Ultimate 5-Day Hamburg Itinerary: See the Best of Germany’s Gateway

So you've got five days in Hamburg. Good call. Most people rush through in two days, hit the big sights, and leave. They miss the rhythm of the city, the quiet corners, and the feeling of actually being here, not just checking boxes. This Hamburg travel itinerary is built differently. It balances the iconic with the local, leaves room for discovery, and gives you a real taste of this maritime city's soul.

I've lived here on and off for years. The mistake I see most? People treat Hamburg like a museum. It's not. It's a living port city with grit, glamour, and a lot of water in between. This plan will show you both sides.

Day 1: Maritime Heart & Miniature Marvels

Start at the source. Hamburg's lifeblood is its port, the third largest in Europe. Don't just look at it from land.

Morning (9:30 AM - 1:00 PM): Head straight to Landungsbrücken (St. Pauli Landungsbrücken, 20359 Hamburg). This is the main ferry and tourist terminal. Book a one-hour Port of Hamburg boat tour. Companies like Barkassen-Meyer or Hadag run them frequently. Cost is around €20. It's the best way to grasp the scale of the docks, shipyards, and container terminals. You'll see why Hamburg calls itself "The Gateway to the World."

A common pitfall? Taking the tour later in the day when the light is behind the warehouses. Morning light illuminates the port's details perfectly.

Afternoon (1:30 PM - 6:00 PM): Walk 10 minutes into Speicherstadt, the historic warehouse district. Red-brick Gothic buildings crisscrossed by canals. It's a UNESCO site. Your destination here is non-negotiable: Miniatur Wunderland (Kehrwieder 2/Block D, 20457 Hamburg).

Evening: Stay in Speicherstadt. Dine at Speicherstadt Kaffeerösterei (Kehrwieder 5). It's a coffee roastery with simple, excellent food. Try their soup or a sandwich. The atmosphere, surrounded by burlap sacks of coffee, is pure Hamburg.

Day 2: History, HafenCity & Heavenly Views

Today contrasts old Hamburg with its stunning new face.

Morning (10:00 AM - 1:00 PM): Explore Hamburg's City Hall (Rathaus) (Rathausmarkt 1, 20095 Hamburg). Take the guided tour (€6). It's opulent, a statement of the city's wealth after the great fire. Then, wander the adjacent Alsterarkaden, elegant arcades along the Alster canal. It feels like a tiny slice of Venice.

Afternoon (1:30 PM - 5:00 PM): Walk east into HafenCity, Europe's largest inner-city development. The star is the Elbphilharmonie (Elphi) (Platz der Deutschen Einheit, 20457 Hamburg). You can book a paid concert ticket or get a free Plaza ticket online for access to the viewing platform. The view from 37 meters up is breathtaking—port, city, and river.

The building itself is an architectural marvel. The wavy glass top sits on an old brick warehouse base. Take the "Tube" escalator—it's a free ride and an experience itself.

Evening: For dinner, head to Überseeboulevard in HafenCity. Restaurants like NENI offer great views and a mix of flavors. It's pricier but worth it for the ambiance.

Day 3: The Alternative Side & Nightlife

Time to see Hamburg's edgier, creative heart.

Morning (10:00 AM - 1:00 PM): Take the U-Bahn to Sternschanze station. This is the Schanzenviertel, a formerly squatted, now trendy neighborhood. Graffiti, independent shops, quirky cafes. Walk down Schulterblatt street. Visit the Rote Flora, a famous occupied cultural center (view from outside). The energy here is completely different from HafenCity.

Afternoon (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM): A short walk away is the Planten un Blomen park. It's beautiful, but if you want something more unique, visit the Hamburg Museum of History (Holstenwall 24, 20355 Hamburg). It does a fantastic job explaining Hamburg's development, including the great fire and its port history. Much more engaging than it sounds.

Evening: You're now at the edge of St. Pauli and the world-famous Reeperbahn. Have an early dinner at Alt Hamburger Aalspeicher (Deichstraße 43) back near the port for traditional eel soup, or try something casual in Schanzenviertel. Then, as night falls, experience the Reeperbahn. See the illuminated Davidwache police station, the Beatles-Platz (a tribute to their early days here), and feel the neon-lit buzz. Decide for yourself if you want to explore the side streets—it's safe but intense.

Day 4: Parks, Lakes & Local Vibes

A slower day to recharge and see how Hamburgers relax.

Morning (10:00 AM): Rent a paddle boat, a stand-up paddleboard, or just walk the path around the Binnenalster and Aussenalster lakes. The view of the city skyline from the water is postcard-perfect. Start at the Anleger Jungfernstieg pier.

Afternoon: Head to the posh Harvestehude district along the western shore of the Aussenalster. The villas are stunning. Grab a coffee and cake at Café Leonar (Mittelweg 24). This is where the city's wealthy unwind.

Late Afternoon/Evening: Take the S-Bahn to Blankenese. This former fishing village is now a suburb known for its Treppenviertel—a hillside maze of narrow lanes, steps, and charming houses. Climb the stairs to the top for a gorgeous view of the Elbe River. Have a fish dinner at one of the restaurants by the riverbank, like Fischerhaus.

Day 5: Market Hopping & Last Looks

Use your final day for souvenirs, local flavors, and tying up loose ends.

Morning (Sunday or Tuesday): If your trip falls on a Sunday, go to the Fischmarkt (Grosse Elbstrasse 9, 22767 Hamburg). It runs from 5:00 AM (yes, AM) until 9:30 AM. It's a chaotic, wonderful spectacle of fish auctions, fruit stalls, and a live band in the auction hall. Have a Fischbrötchen (fish sandwich) for breakfast. If it's not Sunday, visit the Isemarkt on Tuesday—a long, lovely street market under an U-Bahn line.

Late Morning: For last-minute gifts, skip the generic souvenir shops. Go to Spielzeugmuseum (a toy museum with a great shop) or Herrlich for design items made in Hamburg.

Afternoon: Revisit a favorite spot, stroll through the Deichstraße (the oldest street in the city), or take a final walk along the Elbe promenade. Maybe you missed the St. Nikolai Memorial (a church ruin kept as a war memorial) – it's a powerful sight.

How to Get Around Hamburg Efficiently?

Hamburg's public transport (HVV) is excellent. Walking and cycling are great in the center.

The biggest rookie mistake is buying single tickets. For a 5-day itinerary, get the Hamburg Card. It covers all buses, trains, ferries, and gives discounts to 150+ attractions (including Miniatur Wunderland and many museums).

• Hamburg Card (5-Day): ~€50 per person. It pays for itself quickly. You can buy it at airport/train station info points, HVV machines, or hotels.
• Ferries are part of the system! Lines 62 and 72 are "commuter ferries" that offer stunning views for the price of a regular ticket (or your Hamburg Card). A cheap alternative to the tourist boats.
• Download the HVV app for real-time routes and tickets.

Where to Stay in Hamburg: A No-Nonsense Guide

Location is key. Stay central to save time. Here are three solid choices for different budgets.

Avoid staying too far out in purely residential areas. The time lost commuting eats into your 5 days.

Where to Eat: Beyond Currywurst

Yes, try a Currywurst. But there's more.

• Fischbrötchen: The ultimate Hamburg street food. Brücke 10 at Landungsbrücken is iconic. Get one with Matjes (pickled herring) or Räucherfisch (smoked fish). €4-€6.
• Traditional "Kümmel" Schnaps: Locals drink this caraway spirit with their Fischbrötchen. It cuts through the fat. Try a tiny glass.
• Labskaus: A sailor's dish—mashed corned beef, beetroot, potato, topped with a fried egg and rollmops. It looks... interesting. Tastes hearty. Old Commercial Room (Englische Planke 10) serves a good one.
• For a Memorable Meal: Fischereihafen Restaurant (Große Elbstraße 143). Not cheap, but arguably the best fish restaurant in the city. Book ahead.
• Casual & Cool: Schmidt's Tivoli in Schanzenviertel for massive, shareable schnitzels and a lively atmosphere.

Smart Budget Tips for Your 5 Days

Hamburg can be expensive, but it doesn't have to break the bank.

First, the Hamburg Card, as mentioned, is your best friend. Use the ferry lines for cheap sightseeing. Many museums have a reduced entry or even free entry on certain days (e.g., Hamburg Museum of History is cheaper on Fridays after 4 PM).

Eat your main meal at lunch. Many restaurants offer a significantly cheaper "Mittagstisch" (lunch menu). Drink tap water—it's excellent and free. Just ask for "Leitungswasser".

Skip the paid elevator to the top of St. Michael's Church. The view from the Elbphilharmonie Plaza (with a free ticket) is superior.

Hamburg Trip FAQs: Your Questions Answered

There you have it. A five-day Hamburg plan that goes deeper than the surface. It's a city that rewards those who linger. Follow this, adapt it to your pace, and you'll leave feeling like you didn't just visit Hamburg—you got a sense of it.