Hotels
Hotels in Hamburg: eight places to stay, from the Alster to the harbour
Early evening on the Elbe, and a container ship the size of a city block slides past the Elbphilharmonie while people on the plaza above stop to watch. Twenty minutes' walk north, sailing dinghies drift across the Alster lake in the last of the light. Hamburg is a port and a lakeside city at once, and your hotel decides which one you live in.
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Hamburg is Germany's second city, home to almost two million people, and everything here turns towards water. In the middle lies the Alster, a lake split into a small inner basin and a much larger outer one, ringed by cafés, rowing clubs and handsome white villas. To the south runs the Elbe, with one of Europe's biggest ports, the new HafenCity district and the red-brick warehouses of the Speicherstadt.
It is more varied than many visitors expect. Around the Alster it is calm and polished, in HafenCity modern and airy, and in St. Pauli raw, loud and open all night. Flights from London take about ninety minutes, and trains link the city to the rest of Germany and to Copenhagen. We have chosen eight hotels across these districts and explain who each one suits. Links go to Hotels.com, and we always choose the hotel before the link.
In short: where to stay in Hamburg
On a first visit, stay by the Binnenalster or in Neustadt, where the Rathaus, the shops and the harbour are all on foot. HafenCity suits anyone who wants modern architecture and the Elbphilharmonie on the doorstep. For nightlife and harbour atmosphere, St. Pauli is the place, though not for early sleepers.
Our first choice: Vier Jahreszeiten. Check availability and prices
Best for romance: The Fontenay
Best for families: 25hours Hotel HafenCity
Best for a first visit: Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten
Best for value: East Hotel
Best for design: Tortue Hamburg
How to choose a hotel in Hamburg
Lake or river: the Alster brings calm and elegance, the Elbe brings ships, movement and views. Decide on the mood before you compare hotels.
St. Pauli after dark: the Reeperbahn and nearby streets stay busy late into the night at weekends. Ask for a courtyard room if you stay here.
Use public transport: the U-Bahn and S-Bahn are quick, and the harbour ferries on the Elbe are part of the ticket network, so you need not stay in the very centre.
Plan the Elbphilharmonie: concert tickets sell out fast, though the viewing plaza is open to everyone. Book the concert before the hotel if that is the point of the trip.
Watch the trade fair calendar: Hamburg hosts many fairs and conferences, and rates rise sharply when they are on, especially midweek.
The view
The view from Vier Jahreszeiten.
Around the Alster: grand hotels and sailing boats
The Binnenalster and the much larger Aussenalster are lined with the city's most elegant hotels, waterside promenades and jetty cafés, with the Rathaus and shopping streets a short walk away. In summer, Alster steamers run across the lake.
Vier Jahreszeiten: the classic view over the Binnenalster
Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten stands on Neuer Jungfernstieg, its facade facing the Binnenalster and the fountain in the middle of the water. The interior is traditional, with panelling, antiques and thick carpets, and many rooms look out over the lake.
This is Hamburg's best-known grand hotel and a safe choice for a first visit or a special occasion. The Rathaus, the shops and the Alster boats are minutes away on foot. If you want contemporary design and a more relaxed feel, look to HafenCity or to Tortue instead.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Vier Jahreszeiten
The terrace
The terrace at The Fontenay.
The Fontenay: curves of white on the Aussenalster
The Fontenay sits on the western shore of the Aussenalster, a white building of flowing curves that stands out among the villas around it. Rooms are bright and generous, with tall windows onto the water or the park, and the top floor holds a bar and restaurant looking across the whole lake.
It is our romantic pick, a hotel where you could spend a whole day between the spa, the pool and the view. It is right for couples and anyone who likes modern luxury. The centre is a long lakeside walk or a short taxi ride away, so you are a little removed from the busiest streets.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Fontenay
The building
Hotel Atlantic from the outside.
Hotel Atlantic: the white palace by St. Georg
Hotel Atlantic is a large white grand hotel on the Aussenalster, beside the St. Georg district and a few minutes from the main railway station. The public rooms are full of chandeliers, marble and high ceilings, and many bedrooms overlook the lake.
It is a strong pick for travellers arriving by train who want a classic grand hotel without straying far from the station. St. Georg has excellent cafés and restaurants along Lange Reihe. Some rooms are less recently refurbished than others, so book a lake-view category if the view matters.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Atlantic
The view
The view from The Westin.
HafenCity and Speicherstadt: warehouses, water and the Elbphilharmonie
HafenCity is a new district built on old dockland, all modern architecture and waterfront promenades. Next to it lies the Speicherstadt, a grid of red-brick warehouses built on timber piles between the canals and listed by UNESCO.
The Westin: inside the Elbphilharmonie
The Westin Hamburg occupies the floors of the Elbphilharmonie above the concert hall and the public plaza. Rooms have huge windows over the Elbe, the port and the city, and from some you watch ships slide past directly below.
The view is the reason to stay, and nothing else in Hamburg quite matches it. It appeals to concert-goers and anyone who wants a hotel with a story to tell. The interior is modern but more corporate than the building suggests, and it is a fair walk to the nearest U-Bahn.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Westin Hamburg
The lobby
The lobby at 25hours HafenCity.
25hours HafenCity: sea stories and cabin rooms
25hours Hotel HafenCity carries a maritime theme throughout, with rooms fitted out like ship's cabins, old sea chests and sailors' tales on the walls. It is playful without tipping into gimmick, and the restaurant and bar draw plenty of locals.
This is our family pick, because children tend to love the theme and the rooms are practical. It also works for friends on a weekend away. Miniatur Wunderland, the vast model railway in the Speicherstadt, is a short walk away. If classic calm is what you want, stay by the Alster.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at 25hours HafenCity
The view
The view from Ameron Speicherstadt.
Ameron Speicherstadt: an old trading house by the canals
Ameron Speicherstadt occupies a historic building at the edge of the Speicherstadt, with red-brick warehouses and canals right outside. The interior mixes warm colours, dark wood and details recalling the area's past as a hub for coffee and spice traders.
It is well suited to travellers who want to stay between HafenCity and the old centre, within walking distance of both. In the evening the canals are lit and quiet, one of the loveliest places in the city for an after-dinner stroll. There are fewer restaurants immediately around it than near the Alster.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Ameron Speicherstadt
The lounge
The lounge at Tortue.
Neustadt and St. Pauli: design, docks and nightlife
Neustadt sits between the Alster and the harbour, with offices, shops and the great church of St. Michaelis. Further west lies St. Pauli, famous for the Reeperbahn, the Landungsbrücken piers where the harbour ferries leave, and the Sunday morning fish market.
Tortue: French flair and colour in the Stadthöfe
Tortue is in the Stadthöfe, a block of historic buildings in Neustadt restored with shops and restaurants. The interior is colourful and lavish, inspired by Paris and Asia, with patterned wallpaper and plush seating.
It gets our vote as the design pick and the place for anyone who wants a hotel with real personality. Its bars and restaurants make it a meeting place in the evening, popular with couples and friends. Live music in the bars means the public spaces are not always quiet.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Tortue
St. Pauli
Street art and new buildings in St. Pauli, the neighbourhood around East.
East Hotel: a former iron foundry in St. Pauli
East Hotel was built inside an old iron foundry in St. Pauli, with high ceilings, soft organic shapes and warm colours in the rooms. Its bar and restaurant are popular meeting places, and the Reeperbahn and music venues are close by.
It takes our value pick among the design hotels, giving you plenty of style for the money and a base in the city's liveliest district. It suits couples and friends who plan to go out at night. Families and early sleepers would do better in another part of town.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at East Hotel
When to book
Summer and weekends: from May to September the waterfronts are busy, and weekends fill with visitors from across Germany.
Christmas markets: from late November the markets at the Rathaus and in several districts draw crowds. Book early.
Hafengeburtstag and trade fairs: the harbour's birthday festival in May and major fairs push rates up. Check the dates before booking.
Our first choice in Hamburg
Vier Jahreszeiten
We recommend the Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten because it is Hamburg's classic grand hotel, with its facade facing the Binnenalster. Inside are wood panelling, antiques and heavy carpets, and the town hall, the shops and the Alster boats are a few minutes away. It is a safe choice for a first visit or a special occasion.
Hotels in Hamburg: frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Hamburg for first-time visitors?
The Binnenalster or Neustadt, where the Rathaus, the shops and the harbour are within walking distance. HafenCity is a good alternative if you prefer something modern. All three areas are close to the main station and the S-Bahn, and many hotels sit by the water.
Is St. Pauli a safe area to stay in?
Yes, but it is lively and noisy at night, particularly around the Reeperbahn at weekends. Choose a hotel a block or two away from the main strip if you want to sleep. St. Pauli suits anyone who wants nightlife, the Fischmarkt on Sunday morning and a short walk to the harbour.
Can you stay in the Elbphilharmonie?
Yes, The Westin Hamburg occupies the floors above the concert hall. The viewing plaza is open to everyone, not just hotel guests. Entry to the Plaza viewing platform is free on the day, but you can book a fixed time online for a small fee.
How do you get from Hamburg airport to the city centre?
The S-Bahn runs from the airport to the main railway station in about 25 minutes, and most hotels are a short walk or ride from there. Buy tickets from the machines or in the HVV app, and they also cover the U-Bahn, buses and harbour ferries. The ferries on the Elbe are a cheap way to see the port.
How many days do you need in Hamburg?
Two or three days cover the Alster, the harbour, the Speicherstadt and a concert. With four you can add Blankenese and a boat trip down the Elbe. In summer it stays light late, and the Alster is lovely for a boat or kayak trip.