Things to do with kids in Hamburg

Things to do with kids in Hamburg

1. DoSouth

   Atmos

   Wellness with bio sauna (75°C), Finnish sauna (90°C) and outdoor sauna, indoor and outdoor pool, hot tub, etc. Drinks except alcohol are included in the entrance fee. In line with the German sauna culture, facilities are to be used naked for hygiene reasons, and swimwear is not allowed. Towels, bathrobes, and slippers are provided and included in the entrance fee. With a focus on relaxation and quietness, children are not permitted.

   13:00 - 04:00 daily·EUR 75

2. SeeSouth

   BallinStadt Auswanderwelt Hamburg

   BallinStadt — History of Emigration

   It was built in 1892 under the guidance of Albert Ballin to provide medical care and accommodation to migrants, who were emigrating to the United States on HAPAG ships. The complex was converted into a museum, though its original design and layout is not the same because parts of the complex were destroyed. The museum is dedicated to the 5 million people who emigrated via Hamburg. It has a computer terminal where visitors can look up information on their emigrant ancestors. At €12 (children: 5-12: €7, family: €25), it's pricey, and the English translations can be sparse and superficial. Unless they can read the German documents, American visitors who have been to museums such as Ellis Island will find much of the content familiar.

3. SeeEast

   Bergedorf City Hall

   Rathaus Bergedorf

   This castle-like villa was built in 1898-99 and has hosted the city government of Bergedorf since 1927. It is also open to visitors, as is the 35 m high city hall tower (Rathausturm). There is a park (Rathauspark) behind the city hall with a scene, playground, stream and garden artworks.

4. SeeNeustadt-Altstadt

   Cap San Diego

   One of the last generation of pre-containerisation cargo ships (built in the 1960s), now semi-permanently moored halfway between Landungsbrücken and the Speicherstadt, and is the largest functional cargo museum ship in the world. The ship has been restored and is maintained in full working order by volunteers (who take it out a few times a year, notably during the Hafengeburtstag celebration). You can visit the ship and walk around most areas, including the crew quarters, cargo compartments, and engine room. The ship also hosts a number of other minor attractions, including an exhibit on emigration and an escape room. The ship also has a few guest rooms for overnight stays.

   Closed · opens 10 am tomorrow·€7 adults, €4 children

5. SeeNeustadt-Altstadt

   Chocoversum Hachez Schokoladen-Museum

   The Chocoversum is a "museum" run by chocolate manufacturer Hachez from Hamburg's fellow Hansestadt Bremen. Rather than focus on exhibiting historic artifacts, it presents the process of making chocolate from the plantation up to the finished confection. There is also a studio where visitors can try their hands at being a chocolatier. 90-minute guided tours are provided everyday.

   Daily, including Sundays 10:00-18:00·€14, discounts for children, disabled, families and large groups

6. SeeNorth

   Eimsbüttler Park

   also known as "Weiher"

   This former forest and current park has survived both world wars and still offers green pastures around the Weiher lake together with a playground, swimming pool and a café.

7. DrinkAltona-St. Pauli

   Karo Beach

   Beachclub in Karo-Viertel. Big sand beach but no water, also family friendly.

   daily 12:00-22:00 during the summer

8. SeeNeustadt-Altstadt

   Kunsthalle

   art museum

   Glockengießerwall north of Hauptbahnhof. The museum houses an important collection of paintings from the 19th century with works from Max Liebermann, Lovis Corinth, Philipp Otto Runge, Caspar David Friedrich, Adolf Menzel, and modern arts. It rises on both sides of a paved court. The Baroque building on one side has the older works. The areas under the courtyard and the other, modern looking building house an extensive collection of very modern art. There are some extremely fine pieces, but the quality is uneven and the curacy curious at times. For instance, in a far back corner with minimal climate control and no observation are four or five gorgeous French Impressionist paintings which are among the finest in the museum.

   Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, Thu 10:00-21:00·Adults €14, concessions €8, family day ticket €18, under 18 free admission

9. SeeEast

   Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe

   Museum of Arts and Crafts

   The museum is a leading centre for art, applied art, and design. Its collections of work from Europe and the Middle and the Far East are of the finest-quality and span all epochs from the Ancient World to the present day. They also have many activities and concerts (see the Classical Music section). The museum is housed in an 18th-century palace, which has the original roofs and ceilings.

   Open Tue - Sun 11:00 - 18:00, Thu 11:00 - 21:00·Adult €10, reduced €7, children under 18 years free, family €17

10. SeeAltona-St. Pauli

    Planten un Blomen

    This park is partially on the old city wall of Hamburg. Already in the 1930s the former zoological park was remodeled into a bird and entertainment park for the Lower German Garden Exhibition (Niederdeutsche Gartenschau). Afterwards it was rebuilt for three international garden shows in 1953, 1963 and 1973. The botanical garden was turned into a park landscape, and was moved to Klein Flottbek in Altona in 1979. The tropical greenhouses built in 1962/63 are still there.;In the summer months there are daily shows for kids with clowns, magicians and circus artists as well as theater. In the music pavilion there are concerts every evening.

    Daily open until 23:00, in April until 22:00. Greenhouses are open during the summer season (Mar-Oct): Mon-Fri 09:00-16:45, Sat Sun and holidays 10:00-17:45, winter season (Nov-Feb) Mon-Fri 09:00-15:45, Sat Sun, holidays 10:00-15:45

11. SeeNeustadt-Altstadt

    Rathaus

    city hall

    Hamburg's impressive city hall was built in 1897 out of sandstone in neo-Renaissance style, including a 112-m tower. The square in front of the city hall is the Rathausmarkt, hosting many events especially in summer. Inside there are several magnificent halls used for representative purposes and sittings of government and parliament. These can be visited in guided tours (M-Th 10:00-15:15, F-Su 10:00-13:15, half-hourly in German, hourly in English and French.

    Closed during official events·€7 for adults, €5,50 for Hamburg Card holders and free for children under 14

12. SeeNeustadt-Altstadt

    Rickmer Rickmers

    A museum sailing ship (three-masted bark) from 1896, permanently moored off the Landungsbrücken. On board is a museum, a small restaurant, and an escape room.

    Closed · opens 10 am tomorrow·Adults €5, students €4, children €3

13. SeeEast

    Rieck Haus - Vierländer Freilichtmuseum

    Open-air museum showcasing the rural life in the Vierlanden before the industrial revolution. The premises was an active farm operated by the Rieck family up until WWII. There are still farm animals there, and several hands-on experiences for visitors such as milking cows.

14. SeeAltona-St. Pauli

    Spielbudenplatz

    The place got its name from the entertainers putting up shows here for sailors from all over the world back in the day. For example Mr. Hagenback (who opened the zoo park in the city) showcased his sea lions here. Today it is surrounded by several venues including St. Pauli theater, Schmidt's Tivoli, Schmidt's Theater and Operettenhaus.

15. SeeNeustadt-Altstadt

    The Hamburg Dungeon

    A live-action presentation of the "darker times" of Hamburg. It is probably mostly suited for a younger, easily impressed audience. But it might not be suitable for young children.

    Tickets €23, kids under 10-14 €19

16. SeeNeustadt-Altstadt

    The Miniatur Wunderland

    The world's largest model railway layout. The panoramas include parts of Hamburg, the Alps, the American west, South America, and a Scandinavian exhibit which features automated ships on a body of water. It also has an airport exhibit with automated planes which taxi and fly, even having simulated delays to mimic a real-world airport. Advance booking by at least two weeks strongly recommended due to high demand.

    Tickets €20, kids under 16 €12.50. Flexible ticket with VR €30

17. SeeNorth

    Tierpark Hagenbeck

    Hamburg's Zoo. The collection began in 1863 with animals that belonged to Carl Hagenbeck Sr. (1810–1887), a fishmonger who became an amateur animal collector. The park itself was founded by Carl Hagenbeck Jr. in 1907. It is known for being the first zoo to use open enclosures surrounded by moats, rather than barred cages, to better approximate animals' natural environments.

    Daily 09:00-18:00·Adults: €20, children 4–16 years: €15, family: €60-70, with Tropen-Aquarium: €30, children: EUR 21, family: €85-98

18. SeeAltona-St. Pauli

    U-434

    One of the biggest non-nuclear Soviet submarines, moored near to the Fischmarkt. Guided tours are possible.

    Mon-Sat 09:00-20:00; Sun 11:00-20:00·€9 adults, €6 children

19. SeeNeustadt-Altstadt

    Wall-Anlagen

    The western part of the former city wall is nowadays a park area surrounding the inner city as a semicircle, ranging from the Landungsbrücken (Helgoländer Allee) up to Binnenalster. In the Wallanlagen there's a big playground and in the winter an ice rink. There also the impressive Hanseatic Courthouse building.

20. SeeSouth

    Wildpark Schwarze Berge

    This spacious wildlife zoo can be a more relaxed alternative to Hagenbeck's Tierpark and is a favourite for families. It showcases mainly local fauna in large enclosures, set in a beautiful landscape.

21. SeeNeustadt-Altstadt

    Automuseum Prototyp

    Museum of car prototypes, nice shop inside.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00·Tickets €9, kids <14 €4.50

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Hamburg (CC BY-SA 4.0).