Boat Tours and Cruises in Hamburg

Hamburg was founded in the Middle Ages as a port city and since then has contributed to the economic development of Germany. During the golden age of international trade, the port took up a tenth of the city centre and today it is still home to one of the world's most important maritime connection points, which also gives rise to cruise ships and their wide variety of options.

Among the best things to do in Hamburg to discover the city's attractions are cruise tours, which take you around the harbour by day and night, on cheese and wine tasting excursions, around the Alster Lake and even around the region's main docks, allowing you to see the destination from a different perspective, with stops at the most visited sites.

Hamburg is known as Germany's Gateway to the World, and that's because it was for a long time the country's busiest port for international trade. Today, the waterfront is one of the most visited areas of the city and taking a cruise around the harbour is the traditional way of getting to know it.

These excursions will allow you to get to know the magnitude of the port in a tour lasting approximately one hour. During the tour you will be able to see Speicherstadt, the world's largest wooden stilt warehouse district, and the iconic Elbe River Tunnel from the water. From the deck, you can also enjoy sweeping views of the old town and the container port, which stretches along the horizon.

Near the departure area of the cruise you can also see the Elbe Philharmonic building, the city's famous concert hall, which has one of the best acoustics in the world and is surprising for its unique design, which combines the tradition of the port warehouses with avant-garde architecture. This structure is usually included in the tours of the best tours of Hamburg.

Also, keep in mind that this is an ideal experience to get to know a different side of the city quickly, which is ideal if you are planning a short stay in the city or if you want to combine this excursion with another land-based tour to see different perspectives of Hamburg's sights.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 25 euros per person.
• Duration: about 1 hour.
• Advantages of these tours: you will get a panoramic view of the harbour on one of Hamburg's traditional tours.
• Disadvantages of these tours: they don't usually include stops and because of the length of the tour you won't get to see many of the coastal sites.

One of the best views of Hamburg is from the water once the sun goes down. With these tours you can discover the nocturnal beauty of this destination and marvel at the illuminated city at night, on a route that takes you from the port of departure to the Zollkanal or Customs Canal, one of the most visited sites on the river Elbe.

The itineraries of these tours usually allow you to discover HafenCity, the local Philharmonic, the mythical red brick warehouses of Speicherstadt and even the traditional structure of the International Maritime Museum, which is unanimously considered one of the best museums in Hamburg.

During the tour you can opt for the assistance of a multilingual audio guide and live commentary that will review the history of the various attractions as you pass by. Note also that this tour will allow you to discover the city's urban lights, making this a totally different experience from the daytime tours.

If you plan to visit Hamburg during the Christmas season, you will also be able to discover the best Christmas Eve decorations from the cruise deck, including some of the world's most famous giant fir trees decorated with garlands and lights, as Germany has a tradition of decorating trees during the festive season as a way of celebrating.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 28 euros per person.
• Duration: about 1 hour.
• Advantages of these tours: you will get to see a different side of the city by night and at the same time discover some of Hamburg's most famous buildings.
• Disadvantages of these tours: although you will get to see the city's skyline at night, it is a completely different tour than during the day because many sites are not visible after sunset.

The river Elbe and gastronomy are two of the city's popular resources for attracting visitors, and on these tours you can combine both aspects. In addition, with these tours that start in the late afternoon, you can also discover the sunset from the deck of the cruise ship, while tasting local cheeses and wines, which are usually white and red.

During the tour you will be assisted by an expert local guide and you will be able to watch the sunset, but also some of the gothic buildings that make the old town famous. Among them, you will be able to make out the unmistakable silhouette of the bell tower of the Church of San Miguel. You will also be able to see the Elbe Philharmonic and the Speicherstadt historic district, which was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Please note that if you are planning to visit Hamburg in winter, these tours often change their timetable, as the sunset is substantially earlier. This should be considered if you want to combine this experience with a visit to someof the city's best museums, such as the Kunsthalle or the International Maritime Museum, which is located in an area close to the cruise port.

Please note that if you have any dietary restrictions, you should inform the tour provider in advance, ideally at the time of booking. However, these experiences often include vegan or gluten-free options for visitors.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 38 euros per person, including local cheese and wine tasting.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Advantages of these tours: you will be able to combine two of Hamburg's main attractions, which is the harbour life and the gastronomy.
• Disadvantages of these tours: while they will allow you to tour the main sites of Hamburg, they do not include stops at the nearby docks.

If you want to take part in a different experience that doesn't consist of visiting the Elbe River but rather the Alster Lake, Hamburg's most famous lake, you can opt for a city cruise on this pond, which is part of the daily activities of this destination. During the tour, you can also sail past the Alster Fountain and under the iconic Lombard Bridge, directly into the serene Outer Alster.

This cruise will also take you through some of the city's most popular residential areas, allowing you to discover iconic buildings such as the Atlantic Hotel, the Blue Mosque, the US Consulate General and the historic Vier Jahreszeiten Hotel.

If you plan to visit Hamburg at Christmas, you'll also be able to spot the giant fir tree, which stands with its decorations in the centre of the Alster in December and which, according to tradition, is a tribute to the city, which in the Middle Ages started the custom of putting up Christmas trees on the eve of the holiday.

The itinerary on the lake will also give you a glimpse of the natural life on the shores of the lake, which will surprise you with its diversity. From the deck of the boat you will be able to see the native birds that inhabit the area, as well as the strange plants that adorn the shore, creating a fusion between the urban and the natural.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 20 euros per person.
• Duration: about 1 hour.
• Advantages of these tours: you will get to know one of the most popular places for locals in Hamburg from a different perspective.
• Disadvantages of these tours: if you plan to travel in winter you should be aware that some parts of the lake are often closed due to freezing and others are closed because they are reserved for other activities.

If you prefer to explore cities at your own pace and want to see the city's harbour skyline, the hop-on-hop-off cruise could be just the thing for you. With this alternative you can immerse yourself in the culture and maritime atmosphere of this place, while touring the historic Speicherstadt and the modern HafenCity. The barge makes nine strategic stops at iconic tourist sites.

The versatility of this tour is its distinguishing feature, as once you buy a ticket you can hop on and off the boat as many times as you like throughout the day. Stops include popular sites such as the Elbe Philharmonic, BallinStadt and the International Maritime Museum, which is considered one of Hamburg's best museums. You can also visit Miniatur Wunderland and the eclectic interactive exhibition at Cap San Diego.

During the cruise you will have access to an audio guide in several languages, allowing you to discover the history of each of the sites you visit. You will also be able to download an app with information about the tourist attractions located in the areas surrounding the stops.

Hamburg hop-on-hop-off cruise stops

• Landing Bridges / Bridge 10
• Elbe Island / Wilhelmsburg
• BallinStadt
• Hafenmuseum Hamburg
• International Maritime Museum
• Elbe Philharmonic Hall
• Speicherstadt / Wunderland / Dungeon
• Cape San Diego
• Landing Bridge 10

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 22 euros per person.
• Duration: about 1.5 hours for the total circular tour and you will have 24 hours from activation to get on and off the boat as many times as you like.
• Advantages of these excursions: you can explore the city at your own pace and organise your own itinerary.
• Disadvantages of these tours: although you will have a full day to use the trips, you will have to opt for a very intense tour to visit the sites at each of the stops in detail.

You can book Hamburg cruise tours in advance online or when you are in the city. Be aware, however, that if you plan to travel during the summer or during peak season months, tour locations may sell out, which will hinder your tour or force you to reschedule your itinerary. This could be detrimental to a short stay.

Also, booking in advance can save you money, as fares are dynamic and last-minute bookings tend to increase in price. Many activities also include priority or skip-the-line tickets to Hamburg's best museums and other key buildings, such as the Elbe Philharmonic, which will also help you save time and avoid wasting time buying tickets at the box office.

On this type of tour you'll essentially get to see the sweeping views of the city from the Elbe River, as well as some of the city's most popular buildings and neighbourhoods. If you opt for the night tours, you will also have the opportunity to discover the illuminated skyline of this destination.

Some of these tours, such as the hop on-hop off cruise, will give you the opportunity to see the main sites of the city, organised in strategic stops at the best museums, neighbourhoods and buildings. Combine this tour with the Hamburg sightseeing bus tour and you'll be able to cover the whole city.

If you're planning to visit the city during the summer or during peak season months, it's advisable to book tours in advance, as this way you can secure your place on the experiences and avoid delays or last-minute price increases. Also, cruise tours are often included among the best tours in Hamburg, so they tend to sell out quickly.

If, on the other hand, you plan to tour Hamburg during the winter, bear in mind that the crowds are substantially less crowded, which may prevent you from booking in advance, although the weather is often very cold, which may change tour itineraries or force cancellations. Also consider that the temperature on the ship will be very low.

Hamburg is a city that centres its development around the port, it even became one of the most important commercial tributaries in Europe and a large part of the exchange of European products currently circulates along the Elbe River, so on a cruise excursion in this destination you will get to know its true idiosyncrasy and its origins, which date back to the Middle Ages.

In addition, some of the city's most important tourist attractions are located around the port, such as the Elbe Philharmonic and the International Maritime Museum. These experiences also offer the ideal opportunity to experience the city's history from its best vantage point. Are you ready to get on board?