Saint Michaelis Church is one of Hamburg's five main Lutheran churches. This important landmark church is a gorgeous example of baroque architecture. Most of Hamburg's churches were built as Roman Catholic Churches and then converted to Protestant churches; however, Saint Michaelis is one of Hamburg's few purpose-built Protestant churches.

The church is dedicated to the Archangel Michael, and a large bronze statue representing Saint Michael stands above the church's portal. The impressive baroque clock tower is 132 meters tall (433 feet). The clock tower is covered in copper and serves as a landmark for ships entering the Elbe River.

A church has stood on this site since 1647. The current Saint Michaelis Church was built in 1786. Saint Michaelis underwent reconstruction after a 1906 fire, and after WWII bombs damaged it.

Johannes Brahms, the famous composer and pianist, was baptized in Saint Michaelis in 1833.

Saint Michaelis is the largest church in Hamburg and can seat 2.500. The marble pulpit features an impressive staircase. The white marble baptismal font represents a seashell. The marble altar is 20 meters (65 feet) tall and features three scenes from the life of Jesus.

The large crypt has over 2,000 grave chambers. The crypt was used as a shelter during WWII and is now used for concerts and church services.

Visitors can access the 106-meter-tall (348 foot) observational platform using the elevator or stairs. The view from the top is spectacular.

The Old Elb Tunnel first opened in 1911. The 426-meter-long (1,398 foot) tunnel runs 24 meters (80 feet) underneath the river's surface. It was the first river tunnel on the continent.

The Old Elb Tunnel is open to vehicle traffic and pedestrians and connects central Hamburg with the docks and shipyards on the River Elbe's south side.

When the tunnel opened in 1911, it was a scientific marvel. Moreover, it considerably improved daily life for the tens of thousands of workers who could cross the river and reach their workplaces much more efficiently.

The tunnel is under the water table of the Elbe River, and work was completed under pressure to keep water from flooding the construction.

The tunnel is open 24/7 for pedestrians and bicycles and is open during the day for vehicle traffic. Six lifts carry pedestrians and vehicles to the tunnel.

The tunnel hosts an art exhibition. In addition, the Elbtunnel-Marathon takes place on the tunnel. Visitors can admire the original walls, which are decorated and display river themes such as fish and crabs.

Why You Should Visit:
The Old Elbe Tunnel represents a feat of engineering. It's free to pedestrians and provides an exciting look at the tunnel's architecture.

Tips:
After crossing the tunnel, visitors can enjoy views of the Elbe River and the harbor.

Saint Pauli Piers offers historic waterfront buildings and stunning views. The first pier was built in 1839 and served as a steamship terminal. The piers now connect more modern transportation options. The current floating piers were originally built in 1907 and rebuilt in the 1950s after World War II bombs damaged them.

The floating jetty is 700 meters (2297 feet) long. This vibrant waterfront area draws visitors to see the busy harbor upfront, take pictures, and enjoy the scenery. The piers are connected to the city by ten movable bridges. Hop on a ferry or catamaran and take a tour of the harbor. If you have tickets to The Lion King, you can get ferry transport to the production's musical island.

The 205-meter-long (672-foot) terminal building features two distinct green domes. On the attractive Saint Pauli Piers promenade, visitors can find restaurants, cafes, and bars along the piers. Visitors can also enter the Old Elbe tunnel from the piers.

Miniature Wonderland is home to the world’s largest model railway. The layout includes 16,491 meters of track operated by more than 1,230 digitally controlled trains. A sophisticated lighting system creates realistic day-and-night cycles across the entire model world. Visitors move through a sequence of interconnected rooms, each dedicated to a different region or theme.

The fictional town of Knuffingen, known for its fully functioning road system with moving cars, forms a playful centerpiece. Surrounding it are detailed landscapes representing Germany, including the Harz Mountains and parts of central and southern Germany, as well as Austria and the Alps, Switzerland, Italy, Scandinavia, the United States, South America, Hamburg, and Hamburg Airport. The Austrian Alps feature dramatic mountain scenery and a multi-level helix, while the Swiss Alps rise several meters high.

In the Scandinavian section, ships navigate real water basins, with tidal changes that shift regularly to recreate coastal conditions. The Hamburg section is the largest city model in the exhibition, recreating the harbor, bridges, and major landmarks in dense detail, with hundreds of trains moving through the miniature city each day. Nearby, Knuffingen Airport showcases one of Miniature Wonderland’s most complex technical achievements, with aircraft taxiing, taking off, and landing under automated control.

The United States section includes Las Vegas, illuminated by tens of thousands of lights, alongside scenes inspired by Cape Canaveral, the Florida Keys, the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, and Yosemite National Park. Italy features Rome and Tuscany, with Mount Vesuvius periodically erupting, and an especially elaborate Venice, where gondolas glide beneath dozens of bridges through finely recreated canals. The recently completed Monaco & Provence section introduces a highly complex Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit. The exhibition continues to expand, with new large-scale landscapes and environments regularly added.

Tips: Backstage tours offer insight into the technology behind the scenes. Visiting on weekdays is recommended to avoid the largest crowds.

Hamburg’s Warehouse District is one of the most impressive historic warehouse complexes in the world. Built on thousands of timber-pile foundations, the warehouses were constructed between 1883 and 1927 as part of Hamburg’s free port area, allowing goods to be stored customs-free. Today, the district is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The warehouses were built directly alongside the Elbe’s tidal channels, with narrow waterways, known locally as Fleete, running between the buildings. This layout allowed ships to dock directly at the warehouses, making loading and unloading goods such as coffee, tea, spices, and carpets highly efficient.

Architecturally, the warehouses are characterized by their Neo-Gothic brick facades, constructed from red brick and enriched with towers, gables, alcoves, and decorative detailing. Most buildings rise seven to eight stories and were designed with entrances on both the waterside and the landside, reflecting their dual role in maritime and urban trade. While some buildings still serve storage and commercial purposes, others now house museums, creative spaces, and attractions.

Visitors should not miss Miniature Wonderland, which lies just to the right after crossing Brooks Bridge when facing south. From here, continue southward along the canal-side walkway, where the route opens toward Schöne Aussicht, a waterside street known for its views across the canals and historic brick warehouses. Shortly after passing the bridge, you will notice the Old Boiler House on your left-hand side. This former industrial building once served the district’s technical infrastructure and today stands as a reminder of the area’s working past.

After the old city hall was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1842, it took 55 years for a new one to be completed, with construction of the present Hamburg City Hall concluding in 1897. Its richly decorated exterior follows a Neo-Renaissance style, and the building occupies some 17,000 m², with a tower rising to 112 meters. Hamburg City Hall contains over 647 rooms, a number chosen to surpass those of the British Parliament and underline the city’s confidence and prosperity. Today, the building serves as the seat of Hamburg’s parliament, mayor, and senate.

The elaborate facade includes 20 statues of emperors, and the main entrance’s wrought-iron gate leads into a hall supported by 16 sandstone pillars bearing 68 portraits of notable citizens. On a guided tour, visitors can see the grand staircase of Sardinian marble, symbolizing the journey of life, as well as the Kaisersaal and other state rooms, which contain paintings and decorative elements celebrating Hamburg’s history. The Grand Ballroom features large paintings depicting the city’s past, complemented by impressive chandeliers. While not visible to visitors, the Senate chamber’s glass roof evokes the ancient tradition of open-air council meetings.

The lobby is used for exhibitions and concerts, while the balcony mosaic displays Hamburg’s coat of arms and motto alongside Hammonia, the female personification of the city. In the inner courtyard stands the Hygieia Fountain, a tribute to health and hygiene installed after the cholera epidemic of 1892. The building rests on thousands of oak piles driven deep into the marshy ground of the Alster basin.