Christmas markets Hamburg: an atmospheric Christmas season in Hamburg
September 16, 2025
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Is a city trip to Hamburg recommended? Yes, it will definitely be a fun city trip! If you ask us, we can compare the German city of Hamburg a bit to the cities Rotterdam and Berlin. Now you're probably thinking: what a crazy combination, but let us explain. Rotterdam is Europe's largest port city, and port city Hamburg is one of Rotterdam's major competitors. Plus, both cities are known for their impressive architecture. Then we have Berlin, a city we experienced as an alternative, but also very creative city. In Hamburg, you can find the Berlin atmospheres in several neighborhoods in Hamburg. In short, Hamburg is an incredibly fun city for an enjoyable city break. These are the 10 best things to do in Hamburg!
1. Admire the Rathaus
Hamburg is not a city bursting with beautiful sights, but there are certainly some highlights not to be missed. In the middle of the city center, for example, you will find the Rathaus, Hamburg's town hall. The 112-meter-high building is incredibly beautiful to see, but contrary to what you might expect, it is not historic. In fact, the Rathaus was only built in 1897. You can also take a look inside the city hall, but don't skip the courtyard with the fountain.
2. Go to the Elbphilharmonie
The showpiece and one of the most modern buildings in Hamburg is the Elbphilharmonie. You will find the iconic building in the HafenCity district with a beautiful location on the Elbe River. If you want to take a look inside the building you can, but chances are that the concert hall is closed. By the way, a visit is free and you can have a wonderful view of the harbor and the city from the Elbphilharmonie. In addition to the concert hall, the building also houses the beautiful hotel The Westin Hamburg.
3. Wander through Speicherstadt
Where the Elbphilharmonie is Hamburg's showpiece, Speicherstadt is the place that dominates every website and travel guide. Speicherstadt is the largest contiguous warehouse complex in the world and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Read all of our tips for visiting Speicherstadt.
Also read: Visit the Speicherstadt warehouse complex
There are an awful lot of things to do during a city break to Hamburg, but a visit to Speicherstadt should definitely be on your to do list.
How do you travel to Hamburg?
Actually, Hamburg is an ideal destination for a city trip from the Netherlands. It is a city that is easy to drive to, but also a destination you can easily reach by train or bus. If we take Rotterdam as a starting point, a car trip to Hamburg takes about 5 hours. A one-way trip from Rotterdam with the train to Hamburg takes about 5.5 hours and costs €33 per person. Traveling with the Flixbus to Hamburg is generally a lot cheaper, but takes longer. The last option is to fly to Hamburg, but this is often more expensive and you are more limited in terms of luggage.
Please note that you must have an environmental sticker when traveling to Hamburg by car. You can buy these online at the ANWB webshop or via Environmental sticker.shop.
4. Walk through the Alter Elb Tunnel
To connect the southern bank to the city, the Atler Elb Tunnel was built in 1911. A tunnel that is 24 meters deep and 426 meters long. From the city side, you can take one of three large elevators down to take a walk through the tunnel. In the past, cars also drove through the tunnel here, but nowadays people only cycle and walk here. Once on the other side of the river, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the harbor and admire Hamburg's skyline.
5. Stroll through the hip Karolinenviertel district
Besides HafenCity, we found the Karolinenviertel district very cool to walk through. It's where we recognize the Berlin atmospheres, but also a place with incredibly fun and trendy spots. These are our tips for the Karolinenviertel.
Also read: Hamburg's trendy Karolinenviertel district
Say trendy hotspots in Hamburg, you say Karolinenviertel. This hip neighborhood is incredibly fun to stroll through and definitely belongs on our list of what to do in Hamburg.
6. Dance late into the night on the Reeperbahn in the St. Pauli district
When it comes to nightlife in Hamburg, the Reeperbahn is the most notorious place. You will find numerous bars and cafes where you can have fun until the early hours. In our opinion, the atmosphere surrounding the Reeperbahn is a bit wrong, but this does not mean that you cannot have a good time there.
7. Take a tour of Hamburg's harbor
If you would like to learn more about the port of Hamburg, it is certainly interesting to take a tour of the port of Hamburg. Along the waterfront you will find several organizations that offer a tour. They vary from 1 to 2 hours and some tours are only in German. During the canal cruise you will sail into the port where you can see how the machines move containers from the boats to the quay and vice versa.
Where to stay during a city break Hamburg?
Hamburg is not a very big city, so as long as you stay in the center, many highlights are easily done on foot or by public transportation. During our city trip to Hamburg, we stayed at the four-star hotel Baseler Hof. A typical German family hotel that has been around for more than 100 years. The hotel is well located in the city center, with a subway and train station a 1-minute walk away.
8. Eat a traditional Hamburg 'Fishbrötchen' at Brücke 10
If you're in Hamburg, you really can't leave the city without eating a traditional Hamburg "Fischbrötchen. And as far as we are concerned, the place to be then is Brücke 10. You'll find this hot spot on the floating pontoon from which boats also depart for a tour of the harbor. They have an indoor and outdoor terrace overlooking the Elbe. For a sandwich you pay around €4 and we can confirm that they taste great. Of course, they have different kinds of sandwiches, so there is something for everyone.
9. Enjoy culinary delights at one of Hamburg's other tasty hot spots
For us, a city trip abroad, in this case Hamburg, goes hand in hand with discovering tasty hotspots. And of course you can count on us, because we have found insane hotspots in Hamburg.
Marshall Street Coffee
A day without coffee is a day not lived. This statement is not true, of course, but it is somewhat our motto. So when looking for tasty hotspots in Hamburg, the first mission was to find a nice coffee shop. No sooner said than done. So here goes, Marshall Street Coffee is a very nice place for a blissful cup of coffee (and banana cake!).
TA Vegan
Should you be vegan or not, at TA Vegan eat the most delicious Vietnamese tapas and bowls. We were tipped off to this hot spot ourselves and how glad we were to find it here. The menu is only in German, but fortunately we know and speak a little bit of the language. With some improvisation, our table ended up being completely filled with all kinds of delicious snacks. All the dishes here have been given fun names, our tips: 'Best Friends," "Endless Love" and the "Golden Lotus Bowl.
Le Lion, Bar de Paris
The most surprising hot spot of our city trip to Hamburg was Le Lion, Bar de Paris. A speakeasy bar in the center of town. After our dinner, we wanted to have a drink somewhere. Through Instagram we found this nice bar, but once at the door it seemed like the bar was closed. The curtains were closed and the door was locked. However, there was a bell hanging. After some hesitation, we rang the bell and the door opened. The reception and entrance, as you might believe, was special, but all the more fun to take a look inside. Now it's up to you to experience it for yourself before all the surprise is gone. One tip we do give you: order the Gin Basil Smash.
10. Visit Hamburg during the Christmas season
Germans really know how to create an atmospheric Christmas season. Therefore, visiting Hamburg during the Christmas period is definitely our preference. The city is beautifully decorated and ornate lights hang everywhere. In total, there are more than 15 Christmas markets in Hamburg and every Saturday during this time there is a parade through town. Not to mention, there is hot chocolate with whipped cream, mulled wine, brat and curry sausage!
Travander
At Travander, we’re all about exploring hidden gems, unique destinations, and off-the-beaten-path travel experiences. Our motto, “Let’s Travel and Wander,” reflects our passion for discovering both local treasures and faraway adventures. As experienced travel bloggers and travel consultants, we share insider tips, personal stories, and practical advice to help you make the most of every trip. From city breaks and weekend getaways to tailor-made travel itineraries, we guide you to the most beautiful and inspiring places. Explore the world with Travander and let us spark your next unforgettable adventure!
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