Free Things To Do In Hamburg
Museums, churches, parks, and free days, each with the rule that comes attached. Plus 8 pay-what-you-want walking tours with local guides.
Every entry here costs nothing.
- St. Petri Church (nave) open church in Hamburg
- Old Elbe Tunnel open around the clock
- Planten un Blomen Water-Light Concerts
- St. Jacobi Church open daily
- St. Katharinen Church open Mon to Sun
- 8 free walks, 8 on GuruWalk
- 50 places, each with the rule that applies to it
- No price anywhere: reserve free, tip at the end
What Counts As Free Things To Do In Hamburg?
16 free places across Hamburg, numbered to match the list that goes with the map.
Tap or click the map to pan and zoom. Numbers match the list.
Hamburg City Hall (foyer and courtyard)
The foyer, exterior and courtyard with the Hygieia fountain are usually free to enter.
Free walk from here: Free Historic Center WalkOld Elbe Tunnel
Entry on foot and by bicycle is free, open around the clock except New Year's Eve 21:00 to 04:00.
Free walk from here: 2-Hour Port, Reeperbahn And BeatlesPlanten un Blomen
Free all year, open daily including holidays: Jan to Mar 7:00 to 20:00, Apr 7:00 to 22:00, May to Sep 7:00 to 23:00.
Free walk from here: Walkative Old Town TourSpeicherstadt
Walking the warehouse district is free; museums and attractions charge separately.
Free walk from here: Walkative Port And Beatles WalkAltonaer Balkon
Open clifftop promenade viewpoint over the Elbe; no admission.
St. Michaelis Church (nave)
The church nave is free to visit, closed or restricted during services and concerts.
Free walk from here: 2-Hour Port, Reeperbahn And BeatlesSternschanze (Schanzenviertel)
Public district of streets, cafes and shops; no admission.
St. Petri Church (nave)
The church is free to enter as an open church; the tower is separately ticketed.
Free walk from here: Free Historic Center WalkLandungsbrücken
The pier promenade and pontoons are free public space.
Free walk from here: 2-Hour Port, Reeperbahn And BeatlesHafenCity
The open waterfront district with promenades and squares has no admission.
Free walk from here: Walkative Port And Beatles WalkFischmarkt
Free to enter, every Sunday: 15 Mar to 14 Nov 5:00 to 9:30; 15 Nov to 14 Mar 7:00 to 9:30.
Free walk from here: 2-Hour Port, Reeperbahn And BeatlesSt. Jacobi Church
Church entry is free with no admission fee.
Free walk from here: Free Historic Center WalkReeperbahn
Public street and entertainment district; walking is free.
Free walk from here: 2-Hour Port, Reeperbahn And BeatlesPlanten un Blomen Water-Light Concerts
Free, no registration, May to September only. The 2026 season has ended and 2027 is unconfirmed.
Free walk from here: Walkative Old Town TourSt. Katharinen Church
Church entry is free; tower tours are a separate offer.
Free walk from here: Walkative Port And Beatles Walk
Which Free Walking Tours Run In Hamburg?
All 8 walks listed here are free, pay what you want. Reserve on GuruWalk, then value the walk yourself at the end. Some walks run in German only.
All 8 free walks
2-Hour Port, Reeperbahn And Beatles
4.79 · 1,202 GuruWalk reviews
See this free tour
Reserve free on GuruWalk
Walkative Port And Beatles Walk
4.9 · 297 GuruWalk reviews
See this free tour
Reserve free on GuruWalk
Which Free Things To Do In Hamburg Fit Into One Day?
Sort by neighbourhood, language, walking time or theme and the right walk surfaces fast.
A starting shortlist of the best-reviewed walks. Answer any question below to rebuild it around what you want.
Free Historic Center Walk
4.85 · 2,151 GuruWalk reviews · free, pay what you want
See this free tour
Reserve free on GuruWalk
2-Hour Port, Reeperbahn And Beatles
4.79 · 1,202 GuruWalk reviews · free, pay what you want
See this free tour
Reserve free on GuruWalk
Walkative Old Town Tour
4.94 · 599 GuruWalk reviews · free, pay what you want
See this free tour
Reserve free on GuruWalk
Are Hamburg's Museums Free?
Every venue sets its own rule, so the cards keep free and paid apart. No tower here inherits its church's free status.
Hamburger Kunsthalle
Free first Thursday, 6 to 9 pmAlways free under 18. Otherwise EUR 18, reduced EUR 9.
MK&G Museum of Arts and Crafts
Free first Thursday from 6 pmAlways free under 18. The Freiraum, shop, library and restaurant are free to enter. Otherwise EUR 14, reduced EUR 8.
MARKK
No free rule publishedEUR 10 regular, EUR 6 discounted. Open Tue to Sun 10 to 18, Thursday to 21.
Speicherstadt Museum
TicketedEUR 6 adult, EUR 4.50 reduced, children under 6 free.
Miniatur Wunderland
TicketedEUR 22 adults, EUR 13 children under 16. Children under 1 metre with a parent are free.
Museum of Hamburg History
ClosedUnder renovation since early 2024; no reopening date is published.
Is The Elbphilharmonie Plaza Still Free?
| Place | Free or ticketed | What is free | What you still pay for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamburg City Hall (foyer and courtyard) | Free | The Rathausdiele (foyer) is usually free to enter during opening hours, as are the exterior and the courtyard with the Hygieia fountain. | Guided tour is ticketed. |
| St. Michaelis Church (nave) | Free | The church interior is open to visitors; the operator ticket shop sells only the tower, the crypt and combination tickets, no nave ticket. Closed or restricted during services and concerts. | Tower and crypt are ticketed. |
| St. Petri Church (nave) | Free | The church is described by the operator as an open church in the middle of Hamburg; no admission fee is listed. | Tower is ticketed. |
| Elbphilharmonie Plaza | Ticketed | Not free any more. Plaza tickets are sold at a charge of EUR 5 (labelled a booking fee on the official page); children under 3, nursery groups and school classes enter free; concert ticket holders get Plaza access from two hours before the event. | EUR 5 adult; EUR 3 for ages 3 to 17, pupils, apprentices, students, basic-income recipients and severely disabled pass holders (one companion). Plaza tour EUR 13. Open daily 10:00 to 24:00, last admission 23:30. |
| Hamburg City Hall Guided Tour | Ticketed | Ticketed guided tour. Tickets at the foyer desk (card payment only), sales begin 20 minutes before the first tour of the day; no advance sales. | EUR 8 adults and teens, EUR 6 with Hamburg CARD, children up to 14 free, companion of severely disabled person (B) free. |
| St. Michaelis Tower | Ticketed | Paid viewing tower, 452 steps or lift from the first floor. | EUR 8 adult (age 16 and over), EUR 6 reduced (Hamburg CARD, disability, pensioners, pupils and apprentices from 16, students, unemployed with proof, groups of 10 or more), EUR 5 child 6 to 15, EUR 4 child reduced. Tickets valid one year from purchase date. |
| St. Petri Tower | Ticketed | Paid tower (544 steps, windows over 130 m up). Mon to Fri 10:00 to 17:30, Sat and Sun 11:30 to 16:30, last ascent 45 minutes before closing; closed on public holidays. | EUR 5 adult, EUR 3.50 reduced, children up to 5 free, up to 14 EUR 2.50, family (2 adults, up to 4 children) EUR 12, groups of 10 or more EUR 3 each. |
Free Things To Do In Hamburg This Season
Common Questions About Free Things To Do In Hamburg
Is The Elbphilharmonie Plaza Free?
No. The Plaza charges an entry fee of EUR 5 per ticket (EUR 3 reduced), with children under 3 and school groups free. The Landungsbrücken, the Alter Elbtunnel and the Elbstrand are open public space with harbour views.
How Much To Pay For A Free Walking Tour In Hamburg?
There is no fixed price to state. Every free walking tour in Hamburg is free to join, and each guest decides at the end what to pay the guide. The directory lists 8 such walks on GuruWalk, with ratings shown out of 5.
How Do You Get Around Hamburg Cheaply?
Public transport is not free for visitors. The harbour ferry line 62 runs on HVV network tickets, the Hamburg CARD or the Deutschlandticket, which must be bought before boarding.