The green city of Hamburg in northern Germany offers countless activities and immersive experiences for travellers who want to go deeper. Here are 5 of the very best things to do for Hamburg culture, as recommended by a local.
About the author: Nina is a travel content creator who was born and raised in Germany but currently lives in Greece. She is the voice behind Lemons and Luggage, a travel blog dedicated to vegan and responsible travel.
Hamburg, Germany’s second-largest city, is mainly famous for its red light district and for being the place where The Beatles started their career.
Located way up north, Hamburg is strongly influenced by Scandinavian architecture and culture than most other German cities, giving it a unique feel.
Hamburg was a free and imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire and has always kept a high level of autonomy within Germany as well. Due to its strategic location, it has played an important role in trade, making its metropolitan region one of the wealthiest not only in Germany, but in the entire EU. Its port is the third-largest in Europe after Rotterdam and Antwerp.
As a result, Hamburg has always been a very multicultural city with strong influences from regions in Central and South Asia, as can be seen in the rich history of carpet, tea and spice trading.
Although a lot of the city was destroyed during World War II, it has still kept its Nordic flair. Despite the locals’ reputation as being very reserved, there are lots of opportunities for visitors to get to know the people of Hamburg.
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5 ways to experience Hamburg culture
Here are some of the best ways to experience Hamburg culture, from UNESCO World Heritage Sites to open-air events.
1. Learn about the city’s relationship with water
Hamburg is conveniently located on the river Elbe and almost equal distance between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. This has naturally led to the creation of a huge port and made Hamburg an important trade city. Hamburg has become extremely wealthy as a result, and its inhabitants are well aware of the role their location by the water has played in shaping the city.
The Speicherstadt is a prime example of how trade has influenced Hamburg. This UNESCO World Heritage Site (together with the Kontorhaus District and Chilehaus) was built exclusively to store goods that arrived in the city. To this day, it’s the largest continuously operating warehouse complex in the world.
In order to see these Neo-Gothic, red-brick buildings up close, you should book a ‘Fleetfahrt’ with a tourist boat. This is the best way to navigate through the narrow canals and dive into Hamburg’s trade history.
It’s a classic tourist experience, but if you want to see more of the port that has brought so much prosperity to Hamburg then there is no need to pay for an expensive boat. You can see even more on the regular ferry, especially if you take line 62.
These ferries are included in your regular public transport ticket, but please keep in mind that during rush hour they can be quite full. In order to not interfere too much with the locals trying to get to and from work, use the public ferries between 10am and 5pm.
When you’re in the area, don’t miss the Old Elbe Tunnel, which was built to make it easier for dock workers to move between the piers and the port. Pedestrians can enter the tunnel for free and cross below the river to see Hamburg from the other side.
But of course Hamburg’s relationship with the water isn’t all work and no play. Although the city is not situated right by the sea, you can visit the beach like many of the locals do when the weather allows. The easiest way to get to the beach is to take the metro to the picturesque Blankenese, one of the city’s wealthiest neighbourhoods.
This is where you will find people relaxing on the sandy shore and perhaps having a barbecue or picnic. If you have the time, consider walking back to the city centre along the beach. On the way, do as the locals do and grab a bite or a drink at Strandperle, a trendy beach bar in the Othmarschen neighbourhood.
As a matter of fact, Hamburg has quite a few beach bars you can hang out at. From StrandPauli, Dock 3, and Hamburg del Mar in the very heart of Hamburg to the trendy Schanze neighbourhood’s Central Park (although the latter is not actually near the water), you can definitely make the most of the few sunny days the city has to offer. There’s even a zero waste beach club called Karo Beach.
2. Have a picnic in the Altes Land
Locals love the many green spaces in Hamburg and use them as an escape from the city any chance they get. There are various beautiful parks such as Planten un Blomen, the old and new Botanical Garden, or the Stadtpark. But one of the best places to head to just outside the city is the Altes Land.
Located south of the Elbe river both in Hamburg as well as the province of Lower Saxony, this marshland is beautiful year-round but particularly worth a visit during spring apple and cherry blossom season as well as in the fall when you can go apple picking. The area is extremely good for a bicycle tour.
You can get to the Altes Land either by taking the ferry 62 to Finkenwerder and then continuing by bike, or by riding your bike to Blankenese and then taking the HBEL ferry to Cranz.
Take in the beautiful landscapes and the traditional village architecture and check out the cute little shops and cafes. If you don’t want to bring your own picnic, you can pre-order a basket from one of the family owned farms in the area. Just as there are plenty of vegan options in Hamburg, you can order vegan-friendly picnic baskets in the Altes Land as well.
To get a unique glimpse at local culture, plan your trip on the first weekend of May when the traditional blossom festival takes place.
3. Visit the Fish Market
By now it’s probably obvious that water is imperative to Hamburg. Naturally, the city has a popular Fish Market – and contrary to the name, you won’t only find fish here, but anything from flowers and fruits to clothes and souvenirs. The Fish Market takes place every Sunday and is an absolute must on your visit to Hamburg.
For locals, heading to the Fish Market after a night out is the way to go. After all, the market closes at 9.30am so to get the freshest produce, you want to arrive no later than 8am. And if you’re still in the mood for music, the big auction hall has live music as well.
The Fish Market has been around for 300 years and is a tradition that goes much deeper than just buying seafood. What people love most about the Fish Market is the way vendors shout and scream to get your attention. It’s a unique experience, but will arguably be more fun if you understand German.
The Fish Market is probably one of the best places to pick up a few words in the local dialect and even in Low German, the language traditionally spoken in the northern region of the country.
Even if you decide not to buy or eat anything, you can still enjoy the scenic views of the port early in the morning. Note that the Fish Market only opens at 7am in the winter season and at 5am in the summer. If it’s particularly stormy, the market will remain closed – or rather, it will be flooded with water.
If you have the energy to still stick around after the Fish Market closes there are several things you can see nearby, such as the above-mentioned Old Elbe Tunnel, but also the Portuguese neighbourhood, the artistic Park Fiction, and the historic Hafenstraße.
The latter is famous for having been a squat that is now owned by a cooperative of residents after years of riots and resistance against police forces. Park Fiction was built as part of an initiative by residents to have more green spaces instead of office buildings.
4. Watch a St. Pauli match, the ultimate way to experience Hamburg culture
Although FC St. Pauli only plays in the second German league, it is an absolute cult club, especially due to its anti-racist and anti-fascist stance. Squatters, punks and anarchists have long been the club’s fanbase, and even international musicians have worn the skull and crossbones logo.
Attending a St. Pauli match will allow you to really absorb the atmosphere that is typical of one of the most popular neighbourhoods to stay in Hamburg.
Once inside the stadium, you will find it very easy to connect with locals and find out what makes them tick. Although people from Hamburg have a reputation for being quite reserved, you will soon realise they are actually very welcoming to newcomers and tourists alike, especially at a St. Pauli match.
Note that there is a longstanding rivalry between St. Pauli and Hamburg’s other club, HSV, so if you walk through the city displaying a St. Pauli logo some people might not be too friendly towards you!
As opposed to many other soccer stadiums, the club’s stadium, Millerntorstadium, is centrally located, making it accessible to a variety of people, not only die-hard sports fans. That does of course mean that tickets sell out very quickly so you should book as soon as possible.
5. Enjoy Hamburg’s many festivals and events
Hamburg is not known for its amazing weather, but the city still makes the most of what it has and puts on various cultural festivals and events each year that cater both to locals as well as tourists.
The Hafengeburtstag celebrates the anniversary of the port each year around May 7th. The event attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year with its opening parade of sailing ships, live concerts, dragon boat race, and a grand fireworks – all in the name of celebrating Hamburg’s most important location, the port.
Three times a year, locals attend the Dom, one of the biggest travelling funfairs in Germany. From food and drinks to games and rides, you only pay for what you actually want to purchase as admission to the Dom itself is completely free of charge.
Other popular events that take place yearly are the Cherry Blossom Festival, the Night of the Churches, Open Mosque Day, and the Water and Light Concerts in Planten un Blomen.
The Cherry Blossom Festival, which also takes place in May, celebrates Hamburg’s strong ties with Japan that are based on the history of international trade in the city. The Night of the Churches takes place every September and invites people to not only visit the five main Protestant churches, but also smaller Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox churches in the city, and meet with the communities that worship in many different languages.
Open Mosque Day is a nation-wide event that takes place every year on October 3rd, the national holiday of German Unity Day, and is a day when Muslim communities from Turkey, the Balkans, South Asia, and Africa open their mosques to share their religion and cultures.
The Water and Light Concerts that are displayed at Planten un Blomen park every year between May and August combine classical music and beautiful lights – a perfect event to end a day of sightseeing in Hamburg.
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