Getting from Hamburg Airport (HAM) to the city center is straightforward — just take the S-Bahn S1 directly to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof. Explore our Hamburg city guide and discover routes like Hamburg to Sylt.
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way
✅ S-Bahn S1 (Recommended)
- • Duration: 25-30 minutes
- • Cost: ~€3.40 (single ticket)
- • Frequency: Every 10 minutes
- • Destination: Hamburg Hauptbahnhof (main station)
Step-by-Step Guide
Find the S-Bahn Station
The S-Bahn station is located directly at the airport terminal. Follow signs to "S-Bahn" or "Regionalbahnhof". It's well signposted and easy to find.
Buy Your Ticket
You can buy tickets at:
- • Ticket machines at the station (cash or card)
- • HVV app (Hamburg public transport app)
- • DB Navigator app
Select "Hamburg Hauptbahnhof" as your destination. A single ticket costs around €3.40.
Validate Your Ticket
Important! If you bought a paper ticket from a machine, you must validate it in the red/yellow Entwerter machine before boarding. Look for the validation machines near the platform entrance.
Digital tickets from apps usually don't need validation — just show them on your phone.
Take the S-Bahn S1
Board the S-Bahn S1 in the direction of "Wedel" or "Hauptbahnhof". Make sure it's going towards the city center, not away from it.
The train runs every 10 minutes and takes about 25-30 minutes to reach Hamburg Hauptbahnhof.
Ticket Options
Single Ticket
- • Cost: ~€3.40
- • Valid for: One journey to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof
- • Best for: One-way trips
Day Ticket
- • Cost: ~€6.80
- • Valid for: All day on all public transport in Hamburg
- • Best for: If you'll use public transport multiple times
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- • Forgetting to validate: If you have a paper ticket, validate it before boarding or risk a €60 fine
- • Wrong direction: Make sure the S1 is going towards "Wedel" or "Hauptbahnhof", not away from the city
- • Wrong ticket type: Make sure you buy a ticket that covers the entire journey to Hauptbahnhof
Alternative: Taxi or Ride-Sharing
If you prefer a taxi or ride-sharing service (Uber, Bolt), the journey takes about 20-30 minutes depending on traffic, but costs significantly more (€30-50). The S-Bahn is usually faster and much cheaper.
Book Long-Distance Trains in English
Once you're in Hamburg, if you need to travel to other German cities, Omio makes booking long-distance trains easy in English.
Book with OmioPrice Disclaimer: All prices mentioned on this page are non-binding and subject to change. Prices are examples only and may vary depending on booking time, route, and availability. Current and binding prices are available exclusively on the official websites of the respective providers (e.g., bahn.com or omio.com).