum places special emphasis on some of the racing greats, and it has a racecar simulator. There’s a nice little cafe if you need a refresher and a gift shop with fun car related things like a pencil topped with a VW van that I bought my mom.
Operating times and ticket prices can be found HERE.
Eat a Franzbrötchen for breakfast
What is a Franzbrötchen you might ask? It’s like the German version of a cinnamon roll, commonly eaten in Hamburg. The difference is that the German version doesn’t have a sugary glaze on it, making it less sweet but still delicious! They sometimes come in the stereotypical spiral shape of a cinnamon roll, but they can also be found in the double spiral shape, like the one I’m holding above. They are in all the pastry shops in Hamburg and are sometimes infused with chocolate – YUM.
See the world on a tiny scale at Miniatur Wunderland
The Miniature Wonderland is considered one of the top experiences in Hamburg. We went around 9PM, and the place was packed! The museum has miniature models of cities all around the world, exhibited with precise detail. Look closely at the displays, because some of them have fun features such as fairies hiding in a hole in a mountain, King Kong towering over the Las Vegas skyline, and Superman saving a car from plummeting off a cliff. The museum also has the world’s largest model railway, a replica of Hamburg airport with an airplane that actually takes off, and a ship control station simulator where you can steer a ship at port. Don’t be alarmed when the lights go off at the museum. How else could you see what the city’s look like when the sun goes down?
Hours and ticket prices can be found HERE.
One of the more popular exhibits at the Miniature Wonderland is the replica of Neuschwanstein Castle. If you want to visit the actual larger than life Bavarian fortress, read my Comprehensive Guide to Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle.
GO TO THE SUNDAY FISH MARKET
This is not an option. You HAVE to go to the Hamburg Fish Market, which takes place every Sunday morning. You’ll have to wake up early though, because it closes at 9:30AM! Back in the day, church officials did not want fishermen to sell their catch on Sunday, because it would interfere with church. In a compromise that is still upheld to this day, the fish market closes before church services around the city begin. The market opens at 5:00 in the summer and 7:30 in the winter. Year round, it closes at 9:30.
Since 1703, tourists and locals alike gather at the market to watch the vendors loudly bartering and bantering with customers. Even though the sun hasn’t even risen, every person will be chowing down on a fish sandwich. In the food hall, a rock band (or maybe a jazz band) will be entertaining market goers. Just like the airport is a lawless place in the wee hours of the morning, so is the Hamburg fish market. A good time will be had by all in attendance. This was my favorite experience in Hamburg!
While you’re at the market, eat a fish sandwich
I’ve literally never seen so many people eating fish at one time so early in the morning. You won’t have a fresher fish sandwich than on the harbor at the fist market though! If it is just too early for you to eat fish, Hamburg has plenty of other places to get them at later times. One of the most popular places is just down the road from the market at Brücke 10.
Eat the Sunday chicken at Heimat Restaurant in HafenCity
Ok, I know I’ve talked a lot about food in this post, but Hamburg has a lot of good food. One of the most memorable meals we’ve had on a trip was at Heimat Restaurant in the 25 Hours Hotel. We found out about this place because we were staying at the hotel’s sister location next door. Every Sunday after noon, you can order a half chicken that’s been marinated for 30 hours paired with French fries and homemade coleslaw. It was the best, crispiest chicken skin I’ve ever had. Heimat’s Sunday chicken was one of those meals I will think about and crave until I am lucky enough to eat it again.
If you spend a weekend in Hamburg, you will not run out of things to do! Let me know in the comments if you have any experiences in Hamburg that I shouldn’t miss on my next visit.
Thanks! You inspired me. I have not been to Hamburg. The photos are impressive. Wonderful architecture! Hamburg is now on my list!
Another adventure!! I’ve been to multiple cities and towns in Germany, but never Hamburg. It is definitely on my list for next trip. I love your descriptions and information. I also love books and maps – we may be sisters in another life!! Keep entertaining us with your travel adventures. What’s next???
Thank you! Hamburg was a real gem. I’m still planning out my travels for 2020, but it sounds like I may be going back to Nigeria soon!