Elbphilharmonie
A glass concert hall built on top of an old harbour warehouse. Its public viewing platform, the Plaza, offers 360° views over the port.
Hamburg, Germany
Hamburg: airports, things to do and where to stay
Hamburg, Germany's second city, is a port city on the Elbe with canals, red-brick warehouses and a rich cultural scene. It mixes the maritime feel of the harbour with city lakes, parks and lively districts such as St. Pauli.
Hamburg airports
From the airport to central Hamburg
Hamburg Helmut Schmidt airport is about 9 km from central Hamburg.
S-Bahn S1
The station is beneath the Airport Plaza. Trains run every 10 min to the main station (Hauptbahnhof) in about 25 min.
HVV-Busse
HVV city bus routes linking the airport with nearby U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations and the northern districts.
Taxi
Ranks outside both terminals. The city centre is about 9 km away and the ride takes around 25 min depending on traffic.
Hamburg
Things to do in Hamburg
Speicherstadt
The world's largest complex of red-brick warehouses, set along canals and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Rathaus
The lavish neo-Renaissance city hall, seat of the city-state's parliament and senate, with guided tours.
Binnenalster
A lake right in the city centre, lined by the Jungfernstieg promenade. Sightseeing boats set off here for trips on the Alster.
St. Pauli Landungsbrücken
The historic piers on the Elbe, the starting point for harbour boat tours and a short walk from St. Pauli.
Frequently asked questions
Which airport serves Hamburg?
Hamburg is served by Hamburg Helmut Schmidt (HAM).
How far is the airport from central Hamburg?
Hamburg Helmut Schmidt airport is about 9 km from central Hamburg.
How do I get from the airport to central Hamburg?
From Hamburg Helmut Schmidt airport you can take S-Bahn S1 (train), HVV-Busse (bus), and Taxi. Pre-booked taxis and private transfers are also available.
What are the must-sees in Hamburg?
Highlights of Hamburg include Elbphilharmonie, Speicherstadt, Rathaus, Binnenalster, and St. Pauli Landungsbrücken.
Photo credits
- Elbphilharmonie: Axel Tschentscher, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Speicherstadt: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rathaus: Oxfordian Kissuth, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Binnenalster: Oxfordian Kissuth, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- St. Pauli Landungsbrücken: Thomas Dahlstrøm Nielsen, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons