Best photo spots
Public Plaza at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg (View of the port and the city)
The Plaza is the central meeting place in the Elbphilharmonie and forms the link between the warehouse and the new structure. The viewing platform here is open to the public. Even getting to it is an experience: an 80-metre-long, slightly curved escalator transports visitors through the building. From the Plaza, 37 metres above the ground, a stunning panoramic view over the city and port opens up before the viewer. An outside walkway leads around the entire building. Inside, there is the hotel lobby, the Elbphilharmonie shop, a dining area and the stairways to the concert halls.
Lombardsbrücke (View of the city and the Alster lake)
While the port denies the Elbe a moment’s peace, the Alster creates Hamburg’s idyllic centre. Quiet and beautiful, the Alster provides you with a far-reaching view in the heart of the city centre – a view of Hamburg’s magnificent Kontorhaus buildings and luxury hotels on the banks of the Inner Alster Lake, and a view of tree-lined parks and promenades on the banks of the larger Outer Alster Lakes.
Town hall
Built between 1886 and 1897, Hamburg’s town hall dominates the city centre with its impressive architecture and its 112 metre-high tower. This magnificent sandstone Neo-Renaissance building is the seat of the Hamburg Senate and the Hamburg State Parliament. It has 647 rooms and its façade displays the statues of twenty kings and emperors of the old German Empire. The representative halls and back rooms can be viewed only on guided tours. Also worth seeing is the fountain of Hamburg’s patron goddess Harmonia in the town hall’s courtyard.
Jungfernstieg (View of the Alster lake)
The Jungfernstieg, Hamburg's most famous boulevard, is located right in the centre of Hamburg on the southern shore of the Inner Alster. In the old days, families would take their Sunday walks here, parading their unmarried daughters (or Jungfern). Today the Jungfernstieg is a popular destination for locals and tourists for shopping and strolling. The public stairs just opposite the magnificent Alsterhaus department store are the perfect place to relax beside the Inner Alster Lake. From here, the Alster ferries set off to the Outer Alster Lake.
St Pauli Fischmarkt (View of the port)
Each Sunday as the sun rises, crowds of early birds and night owls make their way to the St Pauli Fischmarkt. On this historic square on the Elbe, countless booth traders loudly extol their fresh fruit and veg, clothes and bric-a-brac. Having been won over by the humour and quick wit of the vendors, many visitors have found themselves leaving the market square with oversized potted flowers and bags full of smoked and fresh fish. Behind the fish auction hall you have a beautiful view of the landing Bridge.
Magellan Terraces (View of the HafenCity an the Elbphilharmonie)
Hamburg is reinventing itself – and grasping a unique opportunity to grow its city centre by around 40 percent. HafenCity Hamburg, the largest urban development project in Europe, is being built on 157 hectares in the former harbour district. Located directly on the Elbe and directly at the port, a new city district is being created to provide a unique mix of culture and leisure, urban living and working, shopping and dining. With its parks, squares and promenades, the HafenCity offers highly attractive urban spaces.
Stintfang (View of the port)
At the St Pauli Landungsbrücken you can take the stairs leading up to the international youth hostel “Am Stintfang” with its forecourt that gives you an amazing panoramic view of the Elbphilharmonie and the port of Hamburg.
Viewpoint Steinwerder (View of the city skyline and the port)
There is a nice viewpoint after walking through the Old Elbe Tunnel, which was opened in 1911. A lift takes you down to the cool depth of this historic building structure, where two white-tiled tubes lead you underneath the Elbe to the other side. You can either walk or cycle, while the River Elbe rages a good 20 metres above your head. Upon exiting the tunnel from the other side, you get great views of Elbphilharmonie, St. Pauli, ,the HafenCity Hamburg