Free, tip what you liked · ★ 9.0/10 (242 reviews) · on Civitatis
Quick answer
Yes. There is 1 free walking tour in Hamburg listed here, bookable for free on Civitatis. It is Hamburg Free Walking Tour: it meets at Hamburg Town Hall, lasts about 2h and is guided in English, rated 9.0/10 from 242 reviews.
Start times vary by date and are confirmed when you book.
Hamburg grew up on trade. It was one of the leading ports of the Hanseatic League, and its harbour on the Elbe is still the largest in Germany. A large part of the old centre burned in the great fire of 1842 and was destroyed again by the air raids of 1943, so the city you walk through today is a mix of rebuilt merchant streets, church towers and canals, with the red-brick warehouses of the Speicherstadt and the Elbphilharmonie concert hall along the water.
The free walking tour starts in front of the Rathaus, the town hall, and stops first at the Patriotic Society of 1765 and on the Trostbrücke bridge. It continues to the St. Nikolai memorial, which remembers the victims of the Second World War bombings, and down Deichstraße, the oldest street in the city, to the Speicherstadt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The last stretch goes to the Elbphilharmonie and ends at St. Michael's Church about two hours after the start.
Plan your visit to Hamburg
What to see in Hamburg
The Elbphilharmonie stands on top of a former warehouse at the western tip of HafenCity. Its Plaza, the public viewing platform between the brick base and the glass hall, looks over the harbour and the city; access details are on the official Elbphilharmonie website. A few minutes away, the Speicherstadt is a district of brick warehouses built along canals, best seen from its bridges.
West of the centre, the Landungsbrücken piers are where the harbour boats leave and where the old Elbe tunnel takes pedestrians under the river. St. Pauli and the Reeperbahn are just behind them. Next to the town hall, the Alster lakes open up the city centre, and the Outer Alster has a path all the way around.
Getting around and when to go
The centre is walkable; U-Bahn, S-Bahn and buses cover the rest, and the harbour ferries belong to the same public transport network, so a regular ticket also gets you onto the Elbe. May to September brings the longest and mildest days, and in December a Christmas market fills the square in front of the town hall. Travellers often combine the city with Berlin, a direct train away, or continue north by train to Copenhagen. See the month-by-month guide for timing.
Good to know before you go
Rain is common in Hamburg at any time of year and part of the route runs along the water. Wear comfortable shoes and carry an umbrella or a rain jacket.
The Rathaus U-Bahn station is right by the meeting point, and Jungfernstieg, where several U-Bahn and S-Bahn lines meet, is a short walk away.
Each booking is limited to six people. A larger group needs to book a private tour instead.
The tour ends at St. Michael's Church. From there the Landungsbrücken piers and the old tunnel under the Elbe are about ten minutes away on foot.
Rest those walking legs
Where to stay in Hamburg
Well-reviewed stays from our partner Booking.com. Check rates and availability for your dates on their site.
Yes. The Hamburg Free Walking Tour on Civitatis covers the Rathaus, the St. Nikolai memorial, Deichstraße, the Speicherstadt, the Elbphilharmonie and St. Michael's Church with an English-speaking guide. You reserve for free and tip at the end.
Where does the Hamburg free tour start?
In front of the Rathaus, Hamburg's town hall, next to the main entrance. The exact point and how to recognise the guide are confirmed in your booking.
How long is the free tour of Hamburg?
About two hours. It ends at St. Michael's Church, not back at the town hall.
How many people can join on one booking?
Up to six. Larger groups are asked to book a private tour of Hamburg instead.
How much should I tip on a free tour in Hamburg?
There is no fixed amount. At the end you give the guide what you think the tour was worth. Our tip calculator shows the usual range for Germany.
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