Are you traveling to Hamburg with children? Here are ideas and tips on how to make the most of your family getaway in Hamburg, Germany’s second-largest city. From taking a boat tour of the harbor and marveling at the world’s largest model railway, to feeding the elephants at the zoo, here’s how to make kids happy in Hamburg.
Port of hamburg
Hamburg is a port city: its port is the third largest in the world, after London and New York, and children will love exploring the Hamburg coastline.
Walk to the harbor and stroll along the quay (called St. Pauli Landungsbrücken ). If your little ones are fascinated by old sailing ships, visit the museum ship “Rickmer Rickmers” from 1896.
You can also take a boat tour from the pier, a unique way to see one of the largest working ports in the world. Close to the port, you’ll find Hamburg’s historic warehouse district, the largest warehouse complex in the world.
The narrow cobbled streets and small waterways are lined with 100-year-old warehouses, which store cocoa, silk, and oriental rugs. Light projections at night create a magical atmosphere on buildings, bridges and canals.
Hamburg Fish Market
Are your children early risers? Then take advantage of the possibility of getting up at dawn and head to the Hamburg Fish Market, which opens every day at 5 am (7 am in winter). Fresh seafood, exotic fruits, nuts and teas from around the world – the 300-year-old Hamburg Fischmarkt with its bustling atmosphere is a fun place for the whole family and a great spot for a second breakfast.
Get on a submarine
Equally appealing to history buffs and the kids in the bunch, the ominous submarine sitting peacefully in the Baakenhafen is the ideal escape from Hamburg’s rainy weather. Built in 1976 and in service until 2001, the sub functions as a perfectly intact, highly tactile museum piece. Whether you’re taking a guided tour or climbing through the narrow airlock doors, the family is sure to be delighted.
Spice museum
Among the many products that arrive daily at the port of Hamburg are spices from all over the world. Therefore, it is logical that the city has a large museum of spices, the only one of its kind in the world.
Housed in a former warehouse near the port, your kids can see, smell, and of course taste 500 years of exotic spices while learning about growing, processing, and packaging.
miniature wonderland
You don’t have to be a child to be amazed by the Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, the largest model railway in the world.
The 13,000 square meter mini world has everything you can imagine: 13 kilometers of miniature tracks connecting different countries and continents; trains, cars, fire trucks, and even computer-controlled cruise ships are on the move.
There is even a miniature airport with planes taking off and landing. The Wunderland is home to 900 trains, 300,000 lights, 215,000 trees, more than 3,000 buildings, and 200,000 human figures, all created with meticulous detail.
Parks and zoos
A trip to the zoo is always fun for the whole family. At Hamburg’s Hagenbeck Zoo, you can get up and get up close to the big animals. For a small donation, get a bag full of veggies and fruits at a zoo gift shop, then feed the friendly elephants – a highlight for every visitor!
Another great place to let your kids run free is Hamburg’s city park, Planten un Blomen. It has a botanical garden and the largest Japanese garden in Europe. During the summer months, you can enjoy free water-powered concerts, theater performances, and festivals in the park.
Festival Dom
Since the 14th century, Hamburg has hosted the DOM, one of the largest open-air fun fair in northern Germany. Held three times a year (spring, summer and winter) for an entire month, you can bring the whole family for ferries, roller coasters, concerts and fireworks.
