10 Best Museums in Hamburg

Hamburger Kunsthalle is a leading art destination with more than 700 works from the Middle Ages to modern times. Founded by the local art society Hamburg Kunstverein, the museum is close to the city centre near the Alster River and features 3 buildings built at different times (1860, 1921 and 1997). Along with an outstanding collection, the museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, such as the recent Franco-German Encounters.

There is much to see at Hamburger Kunsthalle, ranging from the Old Masters to 19th-century artists, including Edvard Munch and Paul Klee. In the contemporary gallery, you can find a mix of works from Pop Art to videos by the likes of Gerhard Richter and Bruce Nauman, along with The Cube restaurant.

The International Maritime Museum is home to a staggering 40,000 items and a million-plus photographs related to ships and seafaring. Set in a historic warehouse in the Speicherstadt district within HafenCity at the Port of Hamburg, the museum features the private collection of the late Peter Tamm, who began collecting maritime objects starting in 1934 after his mother gifted him a model ship.

Since its opening in 2008, the International Maritime Museum remains a popular place with fascinating exhibits across several ‘decks’. Each focuses on a theme, whether explorers, navigation or navies around the world. Highlights include a ship simulator, nearly 50 original letters from Lord Horatio Nelson, uniforms and the 150 Years on the World’s Oceans exhibition.

The Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg takes visitors on a visual journey of design and applied arts over the last 4,000 years. Established in 1877 in a neo-renaissance palace in the central neighbourhood of St. Georg, the museum of arts and crafts presents objects from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East spanning ancient times to the present.

Also known as The MK&G, the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg boasts a multifaceted collection, ranging from ancient artefacts to haute couture and contemporary furnishings over several floors. Highlights include Greco-Roman art, terracotta models, musical instruments and photography. Evolving exhibitions reflect relevant cultural themes, with recent shows such as Made in China and the Language of Fashion.

The Rickmer Rickmers allows you to experience what it’s like aboard a historic windjammer that sailed the 7 seas for almost 90 years. The museum ship, which opened in 1983 in Hamburg harbour, features intriguing maritime-themed exhibits, interactive displays and plenty to see above and below deck, including the crew and officer quarters, engine room and galley.

Among the highlights of the Rickmer Rickmers are the changing exhibitions at the “Gallery Under the Elbe”. Onboard the landmark tall ship built in 1896, you’ll also find a restaurant serving Hanseatic dishes. On Saturdays and holidays, the attraction offers the chance to climb the ship masts for a bird’s eye view of the city at 35 metres above sea level.

The U-Boot Museum Hamburg provides a rare chance to see inside one of the last Tango-class submarines in the world. Located in HafenCity, the decommissioned, fully operational U-434 submarine docks at the Baakenhafen basin in the Hamburg harbour. Since 2002, the unique submarine museum has attracted over a million visitors drawn to the technical and historical secrets of the former Soviet warship.

Spanning 90.16 metres, the U-Boot Museum Hamburg is a non-atomic submarine used for covert espionage missions. Today, you can walk through it and see the engine and torpedo rooms, crew quarters and officer’s mess area. For an exclusive look, you can take a guided tour, which includes a visit to the command centre.

The Miniatur Wunderland goes beyond the traditional model train system with an impressive, scaled-down display rich in detail. In Speicherstadt, the historic warehouse district of Hamburg, the family-friendly attraction is a mammoth miniature model project complete with busy trains travelling across landscapes and scenes from around the globe.

What began as a lifelong hobby for the 2 brothers who found Miniatur Wunderland has since transformed into a remarkable feat that took 500,000 hours to make a reality. Visitors to the world’s largest miniature railway systems can see and interact with not only mini versions of Hamburg and other places in Germany but also captivating scenes and landmarks from Europe, North America and South America.

The Panoptikum Hamburg delights with life-like versions of some of the most famous people on the planet. In the St. Pauli quarter, Germany’s oldest wax museum first opened its doors in 1879 and offers the chance to get up close to more than 120 personalities from the worlds of entertainment, sports, politics, culture and history.

At the Panoptikum Hamburg, the resemblance of its wax figures is uncanny. Whether it’s world leaders such as Angela Merkel and Queen Elizabeth, pop stars such as Adele, changemakers like Greta Thunberg or historical figures like Albert Einstein, there is so much to take in at this fun attraction. There’s also a Chamber of Horrors and Anatomy Gallery you won't want to miss.

Spicy’s Gewürzmuseum stimulates the senses with its fantastic display of herbs and spices from around the world. Established in 1993 in the Speicherstadt warehouse district in the Port of Hamburg, the museum takes visitors on a colourful culinary adventure with a presentation of nearly 50 raw spices and herbs and fascinating exhibits.

Eclectic, exotic spices from cumin to Iranian saffron await at Spicy’s Gewürzmuseum. You’ll learn about the spice trade and Hamburg’s role as the third-largest spice trading centre in the world and see special exhibitions such as the recent Aladdin’s Spicy Miracle Pot and La Dolce Vita highlighting Mediterranean herbs. There is also a gift store where you can pick up a few spices, books and recipes as souvenirs.

The Automuseum Prototyp attracts car lovers with German sports and racing cars from the early post-war and modern eras. Established in 2008, the museum in the Speicherstadt district is true to its motto, “People, power, cars,” with around 50 vehicles, including the VW39 pre-series Volkswagen from 1939, a Berlin-Room Porsche Type 64 and more modern Formula 1 cars.

Along with a showcase of innovative cars, the Automuseum Prototyp provides exciting exhibits showcasing famous drivers, races, memorabilia and films at its cinema. Another highlight is the Porsche 356 driving simulator, which allows you to see if you have what it takes to be a racer. When you need a break, there is a museum cafe for a pit stop.

The Chocoversum by Hachez - Hamburg's Schokoladenmuseum is a family-friendly attraction that invites you to immerse yourselves in the world of chocolate. At this museum in the Kontorhaus district of Hamburg, close to the central train station, visitors are in for an indulgent experience complete with a historical journey on a 90-minute tour and scrumptious tastings.

At Chocoversum by Hachez - Hamburgs Schokoladenmuseum, you’ll discover the delightful chocolate-making process, from cocoa to fine creations. Other fun experiences include an opportunity to make your own custom chocolate bar complete with toppings and a visit to the gift shop to pick up a few treats to take home.