Hamburg is my favourite metropolis in Germany and is in contrast to every other. It has canals, bridges, and historic buildings. It even has the world’s largest warehouse district that’s a UNESCO World Heritage web site. Bonus: Hamburg has an insanely cool tradition.
Hamburg isn’t near Frankfurt, Munich, or Berlin. It’s nearer to Amsterdam than the opposite greater German cities. The Hanseatic metropolis of Hamburg is in Northern Germany and the River Elbe goes by way of it.
Having visited Hamburg a couple of instances, among the finest instances I had on this metropolis was with my toddler. Surprisingly this metropolis has quite a lot of kid-friendly points of interest.
So, in case you are in search of a enjoyable journey vacation spot or a metropolis break along with your youngsters, I extremely suggest Hamburg. It may rain anytime in Hamburg so a few of these kids’s actions are indoors. Right here’s what you are able to do in Hamburg with youngsters:
Chocoversum Chocolate Manufacturing unit
So learn how to spend a wet day in Hamburg with kids and nonetheless have enjoyable? Go to the Chocoversum chocolate museum and make your personal chocolate on the finish of the tour on the Hachez chocolate manufacturing unit.
Chocoversum has toured in each English and German. After all, there are extra excursions in German language so the excursions in English promote out in a short time.
It’s free for kids below 5 years. After all, at the very least one guardian can accompany the youngsters. But when your youngsters are older than 7, you too can allow them to do that tour with out you and meet them on the reception when the tour ends.
Our tour was in English and lasted for 90 minutes. The tour began with a style of Hachez chocolate and ended with a chocolate-making session the place we might determine precisely what sort of chocolate to make and what to place inside.
I made a bar of darkish chocolate with caramel and sea salt. I spotted that “much less is extra” with chocolate making, so it comes out higher for those who put much less toppings.
Hamburg Harbour
Get to Landsbrücken constructing in St. Pauli and from there enter the strolling path alongside the Hamburg Harbour. The harbor space is a enjoyable place for a stroll as a result of you will note large ships, containers, and a few iconic buildings on the opposite aspect just like the Elbphilharmonie.
Strolling alongside the harbor is among the prime issues to do in Hamburg. My daughter loved it loads as a result of she obtained to see Rickmer Rickmers, an enormous museum ship that’s completely anchored right here. Rickmer Rickmers is Hamburg’s iconic landmark and it’s a sight your little one will bear in mind for certain.
There’s a well-known kid-friendly restaurant right here known as Brücke 10, the place my daughter ate fried fish. My husband and I ate Krabbenbrötchen – small shrimp in a bun, a German North Sea delicacy.
Miniatur Wunderland
So is it raining while you’re in Hamburg? In that case, I recommend Miniatur Wunderland, which is maybe Hamburg’s most well-known attraction and it isn’t only for kids however for the entire household.
Miniatur Wunderland is an exhibit of miniature variations of various cities and geographical areas together with the detailing of their locomotives. It’s the world’s largest mannequin railway and you may see trains going by way of tunnels, alongside miniature Alps, and on tiny bridges. The sweetness is within the particulars and your kids will love them.
Even when your kids don’t have any curiosity in trains or airports, they are going to develop it after seeing the world’s largest miniature railway with stations and airports at Miniatur Wunderland
Miniatur Wunderland is within the Speicherstadt district, which is the world’s largest warehouse district and a UNESCO World Heritage Web site.
Stroll on the bridge that’s proper behind the constructing the place Miniatur Wunderland is located. This spot as per me is Hamburg’s prettiest and it images properly. I’ve additionally talked about it in my Hamburg Instagram spots put up.
Ice cream outdoors Rathaus
Regardless of the place you go in Hamburg, sooner or later, you’ll cross Rathaus – Hamburg’s iconic Metropolis Corridor constructing which is within the metropolis heart (Hamburger Innenstadt).
I journey typically with my little woman and I do know that well-known buildings aren’t precisely thrilling for kids, however it’s your job to make it thrilling for them.
Present your kids the massive clock that’s on this constructing. You’ll be able to take them inside and ask them if the interiors remind them of Harry Potter films. Take them behind the constructing and present them the fountain.
When the entire above fails, allow them to get pleasure from a pleasant cone of ice cream that you could purchase from one of many stands in entrance of Rathaus.
Hamburg Dungeon
This one is for barely older kids as a result of those below 5 would possibly get too scared.
Hamburg Dungeon is a spot the place you possibly can take your kids on a wet day as a result of it’s indoors. It isn’t only a enjoyable place for kids however they can even study Hamburg’s historical past.
This identical tour is on each GetYourGuide (GYG) and Viator, so you possibly can e-book it from whichever web site you like.
Actors carry out a skit inside Hamburg Dungeon and showcase historic occasions such because the Black Plague, the Inquisition, and the Nice Hearth.
Don’t anticipate an excessive amount of historical past as a result of it’s extra of small bits right here and there with some enjoyable stuff. It’s alleged to be scary in a enjoyable approach.
Elbe Tunnel
Have you learnt that there’s a tunnel that goes below the Elbe River? I discovered that fascinating and I’m certain your kids will too. FYI: it requires a little bit of strolling, so in case you are with young children then you possibly can deliver a pram or a cycle with a seat.
The entry for the Elbe Tunnel is from Landungsbrücke, the place you’ll go on a raise to succeed in the tunnel. You’ll be able to deliver your bicycle with you on the raise.
Stroll to the opposite finish of the Elbe Tunnel and you’ll arrive at Steinwerder, which is on the opposite aspect of the Elbe River.
The Elbe Tunnel closes at 6 p.m., so please plan your time in a approach that you could come again to Landungsbrücke earlier than it closes.
Boat Tour from Landungsbrücken
Kids love getting on boats and my little woman had quite a lot of them after we did a ship journey. There are boat excursions that begin at completely different instances of the day however we picked an evening boat tour to see the lights.
If you’re going to Hamburg with youngsters in summer time then needless to say the solar units as late as 10 pm. So the night time boat excursions begin at 9:30 pm in summer time, which is likely to be too late for young children. We did it anyway with our 4 12 months previous and she or he someway stayed in temper.
It was thrilling for my little woman to see large container ships, and the way issues lit up with heat lights. She additionally noticed a theater entry space from the boat that was taking part in Disney’s Frozen or Die Eiskönigin.
Even in case you are reserving this tour on a scorching summer time day, please know that it’ll get very chilly at night time and Hamburg feels much more chilly as a result of it’s a windy metropolis. However the good factor is that the indoor sitting space was heat.
Worldwide Maritime Museum
I don’t suggest quite a lot of museums for kids as a result of I do know that not all the things could be attention-grabbing for little ones. The rationale I’m recommending Hamburg’s Worldwide Maritime Museum is as a result of there’s an exhibit with a million Lego blocks inside. It’s the Queen Mary II ship.
Other than the well-known Queen Mary II, there are 40,000 displays within the museum referring to Hamburg’s maritime historical past during the last 3000 years. Your kids can even meet pirates and study many issues.
There may be a whole ground that’s devoted to Marine Biology the place your youngsters can hearken to underwater audio samples.
The entry is EUR 17 and is free for kids under 7 years of age. Simply ensure that to hold their ID proof. There may be additionally a “household ticket” for EUR 20 for 1 grownup and as much as 4 kids.
Planten un Blomen
Planten un Blomen means “Vegetation ‘N Flowers”, and is a soothing park space close to the College of Hamburg with completely different sections the place kids of all ages may have enjoyable.
There’s a play space for kids, mini golf, and likewise a skate park. There are fountains, a Japanese backyard, a rose backyard, lakes, and eating places. Planten un Blomen additionally has Große Wallanlagen, which is the stays of Hamburg’s metropolis partitions.
In case you are visiting in the summertime months then carry a picnic mat and some snacks. You’ll be able to put up your mat dealing with the lake. There’s one thing particular right here for each season.
Within the winter months, you too can get pleasure from ice skating in Große Wallanlagen of the Planten un Blomen park.
Discovery Dock (briefly closed)
Discovery Dock is briefly closed, however I’d like to say it as an possibility in case it opens up on the time of your go to. It’s subsequent to the long-lasting live performance corridor – Elbphilharmonie.
Discovery Dock is a one-of-a-kind interactive exhibit of Hamburg’s port. There’s a 3D Port mannequin the place your kids can see water site visitors, put on VR headsets, and cargo the containers. The excursions are for 50 minutes every and are in each English and German.
Harry Potter Musical
Most kids (and adults) are Harry Potter followers and you can be pleased to know that you could watch a musical efficiency of Harry Potter and the Cursed Baby in Hamburg at “Mehr! Theater am Großmarkt”.
The Harry Potter music in Hamburg doesn’t happen on Mondays and Tuesdays. The tickets aren’t low cost and they’re the costliest on Saturdays. It’s price noting that it’s carried out solely within the German language.
In the event you’re going to Hamburg to have fun your little one’s birthday and wish to watch this musical with them, then it’s a good suggestion to e-book the tickets from earlier than as a result of they do promote out on sure dates.
Disney’s Musicals
Not each child is a Harry Potter fan however all kids are positively Disney followers. There may be Disney’s Lion King, Frozen (Die Eiskönigin), and Hercules which are carried out at Stage Theater an der Elbe in Hamburg.
Treasure Hunt by way of HafenCity (Kids Over 12)
HafenCity is among the areas of Hamburg that you’d positively wish to discover. It’s constructed on a river island of the Elbe River. The Warehouse district Speicherstadt and the Elbphilharmonie live performance corridor are each part of Hambnurg’s HafenCity.
In case you are in Hamburg with kids over the age of 12, you possibly can take part in a enjoyable solution to discover the HafenCity by collaborating in a treasure hunt. You’ll go on a puzzle-filled route in HafenCity and see town’s landmarks.
This treasure hunt is for two.5 hours, is top-rated, and might be booked on each GetYourGuide (GYG) and Viator. I usually use GYG however I perceive that Viator is extra fashionable amongst People.
Once you e-book this tour, you’ll get riddle tools and a guidebook, which can lead you thru the sport, and likewise a bottle of consuming water for the way in which.
I’m an grownup and but I like scavenger hunts. I’d love to do that with my little woman when she’s older.
Tierpark Hagenbeck
Tierpark in German means “Animal Park”, so Tierpark Hagenbeck is Hamburg’s zoo and aquarium the place you possibly can spend nearly a whole day along with your youngsters.
Tierpark Hagenbeck is owned and run by the Hagenbeck household and it was one of many first locations the place animals had been stored in moated and open enclosures.
Anticipate to see crocodiles, seals, penguins, African lions, leopards, zebras, Siberian tigers, elephants, kangaroos, walruses, and orangutans to call a couple of. There may be additionally a restaurant contained in the Tierpark.
I can be sincere, we didn’t go to Tierpark Hagenbeck on our 3 days in Hamburg however I’d nonetheless like to say it in case you’d wish to.
See the Swans of Alster Lake
Alster Lake is within the metropolis heart and you may arrive right here from Rathaus very simply. There are two Alster Lakes and they’re artificially shaped by the Alster River.
Sit subsequent to the lake on one of many benches to indicate your kids swans. There are benches across the lake and plenty of 20-somethings 12 months previous sit right here with music and Astra beer.
You too can e-book a sundown boat experience on Alster Lake in case you didn’t e-book the boat cruise that’s from Hamburg Harbour. This tour is on the outer Alster Lake and happens at sundown time. In case you are going with young children, then you must carry them in your lap on this boat.
Understand that it’s a small crusing boat and never like the huge boat that’s used for the harbor cruise, so it’s extra suited to barely older kids who can sit again patiently and luxuriate in.
For smaller kids, decide this boat cruise as a substitute of the crusing one.
Methods to transfer round in Hamburg?
Hamburg isn’t tiny so you possibly can’t cowl this metropolis by strolling, particularly in case you are there with kids. Listed here are the highest methods to maneuver round in Hamburg.
App Based mostly Scooters / Bikes
One of many best methods to maneuver round in Hamburg with youngsters is by renting app-based bikes with little one seats. For smaller distances, you too can use a scooter however don’t neglect to hold a helmet. We used each Tier and Bolt app-based providers. We regularly discovered bikes with little one seats.
S-Bahn and U-Bahn trains
Hamburg has an incredible system of public transport and native trains play an essential function. Each S-Bahn and U-Bahn cowl greater than 150 stations collectively and you may attain nearly anyplace utilizing simply these trains.
Buses
My 4-year-old liked bus rides in Hamburg as a result of these buses have bookshelves from the place you possibly can borrow books to make the journey enjoyable. Again in 2017 after I first visited town, I wrote a put up about attention-grabbing issues about Hamburg and buses with bookshelves featured in it.
The place to Keep in Hamburg with Children?
Having stayed in three completely different Superbude rooms throughout Hamburg, I’m in love with this chain of boutique accommodations and hostels. All the Superbude accommodations are wonderful and in case you are visiting Hamburg with household then Superbude Altona would be the greatest match as a result of it’s in a quieter neighborhood.
We had booked a “paradise suite” in Superbude Altona they usually had put up our little one’s mattress proper subsequent to ours and the association was very comfy for us.
Is Hamburg kid-friendly?
Sure, Hamburg is surprisingly very kid-friendly with many outside play areas and indoor points of interest for kids for all of the seasons. There are memorable issues to do for kids in Hamburg corresponding to visiting a chocolate manufacturing unit, seeing the world’s largest mannequin railway in Miniatur Wunderland, or only a boat cruise alongside the harbor.
Which space to keep away from in Hamburg with kids?
Hamburg has the most important Crimson Gentle district in Europe and it’s in Reeperbahn. In case you are visiting Hamburg with youngsters then keep away from this space. Hamburg can be a celebration metropolis and Reeperbahn performs an essential half in it. I even have a put up about Hamburg’s nightlife on my web site.
What number of days are sufficient in Hamburg with youngsters?
In my expertise one tends to journey at a sluggish tempo with kids and in that sense, e-book sufficient time and keep right here for at the very least 2-3 nights to get pleasure from what town has to supply.
Do individuals communicate English in Hamburg?
Hamburg is a German metropolis however has a global tradition and extra individuals communicate English than in different German cities.
In the event you communicate English and are going to go to a German metropolis, Hamburg is among the simpler ones to navigate and perceive due to its worldwide tradition.
Closing Ideas on Visiting Hamburg with Kids
Simply the way in which I had talked about in my Amsterdam with youngsters information, I say the identical for Hamburg that it is best to attempt your greatest to hire a bicycle or a motorbike with a toddler seat. I did plenty of Bolt bikes with Kindersits (little one seats) that had been parked within the metropolis heart. Bolt is an app-based bike rental firm that’s fashionable in Europe.
When you have greater kids then it is possible for you to to journey simply on trains, buses and on foot. Take issues sluggish and don’t stress about doing all the things potential.
A professional tip for touring with kids is to let each particular exercise be a shock in order that if by likelihood it isn’t potential, they received’t be heartbroken. In my expertise, kids get very disenchanted after we adults construct up pleasure for a enjoyable exercise for them and it doesn’t occur. When that occurs they may have a tantrum or a sudden anger outburst.
Put together a bag with sufficient snacks and water to maintain them hydrated and full.
Disclosure: I collaborated with Superbude Hamburg in 2017 and 2022. Nonetheless, all opinions expressed on this article are my very own.
PS: Drifter Planet accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. In the event you make a purchase order by way of these hyperlinks, we’ll earn a bit of fee at no additional value to you. We’re a participant within the Amazon Companies LLC Associates Program, an affiliate promoting program designed to offer a method for us to earn charges by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated websites.