Things to Do in Hamburg

Welcome to Hamburg, a city shaped by water, trade, and an unbreakable spirit of resilience! This is where history and modernity coexist, making it a magnet for merchants, travelers, and dreamers alike. With its bustling port, historic canals, and stunning architecture, Hamburg is truly unique. From the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Speicherstadt, which echoes with the whispers of ancient merchants, to the stunning Elbphilharmonie, a modern marvel redefining the skyline, this city seamlessly blends past and present.

Join us on the Hamburg Old Town Tour for an unforgettable journey through 1,200 years of history, from the time of Charlemagne to the vibrant port city of today. Here are some of the highlights you'll experience:

• The Rise and Fall of Hamburg : Relive the city's glory days as the heart of the Hanseatic League and discover how it recovered from the Great Fire and World War II.
• Little Venice : Stroll along the picturesque canals of the Alster and be captivated by its beauty.
• The impressive City Hall : An architectural masterpiece that will leave you breathless.
• The most important churches : Explore the majestic churches that have witnessed the city's history.
• The Kontor Houses : Symbols of Germany's economic boom and its role in world trade.
• St. Nikolai World War II Memorial : A poignant reminder of difficult times.
• Deichstrasse : A street full of charm and nostalgia that will make you feel like you've stepped into a fairy tale.
• The Elbphilharmonie : The city's new icon, a must-see, with stunning views and modern architecture.
• St. Michael's Church : Hamburg's former symbol and the best vantage point for spectacular views of the city.

Join us for an unforgettable experience in the historic heart of Hamburg! Please note that groups of 8 or more are not permitted on the free tour. For larger groups, please consider booking a private tour by visiting our website at www.robinandthetourguides.de.

Explore Hamburg’s rich history and iconic sights on this free walking tour. We'll see the Speicherstadt district, the Elbphilharmonie, and St. Michael’s Church!

 Shaped by water, trade, and resilience, Hamburg is a city like no other. With its bustling harbor, historic canals, and striking architecture, it has long been a meeting point for merchants, travelers, and dreamers. From the UNESCO-listed Speicherstadt to the futuristic Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg blends past and present seamlessly. But beyond its landmarks, the city has fascinating stories to tell—join our Hamburg walking tour and hear them all!

This 2-hour 15-minute tour starts at the magnificent Rathaus (Town Hall) before taking you along the scenic Alster Lake, a spot that has inspired poets and painters for centuries. We’ll walk down Deichstraße, Hamburg’s oldest street, and explore the Speicherstadt, the world’s largest warehouse district. You’ll visit the haunting ruins of St. Nikolai Church, a reminder of wartime destruction, and see how Hamburg has transformed with a visit to HafenCity, a sleek modern waterfront district. The tour ends at the spectacular Elbphilharmonie, an architectural masterpiece offering breathtaking views over the city.

Hamburg is a city of contrasts—where history and modernity collide. This tour offers the perfect mix of culture, architecture, and fascinating stories, making it ideal for first-time visitors and returning travelers alike.

Tour Highlights:

✔️ Rathaus (Town Hall)
✔️ Alster Lake
✔️ St. Nikolai Church
✔️ Deichstraße
✔️ Speicherstadt (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
✔️ St. Michael’s Church
✔️ HafenCity
✔️ Elbphilharmonie
✔️ …and much more!

Welcome to Hamburg! If you're ready to leave the typical tourist trail behind and dive headfirst into the city's most electrifying district, put on your comfy shoes! It's time to explore Hamburg's alternative side!

Come discover the secrets of St. Pauli with our guided tours in English or German. Our guides will take you on a journey through the harbor and the famous red-light and party district. Get ready to discover a world of artists, anarchists, political activists, dreamers, misfits, prostitutes, refugees, and former sailors. They're all part of the colorful cast of this unique neighborhood!

Imagine this: Hamburg's port, a bustling gateway to the world for centuries, has seen it all: sailors with sea legs, merchants with dreams, and immigrants with stories that have shaped the soul of this city. And just a stone's throw away is St. Pauli, the neighborhood that never sleeps, where dock workers once ruled the streets and the legendary Reeperbahn became Hamburg's very own "Sinful Mile."

Our tour highlights include:

• Landungsbrücken : Where millions of emigrants left to start a new life in the New World!
• The Fish Market : Discover how the sale and auction of fish turns into an incredible party!
• Hafenstrasse : Relive the history of the occupations of the 1980s!
• Alternative urban development : Park Fiction, a place for debate, protest, and community!
• The famous Reeperbahn : Learn about Hamburg's "most sinful mile" before heading back to the party later!
• Grosse Freiheit : Where the liveliest clubs are!
• Beatles-Platz : How and where the Beatles became famous in the 60s!
• Davidwache : Hamburg's most famous police station!

But wait, there's more! St. Pauli isn't just wild nights and neon lights. Oh no, it's a place where history takes a rebellious turn. Imagine young men from Liverpool, known as The Beatles, playing their songs in smoky clubs, unaware that they would soon conquer the world. St. Pauli influenced their style, and they gave it a place in rock history.

And let's not forget the St. Pauli spirit: this place has heart, determination, and a whole lot of attitude. It's where activism meets community, where resistance is as much a part of the culture as music and fun. So, if you're ready for a tour that's as informative as it is entertaining, join us. Let's explore the stories, sounds, and soul of Hamburg's most iconic district.

This guided tour is available in English and German. Groups of eight or more people must book a private tour with us and cannot participate in the public tour. To book a private tour, please visit our website at www.robinandthetourguides.de. It's going to be an unforgettable experience!

Hamburg is a city of contrasts—where grand architecture meets gritty backstreets, where a rich maritime history blends with a rebellious counterculture, and where a small band from Liverpool played before taking over the world. If you want to go beyond the typical sights, this tour will take you into the heart of Hamburg’s most vibrant district: St. Pauli.

For centuries, Hamburg’s harbor has been a gateway to the world, bringing sailors, merchants, and immigrants who shaped the city’s unique character. St. Pauli, once home to dockworkers, became famous for its wild nightlife, underground music scene, and the legendary Reeperbahn—Hamburg’s “Sinful Mile.” It was here that The Beatles performed some of their earliest gigs, honing their sound before achieving worldwide fame. But St. Pauli is more than just entertainment—its history is one of activism, resistance, and a strong community spirit that continues today.

Starting near the Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg’s modern architectural gem, we’ll take in stunning views before heading to the lively waterfront - Landungsbrücken. After a short ferry ride (ticket required), we explore the Old Elbtunnel, a 100-year-old engineering marvel, and the historic Fischmarkt. Entering St. Pauli, we step into the Reeperbahn, home to cabarets, music clubs, and Hamburg’s red-light district. The we see the famous Davidwache Police Station and clubs where The Beatles performed. The tour ends at Beatles-Platz.

Join me for the English ‘Hamburg Essential Free Walking Tour’. We will be covering Hamburg's historic City Centre, dating back to Hamburg's founding in 825 AD, the great fire of 1842, and all the way to the present day.

What to expect:

• The grand Town Hall
• Kontorhaus: An architectural symbol of Hamburgs hanseatic wealth
• Trostbrücke: A historic bridge between the old and new town
• St Nikolai: A wartime memorial
• UNESCO world-heritage Speicherstadt: The grand harbour warehouses
• Elbphilharmonie: Germany's most modern and impressive concert house
• Landungsbrücken: Hamburg’s main harbour, the third-largest harbour in Europe

As a local, I will guide you through my city, offering interesting insights and a good portion of entertainment. Ready for an unforgettable Hamburg experience? Come join me!


Fotocredits: Wolfgang Weiser, Thomas Ulrich, Udo, Manfred Reinert, Jan Trapp

We start our walk through Hamburg's history at Hammaburg Square, the birthplace and nursery of Hamburg, and learn how Hamburg got its name.

Afterwards we continue our tour through Hamburg's Kontorhausviertel, the former center of Hamburg's merchants, and its brick Kontor houses.

We take a look under the Kontorhäuser prima ballerina's pretty ballerina skirt.

Take a critical look at the founding charter of our port and discover one or two contradictions.

We continue walking to the Speicherstadt, delve into the red brick canyons and their stories, find out what Westphalia has to do with Hamburg and why workers lived in a castle there.

We find out what barge pushers and barge captains actually did and why there are coffee barons and Persians in Hamburg.

At the end you have the opportunity to end the tour in a coffee roastery in an old granary.

New from May 2025

We start our walk through the history of Hamburg’s Speicherstadt at the birthplace and nursery of Hamburg’s port,

Take a critical look at the founding charter of our port and discover one or two contradictions.

Afterwards we continue our tour towards the Elbphilharmonie, admiring the great history of the place where this building stands today.

We look at how the port changed during industrialization in the 19th century.
And how the movement of goods was revolutionized in the 20th century.

We delve into the Speicherstadt, into the red brick canyons and the history of its workers and employers, clarify what Westphalia has to do with Hamburg and why workers lived in a castle there.

We find out what barge pushers, barge captains, winch keepers and coffee readers actually did and why there are coffee barons and Persians in Hamburg.

At the end you can enjoy the most beautiful view of the Speicherstadt with a coffee.