The best areas to stay in Hamburg are the Altstadt, the Old City that corresponds to the center, and the adjoining areas. Hamburg is expensive and you should know alternatives to these areas if your budget can not afford their prices.
Hamburg is located in northern Germany, right at the confluence of the Alster and Bille rivers. The second largest metropolis in Germany is one of the most unique and most charming in the country.
It lacks the sea, however it extends along the Elbe River, which flows into the sea a few kilometers away, around which the life of the city revolves, decorated with innumerable canals, green areas and its port.
Its port is known as the Gate of the World, because it doesck thousands of ships a year, and is the second largest in the country and one of the most important in the world.
Although the city of Elba was razed during World War II, today it can boast of having great economic power (it has the highest GDP in all of Germany), of being vivacious, cosmopolitan and green, in fact it was declared the Ecological Capital of Europe.
In addition, its old town is full of monumentality and beauty in each corner of the streets that comprise it. Although if something catches the attention of travelers, they are the beautiful office houses that decorate Burchardplatz square.
Hamburg has more channels than Venice and Amsterdam together, which act as a powerful magnet for lovers of sailing or paddle surfing and one of the most efficient meters in Europe.
In addition, it is the cradle of the hamburger and can boast to house the neighborhood, Reeperbahn, one of the places where The Beatles began their career in the 60s in Europe.
In short, Hamburg is a place to be, which has little or nothing to do with the rest of the cities of the German territory, because it surprises, it distills charm and wastes personality. If you are thinking of escaping or have booked your ticket to visit this charming and amazing German city and need information about the most recommended areas to stay in Hamburg, take note.
The best areas to stay in Hamburg
Hamburg is a relatively small city, in fact you can travel very well on foot. The offer of accommodation is wide and varied and is concentrated mainly in the downtown area and in the old town.
The downtown area, the old city and the modern Hafencity have a wide range of hotels, but, on the other hand, they are the most expensive in the city. In these neighborhoods it is almost impossible mission to find any hotel for less than € 100 a night.
But if you still want to stay downtown and have everything at hand, you can always turn to a hostel, a hostel or a hostel. Although they have smaller services and a more discreet appearance, they come out much cheaper.
The cheapest areas to stay in Hamburg are St.George, St. Pauli or Wandsbek. Travelers with tighter budgets will find in these districts not only an interesting hotel offer, but also at significantly lower prices than in the areas near the heart of the German metropolis.
For those who are looking for information on hotels or on the best areas to stay in Hamburg, we will find out all the information about the most interesting neighborhoods.
Altstadt
This neighborhood is the old city; the monumental navel where the architectural jewels of Hamburg are located. The most prominent monuments are the Rathaus building, which houses the Parliament and the Senate, the church of St. Nikolai, whose tower overlooks stunning views, and that of St. Petri, which highlights the lion-headed handles from the west cover.
Also found here are the Krameramtswohnungen, which are typical wooden houses originating in the 16th century, which served to accommodate the merchants of yesteryear and that today allow us to understand and enter the commercial facet of the city.
In the oldest area of the metropolis there is also the spectacular City Hall building, with its beautiful neo-baroque facade. This is accompanied by a long string of shops, bars, restaurants, some museums and the central station or Hauptbahnhof.
If you want to sleep close to everything, overlooking the most beautiful monuments of the city or feel close to urban hamburger life, this is undoubtedly one of the best sleeping areas in Hamburg. The prices are, as in all the old areas of the rest of the tourist destinations, higher than in other neighborhoods of the city. In fact, here the average price of hotels is $ 150 a night.
Accommodations in Altstadt
Neustadt
To the west of the old town, in the immediate vicinity of Lake Alster, is Neustadt. It is one of the most modern neighborhoods in the city, as it has numerous new buildings and offices, as well as countless shops and entertainment venues.
Although it does not overflow with monumentality like the old town, it can also be found some interesting buildings, such as the church of San Miguel, one of the most colorful in the city, whose baroque facade is decorated with a large clock, which has served as guide for years to sailors.
But what catches the attention of visitors is the panoramic platform that has been installed at the top of the church, from where the views of the city and the port are incredible. Here you can also find the Hamburg museum and the State Opera.
This neighborhood is very well connected to the rest of the city by public transport. In addition, it is not far from the popular Planten un Blomen park or the port area.
It is one of the most central sleeping areas in Hamburg, but also expensive, although a little less than in the old part. In fact, for less than $ 100 it is unlikely that you can find accommodation.
Accommodations in Neustadt
Altona
This district is located in the western part of the city. It was an old neighborhood of merchants and today can boast of being one of the most distinguished and stately of this city on the water. It is full of elegant shops, green areas, refined homes, designer cafes, bars, restaurants and old buildings with neoclassical facades.
As an added attraction, this neighborhood, a former independent city until 1938, is located in a privileged place and offers unbeatable views of the port.
It cannot boast of being monumental, but it houses places of interest, such as the old fish market, today a large concert hall always full of crowds, and the fischmarkt, the Sunday fish market.
Its bohemian atmosphere, in which the young and the more hyper-active, and their free spirit end up shaping the essence of this neighborhood that is very reminiscent of those that can be found in Denmark.
It is not too far from the center to reach on foot, but it is excellently connected by the S-3 train and bus line 37.
If you want to get into the most casual, creative and free side of the city, Altona is one of the best neighborhoods to stay in Hamburg. The advantage is that the average price of hotels is a bit lower than in the most central areas of the city. If you book in advance, you can sleep in a 4-star hotel for about $ 90.
Hotels in Altona
Wandsbek
This district, the second largest Hamburg, is divided by the river of the same name, which gives it a beauty and a particular character. As for points of tourist interest, the offer is not generous. However, there are some interesting, such as the municipal botanic garden (Botanischer Sondergarten Wandsbek) or the seebek, on whose banks you can enjoy a relaxed walk to rest between visit and visit.
It is a little further from the heart of the city, but it is excellently connected by public transport, in particular by bus lines 36, metro 1 (U1) and train 1.
The offer of accommodation is smaller than in other parts of Hamburg, so there is not much to choose from. The advantage is that prices are much more affordable. In fact, here you can sleep for about $ 70 a night, as long as you make your reservation in advance.
Accommodations in Wandsbek
St. Pauli
St. Pauli, located in the Hamburg-Mitte district and very close to Altona, is the city’s red-light district. Not only can it boast of being the most popular in Hamburg, but also the best known in Germany.
This district, which overlooks the river Elbe, is full of clubs, bars, concert halls and brothels that still exist, making it the city’s nightlife district par excellence.
But its streets also include some museums, such as the Sankt Pauli Museum, art galleries and several interesting places, such as the monument to Bismarck, Prime Minister of Prussia, the tallest building in the city – Heinrich Hertz Turm – or the church of St. Josephskirche.
It is relatively close to the center – there are no more than three kilometers – with which it is also well connected by bus lines 6 and 37.
St. Pauli has gone from being a neighbourhood that was reviled in ancient times to being an obligatory visit point for travellers. Not in vain is it multicultural, lively and lively. As it concentrates most of the city’s bars and entertainment, it is one of the most recommended for those looking to enjoy the partying and the running of the German metropolis.
On the other hand, it is the least advisable to stay in Hamburg for those who travel with their families or are looking for tranquility. Here you will find a good number of hotels and, contrary to what you may think, with prices quite compatible with all pockets. For about 50 $ you can stay in a 3-star hotel.
Hotels in St. Pauli
St. Georg
This district, located in the Hamburg-Mitte district, exudes multiculturalism, diversity and contrast on every corner. It is also the gay district par excellence. In fact, every year it hosts the Christopher Street Day celebration, the gay pride parade. You can even see demonstrations everywhere: flags hanging from the balconies, traffic lights with pictograms of the same sex…
Here you will find the University of Applied Sciences, the second largest in the city, the Outer Alster Lake, a huge green lung where hamburgers come to relax and enjoy Mother Nature, St. Mary’s Cathedral, the only religious temple in the city with two towers, and the Kunsthalle and Deichtorhallen museums.
La Reihe is the artery that articulates St. Georg, full of shops, boutiques, bars or restaurants and overflowing with animation, where lovers of shopping and nightlife can be compensated to the maximum.
On the eastern side is the Central Station, the main station of the city. Here you can also find train, metro and bus stops to get to the centre, which is about a 20 minute walk away.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money or your budget is tight, this is a good area to stay in Hamburg. In fact, you won’t have any trouble booking a 3-star hotel for about 40 $ a night.
Accommodations in St. Georg
Hafencity
Hafencity is located in the central district and comprises the old warehouse town, speicherstadt, for the loading and unloading of cargo ships. Today it has been greatly transformed, in fact reforms are still continuing, and has become one of the most modern and avant-garde areas of Hamburg, but without giving up its past essence.
New buildings, parks, premises, offices… have been built, which are changing the image of the area and, therefore, that of the city.
There are also some interesting places here, such as the Philharmonic building, which is the honorable president of the port, the Chilehaus, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, or the Kampnagel, a huge theater.
Another advantage of this neighborhood is its location, since it is very close to the urban center. In addition, it is well connected to the city through the U4 train and 111 bus lines.
If you are looking for a different, modern and cosmopolitan area to sleep in Hamburg, this is undoubtedly a good option. The accommodation offer is varied, but has prices as high as those you can find in the old town or in the downtown area. In fact, the average price is around 100 $ per night.
Accommodations in Hafencity
Harvestehude and Rotherbaum
These two residential areas are located west of Lake Alster. They are noted for their art nouveau buildings, their many green areas and because the campus of the University of Hamburg is located in their streets.
They are quiet, relaxed and have a peaceful atmosphere that is far from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. This makes these neighborhoods excellent options for those looking for quiet areas to stay or traveling with the family.
Both neighbourhoods are a little further from the heart of the city, about 20 minutes walk away. However, they are connected by public transportation, specifically by bus line 109 and train line U1.
The hotel offer is not very generous and neither are the prices. If you are farsighted, you can sleep here for about 90 $ and in the low season. The rest of the time the prices are usually higher.
Accommodations in Harvestehude & Rotherbaum