Things to do in Hamburg, splurging
The Kunsthalle and the old Elbe tunnel, a Gin Basil Smash at Le Lion, fish in Altona.
This is Hamburg for people who eat well, drink deliberately, and shop with purpose. The three days move from the grand Alster lakefront through the creative energy of the Schanzenviertel and down to the waterfront villages of Altona and the Fischereihafen, with an acclaimed or destination dinner waiting at the end of each one. You will need a reservation, a jacket, and a willingness to ring a doorbell.
Day 1: Alster, art, and the original Gin Basil Smash
A morning in one of Germany's great art museums, an afternoon of serious retail therapy at Alsterhaus, and a night that ends at the bar that put Hamburg on the cocktail map.
- 9:30 AM
Franz & Friends
Grab a Franzbrötchen fresh from the oven, locals argue this is Hamburg's best version of the iconic cinnamon swirl.
Map - 10:15 AM
Hamburger Kunsthalle
One of Germany's largest art museums, go straight for the Caspar David Friedrich rooms and the contemporary wing.
Map - 12:30 PM
Café Paris
Brasserie in an 1880s butcher's shop under painted tiles by the Rathaus; order the steak tartare.
Map - 2:30 PM
Alsterhaus
Hamburg's premier department store on the Jungfernstieg, best edit of designer labels and local boutique brands under one roof.
Map - 7:30 PM
JIN GUI Hamburg
Pan-Asian in the Tortue hotel courtyard: sushi first, plus dim sum and the pumpkin tempura.
Map - 9:30 PM
Le Lion • Bar de Paris
Birthplace of the Gin Basil Smash, ring the bell, dress smart, order the original at the bar that put Hamburg cocktails on the map.
Map
Day 2: Schanze: roastery mornings, landmark grills
The Schanzenviertel at its best: a proper roastery start, Bullerei's grill at lunch, a walk under the Elbe, a seafood dinner and a nightcap at the Altes Mädchen brewpub.
- 9:30 AM
elbgold
Schanze roastery in the old slaughterhouse yard on Lagerstraße; a filter coffee at the long bar before the park.
Map - 10:30 AM
Sternschanzenpark
Hilly park around the old water tower (now a hotel), with dog-walkers and a view over the Schanze rooftops.
Map - 12:30 PM
Bullerei
Tim Mälzer's grill hall in the old cattle-market building; go for the steak or the Wiener schnitzel.
Map - 2:30 PM
Alter Elbtunnel
1911 pedestrian tunnel 24 m under the Elbe with original tiled reliefs and the best postcard view back to the Hamburg skyline.
Map - 7:30 PM
- 9:30 PM
Altes Mädchen and Ratsherrn
Schanze brewpub beer garden in the same Lagerstraße complex, perfect nightcap after dinner without wandering far.
Map
Day 3: Altona and the Elbe waterfront
Harbour views from Park Fiction, a long Elbe-terrace lunch at the Fischereihafen, and an Asian-inflected acclaimed dinner before a final drink at Altona's most storied bar.
- 9:30 AM
Park Fiction
Park Fiction's quirky community-designed rooftop park sits right on the Elbe, iconic Hamburg landmark with sweeping harbour views.
Map - 11:45 AM
Altonaer Museum
Ship figureheads, fishing-boat models and old farmhouse rooms tell the story of the Elbe; closed Tuesdays.
Map - 1:15 PM
Fischereihafen Restaurant
White-tablecloth fish house on Große Elbstraße since 1981: North Sea sole, Hamburg pannfisch and harbour views.
Map - 7:30 PM
Restaurant Henssler
TV chef Steffen Henssler's sushi house on Große Elbstraße: go for the signature rolls and seared tuna.
Map - 9:30 PM
Zum Schellfischposten
Tiny old sailors' pub by the fish market where Ina Müller films her talk show; a Holsten and a shot of Köm.
Map
Where to stay
Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten
The grandest address on the Binnenalster, steps from Alsterhaus and Café Paris, and the right level of formality for the dinners on this itinerary.
The Fontenay
A design-forward lakeside property on the Außenalster that earns its price with a serious spa, lake views from every room, and easy reach of all three days' neighbourhoods.
Make Hamburg your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- Miniatur Wunderland: weeks ahead
- Millerntor-Stadion: weeks ahead
- Chocoversum: a few days ahead
- Dialoghaus Hamburg: a few days ahead
- Hamburger Golfclub Falkenstein: a few days ahead
- Gut Kaden Golf und Land Club: a few days ahead
Skip these
- Reeperbahn table dance touts, a cheap drink offer can become a huge card bill, ignore street promoters.
- Herbertstraße is not a sightseeing stop, walk the Kiez for music and bars instead.
- Paying over 25 EUR for a big ship harbour tour that duplicates Ferry 62 and cannot enter the canals.
- Hamburg Dungeon and generic attractions crowd out the real Speicherstadt on short trips, Chocoversum is better.
The full Hamburg travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around