Hamburg by Train

Getting to Hamburg

From Hamburg Airport, take S-Bahn to Hamburg Hbf. Explore routes like Hamburg to Sylt or Berlin-Hamburg. Book via DB Navigator.

Hamburg Hauptbahnhof (Central Station)

One of Germany’s busiest stations with over 450,000 passengers daily. Perfectly located in the city center, just minutes from the Alster lakes and shopping district.

Major Train Connections:

• Berlin: ICE trains every 30 minutes, 1h 45min
• Copenhagen: Direct trains, 4h 50min
• Frankfurt: ICE trains hourly, 4 hours
• Munich: ICE trains hourly, 5h 45min
• Amsterdam: Direct ICE trains, 5h 30min
• Basel/Zürich: Night train available

Hamburg-Altona Station

Major station in western Hamburg, terminus for many long-distance trains from the south. Well-connected to the city center by S-Bahn (10 minutes to Hauptbahnhof).

From Hamburg Airport

Hamburg Airport is connected by S-Bahn line S1. Journey to Hauptbahnhof takes 25 minutes. Trains run every 10 minutes. Ticket cost: €3.70 (included in Hamburg public transport zones).

Pro Tip

The Hamburg-Berlin route is extremely popular and competitive. Book 1-2 weeks in advance for Sparpreis tickets as low as €17.90. Trains run every 30 minutes, so you have lots of flexibility.

Hamburg Public Transport

S-Bahn & U-Bahn Network

Hamburg has 6 S-Bahn lines and 4 U-Bahn lines. The S-Bahn connects the airport, main stations, and suburbs. U-Bahn covers the inner city efficiently. Key routes:

• S1: Airport ↔ Hauptbahnhof ↔ Altona ↔ Blankenese (Elbe views)
• S3: Connects Hauptbahnhof with Neugraben and Stade
• U3: Hauptbahnhof ↔ Landungsbrücken (Harbor) ↔ Baumwall (Speicherstadt)

Harbor Ferries

Hamburg’s harbor ferries (lines 61-73) are part of the public transport system! Regular HVV tickets are valid. Line 62 is popular for sightseeing along the Elbe, connecting Landungsbrücken with Finkenwerder.

Ticket Options

• Single Ticket: €3.70 (inner zones, 2 hours)
• Day Ticket: €8.40 (unlimited travel until 6 AM next day)
• Hamburg Card: €11.50/day (transport + attraction discounts)
• Group Ticket (after 9 AM): €13.20 for up to 5 people

Understanding Rings

Hamburg uses a ring system (A, B, C, D). Most attractions are in rings A+B. The airport is in ring A+B, making it easy with standard tickets.

Important

Validate your ticket before boarding! Hamburg has frequent ticket inspections, especially on S-Bahn and harbor ferries. Fines are €60. Tickets from machines are usually pre-validated, but check the timestamp.

Hamburg’s Top Attractions

Speicherstadt

Transport: U3 to Baumwall
From Hbf: 5 minutes

UNESCO World Heritage warehouse district. Visit Miniatur Wunderland and the Spicy’s Gewürzmuseum.

Landungsbrücken

Transport: S1/S3 or U3 to Landungsbrücken
From Hbf: 5 minutes

Historic harbor piers. Take a harbor tour or ferry ride. Sunday fish market (5-9:30 AM).

Elbphilharmonie

Transport: U3 to Baumwall + 10 min walk
From Hbf: 15 minutes total

Iconic concert hall with free observation platform. Book Plaza tickets online in advance (free but limited).

Alster Lakes

Transport: S-Bahn to Hauptbahnhof
From Hbf: 5-minute walk

Inner and Outer Alster lakes perfect for walks, boat tours, or paddle boats in summer.

Reeperbahn

Transport: S1/S3 to Reeperbahn
From Hbf: 10 minutes

Famous entertainment district. Mix of nightlife, theaters, and Beatles history. Lively after dark.

Planten un Blomen

Transport: S11/S21/S31 to Dammtor
From Hbf: 5 minutes

Beautiful park with Japanese garden, water light concerts (May-Sep evenings), and free entry.

Day Trips from Hamburg

Lübeck

Duration: 45 minutes by regional train
Ticket: From €14 or Schleswig-Holstein Ticket (€30 for up to 5 people)

UNESCO World Heritage old town with stunning brick Gothic architecture. Famous for marzipan (Niederegger). Walk the Holstentor gate and enjoy the medieval atmosphere. Perfect half-day trip.

Bremen

Duration: 1 hour by regional train
Ticket: From €19.90 or Niedersachsen Ticket (€26 for up to 5 people)

Another Hanseatic city with its own UNESCO old town. See the famous Town Musicians statue, Roland monument, and Schnoor quarter. Smaller and quieter than Hamburg.

Sylt Island

Duration: 3 hours by train (car shuttle through Hindenburgdamm)
Ticket: Schleswig-Holstein Ticket (€30 for up to 5 people)

Germany’s most exclusive beach resort. Long sandy beaches, dunes, and seafood restaurants. The train journey itself is spectacular - you ride across the causeway to the island!

Schwerin

Duration: 1 hour by regional train
Ticket: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Ticket (€26 for up to 5 people)

Stunning lakeside castle (Schwerin Palace) that looks like a fairytale. Beautiful old town and seven lakes surround the city. Less touristy but equally impressive.

Frequently Asked Questions