Free Things to Do in Hamburg

Visitors to Hamburg are often overwhelmed by the apparent wealth of the city – high end fashion boutiques and huge labels sit side-by-side with beautifully designed hotels and world class restaurants. Yet the city has so much to offer for absolutely free! Don’t believe us? Have a look at Generator Hostel Hamburg‘s guide on things to do in Hamburg for free.

Take a free tour of Hamburg

To start, why not get your bearings of Hamburg with a free tour? This free tour takes you through the history of Hamburg inviting you to explore its rich heritage as the third largest port in Europe and all the interesting cultural exchanges to come from it. The tour takes you from the beginnings of Hamburg in the Hanseatic League right through to the modern Hamburg of today.  The tours start daily at 11am outside the Rathaus (Hamburg’s town hall) and is entirely free.

Go Window Shopping on the Reeperbahn

Once you understand what Hamburg is about then you ought to see its other side. The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg has a reputation for being the Amsterdam of Germany. As such it wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the Reeperbahn – often referred to as “the sinful mile” in German. A stroll through the Reeperbahn can be highly entertaining, especially if you’re not used to the relaxed relationship the city has with this kind of “entertainment”.

There’s more to the Reeperbahn than red lights though.  The Beatles played in many of its clubs and at the crossing of the Reeperbahn and Grosse Freiheit you can even find Beatles-Platz! The Reeperbahn has become the home of alternative culture in Hamburg meaning there’s plenty of interesting bars and clubs to visit – many competing for your custom with great drinks offers! To get to the Reeperbahn take the S-Bahn to the Reeperbahn station on the S1, S2 or S3 lines.

Parks, Gardens and Green Spaces in Hamburg

The biggest park in Hamburg is the Stadtpark covering something approaching 150 acres. The park contains a small lake and the Hamburg Planetarium. While the Planetarium charges for entry, the planetarium building and its nearby gardens are well worth exploring – especially in the evening when it is all lit up!

The park is a little out of the way from the centre, making it the perfect opportunity for a picnic. The nearest U-Bahn station is Borgweg on the U3 line.

For something close to the centre but equally as pretty why not wander around the Planten un Blomen; a garden dedicated to the beauty of plants and flowers. This Hamburg garden also has impressive water-features and interesting walkways for those looking for a quiet space to relax.To get there hop off the U1 at the Stephansplatz station.

Visit Hamburg’s Churches

Hamburg is full of impressive churches. From the ruined St. Nikolai (once the tallest building in the world) and St.Michaelis Church with its impressive viewing tower (it costs 4 Euros to ascend) to the comparatively modern looking St.Peter’s and the beautiful copper roof of St.Catherine’s. Each church offers a different architectural insight into the history of Hamburg.

Most of the churches have small grounds or courtyards with impressive facades and other features well worth exploring.

Visit the Early Morning Fish Market

Hamburg’s fish market is world famous. Every Sunday morning at 5am the fish market opens on the Altona quay and the city descends upon it looking for a good deal. The market deals in bulk and the sheer chaos and variety of the place is a wonder in itself. The market runs until 10am but it’s best to get there early in the morning to see everything whirring into action.

There’s so much more on offer than just fish at the fish market (despite its name). There’s any number of fruit, plants, clothes and other goods available in bargain and bulk prices. The western end of the market usually contains a folk or jazz band entertaining the shoppers – a great way to start the day! Set your alarms to enjoy this great insight into the heart of Hamburg.

A Lazy Sunday by the Lake

After a trip to the Hamburg fish market why not continue the nautical theme and visit the Alster Lake on a Sunday and enjoy the sailing practice. Taking a walk along the side of the city lake gives you the opportunity to see professional and student sailors cutting around the lake on racing boats. With occasional races as well the usual thrills and spills this is a great place to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. As the lake is surrounded by any number of cafe-bars you could be set for a great day.

With all this on offer you can see there is more than enough for you to do in Hamburg, completely for free!