Tips for cruise passengers and visitors to Hamburg
Its geographic location and modern infrastructure make the city ideal for passenger change-over. As a result, Hamburg, on the banks of the Elbe, is the start and/or end port for many cruise passengers. This makes it ideal for combining a cruise with a city trip.
Our network has a few extras, especially tailored for cruise passengers. And you will find even more exciting offers at Hamburg Tourism, with HVV Website giving you the best public transport connections to get there.
Off to the home of writing
On a journey of discovery
Off to digital art
Come aboard an artistic cruise at the new centre for immersive art in Hamburg. Port des Lumières, Port of Lights, offers visitors of all ages a fascinating art experience that combines light, colour and music. In the Kids’ Atelier, young visitors can playfully create their own artistic experiences in a magical world.
Photo: Culturespaces / Fabijan Vuksic
Private Tours
Sea air and the aroma of coffee is Hamburg’s signature scent. stadterlebnis.hamburg offers exciting city tours that give you the flavour of this famous Hanseatic city. Take an intimate city tour for two or a half-day excursion or a small group tour. Tours are usually available all year round and bookable at short notice.
Come Face to Face …
… with Angela Merkel or Robbie Williams or any number of celebrities, public figures and megastars when you visit Hamburg’s Panoptikum. Founded in 1879, Germany’s oldest waxworks museum (located in the St. Pauli quarter on Spielbudenplatz) is an assembly of the great and the good, featuring over 120 figures form the arts, politics and history.
Extend your Stay
Terrace Views
Located on the Elbchaussee, the Hotel Louis C. Jacob is steeped in history. The hotel’s Lindenterrasse, which dates back to 1791, offers breathtaking river views that inspired the painter Max Liebermann. Transfers to the Hamburg cruise terminal are available, as is car parking for the duration of your cruise.
Hard Rock Cafe
Located in the historic manufacturing buildings of St. Pauli Landungsbrücken, the HARD ROCK CAFE HAMBURG is a magnet for music fans as well as lovers of classic American food. The roof terrace and bar offer excellent views and the shop (10 am-12 am) sells the famous Hard Rock t-shirts and other memorabilia. Our voucher entitles cruise passengers to a small souvenir (€30 min. spend).
Access all Areas
The Hamburg Card gives visitors to the Hanseatic city free access to buses, trains and harbour trips and a 50% discount at over 150 tourist attractions. The card also includes free use of the Hamburg app. The Hamburg Card is available as a single or group card, for one day or up to five days.
On the Waterfront
No visit to Hamburg would be complete without a tour of the harbour. For a tour through dikes, locks, the Speicherstadt warehouse district and the container port, head down to the St. Pauli Landungsbrücken piers, where you’ll find a wide selection of boats to choose from. There’s even a Mississippi steamer – the Louisiana Star, which is the flagship of the Abicht river tour company. Tours are also available in English (e.g. from Barkassen-Meyer, daily at 1pm).
Off on a hike
“Der Wanderer” over the Sea of Fog is a painting by Caspar David Friedrich from around 1818 – and the best-known “back figure” of the painter, whose 250th birthday was in 2024. The Wanderer and many other exhibits can be found in Hamburg’s Kunsthalle Startseite. Simply wander there!
Terminal tips
Here you will find information on how to get to the terminals and parking options, among other things.
Events
Check out the Hamburg event database for this year’s highlights, current musicals, exhibitions, and tips for accommodation and restaurants.
836th Hamburg Port Anniversary
Hamburg is celebrating its port birthday from 9 to 11 May 2025, and this year for the 836th time! Hamburg is celebrating the founding of the harbour in 1189 and not, as is usual in other cities, the founding of the city!
Once again this year, visitors can look forward to the tugboat ballet, spectacular entry and exit parades and an action-packed open-air mile!
Hamburg Cruise Days
The world’s most beautiful cruise festival will take place from 12 to 14 September 2025! Visitors can look forward to eight cruise ships, a colourful shore programme, the illumination of the port and spectacular highlights such as the parade on the Saturday of the event.
Every two years, this Hamburg open-air event following the Seatrade Europe trade fair is a real visitor magnet!
The most attractive Lookouts for Shipspotters
Süllberg in Blankenese
A five-star view from a 75-metre elevation, open to the public. The terrace is turned into a beer garden in the summer. When the weather is good, the snack pavilions are also open during out-of-season weekends.
Getting there: S1, S11 to Blankenese, from there bus no. 48 to Krögers Treppe Photo: Pixabay
Wittenbergen
Hamburg’s most attractive beach is located in a nature conservation area on the Lower Elbe in the district of Rissen. Here, you can already see the ships from far away and keep them in your camera’s sights for a long time.
Getting there: S1, S11 to Blankenese, from there bus no. 189 to Tinsdaler Kirchenweg Photo: GeheimtippHamburg
Port Tour
For maiden voyages, first calls and maritime celebrations, it is worth taking the additional guided tours by launch providers such as Abicht, Barkassen Meyer or others. Impressive perspectives can be enjoyed from the water, but the ships’ swell requires a steady hand.
Getting there: U3 to Baumwall or St. Pauli Landungsbrücken Photo: Christian Spahrbier
Top Tips for Shipspotter
The port is so close to the city that “watching ships” on the Elbe is a favourite pastime of locals and tourists alike. Cafés, pontoons, terraces and paths along the riverbank all offer stunning views of the beautiful liners. Here is a selection of the best outdoor locations for ship-spotters.
The map view (Google Maps) of the location opens when you click on the pictures and headline.
To find out how to get there by public transport, visit www.hvv.de
Foto: Pixabay
Stintfang
The platform on the former ramparts is a popular viewpoint. The tide gauge tower and the St. Pauli jetties are located in the foreground. The elevated position allows spotters to follow the ships closely as they arrive into Cruise Terminal HafenCity.
Getting there: U3, S1, S2, S3 to St. Pauli Landungsbrücken Photo: Jörg Modrow
Dockland
The streamlined office building floats above the water like a ship. The 500m2 roof terrace is accessible. Right next door, you’ll find the Hamburg Cruise Terminal Altona, also with a viewing platform.
Getting there: Bus 111, ferry route 62 Photo: Erik Recke/Datenland
Övelgönne
Traditional ships of all kinds are kept in excellent shape in the museum port. Besan-Ewers, ocean yachts or steamboats are popular motifs themselves and often take travelling guests on board. Landlubbers enjoy the view from the Elbe bank or from the pontoons, where the HADAG ferries also moor.
Getting there: Ferry route 62 Photo: Christian Spahrbier
Elbphilharmonie
Cruise ships that moor in the HafenCity sail past Hamburg’s new landmark. From the 37-metre high viewing platform visitors enjoy a fantastic panorama of the city and the port. Tickets without a booking fee can only be obtained directly at the Elphi; there is a fee for online pre-orders.
Getting there: U3 to Baumwall Photo: Michael Zapf
Theater at the Port
The two musical theatres at the port are served by ferry route 73. It shuttles theatregoers from St. Pauli Landungsbrücken to the southern Elbe bank. When the sun is out, light conditions are ideal for snapshots throughout the day on this side of the river.
Getting there: Ferry route 73 from St. Pauli Landungsbrücken Photo: Stage Entertainment
Steinwerder Viewpoint
Walk from the St. Pauli jetties through the Old Elbe Tunnel towards Blohm + Voss. Next to the exit, to the left on the Elbe bank, is the Steinwerder viewpoint, an insider tip for visitors to Hamburg. The alternative for the way back, on workdays, is ferry route 75
Getting there: U3, S1, S2, S3 to St. Pauli Landungsbrücken Photo: Christian Spahrbier
Seemannshöft
The Hamburg harbour pilots’ station and nautical office is located on the Bubendey bank. HADAG ships moor not far away. Departing ships can be photographed from the pontoon with Hamburg and port as a backdrop.
Getting there: Ferry route 62 Photo: Pixabay
Finkenwerder - Rüschpark
Likewise on the southern Elbe bank is the Rüschpark with terraces and a viewing tower. HADAG ferries take you there by water. The jetty is located outside The Rilano Hotel Hamburg. It is just a few minutes’ walk from there.
Getting there: Ferry route 62 to Finkenwerder, change onto ferry route 64
Photo: CC-BY-SA 4.0 / PauliPirat
Teufelsbrück
The jetty for HADAG ferries is located below the Jenischpark. The pontoon is also very popular because of its culinary offerings. It’s impossible to get closer to the water than here.
Getting there: Ferry route 64 Photo: Pixabay
Süllberg in Blankenese
A five-star view from a 75-metre elevation, open to the public. The terrace is turned into a beer garden in the summer. When the weather is good, the snack pavilions are also open during out-of-season weekends.
Getting there: S1, S11 to Blankenese, from there bus no. 48 to Krögers Treppe Photo: Pixabay
Wittenbergen
Hamburg’s most attractive beach is located in a nature conservation area on the Lower Elbe in the district of Rissen. Here, you can already see the ships from far away and keep them in your camera’s sights for a long time.
Getting there: S1, S11 to Blankenese, from there bus no. 189 to Tinsdaler Kirchenweg Photo: GeheimtippHamburg
Port Tour
For maiden voyages, first calls and maritime celebrations, it is worth taking the additional guided tours by launch providers such as Abicht, Barkassen Meyer or others. Impressive perspectives can be enjoyed from the water, but the ships’ swell requires a steady hand.
Getting there: U3 to Baumwall or St. Pauli Landungsbrücken Photo: Christian Spahrbier
Top Tips for Shipspotter
The port is so close to the city that “watching ships” on the Elbe is a favourite pastime of locals and tourists alike. Cafés, pontoons, terraces and paths along the riverbank all offer stunning views of the beautiful liners. Here is a selection of the best outdoor locations for ship-spotters.
The map view (Google Maps) of the location opens when you click on the pictures and headline.
To find out how to get there by public transport, visit www.hvv.de
Foto: Pixabay
Stintfang
The platform on the former ramparts is a popular viewpoint. The tide gauge tower and the St. Pauli jetties are located in the foreground. The elevated position allows spotters to follow the ships closely as they arrive into Cruise Terminal HafenCity.
Getting there: U3, S1, S2, S3 to St. Pauli Landungsbrücken Photo: Jörg Modrow
Dockland
The streamlined office building floats above the water like a ship. The 500m2 roof terrace is accessible. Right next door, you’ll find the Hamburg Cruise Terminal Altona, also with a viewing platform.
Getting there: Bus 111, ferry route 62 Photo: Erik Recke/Datenland
Take a short cruise on a historic ship
The maritime tradition of Hamburg also encompasses a fleet of well-preserved historic museum ships that regularly tour the port and the Elbe. Passengers and groups are welcome and they may also be chartered. The view of the great liners moored at the quays of Hamburg, seen from the water, is simply magnificent. Extra tours and escort voyages are offered for special events.
Photos: www.instagram.com/sascha_b_hamburg, www.mediaserver.hamburg.de / Christian Spahrbier (Hafengeburtstag) & bcs Media (CruiseDays); Hamburg Messe & Congress / Tom Kohler; Photos of the Tips: With the friendly support of our members.