How to Visit the Hamburg Bunker, St Pauli (2025)

You won’t go far in Germany without coming across relics of World War II. In Hamburg, it’s likely to be a bunker of sorts. The city was home to about 1000 of them, of which 600 or so still exist.

Most of these Hamburg bunkers are quite discreet, being underground or tucked away in now residential areas. Not so the St Pauli Hochbunker. Literally ‘high bunker’, this one is reinventing itself as the latest icon of the Hamburg skyline.

The St Pauli Bunker in World War II

In 1940, following intense air-raids by Allied Forces, the Nazi regime issued orders for the immediate construction of air raid shelters in German cities. Home to shipyards and heavy industry, Hamburg was a key target.

The bunker at Feldstrasse is one of the largest ever constructed. Originally known as Flakturm IV ( Flak Tower IV), it was built in 1942 by forced labourers. The original structure was 35m in height, had concrete walls 3.5 m thick and featured a specially designed, extra wide entrance for women with prams and children.

The St Pauli Bunker was designed to shelter 18,000 Hamburg citizens, but during the heaviest of air raids an estimated 25,000 sought refuge.

After World War II

After the war, the bunker found new life. No one wanted to demolish it. Hamburg had seen enough destruction, and the amount of explosives needed would have destroyed the surrounding neighbourhood.

Instead, the bunker was pressed into use in a number of creatives ways; as a theatre venue, home to a restaurant, storage for props from the State Opera and as a German Red Cross station.

In 1946, in answer to post-war housing problems, windows were installed and a number of two bedroom apartments were created. They were lived in until the 1970s.

As well as being for practical purposes, the St Pauli Bunker can boast its part in a groundbreaking moment. In 1950, the first ever German public broadcast television images were beamed across Germany from here.

Things to do at the St Pauli Bunker

The bunker is now an ongoing, mixed use project. The bunker extended skywards and is now home to a city garden, bouldering hall, coffee shop and hotel. A museum about the bunkers origins is in the making. Exciting things are happening in St Pauli, including…

The Mountain Walk up the Bunker

Mountain walk in the city?

The walkways and stairs (many, many stairs) that wind around the exterior are known as the mountain path. It’s designed to mimic the feel of a mountain walk; the views get more sweeping, the planting and greenery changes as you go.

If football is your thing, you’ll have a great view across the St Pauli Football stadium as you go. It’s a nice little workout and gives a good feel for the scale and design of the old place.

There is a lift if you’d rather.

Go Bouldering at Urban Apes

For climbing and clambering of a different sort, visit the Urban Apes bouldering facility. No experience welcome, climbers must be 14 plus, shoes available to hire, card payments only.

Bouldering itself might not be a unique Hamburg experience, but bouldering in a WWII bunker surely is.

The St Pauli Bunker Museum

Very much still a museum in the making, but the seeds are sown. There are plans to turn the former control room into a museum experience and memorial.

Presently, there’s a limited exhibition set around the floor that would have been the bunker roof. It covers the history of the bunker to the present day and its fascinating. Information boards in German and English give a glimpse into the layout of and life in the bunker.

Some of the history is fascinating, including stories of wedding parties held in bunker apartments. Some very sad, including the story of 35 German school children who were housed in barracks and deployed as anti aircraft auxiliaries.

A very interesting display, well worth a look.

The Rooftop Garden

At the top of the bunker, a garden with 360 degree views that takes the old place from grey to green.

The top of the bunker has been planted with trees, flowers and greenery and is open to visitors and residents alike. There are social spaces, seating and viewpoints to enjoy the views across the Hamburg skyline.

As well as being a pretty space where people can come together, the bunker garden is a weapon against climate change. The green roof and planting up the ‘mountain path’ has been designed to help cool the urban St Pauli neighbourhood and provide a green space for birdlife and insects.

Constant Grind Coffee Shop

Constant Grind: a very cool coffee shop located on what would have been the top of the original bunker.

It’s an oasis of greenery and warmth against the concrete backdrop of the bunker. Great coffee, gorgeous hot chocolate and beautiful views across Hamburg.

And as if that isn’t enough to be going on with, you can sit on a swing. How fun is that?

You can also expect a solid soundtrack in this little sky high Hamburg gem, because Constant Grind is part of REVERB by Hard Rock. Who have developed the upper floors of the St Pauli bunker into…

REVERB by Hard Rock Hamburg.

Yes, you can sleep at the St Pauli bunker in Hamburg, but in style and comfort as designed by REVERB. The four star hotel offers rooms with views, a couple of restaurants, a bar and the aforementioned coffee shop with swings.

REVERB by Hard Rock Hamburg is within walking distance of many of Hamburg attractions including St. Michael’s Church and the St. Pauli Piers. U-Bahn station Feldstraße is just 150m away.

This is simultaneously one of Hamburg’s newest hotels and its most historic. How cool is that?

How to find the St Pauli Bunker, Hamburg

The easiest way to find the St Pauli Bunker is to use the REVERB hotel address: 66 Feldstraße

The nearest underground station is 150m from the bunker. Look for the ‘U’ logo, the station is Feldstraße.

Once you’re near the bunker, you can’t really miss it!

Other Things to do in the St Pauli district, Hamburg

• Visit the FC Pauli Museum: Located in the neighbouring Millerntor stadium. An interesting museum for anyone curious about this little German club with a big reputation. There are also several interesting murals and memorials around the stadium entrance.
• Head to the river and explore the harbour piers or Landungsbrücken. From here you can also explore the Old Elbe Tunnel which links St Pauli with the South bank.
• Explore the Reeperbahn: The old rope making streets turned Red Light area. Alongside the sin, there’s a lot of history to discover. A guided tour will walk you through the district whilst entertaining with tales of characters, criminality and boxing.

If you liked this post you might also enjoy reading about another historic Hamburg district: Exploring the Gangviertel.

Helen x