Things to Do in Hamburg

 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!

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 Tour’.
We will be covering Hamburgs historical City Centre. Dating back to Hamburgs founding in 825AD, to the great fire, WWII, up to the present day, as Germany's largest port-city.


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

As a local, I will guide you through my city. With 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

Witness the rise and fall of Hamburg throughout its history: its glorious past as the center of the Hanseatic League and its heavy destruction in the Great Fire and World War 2. -1200 years of history from Charlemagne to the new development urban port city - Little Venice inside the Alster Canal, the impressive town hall, the main important churches of the city, a symbol of Germany's rise to a global economic player: the Kontorhouses -WWII Memorial of St. Nikolai -the romantic side of the city: Deichstrasse -Elbphilharmonie lighthouse project: the new city landmark -the old city landmark and the best viewpoint: St. Michael's Church GROUPS OF 8 OR MORE ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE FREE TOUR ! Please contact us to book a private tour with us. This tour has no barriers. You can also book further places directly on our website: www.robinandthetourguides.de.

Guided tours in German and English. Our guides will show you the diversity of one of the former red light districts of St.Pauli. On this free tour you will see its union with the river and the port, its narrow streets, home to artists, anarchists, political activists, dreamers, misfits, prostitutes, refugees, former sailors, among other typical characters of the most colorful neighborhood in the city. Also discover the place where "The Beatles" took their first steps towards world fame. The port: its importance and its dramatic challenges The fish market: how the sale and auction of fish becomes a great party Low tides, high tides, storm surges: the next one is just around the corner! Hafenstrasse: squat history during the 80s Alternative urban development: Park Fiction: a place for debate, protest and music The famous Reeperbahn: an introduction to the area before returning to the party later Große Freiheit, Beatles-Platz: how and where The Beatles became famous during the 60s Where nightlife thrives: Hans-Albers-Platz, Herbertstraße, Davidwache. This guided tour is available in English and German. Groups of 8 or more people must book a private tour with us and will not be allowed to take the public tour. This visit is wheelchair accessible. You can also book further places directly on our website: www.robinandthetourguides.de.

Starts every hour at 11:00 am (Italian) and 1:30 pm (German); duration approx. 90 minutes (one hour)
The nearest S-Bahn station is Stadthausbrücke, accessible with lines S1 or S3.

The tour is a walk in the park (so we walk), even if it rains 😀.

Start Michaelisstrasse 5 Hamburg-Neustadt (in front of the statue of Emperor Charlemagne, which stands in front of the Catholic church Kleiner Michel - Sankt Ansgar, the church is on the opposite side of the main road from the Großer Michel).

Then we go along Erste Brunnenstrasse to Großneumarkt, then continue along Alter Steinweg towards the town hall.
The tour ends at the Petrikirche corner of Domstrasse.

We will meet Saint Ansgar more often and explore some parts of the history of this settlement (Hammaburg to Hamburg) using special “traces”.

Let yourself be surprised!!!

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.

We start our walk through Hamburg's Neustadt in front of Dammtor station near the Wallanlagen and take a trip to Hamburg's oldest green space.

There, in this peaceful urban idyll, we explore the military past of this park and its importance for Hamburg's rise to a metropolis on the Elbe.

We look at Hamburg's urban planning in the 18th and 19th centuries and talk about the housing shortage then and now.
Explore the consequences of these wrong decisions, admire the visionary urban planning of the post-war period and the result of the last Gängeviertel renovation.

We will talk about what it takes to be a Hamburger and to be able to call yourself one.

Looking at the bourgeoisie and their privileges,
the arrogance of Hamburg politics.
The opportunities for advancement of rich and poor in 19th-century Hamburg.

I'll tell you about two well-known people from Hamburg whose life stories couldn't have been more different.

We'll break down Hamburg clichés and have a conversation about Hamburg originals and the story behind these "model citizens" with you.

Come with me through the New Town,
into the small town in the big city with all its contrasts.

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.

New from May 2025

You start our walk through St.Georg at the forecourt of the Trinity Church, where St.Georg was founded,
find out how St. George got its name.

Take a journey between the light and shadow of humanity.
Why there were and are marginal tax revenues, real estate speculation ruins social peace.

Find out why tolerance and helpfulness have a long tradition at St. Georg.

Hearing about dreams, castles in the air and nightmares for Hamburg's city planners.

Get an insight into the history and present of Hamburg's LGBTQ movement, take a journey between Orient and Occident.

Learn about the most modern hospital of its time and how AIDS changed society.

a journey through over 800 years of district history.

Free Tour of the Port and the Red Light District with the Blue Umbrellas!

We will be waiting for you with blue umbrellas at Landungsbrücken on Bridge No. 5 at 5:30 p.m. for our Free Tour (free tour). If possible, we will take the ferry "62" across the harbour, one of the largest in the world (€ 1.90). During the tour, you will discover fascinating details about the old Elbe tunnel and the fish market, and get to know the town of Altona, Hamburg's neighbour.

The tour will continue through St. Pauli and the Red Light District, where you will learn about the history of the Beatles, who began their career in this district known for its vibrant nightlife and its history of "sex, drugs and rock'n'roll". Due to its content, this tour is not suitable for children. St. Pauli, a district that has resisted gentrification, remains the most alternative in the city.

The tour will conclude, depending on the guide's choice, at Germany's smallest police station or Beatles Square at around 7:30 p.m. Please note that in case of adverse weather conditions or capacity problems, the ferry will not operate and the tour will continue as described.

NOTE: Participation cannot be guaranteed for reservations made less than 24 hours in advance, as we need that time to inform you of a possible cancellation of the tour.

The blue umbrellas invite you to discover the city of Hamburg. Our Free Tour through the Historic Center begins at 11:15 a.m. in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. At this point we will wait for you with our blue umbrellas ready to go. We will start from here, and we will get into the historic center where we will pass through places such as:
· The Old Town Hall
· The church of St. Petri
· The Cathedral Square
· The Church of St. Nikolai; a memorial to the second world war
· Deichstrasse, one of the oldest streets in Hamburg
And finally the city of warehouses explaining more than 1200 years of history. We will end the tour at German Unity Square in front of the Elbphilharmonie at 1:15 PM. With this Free Tour we will get you to take unforgettable images of the city.
NOTE: Participation cannot be guaranteed with reservations made less than 24 hours before the event. Term that we need to inform in the case of a cancellation of the tour.

Die Speicherstadt - The City of Warehouses

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it includes one of the most important tourist spots in Hamburg . A unique tour to surprise you!

It is located southeast of the Altstadt, the old city of Hamburg. One hundred minutes of history on foot, we will enjoy the modern view of the "HafenCity" and the imposing Elbphilharmonie. We will visit the largest warehouse complex in the world, culminating in Chilehaus. You will be fascinated by this beautiful and ancient city!

Speicherstadt - City of Warehouses:

With a neo-Gothic architectural style of exposed red brick, built with a system of wooden piles, it is the largest port warehouse complex in the world: It is located in the port of Hamburg, near HafenCity -City of the Port . It is crossed by bridges and canals where valuable merchandise such as coffee, tea, cocoa, spices, tobacco and the largest oriental carpet warehouse in the world are stored.
Chilehaus - Chile House

A building with history, located in the port city, famous for its façade and pointed architectural design, reminiscent of the prow of a ship, with a very acute angle on one side

Itinerary:

•Hafencity - the port city

•City of Warehouses

•Chilehaus

Meeting point:
under the U 3 Baumwall tube station
Guide Identification:
blue umbrella
End Point:
Chilehaus
Subway stations
U1 Messberg

Additional information:

- Outdoor
- It is not suspended by bad weather
- Wear appropriate clothing

- No additional costs

- Not suitable for wheelchairs

There will be plenty of stories about Hamburg's Neustadt district, current city politics, the situation of women in Hamburg's history, etc. And of course, as a foodie, I can't resist serving up a classic Hamburg pastry.

Whether the weekly market is worth it and where the greenest corners of the Neustadt are hidden.
a little final quiz, if you like

• we look at the "Michel"
• the Krameramtsstuben
• visit memorial sites of various Hamburg personalities
• see if Fleet Island is still haunted
• where the Gängeviertel have gone and what remains of it
• and whether money still rules in this city
• Tour ends at the Laeiszhalle

Since it rains an average of 15.8 days per month in Hamburg, we have a good chance of getting wet. Please check your trusted weather app beforehand and prepare accordingly.

If anyone is traveling with a wheelchair or has other mobility restrictions, cannot stand for long periods of time, etc., please let us know in advance so that we can plan for it or plan an extra tour.
Also a brief note about any allergies or intolerances. Everyone should have a good time.

I'm looking forward to showing you "my" neighborhood.
Pia