With only one day in Hamburg, we set out to make the most of it and experience the city’s best-known attractions. Could we have seen more? Certainly. But rather than rushing from place to place, we chose to enjoy a few highlights properly. Here’s what we managed to fit into our 24 hours in Hamburg.
Miniatur Wunderland – The World’s Largest Model Railway
Miniatur Wunderland is by far the best thing to do while in Hamburg and for good reason – it is the largest model railway system in the world and has been voted the most popular tourist attraction in Germany.
In the year 2000, the brothers Frederik and Gerrit Braun set out to build a model railway system. After applying for a loan, they began construction in December 2000. In August 2001, they could already operate three completed, miniature sections. Today, this miniature world comprises 1000 square metres, with even more sites to follow. What makes it truly special is not just the scale, but also the level of detail: cities, airports, landscapes, and even a day-to-night lighting cycle that brings the displays to life.
We spent four hours there, and it felt like we could have stayed longer. The only thing that finally made us leave was sheer exhaustion after a day of walking.
Practical tips:
- Opening hours: They are open 365 days a year, always at least from 09:30–18:00, but often longer during weekends, school holidays, and public holidays. On our visit, they stayed open until 1 a.m. because it was a weekend. Check the current schedule here.
- Tickets: Be sure to reserve online in advance. It is extremely popular, and they limit the number of visitors inside at a time. Book online here.
- Best times to go: If you want fewer crowds, either go first thing in the morning or later in the evening. I’m not a morning person, so evenings work better for me—by then most families with children have already left for dinner.
Hamburg Dungeon
I’ve visited Dungeon attractions in several European cities—Edinburgh, London, Amsterdam, Berlin—and I usually find them fun and engaging. They offer a mix of history and interactive theater, with actors guiding you through darker chapters of the city’s past, often ending with a lighthearted surprise. For someone with a short attention span, this is usually a perfect way to learn history while staying entertained.
So, when I discovered Hamburg also had its own Dungeon, I booked tickets without hesitation. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the most disappointing experience of the day.
To begin with, there was only one English-language tour offered daily, and the website mentioned that if not enough people showed up, it could be canceled. During our visit, the first room began with a long audio introduction entirely in German, leaving us (and other visitors) confused. When we raised this with the actor who eventually arrived, our concerns were brushed off. The experience also felt incomplete because one section was closed for renovations.
For the ticket price—which is not the cheapest form of entertainment—the whole thing felt like poor value.
Would I recommend it? Honestly, no. Unless you are fluent in German and really curious, there are far better ways to spend your money and time in Hamburg.
Boat Tour – Exploring Hamburg from the Water
The port of Hamburg is as old as the city itself, founded on May 7, 1189, by Frederick I. Over the centuries, it became one of the most important trade centers in Europe, and today it is the largest seaport in Germany, the third-busiest in Europe (after Rotterdam and Antwerp), and the fifteenth largest worldwide. No wonder Hamburg is often called Germany’s “Gateway to the World.”
Taking a boat tour is one of the best ways to experience the city from a different perspective. Our plan was to take a tour through the Speicherstadt, but we happened to be on the same boat as a newly married couple. The captain decided to give them—and all of us—a longer trip, which also included parts of the port. It turned out to be a lucky surprise.
We hadn’t booked in advance, preferring to be spontaneous, and still managed to find a tour leaving slightly later than 18:00 (most tours finish around that time). If you want an English-language tour, however, it is best to plan ahead, as most are in German.
A couple of points:
- Language: Most tours are in German. We had access to an app with an English guide, but it was not the same as live commentary. Judging from the laughter of the German-speaking passengers, we missed out on some entertaining stories.
- Smoking: What really surprised me was how common smoking was on board. Several people lit cigarettes during the one-hour tour, which made the enclosed space uncomfortable, especially as I was pregnant at the time. It’s something to be aware of if you are sensitive to smoke and want to enjoy the ride while sitting out on the deck.
Despite these drawbacks, the boat tour remains one of the must-do experiences in Hamburg.
Port des Lumières – Immersive Art in Hamburg
Before leaving Hamburg, we stopped by Port des Lumières, a digital immersive art exhibition. As fans of teamLab and similar experiences, we are always drawn to these kinds of installations.
Previously, I had visited Atelier des Lumières in Paris and enjoyed it immensely, so I was curious to see what Hamburg’s version would offer. The program at the time featured works by Gustav Klimt and Friedensreich Hundertwasser, as well as an experimental show called Journey, which explored the genesis of photons, the building blocks of light.
The large-scale projections transformed the walls and floor into a living artwork. We simply sat down in a corner and let the visuals surround us. It was a calming, immersive experience. If you enjoy modern or interactive art, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Speicherstadt & Kontorhausviertel – Hamburg’s UNESCO Gems
No trip to Hamburg is complete without a walk through Speicherstadt and Kontorhausviertel, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2015.
Speicherstadt, meaning “city of warehouses,” was built between 1885 and 1927 on a group of islands in the Elbe River. It remains the largest warehouse district in the world, with its iconic red-brick buildings connected by canals and bridges.
Kontorhausviertel, or the “office building quarter,” was developed in the early 20th century to house businesses tied to Hamburg’s port. Its distinctive architecture, such as the Chilehaus, reflects the commercial success of the city at that time.
Today, both districts are a pleasure to walk through. Some warehouses still serve their original purpose, while others house museums and attractions like Miniatur Wunderland and the Hamburg Dungeon. The streets are relatively quiet, offering a nice contrast to the busier parts of the city.
We wandered without a set route, enjoying the architecture and atmosphere. The area is also ideal for photography; in fact, we even spotted a wedding couple posing against the backdrop of the red-brick warehouses.
