Sitting on the River Elbe, Hamburg is known today as a port city, financial hub and hometown of German chancellor Angela Merkel. However, Hamburg's dramatic history belies the sense of calm you get from the city today. From tales of pirates and the Hanseatic League, to WWII air raids and the Great Fire, this 2.5-hour Hamburg Free Tour will show you how the city developed its special character, that sets it apart from the rest of Germany.
Your Free Tour of Hamburg starts at the Town Hall Square (Rathausmarkt) and finishes in HafenCity. Hamburg has always been open to adventurers and travelers from across the world, and we welcome you to enjoy its history, drama, and wild nights.
The city that was rebuilt again and again
Hamburg has had its fair share of hard times. From the Great Fire in 1842 to the allied bombing of the city at the end of WWII. After eight days of bombing, Hamburg was virtually destroyed. Today, we will show you some of the only remnants of what Hamburg looked like before 1943.
Hamburg’s great port
You might hear about Hamburg’s port once or twice on this tour but we can't help it - it has existed as long as the city has! Its strategic location means that it has been Central Europe's main port for centuries. In 1356, the Hanseatic League was established to protect economic interests and diplomatic privileges of merchants from affiliated cities and countries.
Hamburg is also home to the Speicherstadt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest warehouse district in the world. If you are keen on finding out more about this beautiful area, hop on our Speicherstadt and HafenCity tour!
Free Tour concept
The tips-based model of the Free Tour allows guests to support and reward only the highest quality tours, and to ensure that the tour fits within their expectations, and within their budget.
The Hamburg Free Tour starts at the Town Hall Square (Rathausmarkt) in front of the Starbucks
See Hamburg’s magnificent City Hall that still houses its original governmental functions
Learn about the WWII bombing of Hamburg that destroyed the city
Visit Hamburg's medieval Church of St Peter
Walk along Deichstrasse and discover how the Great Fire of Hamburg started here
See St Nicholas Church, the second tallest structure in the city
Visit the inland port of Hamburg that is the oldest function part of the area
Stroll along the riverbanks of HafenCity
Cross the Trostbrücke bridge that runs through the medieval part of the city
TOUR SCHEDULES
Today
This tour doesn‘t run today
PHOTOS
Hamburg City Hall
HafenCity and the Elbphilharmonie
Inclusions & exclusions
What’s included
Local English-speaking guide
What’s not included
Gratuities for the guide (optional)
Additional Information
Our business is connecting great guides and smart travelers, and we're proud to help so many local guides welcome travelers like you on their journey through some of the world's best cities. No two tours are alike, and the sites, stories, and length of the tour will vary depending on what your guide decides is best. That's why the tours we promote never get stale or feel scripted, and why savvy travelers prefer SANDEMANs
Wheelchair accessible
MAP
The Free Tour starts at Town Hall Square (Rathausmarkt) in front of the StarbucksOpen in Google Maps
HafenCity
Deichstraße
St. Peter's Church
St. Nicholas' Church
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Tour usually ends here
Tour usually covers
Customer reviews
Wonderful free tour
We did the free tour with Evan last week and LOVED it. Not only was Evan very knowledgeable, but was well spoken and had a great variety of places to see. One of the best tours my wife and I have been on in Europe. Wonderful tour - would do it again or another one of his tours.
The English Hamburg Free Tour and the St Pauli Walking Tour with Eddy were both amazing experiences. Probably the best way to get to know the most important points in the city while also learning interesting information that is not available in your typical guidebooks.
We highly recommend the SANDEMANs free tour of Hamburg, as we got to see lots of interesting places of the "HafenCity", and our tour guide Alex was a very lively and fun guy.
Very informative and interesting tour! Learnt a lot and found some new places to explore. Would definitely recommend these guys for a tour of Hamburg and already looking at my next trip to see if they do tours there!
I had an amazing experience with the free tour in Hamburg! Our tour guide Alex was amazing, he explained everything very well! I recommend it to everyone as an essential tour to do.
The Free Tour is the best introduction to Hamburg! A general overview tour including many of the highlights of the city, the Free Tour usually lasts around 2 hours and is led by a superb local tour leader, so tour content can vary depending on your tour leader’s particular area of interest and expertise.
The Free Tour is a walking tour with no need for public transport and is designed for independent travelers, not groups. You can book your spot in advance online or simply show up at the start point on the day. There is no payment necessary at the start of the tour but you are welcome to tip your guide at the end!
We believe in supporting local communities and are committed to giving a voice to some of Hamburg's best local freelance tour leaders, who passionately share the city's history and culture with their own unique and always-entertaining style. They'll never pressure you to tip; we believe that, if money is given, it should be voluntary and in direct proportion to the quality of the tour and the budget of the traveler.
Why join the SANDEMANs FREE Tour?
The route covers many of Hamburg's major landmarks
The meeting point is centrally located in Rathausmarkt (City Hall Square)
The Free Tour is guaranteed to fit within your budget
The guides performing tips-based Free Tours are incentivized to perform every time
Party in some of the best bars and clubs along Hamburg’s Reeperbahn!
Info & Booking
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Customise Your Private Tour!
Tell us the landmarks, stories or parts of the city you want to see, how long you have to see them and when you want to go, and we’ll build an itinerary that suits you.
Enjoy a comprehensive overview of Hamburg's fascinating history and must-see sites with your private ...
Info & Booking
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Participation in tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe is strictly on a voluntary basis. Neither SANDEMANs NEW Europe, its staff members, nor any of the freelance guides we work with will be held responsible in any way for injuries to body or property incurred during tours. The tour guides and tour leaders reserve the right to deny participation in any tour, to any person, for any reason. Thank you for your understanding.
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