Travel Inspiration for Hamburg on a Sunday… or any other day!
” Is is worth visiting Hamburg on a Sunday? Isn’t everything closed?”
Last year I went on my first cruise, one that included a Sunday in the port of Hamburg. Many fellow passengers were in a spin about it, questioning what would be open and even if it was worth getting off the ship.
PRO version.
So, Hamburg on a Sunday, is it worth it? From my own experience, the answer is a resounding yes. Here’s what I think should be on your Hamburg itinerary, all things I have enjoyed when in Hamburg over a weekend.
Is Everything Closed on Sunday in Germany?
The short answer is not quite everything will be closed, but it certainly won’t be business as usual. In Germany, Sunday is a rest day. This isn’t just culturally respected, it’s written into German law under the Ladenschlussgesetz or Shop Closing Law.
As a rough guide you’ll find shops, retail stores, banks and other commercial places closed. Cafés, museums, cultural venues, parks and tourist attractions will be open. Bakeries will usually be open until midday.
Unless you were planning a shopping day, Sunday is a great day to explore in Germany. Lots of wonderful places are open, the daily hustle and bustle much reduced.
Things You CAN Do in Hamburg on A Sunday
The Old Elbe Tunnel / Alter Elbtunnel
In my opinion, it doesn’t matter how you get to Hamburg, you haven’t really arrived until you’ve walked through the Old Elbe Tunnel. It’s an engineering wonder of its time, a true piece of Hamburg heritage and always open to visitors.
Above ground discover beautiful tiling and vintage lifts. Below, an unusually beautiful and atmospheric tunnel space linking both sides of the Elbe river, decorated with majolica tiles with port city themes .Rats in an old boot, anyone?
Little wonder this tunnel is often used for photographic shoots and events.
Each side gives great river views that include glimpses of old Hamburg as well as the modern face of the city. Exiting the tunnel, you’ll want to be on the The St Pauli piers or Landungsbrücken side of the river, ready to wander to the next stop.
Find my full post about the Old Elbe Tunnel here.
Looking behind the Landungsbrücken, you’ll see Hotel Hafen Hamburg, home to the 62m high Tower Bar offering 360° panoramic views of Port of Hamburg and the Elbe River. The cocktail menu is well worth sampling; try a Harbour Spritz for the Hamburg take on an Aperol Spritz or – if you’re confident you can drink like a sailor- a St Pauli Killer. It includes 6 different rums and Apricot Brandy. Cheers!
The Hamburg Bunker, St Pauli
A twenty-ish minute walk from the Landungsbrücken takes you right into one of my favourite Hamburg neighbourhoods: St Pauli. It’s famous for the Red Light District but it’s so much more than that. St Pauli is a friendly and fascinating place; full of history, football mad and true to its working class routes.
Destination: The Hamburg Bunker on Feldstraße.
Officially known as ‘BUNKER’, the WW2 flak tower and air raid shelter is more than just a historical landmark, it’s a destination where history, creativity and culture come together. Head to the roof top garden for city views and a look over to the iconic Millerntor Stadium, home to St Pauli FC.
Round off with a visit to the exhibition about the bunker’s history in what was originally the top of the tower, then round off with coffee and a bite to eat at Constant Grind cafe, located on the same floor. Great coffee, great views and swings to sit on if you want to sway while you sip.
Find everything you need to know about exploring the Hamburg Bunker in St Pauli here.
The F.C Pauli Football Museum & Millerntor Stadium
In the shadow of the Hamburg BUNKER, the F.C St Pauli football museum and shop. An interesting addition or alternative for fans of football and Hamburg history, or those just curious about that skull emblem you’ll spot across the city!
A mix of permanent and changing special exhibitions tell the story of how F.C St Pauli became, ‘A club like no other’, whilst outside the museum, there’s some fantastic street art and WW2 related memorials.
The St Pauli Football Museum is open Sunday 10.00-18.00, €7 admission.
Hamburg Railway Station (Hauptbahnhof)
If you’re in Hamburg on a Sunday and need something, head to the railway station. The shops in there don’t observe Sunday hours. I had a very specific reason for hitting the station when in Hamburg: a trip to Rossmans.
This German drug store sells a range of fantastic German beauty and wellness products. If you like a bit of beauty shopping, worth a detour. Recommendations: I stock up on Isana shower gels, Dresdner Essenz bath products and Hildegard Braukmann skincare.
Hamburg Town Hall
Hamburg Town Hall ( Hamburg Rathaus) opened in 1897 is an absolute beauty, inside and out. Once you’ve admired the elaborate exterior and stately home like interior, head to the courtyard to see the Hygiea Fountain.
Built in the late 1800’s to celebrate the end of a cholera epidemic that swept through the city causing thousands of deaths, it’s a beautiful monument in a beautiful space, yet many visitors miss it.
Leaving the town hall, look down. There’s a collection of Stolperstein just outside. These small brass blocks are individual street level Holocaust memorials. Find a full post about the Stolpersteine project here.
Hamburg Town Hall is open 7 days a week, 09:00 – 19:00.
The Hamburger Kunsthalle- Art & Design Museum
Hamburg on a Sunday: How does a wander round a museum followed by coffee & cake in a beautiful museum cafe sound? If you like that idea, this is the one for you.
The Hamburger Kunsthalle is one of the largest art museums in Germany and I’d also say one of the most beautiful. Set across three different spaces in three distinctive styles, the museum is home to a first class collection that takes visitors through 8 centuries of art and history.
Each section of the museum is beautiful in its own right as well as being keeper of a very beautiful museum cafe. Think Hamburg version of the V& A in London. Delightful.
Open Sunday, 10.00-18.00. Admission charges apply, under 18’s free.
The Elbphilharmonie
When visiting Hamburg, you can’t miss the cultural landmark and city icon that is the Elbphilharmonie concert hall.
One of the most wonderful things about the Elbphilharmonie- or ‘Elphi’ for short- is that she is open to all. You don’t need a concert ticket to get in, you can visit for free without the need to book ahead.
A Plaza ticket allows you access for FREE to The Plaza: an 8th floor public space and viewing platform giving 360° views of Hamburg and the harbour along with a glimpse into the world of Elphi.
The Plaza is accessed by ‘The Tube’, an 82m long curved escalator complete with bespoke lighting and lots of sparkle. Once at the top you can take in the views, stroll the exterior walkway to make a full lap of the building and then stop for a bite to eat at the cafe.
I wrote a post about visiting the Elbphilharmonie, including lots of info about the architectural details. I really do encourage you to give it a read- the design details of this iconic Hamburg building are fascinating.
Find all the details about the visiting the Elbphilharmonie for FREE here.
Feeling indulgent? Drop into the “BLICK Bar” at the Westin Hamburg. Located in the upper part of the Elbphilharmonie, this luxurious high-above-Hamburg bar-cafe comes with views, an in-house pâtisserie famous for the prettiest cakes and an evening cocktail menu worth dressing up for. I recommend the Elphi Spritz.
Where to Stay in Hamburg: Hotel Recommendations
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The Budget Option: MEININGER Hotel Hamburg City Centre
MEININGER is one of my go-to budget hotel chains, and their Hamburg property is a great choice if you’re looking for value in a fantastic location. Right next door to Altona Station, it gives easy access to all the city sights, comfortable en suite rooms and a guest kitchen-a welcome way to save money in what can be an expensive city.
Affordable, convenient and well connected place to stay in Hamburg? This is the one.
MEININGER Hotel Hamburg City Centre: Check dates and availability here.
The Quirky Option: REVERB By Hard Rock
The hotel located in a WW2 Bunker. Yes, you can sleep over at the St Pauli bunker in Hamburg in style and comfort . The four star hotel offers rooms with views, a couple of restaurants, a bar and the aforementioned coffee shop with swings.
Perfectly located to explore St. Pauli, close to Feldstraße U Bahn station for exploring further afield.
Plus, of course, the opportunity to sleep in a WW2 flak tower ,simultaneously one of Hamburg’s newest hotels and the most historic. How cool is that?
Honest Tip: If peace and quiet is your priority, give this one a swerve. It’s next to a football ground, surrounded by churches and in a neighbourhood notorious for its lively nightlife.
Reverb by Hard Rock Hamburg: Check dates and availability for your trip here.
The Luxury Option: The Westin Hamburg Elbphilharmonie
A hotel with heavenly spa facilities located in the top of the iconic Elbphilharmonie. This is a luxury stay in the heart of Hamburg, perfect for exploring the HafenCity and Speicherstadt district.
View and book The Westin Hamburg Elbphilharmonie here.
And that’s a wrap on Hamburg. I hope I’ve convinced you it’s worth a visit on a Sunday, or any other day! It really is a wonderful city. Final thought, if you are lucky enough to have longer than a day in Hamburg, you might consider a day trip out to the beautiful Baltic coast. Try this post next, for some German coastal inspiration:
Travemünde: The German Seaside Resort You Shouldn’t Miss
Helen x
I’ve squirrelled this away in case of a future visit to Hamburg. You’ve made it sound an enticing city.
Hamburg looks like an amazing and pretty cool city to visit. I was reading that most shops, supermarkets, and pharmacies are closed on Sundays in Germany. I think it’s quite amazing that Sunday is a day of rest – not just in theory, but in daily life, it represents a sacred pause in the rhythm of German society. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
Sunday closing takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s actually quite nice once you get used to the idea. And Hamburg is wonderful on any day! Thanks for dropping by, Aiva 😊
Hmm. I wrote a comment earlier, and thought at the time it didn’t seem to be posting properly. Anyway. What an excellent post, and one I’m squirrelled away for later, as there’s every chance we could make a detour to Hamburg in at least one of our up-coming plans.
It’s always worth a visit whatever the day. I’ve spent many, many days there at all times of the year.
100% agree, Hamburg is always a good idea.
Genau
You’re the second blogger to have recommended Hamburg (the first was Becky a little while ago) – we really should consider a visit, especially as my husband in particular loves German food and beer!
It’s a wonderful city, I hope you do get to visit 😊
As Sarah says, Becky also wrote enticingly of Hamburg. Barbara of Thistles and Kiwis is there at the moment too, so I’m really getting good vibes about the place.
It’s a good vibes kind of city, definitely!
“Unless you were planning a shopping day, Sunday is a great day to explore in Germany. Lots of wonderful places are open, the daily hustle and bustle much reduced.” – Exactly!
A great article, Helen!
Thanks Pit,I’m glad you like it! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, appreciate it 😊
Wonderful Helen. I’ve just returned from another weekend in Hamburg as I enjoy visiting the city so much. We were also there on a Sunday and weren’t bored for one minute either! Marion
So glad you enjoyed your time in Hamburg, I saw a few shots of the beautiful old hotel over on Instagram. Gorgeous!
Hamburg looks like a great city to visit and even though the shops are closed there are still plenty of great things to discover.
Very cool place and actually Sunday does look like the ideal time to visit. 😊
It is a very cool city, one of my favourites.