Hamburg event weekends: what to do between sessions

A port city of canals, warehouses and the Elbphilharmonie, with the Reeperbahn for nights out.

Events we cover in Hamburg

Arriving

Hamburg airport (HAM) has S1 trains to the centre in 25 minutes.

Where to stay

Three hotels we would book

• Budget: Generator Hamburg
• Mid-range: 25hours Hotel HafenCity
• Splurge: Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten

Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Tours

Where to eat

• Fischmarkt Sunday from 5 am
• Brücke 10 Fish sandwiches
• Café Paris Brasserie

With kids

• Miniatur Wunderland.
• Hagenbeck Zoo.

Rainy-day backups

• Kunsthalle.
• International Maritime Museum.

Free things to do

• Elbphilharmonie Plaza.
• Speicherstadt warehouses.

Getting around

• U-Bahn, S-Bahn and harbour ferries on one ticket.
• Deutsche Bahn ICE trains link the big cities; the Deutschlandticket covers all local and regional transport for a monthly fee.
• Trade fair and event tickets often include free local transport: check yours.